Calling Uppababy Vista owners. Come talk to me, please?

[AnEcumenicalMatter]

Driving myself to distraction trying to identify the most suitable pram/pushchair for us. This is first baby so I am cluelss although I have had a fair bit of help already from some of the resident MN pushchair addicts gurus so I have drawn up a shortlist but 2 of the potential candidates aren't actually available in the shops yet (Babyjogger Versa and Easywalker June).

My other current possible option is the Uppababy Vista. It ticks my boxes so far in that:

• it can face parent or outwards
• looks like it can handle off road conditions
• light and appears to handle well
• suitable from birth - c. 4 yrs old
• Price is not extortionate
• Mahoosive basket (this isn't an essential criterion, just a nice bonus)
• Like the high seating position (again, not essential)

However, I am concerned about it's width and general bulkiness and what it is like around town? I live close to the city centre and will do a fair bit of shopping on foot. Having some experience of the dreadful Quinny Buzz, I'm afraid that the Uppababy is just as wide and bulky (although it defintely feels nicer to handle than the Buzz). Do you find it easily manoeuvreable around shops/supermarkets/through shop doorways etc?

Does anyone who has the Vista travel by public transport often? It looks like it might be a bit big for the allocated space for buggies on most transport. And as it has to be dismantled to fold, is this not a massive inconvenience if you need to collapse it on the bus or wherever?

Also, do you ever travel abroad with yours? Is it too big to feasibly travel with? I know you can get a travel bag for it for the plane but have you found it too big to fit in hire cars etc?

Has anyone with the Vista subsequently gone out and bought a more lightweight stroller?

Sorry for the inquisition! Any input much appreciated.

For comparison, the Buzz is 67cm wide and the Vista is 63cm. The Vista can be folded in one piece with the seat facing eithet.way. I think I would find it too big personally. I have a stroller that is 62cm wide and it feels a tiny bit too big. It is a bit awkward.on buses too.

How about adding the BabyStyle Oyster Max to your list of pushchsirs that aren't out yet? Apparently it's due out in the summer.

Hypatia, are you trying to send me completely doolally? I simply cannot handle another unknown quantity! Unless you can convince me it will solve all my problems in one neat little, reasonably priced, compact package!

On the plus side, when I spoke to the stockist of the Uppababy today, she stocked the old range of easywalkers and said she would try to get me some more info on price/expected release date etc. of Easywalker June :)

Sorry! Well actually, I'm not sorry because the Oyster Max looks blummin fantastic! Assuming it does come with two hoods and a basket , it's compact, narrow, can be a single or double, takes a carseat or carrycot in either position, both seats recline, the hood's big, the seats are a good size, the chassis is gorgeous and shiny, the seats can face eachother, it has an adjustable handle, there are 4 air tyres and I bet it's the best pushchair in the world ever! :o And if the price of the Oyster is anything to go by, it won't be too expensive.

But the June is going to be the second best pushchair ever. Let us know if you find out any more sbout the June. :)

I definitely don't need a double! However, it does sound attractive as a single...

Damn you and your extensive pushchair knowledge! I'm trying to shrink the shortlist, not add to it and I had already ruled out Oysters altogether. Looks like they are back in the mix and duly added to the ever growing list of intangible pushchairs

Will certainly keep you posted if I can get more info on the June.

Ok, well maybe you should rule it back out as it sounds as though the Oyster Max will only be sold as a double although you can use it as a single. But you never know when you might need to give a toddler a lift in your pushchair.

Hopefully, someone who has/has had a Vista will come and talk to you about what you actually wanted to know about. :o

I'm actually thinking of saying 'sod it' now and just buying a BabyJogger City Mini (4 wheel version) for shopping and around town use and just use the Jane Nomad that my friend has given me for off-road use. It would be the easiest and chepest option.

However, I would like at least one of them to be parent facing and neither of these are!

The June will be first - I think it's May/June. The Versa at a rough guesstimating, I bet is more like August / September (but I don't know!). There's no guarantee you can put GT wheels on it for off road.

Nnnooooo! :( You could do that until you've had a chance to read reviews of these though. The BJCM4 won't be a bad buy for public transport/travelling/grandparents, but it's also 62cm wide and, as you say, doesn't face you.

I wouldn't do what so many others do and just put up with what you have because it's the cheapest way. I wish I'd bought something decent in the first place instead of taking a hand me down single and buying a £21 double Maclaren on eBay. It was only after these were both gone that my back started to heal from slipped discs from pregnancy. And they're what started my obsession with pushchairs! :o

I'm thinking I'll probably hold out for the EW June. i honestly think that the Jane Nomad will be fine for dog walking purposes and then the EW June can (hopefully) do everything else. And 'cos the Jane is already second hand (albeit in excellent condition), I won't mind dragging it through muddy puddles and subjecting it to a bit of abuse when necessary. I intend to try a sling for those occasions when I need to have 2 hands free to control dogs so I may end up using that and not needing the off roader as much as I am anticipating that I will now.

I have no issue in spending £600-700 to get something that will be used day and daily for the best part of 4 years. I don't want to spend that much to find out that, actually, it only does some of what I need and I then need to buy something else to do the other bits as well!

Hi I have the vista, dh loved the price for the whole package. Our other choice was the micralite toro or the baby jogger city mini 4 wheeler. I wanted the carry cot and the others do them as extras. When we totted up the price they were pricecy in comparison to the vista. I don't take mine on the bus either and the frame is heavy but lighter than I found my old apple I had 5 years ago. I still think I will buy another baby jogger either the current 4 wheeler or the new gt or the other one that has a seat that reverses. as for folding we choose the vista as the toro wouldn't fit in the space left when we have 6/7 seats up in our verso. where as the bjcm will as it folds in half. Maybe look at the toro or the new bjcm's that are coming out real soon. If you go for a vista then you won't complain re the basket space under the seat it is massive.

baby jogger versa is the one I forgot really tempted my self by this one

Nanny, how do you find the Vista around shops? And can I ask why you're considering the Baby Jogger..what will it do that the Vista doesn't (if you know what I mean?)

To be honest, I think I've just about talked myself out of the Vista anyway. It's just too big, I think. The Jane Nomad I have here looks monstrous enough and it's a few inches narrower than the Vista so, much as there's lots about it I love, I think it'll have to be a no.

Have been looking a bit more at the Easywalker June...well, what limited info there is out there about it...and I think it may be our best solution. Just hope it comes out sooner rather later and that the price is not extortionate.

I have a Vista and when on maternity leave I took it on the bus and too the shops all the time. I have never had an issue fitting in the space of the bus even with other buggy users and the only time I have a problem in shops is if other people are in the way or the shop is badly laid out and that would be the same with any buggy. Once you get to forward facing then the handling is excellent so very easy to manoveur round a supermarket whilst carrying basket. The large basket is great, I can practically fit a weekly shop in there!

One of the reasons I picked it in the first place was the carry cot as I didn't want a moses basket as well. It was definitely one of the nicest I saw when looking and DS seemed to like it.

I have taken it on a plane before, but I don't really like to, mainly because I often travel with DS alone and it is a bit bulky to carry by myself (although I don't think this is any different to any other travel system), but also because I love it so much I really didn't want it to get damaged in the hold or getting lost . Although if you buy a travel bag and use it Uppababy will cover you for any damage. I bought a very cheap 2nd hand maclaren for flying and to be honest that's the only time I ever use it as the Vista still fits with our everyday needs.

Haven't had a problem getting it in any car, the wheels pop off with surprising ease if you do happen across a car with a small boot.

Overall I'm really pleased with it, and would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about buying it. Good luck deciding, I also found buying a pushchair pre-baby a bit of an ordeal!

The Easywalker June will cost ?599/£500, but may be more here.

i also have a vista and don't have any problems getting into shops and would be happy to push it onto a bus [i have not, but have pushed larger pushchairs onto a bus, so know it would not be a problem] it is one of my fav pushchairs and would recommend it to all. its just so light to push, large basket and easy to get to, lovely carrycot, large seat, large hood, can be folded in one when in pushchair mode and forward facing [it takes seconds to turn the seat round and it is so user friendly

Thanks for your opinions on the Vista, folks. Sounds like it still might be a viable option for us. I'd like to have the opportunity to compare it with the EW June before I make a decision.

I can't believe how difficult choosing a pram is! I didn't put thus much thought, research and effort into buying a car!!

Late addition - I brought a vista after reading all the fab reviews on MN. I saw your post and remembered this one - all about using it on buses

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pushchair_chat/a1352557-Uppababy-Vista-Owners-in-Brighton-Hove

I was worried it wouldn't fit in my car boot because according to the dimensions is would be a really tight fit but actually it fits easily and I don't have to take the wheels off (Ford Focus)

The post I have linked too also covers importing a slightly older model into the UK and saving £150

Thanks for linking that thread, 2ndtime. Very useful.