Sturdy foldable for bus into town but also Eurostar, travel, and flying overseas...

[InvaderZim]

Hi! I need a nice sturdy foldable (umbrella?) pushchair for my 17 month old. We're going over to the continent on the Eurostar in a couple of months and although I love my iCandy Cherry, it ain't gonna cut it. We have a second hand Jive, which I HATE.

I'd love: easy folding, easily reclinable (DD naps in pushchair every day), decent basket for holding shopping, reasonably tall (I am 5'8"), easy to push (my main beef with the Jive is that the tiny wheels make it impossible to push!).

I also need something which can be used to the gate at the airport - family live overseas.

Should I be looking for a MacLaren? Something else? If I buy a 2nd hand MacLaren, from what vintage do I need to worry about the finger-snapper?

Thanks! We don't necessarily have a budget limit, but I need to try to buy 2nd hand if I can.

Baby Jogger City Mini :)

I'm writing as someone who has just ebayed for the Maclaren techno xt after ummming and ahhhing between that and the Baby Jogger City Mini to replace the poxy travel system and broken second hand Bugaboo bee for our 10mo DS. However we just picked it up on Saturday so I don't have the experience of day to day use that other posters might have!

Went for the Maclaren in the end after playing in the shops, found the BJCM folds in half across the middle of the seat, so leaves a thin but wide/flattish package IYSWIM, and the MTXT has the scissor umbrella fold which is a taller but narrower package I think is better for putting in a corner on a train, bus or cafe. The MTXT also has the advantage of extendable handles which I don't think the cheaper Maclarens have - I'm 5'7" and let them up a bit, but not much, will have a bit of scope to do more when I'm in my heels doing the nursery run.

I think in most other respects they seem pretty equal, it was a tough choice as I like the biggish wheels for a stroller given the miles I'm still putting in with DS. It seems very robust and I'm getting the hang of collapsing it but obviously haven't given it the miles yet.

Just to add the other side of the coin re the fold. I can't get an umbrella fold pushchair in my car - they are too long - which may be worth bearing in mind if you have a small hire car for example. Plus with the City Mini, I can get the boot full to nearly bursting, push the wheels into any gaps and then lie the chassis flat on top. That also means there is no digging the pushchair out if you need to stop en route. The new BJCMGT has an adjustable handle and small air tyres but then you are adding weight and bulk.
My perfect travel pushchair is the Maxi Cosi Noa - fantastic - but I suspect it doesn't have enough of a basket and is probably too low for the OP.

we have a cheap(ish) obaby atlas sport umbrella fold that lies flat.
cheap enough to not hurt if it breaks (airline staff sometimes throw the pushchairs on to the tarmac from the plane door...) and comfy enough for a sleep. not much storage underneath, though.
biggish wheels, so easy to push.

We have flown and trained with a MacLaren and it's very easy and very sturdy.

Thanks everyone! I found both parked at playgroup on Monday and had a sneaky try out of them both. :) I think I favour the JCM due to the loop handlebar, but if a Maclaren XT were to fall into my lap I wouldn't be sad. :)

Step away from the Maclaren - BJCM's are FAR better!