Note: This topic is for discussing pushchairs. Read our round up of the top pushchairs to find out which ones were awarded Mumsnet Best.
Note: This topic is for discussing pushchairs. Read our round up of the top pushchairs to find out which ones were awarded Mumsnet Best.
Pushchairs
1 year old - buying a buggy/stroller - any recommendations?
reastie · 26/04/2012 14:59
We have used a quinny speedi since DD was born. Have absolutely loved it. Problem is we bought it second hand and with using it pretty much every day for a year it really is groaning with use and I don't think will make it that much longer. We are thinking about getting a stroller type buggy for DD to use for shopping/walks etc and just use the speedi for proper off roading type activities 
. We also have a second hand mcclarean but I really don't get on with it - find it a nightmare to push and handle (although it is great how it folds up)
I need something which
-preferably will fold smaller than the speedi (don't think this should be a problem 
)
-very comfortable ride for dd including reclining position as she naps in the buggy
-nice and smooth to push from my perspective
-not quite so wide as the speedi to make it easier to navigate around shops etc
Any ideas? Mn usually come to the rescue for me with everything else . From what I can see I'm tempted by the bugaboo bee but I'm not sure how small it actually folds down compared to speedi and I'm not sure I can justify the price tag given DD is 1. Btw - how long do children use pushchairs for? 
milk · 26/04/2012 15:50
I love the Chicco Liteway :) It reclines all the way back for when child wants to nap and has an adjustable leg rest :)
reastie · 26/04/2012 16:10
Looed it up milk and it reminds me of the mclearan I have which is not nice to push (compared to the speedi) - is the push of the buggy smooth? My speedi feels almost effortless to push....maybe I've been spoilt
GlaikitFizzog · 26/04/2012 16:14
Baby jogger city mini. we got ot for ds when he was 9mo. he sleeps in it at CM. Folds with one hand. really nippy around the shops. There is a whole BJCM fan club on here :o
reastie · 26/04/2012 16:51
Looked up baby jogger city mini and it says will only fit toddlers up to 15kg which is an average 2 yo - is this usual? It's just it would be pointless to get a second buggy and not have it see her through her buggy years, or do people stop using buggies then anyway?
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 26/04/2012 18:31
Most pushchairs are tested up to 15kg (which is normally around 3 years or so) as this is the standard they have to meet in the UK and it costs a fortune to test further.
I think you've been spoilt with the air wheels and any hard wheels will feel bumpy. I don't like hard wheels myself as I've had too many soft wheeled pushchairs too.
Have a look at Micralites. They have big air tyres at the back and freestand folded. The options are FastFold (old version, very cheap, only available second hand, small recline), Superlite (available new, better recline), Supetlite Classic (better recline still), Toro (proper seat that reclines flat). They all have the same chassis.
I had a Chicco LiteWay that I quite liked despite hating Maclarens. The BJCM GT would be perfect but is fairly expensive, although they can be bought for £280ish despite the rrp of £330 I think. I wouldn't get a Bee, I think you'd hate the lack of suspension on them.
reastie · 26/04/2012 19:26
Is the GT as wide or cumbersome when folded as the speedi?
hypatia I think you're right - I've been spoiled now for wheels Just looked up micralite and never seen anything like it
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 26/04/2012 20:40
Hey, are you being rude about the Micralites?! 
:o I like the unusual look of them but the best bit is the push.
The BJCM GT is a square flattish fold.
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 26/04/2012 20:47
For comparison of folded size and weight:
Quinny Speedi 95x66x45cm 11.5kg
BJCM GT 80x62x25cm 9.5kg
reastie · 26/04/2012 21:26
Looks like it folds similarish to the speedi then. I looked on an online video of it and I liked how the wheels easily came off if needed - might be useful when going on holiday to get more in the car. Not sure I can justify the price tag though it's more than we paid for our speedi second hand which incuded the pram attachment/car seat/isofix base/matching foot muff/rain cover etc etc . Not being rude about the micralites btw, just saw a piccie of one without the inserts and it looked a bit odd different 
Tiggywunkle · 26/04/2012 22:55
You will never regret buying a Baby Jogger :) They are very useful pushchairs packed with features. They come with a lifetime warranty on the chassis and have a good resale value later on.
If you scroll down to the bottom of here although the larger pushchair is the Elite - which is larger than the GT - you can see how it is the wheels which make the difference to the fold size and once the wheels are popped off (and its incredibly simple to do this) the chassis isn't that big. The GT is similar but with smaller forever air tyres to the Elite ie between these two in size.
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 26/04/2012 23:29
The GT is less than half the volume of the Speedi folded. It is expensive but you may even find it's good enough on a bit of rough terrain to ditch the Speedi entirely.
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