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Pushchairs

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Jane slalom v B-smart v MaxiCosi Mura v Oyster v Quinny Buzz v Graco Symbio! Any thoughts?!

14 replies

Cydonia · 11/03/2012 20:51

After much research and deliberation I think I've narrowed it down to these. My main requirements are - good off road and in town, sturdy and durable, easy to push/steer, easy to fold/unfold, suitable from birth (with or without carry cot) and travel system compatible. Can anyone recommend (or not!) any of these? Or are there others I may have overlooked?!

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 11/03/2012 23:39

Gosh...there's quite a range there. I can only really speak about the middle three (I haven't heard anything good about the latter so personally for me it would be struck straight off my list).

The Mura wins my award for the most comfortable seat for a child ever - absolutely gorgeous. BUT it didn't last here very long - and boy I was torn about selling it - because the fold is too large for me. The chassis is large folded, the seat unit is like having a large car seat that wont sit anywhere sensible. The back wheels are very wide apart and the basket has very poor access. All round although I adored the seat, the chassis / fold / basket wasn't working for us. It was a reluctant sale because the children looked soooo comfy though.

The Buzz - this has the same affliction of wide tyres. I took mine out this week and in the end had to switch to a narrower pushchair. I couldn't get it into two shops that I needed to go in (mainly because they had things on this steps and inside the shop on the floor). I have had issues with the front wheel getting stuck coming off kerbs or steps and having to wiggle it straight again. The basket and Buzz box look fab but I can only just get my handbag into the Buzz basket and even then its practically scraping the floor. The Buzz box would be handy as a changing bag but its getting filthy and scraped when folding. The two seat units are great. But I dont like not having a footrest suitable for a bare footed baby - the plastic with a gap above it isn't great.

Both of these two felt fab to steer and push, mainly because of the huge air tyres. But both of these leave me reaching for a narrower pushchair. But whether you ever need to depends on where you go and what you do.

The Oyster meanwhile has to be one of the best little pushchairs on the market. For the money you get top spec, jam packed with features, a narrow pushchair. It folds with the seat on in both directions. A large accessibly basket, the choice of colours etc. I am not convinced about the hood when its pushed back, but its huge when open. I also am not convinced of the seating position of the child - but you are unlikely to notice until the child is say 2, and by then you wouldn't notice anyway!! It would be the norm. Its easy to fold and open. Its a bit of a chunk folded when outward facing, but its neat and light to carry.

Out of these three, the Oyster really is the most practical with the best spec. I dont have air tyres on mine, but believe me it will one day!!

Cydonia · 12/03/2012 08:18

Wow thank you that's really helpful! I was thinking it didn't really matter if it was wide as I will probably have to fold any pushchair to get it into our house, but hadn't thought about not being able to get into anywhere else! I have also only really read bad things about the Symbio which is a shame as it comes as a good package deal whereas some of the others are all separately priced. Hoping to finally go pram shopping at the weekend so it helps to narrow my list down a bit first!!

OP posts:
bagelmonkey · 12/03/2012 08:21

I HATE our quinny buzz. It's a pain in the arse to take shopping. It's very bulky. Don't know anything about the others though.

fredandginger · 14/03/2012 19:51

Britax is the perfect choice - love, love, love - does everything you could possibly want....don't know what else to say...!

Cydonia · 14/03/2012 20:42

Thanks, the Britax is definitely a leading contender! Do you have a carrycot for yours?

OP posts:
fredandginger · 15/03/2012 09:09

Yup, carrycot is lovely - although we used the lie-flat car seat a lot too, when we didn't want to wake DS up (we also did some 7 hr car journeys and it was fantastic).... so I would say that if you're looking at which extras to get, that was a great choice.

I got the lie-flat car seat and carrycot to start, and then when DS outgrew the lie-flat car seat we bought the baby-safe SHR+ seat (by which time my DH had got over the initial cost of the pushchair and other extras...)

SoozyWoozy · 16/03/2012 18:33

I'm a Britax no-no! I've had two of various styles, had massive problems with both, and had really difficult experiences with the customer service both times. Both pushchairs were several years apart, and I'd never consider them again. Our local independent retailer is no longer stocking anything other than the b-dual as they've had so many complaints about them, and again little support from Britax themselves.

I've just bought an Oyster, baby isn't here yet so haven't used it properly. Like tiggy says, it offers really good value for money with the amount of features you get with it. I was comparing it to iCandy and saved myself hundreds of pounds by going for the Oyster. The Oyster takes the Maxicosi car seat too... the adaptors were £19.50 (ish) compared to £30 for the iCandy.

It isn't an easy decision! I went into the independent shop, lined up all of the buggies I liked together and that made the process of elimination much easier.

Tonksforthememories · 16/03/2012 18:40

I would steer clear of the Buzz, the parents i know that have had one curse the day they bought it! I had the Britax Vigour 4+, now the B-smart, and loved it. DS is now 2.6 and i have just sold it to someone who couldn't get on with their Silver Cross!

I like the look of the Oyster though, i go to Babies r us occasionally and play with the new pushchairs. I don't have a problem, oh no Blush

SoozyWoozy · 16/03/2012 18:46

tonks :o

I can't believe the difference in choice from my first travel system for my DD born in 2003.
I now have 3 DDs, aged 8, 6 and 4. Since then I have had 3 Britax... the travel system, a Vigour 3+ and the 4+. I've had a cheapy stroller (£20 from Tesco, was fab!) and 2 silver cross strollers, and Phil & Ted sport. Now awaiting my Oyster. I don't have a problem either

Tiggywunkle · 16/03/2012 23:25

Nor do I

Tonksforthememories · 17/03/2012 10:49

:o

I have 3Dc starting in 2003 too, now aged 8, 6, and 2, amd my list is: Graco quattro tour travel system, Bruin stroller, tandem, Inglesina zippy travel system, Mutsy, Petite star Zia, Britax vigour 4+, silver cross pop, Luna, and a BJCM.

I think DH would have a heart attack if i tried to buy any more!
am considering DC4 in a couple of years just to start again

SoozyWoozy · 17/03/2012 15:40

Dammit. I forgot the Mutsy I had before the Britax 3+. Never did get used to a real-wheel steering...

Cydonia · 17/03/2012 19:35

Update! Been shopping today, went for the Britax B-Smart 3 in the end, the shop had a good deal on it including the car seat. We also liked how easy it is to take the seat, car seat or carrycot on and off and the solid tyres so won't have to put up with punctures. I liked the Oyster but the lady in the shop said its not quite so good off road. REALLY liked the look of the I Candy range, gorgeous but way too pricey! As for the Jane, just couldn't face a 4hr round trip to our nearest stockist so sadly had to rule it out. Thanks for the help everyone!

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 17/03/2012 21:53

Glad you are all sorted. Enjoy!

We were trying to do a buggy addict group pushchair tally the other night. misdee took the prize for having more than the rest of us put together but we weren't sure whether the same model twice should count twice or not ;) I've lost count for this year already...hmm....

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