Should I be looking at anything else before I buy a Strawberry?

[blushingmare]

I think we've almost decided to settle on the ICandy Strawberry, but I feel a bit anxious that maybe I haven't looked at enough different options. My requirements are:

• forward and parent facing pushchair seat
• folds in one piece with pushchair seat in
• easy to lift with one hand when folded
• has a "proper" carrycot (ie. not like the Bee)
• comfy straight bar handle
• large basket
• is as lightweight and as compact as possible, whilst still meeting the above criteria - need to negotiate London transport with it and needs to fit in boot of a Ford Focus.

I'd also like to have the option of going running with it, but this would be in London parks, so at the most smooth(ish) untarmacked tracks, not proper off road, and this is a secondary consideration to all of the above.

Is there anything else I should look at before splashing out on the Strawberry? I'd really like to be able to try the Easywalker June, but can't find it anywhere and just spoke to a retailer who said it won't be out til June, which is too late for me!

Thanks for your wisdom!

I'm guessing from the silence that the answer's no then?! Ok so off to order my Strawberry - gulp!

I don't think you'll find something with all your criteria apart from the Strawberry. The Oyster would come close but.isn't as beautiful.

It is apparently quite dangerous for the baby if you run with them in a pushchair not design for running, and the Strawberry is as far from a running pushchair as you can get. I'd buy something else for that purpose.

The only comment that I will make is to check when you can get one. I think you could well be waiting a while for one unless your stockist amazingly has one in stock. There are barely any around with no sniff of any arriving soon.
I am not sure the Strawberry would be a one handed carry...it's quite bulky folded, but I haven't tried carrying it. I am wondering if the Peach Jogger (although not really a running pushchair) would be better for that purpose?

Have you looked at the Uppababy Vista?
Love ours

I don't think the Strawberry would be good for running with, and I definitely found it heavy to lift when folded - we looked at the Strawberry, Cherry and Oyster and ruled out the Strawberry pretty quickly because of its weight. I agree that it is probably the nicest to look at though...

Wouldn't you be better off buying a second hand jogger for the odd times you will use it for that purpose? And then have a sparkly, new parent-facing pushchair for main use? I just can't imagine that any of the three I looked at would be stable enough for running, and iCandy do make a jogger-style pushchair. Again, I found that very heavy though as the chassis has to be stronger to allow the coversion into a double.

Not easy!

Just a note to say that the iCandy Peach Jogger can not be made into a double, (the normal Peach can) and the Apple Jogger I believe has to have the nose plate changed back into essentially a 4 wheel pushchair before then having the Apple wheels changed to the Pear wheels - I believe this costs a fair bit.

That Strawberry fold is awesome :D

Good thoughts about jogging thanks. Why would it be dangerous though just out of interest? I had never thought of it as a safety factor before, rather an ease factor.

Know what you all mean about the weight on the Strawberry. It's certainly not the lightest pushchair around, but I found that ergonomically it carried its weight far better. The compact way it folds up meant that I found it much easier to lift than the Oyster when folded, which although lighter, I felt isn't as ergonomically friendly!

Yes we were very taken with the Uppababy, but again that compact fold won me over! Plus we thought the Strawberry looked slightly less bulky.

I think I've talked myself well and truly into it! Just hope we can get one in time for June now!

You should be able to get one if you order now. I'm not sure about the issue with jogging, but I think it's something to do with the jerking of the baby as you run. I'm just going on advice I've read on.here in the past. If you wanted to start a new thread about it then I'm sure you'll get more thorough answers. :)

Isn't it something to do with stability and the size / make of wheels and turning at a faster revolution?

I didn't get on with the strawberry fold at all - although did think the memory thingy was pretty clever.

Good job we all like different things, else we'd all be trying to order the same product :)

Well it seems as though everyone is ordering the same one - the strawberry! Have you found one yet blushingmare?

Tilly, I may be off the mark here, but it seems like you work for iCandy or their PR company, seen as you have only ever posted about how great iCandy is.

I have the iCandy apple and it fits in our focus... Been pleased with it but I was when I figured out what the cost of an upgrade pack to make it a double would be. Wish I'd looked into that a bit more tbh!

That said if/ when more dc's come along you can always flog buggies on eBay if you go for a different double

It'smylastone - yes! Southampton John Lewis. Arriving with them on the 29th and delivering out to me before Easter!

That's exciting Blushing! I ordered mine in Feb from JL Oxford Street and haven't heard anything yet. Am also due in June. Was told to give them a call at the end of March for an update. We went for the red one :)