Britax B-Agile -handle bar height?

[birdofthenorth]

Hi there. I'm thinking of ditching my old Bugaboo Bee for a Britax B-Agile, for DD 18 mo, and hopefully a future newborn (TTC).

I want a smooth riding buggy that you can put up and down one handed, and in which DD1 can sit up fully (our Bee doesn't sit fully upright, not sure if it's a fault on our's, or all of them). We have the Britax Baby Safe Sleeper for newborns so getting a Britax model so this can fit on top makes sense.

Does anyone have any views on how good the B-Agile is?

And specifically, DH & I are both about 5'8" -will we find the fixed handle height uncompfortably low?

Many thanks

The B-Agile is very good but I personally found the handle too low. I am 5ft 6ins, but I like a right height / taller handle to a low one. I do not know where handle height is measured to but the B-Agile handle is approx 98cms from the underneath of the sponge to 101.5cms at the top of the sponge. I did find my youngest (then around 18 months old) slumped badly in the seat. I spent ages moving harnesses, tightening him up but I came to the conclusion that the combination of the crotch strap probably being far forwards and the wide seat didn't really offer enough support. The seat was absolutely fabulous for my 3 year old though. We had a BJCM as well and although I really liked the B-Agile I saw no reason to keep it (for the future) when DS was the one who needed to be using it.
ihateparties has one at present for her newborn. She is having difficulties putting the carrycot on and off as its a tight fit. She's also stripped the fabric off (a screwdriver job) but it left her ith no basket so I think she did a DIY fix job to put it back on! I know she wishes she had got a BJCM. I don't know how the Baby Safe sleeper would fit though.
Just to rewind to your Bee - I have the Bee Plus and it's got a very upright seat - one of the most bolt upright I know of - in fact THE most bolt upright I have seen. So it may be worth getting yours looked at?

Thanks Tiggy that's really helpful, though not altogether encouraging! My Bee is a 2009 model which we've had various issues with (all parts have been replaced seperately over the past few months!) and I wonder whether the upright seat setting is a new thing for the Bee Plus as I have two friends with the newer model who can seat their child upright while I can't. It could just be our particular Bee I suppose, it hasn't been quite right for a while!

Hmmmm yeeeees, the b agile is pretty smooth riding as you requested but I just have this constant suspicion that the baby joggers are easier to use (as in fold, carrycot on and off etc.) Stripping the fabric for the carrycot is not necessary but it looks better on the b agile. Obviously you can't then switch from toddler to baby but I'm not bothered about that. It's designed to be used with the seat fabric on but as Tiggy said the carrycot is tight. It's getting easier but the fabric of the cot is marking in places because of it. Also re the sitting upright, it really isn't perfect, I'm gonna make it a sit up strap when the baby is using the seat. The toddler wasn't bothered as such but it does seem difficult for them to sit full upright.

All that said I don't regret buying it as such and am in no hurry to get rid of it, the ride is a bit more forgiving than the baby jogger I think. Handle height is fine for me but suppose it depends what you're used to.

Hope that's at least slightly helpful

Thanks Ihateparties, that's helpful. I think I need to find somewhere -ToysRUs?- where I can go and see how easy it is to get the Baby Safe Sleeper on and off one, as the fact I already own a Sleeper is what currently gives the B-Agile an advantage over the Baby Jogger for me.

Good to hear the handle bar height is ok by you (unless you are a foot shorter than me!!)

Which part of the babysafe sleeper is the widest? The reason I ask is the car seat/carrycot adaptor for the b agile bulges slightly below the bit where the cot clips in. This is why I find the carrycot a bit awkward to get on, once the solid base gets past this bulgy part it's fine. Given the sleeper is solid if the info says it fits then it should fit assuming the parts of it below where it fixes to whatever chassis are narrower than the connecting bit?

I hope that makes sense!

I have a B Agile and a baby safe sleeper, although I haven't tried putting them together yet (DD is nearly two, and no more babies yet).

I'll have a go in the morning though and let you know.

I completely agree with Ihateparties - there's nothing about the B Agile that I dislike. It's great to push, easy to use, roomy seat for DD and the handle height is just right for me. I prefer the fabric on the Britax, it feels 'better' than the BJCM; plus the sturdier seat, and the four wheels. BUT I still think I'm missing out by not having a BJCM. There isn't anything in particular to make me think why, just a feeling.

Stetsons, isn't that weird... glad not to feel alone on this! I wonder what this mysterious factor is?!

Ooh, that would be so helpful Stetsons, thanks v much indeed!

Is it just a brand thing that makes the BCJM more appealing I wonder? Or that despite no real complaints the B-Agile is still just not quite the perfect pushchair? Don't want to regret a Britax purchase but so far there's not a huge amount of concrete stuff to put me off!

Hmmmmm. I can't find the adaptors. I'll check with DH when he gets in from work though. Could have sworn we put them in the instructions drawer, but they're not there.

The widest bit of the Sleeper is the clips though. The sides of the cot are further in, and solid, so no chance of anything bulging and getting in the way.

I don't regret the B Agile at all, it's a great pushchair. If it did rear facing it would be my perfect one! I think it might just be the brand thing. Maybe one more hood panel would do it?

I'll try again later with the fitting.

If the clips on the sleeper are the widest bit then I'm pretty much sure you'll have no problem. It's the b agile adaptor bit that Stetsons refers to that is wider below the actual clip in bit so with the hard carrycot (that doesn't have actual hard sides cos they never do, do they even though they persist in being called hard carrycots) it needs a good push to get it on and it's showing on the fabric of it.

I wish the b agile rear faced too, maybe an adjustable handle.. seating position a bit better for a toddler. I think for me I feel like the baby jogger folds easier (even though it is effectively the same) and I like to imagine that the cot fits on easier without having to struggle with it each and every time. I quite fancy an oyster as it's very similar in appearance and size but does rear face.

Thinks anyway *Stetsons", much appreciated! I wonder if there's any shops where I can try out the Agile, esp with the Sleeper? Toys R Us?

I saw a Babyjogger Versa online yesterday. That could be The One! Except the seat is a bucket recline, not a flat one IYSWIM? So maybe not.

The clips haven't emerged yet, but I'll keep looking. It's really got under my skin!

Ooh, x posts! I've only seen the agile one independent shop near me. None of the chains seem to have it.

in not one

Oh for heaven's sake - in one. That is all.

Thanks, obv, not thinks!

Oooh, page refresh fail there! Off to google Versas, ta!