Anyone know the release date for the Oyster Max? Any ideas for alternatives?

[Poppyjen]

This looks like a very good option for us (DS will be 2.5 when DC2 arrives in early September), but it is frustrating not knowing whether it will be out in time!

A second question: what would a good comparable alternative be? DS still naps in his pram (not sure that will change all that much by Sept) and we have a few steps to bump up and down to get up to front door so super-heavy would be bad.

I quite like the look of the Phil & Teds promenade but I am being severely put off by the lack of basket underneath in doubles mode....

Thanks

Have heard some not so great things about the Promenade, it's really rather big IRL, I wouldn't fancy bumping it down steps but that's not to say it can't be done necessarily. The handle is long is the pushing positions, I can't help but imagine that would feel odd/precarious when bumping it but that's just my impression.

The Jane Twone should be comfortably out by then, July is the word from Johnston Prams, the UK distributor. I'm less sure of the exact options for newborn and toddler but it looks like a carrycot is a necessity where as it may not be on the Oyster Max but again not totally sure on that. The most logical set up for newborn and toddler on the Max might be lower carrycot and main seat facing forwards although it may be possible to have the baby lying flat in the main seat facing the parent with the toddler lower down as you can on the B dual. The lower seat itself definitely doesn't lie flat for a baby, just reclines somewhat.

Oh yeah, B Dual, good for the money, nice push. 67cm without wheelguards (needed if toddler in lower seat, less so if baby is) seventy something with them on. Could be a dealbreaker?

ICandy Peach Blossom 2 will be available before September. Wish I could afford one!

I would say Vista and toddler seat but people say this is no good for napping toddler as it's so upright but otherwise v nice pram according to those who have had them.

More people will be along with other options soon I'm sure

Hope that helps a bit in the meantime.

I think ihateparties covered most of the best, and I echo everything she has said re the Promenade, Twone etc. I would add the Mountain Buggy +One to the lst but it will only really work if DS stops napping. I know someone who sold theirs because a napping toddler simply didn't work. I would add in too the Kidz Kargo Duellette if you can get the 2012 with higher hood. But you won't be able to use all the seating positions again because of your DS age. But it pushes easily. Look also at the new TFK buddy seat with converting carrycot front seat. But again it's new so you would need to check dates. Look also at the Micralite Twofold. You can get a baby in a carrycot on with a toddler at least standing. I need to check if it does a carrycot and seat option.

Your main issue is having a 2.5 year old, because an older toddler adds considerable weight to a double. I am not sure the Oyster Max would work as its supposedly got a fixed hood. So would need removing rather than pushing up the frame as you can with the regular Oyster. I don't know how a raincover would then work?

Thanks to you both! I do like the look of the Jane Twone, and I am encouraged by the possibility of a July release date as this would allow us to have a little play before we buy although going by my friend's experience buying a Mountainbuggy duet last year it may be worth ordering in July to have a hope of it being with us in time for DC2's arrival! I'll keep my eye out for release dates - would you say that it may be best to keep phoning the relevant stockists to ask them when they'll be expecting them in?

Also the Twone seems to fold really surprisingly small - is this the case or just flattering photos? And light too - without the weight of children in of course!

Kidz Kargo Duellete and TFK buddy seat also good suggestions - will have a closer look at those too. Not keen on the Micralite option - we are using the Superlite at the moment for DS and I haven't been that impressed with the build quality etc, but it is very light and the wheels are good for bumping up and down our steps!

Peach Blossom 2 just too expensive I think - already dealing with DH with steam coming out of his ears when contemplating buying yet another pram (wish we had thought ahead a bit when we bought our first - a Quinny Buzz 3 - still hopefully we will be able to sell this) so not sure I could convince him!

My goodness, when I started researching this I assumed Phil & Teds were the only options (and certainly a recent visit to John Lewis would have convinced me of that)....there seem to be a whole world of options out there....

or at least there will be "at some point later in the year"....just hoping they come out in time

Speaking of a Duet.. what about a Duet? I considered it and it is still on the table should the Twone go pear shaped. You have every chance of having a several strong options with a September due date IMO..
I have 2 month old,a just 2 year old and am wearing my impatiently waiting hat for the Twone. A Hauck Duett has been and gone because of steering and tipping issues in baby/toddler set up (which was less than ideal to start with) and a B Dual because it was just too wide for my house. If they shaved 5cm off it it would be absolutely fabulous cos it's robust and sturdy yet light enough to push that you don't feel like you're being subjected to some sort of strange punishment

Finger crossed for the Twone. Or the Oyster Max.. it's just so pretty!

Tiggy Oh no dilemma - now I am really loving the +one.....it seems to have more longevity than the others. Given that by the time Dc2 is out of the lay flat back bit DS will be 3 or thereabouts the napping issue may not be as pertinent, and until then he will be in the front anyway (with some recline function I understand - is this right?)

DH much prefers the +one too - I think it must look more rugged and manly but his concern is whether it will fit into our car boot - we have a Golf for the time being, upscaling soon but probably not until next year. Any idea whether this would make it an impossibility?

Duet not an option - have had a go on my friend's one and not loving it - especially as in a couple of years when DS well and truly not needing buggy anymore I would be left with buggy with one side empty (and a very cross DH if we ended up selling that one too and getting yet another!)

At least the +one is out already so we can go and have a look at one, and maybe compare it to the B-dual...

Thanks again!

I put my children in a Twone, and believe me they are no lightweights at 3 and a half and nearly 2, and it pushed like a dream! Really well. Often you have to push a pushchair a bit to get it going and you didn't with the Twone. I was so thrilled by it that I persuaded the demo lady to have a push too!!

I love the +One - yes there is a slight recline on the front seat, but I have just remembered that you wont be able to recline it with the baby in the rear as you have to add a bar on to prevent it reclining. But there is enough of a lean on the front seat to allow my youngest to nap without the seat being reclined (I often don't realise he is asleep until I stop) and he's fine ie no head loll. There's no comparison really between the +One and B-Dual. The B-Dual has loads more options, the +One is limited. But I think the +One is better if you have an older child. Its just whether you think you can get through the first 6 months ok with it.

Thanks and what about the size of the +one - do you think there's a chance we could get it into our Golf's boot? Looking unlikely....

I wouldn't write it off. I have a Megane - and I struggle to get an umbrella fold into it without balancing it at the top of the boot! I only just fitted a Mountain Buggy Duet into the boot and that is supposedly 106cms long, and the +One is supposed to be 109cms long, so on paper doesn't fit by something like 4cms. But the +One fits in easy peasy unlike the Duet which literally scraped in!! I think the shape helps ie its long at one end at the bottom but longer at the top at the other end. Boot photo. You probably will need to try.

Thanks again! So much good advice, I am so grateful - I just rang around a few of the Mountain Buggy stockists listed on the website and none of them will be stocking the +one, they have all said that it doesn't work very well and that Mountain Buggy hasn't been a very good seller for them as a brand....such a shame, I would really like to see it in the flesh and try it out. They all said Phil&Teds was a better design (despite lack of shopping basket) as it is very difficult to get the rear child out.

All very confusing (and frustrating!) - does anyone have any idea where I would be able to actually demo one (preferably in/near Kent or London)?

I think for older children the +One is much better than any P&Ts. It's one of the best pushchairs I own - near the top of the best - and I own / have owned a few. But it doesn't work well for say a newborn and young toddler and there are compromises to be made. I know Frigg has one but she's in Wiltshire. She got hers from the Oxford Pram Centre.

I am still keen - more than the Oyster Max or Twone now the more I look into it (and DH agrees), struggling to find somewhere that I can go to look at one but I will keep at it until I find somewhere I've got a few months yet! Thanks for pointing it out to me, I wouldn't have really thought about it otherwise!

Hi again Tiggywunkle - I have another quick question about the +one if I may...

Is it possible do you think to keep the back half of the buggy flat but without the cocoon (i.e. for an older baby on say a sheepskin liner or something) with toddler in front? Just trying to think of ways of getting over the 6 month or so awkward period where an older baby (6m-9m for example) may want to nap but not be comfortable in the front seat. That way they could be swapped around if we're out at naptime... do you see what I mean?

Sorry to ask so many questions (especially on a thread ostensibly about a different pram!) but I don't think we're going to be able to actually demo a +one before we order one if that's what we decide. DH has vetoed a trip to Oxford as "its too far to travel to look at a pram" ....he just doesn't understand I'll bet he would if it was a car we were thinking of buying!

Thanks!

Yes you can put an older baby flat in the back, but you may find that they dont have that much room...they may have to sleep curled up or with their feet in the air (my son did this all the time). When I get two mins I will measure the full area for you / maybe try my son in. I think I would certainly consider it. I am sure anyway that a baby would be out of the cocoon and flat in the rear before 6 months.
LOL re DH.

Ooohhh and look what I just found for you! Already prepared ;)

Photo 1
Photo 2
Clearly awake and kicking but I wouldn't say he's squashed to be honest. As I said he loves even now having his feet in the air. But theres room between his crotch and the front seat. He's also 16 months, so not 6-9 months!
To be honest, this was my Plan A and I would do it if I were in your shoes.
I think as long as you are completely clear what the +One does, and how it does it, and think through every age from having a newborn to say your eldest being 4/5, then you can't go wrong. I do think its a great piece of design. But I know a lot of parents wouldn't compromise on a good reclinable seat (the front seat you will probably find reclines enough anyway especially with a head hugger), but long term the +One will last you. It also feels lovely and neat as a tandem and is easy to push. The downsides are the seating compromises, long fold, heavy to lift, one hood for both, and having to lift / lean down to access the rear child over the highish sides. But I was only saying to my husband, at this stage now (age 3.5 and 21 months) its perfect for us.

Just saw this and thought of you...

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/tandem-pushchairs/

Thanks! That is currently my most visited website :)

Oh and Tiggy thanks so much for those photos (it is your review on the website Milk just linked to isn't it?? ) That really does show what I meant. Actually looks like a really good solution....I think we may well take the plunge and (pre)order one...

Just need to sell the Quinny now...Anyone have any ideas as to the best way to do this? I have put it on the "for sale" board here, and on Netmums. Is Ebay any good for buggies or is the whole postage thing a nightmare?...Sorry - gone seriously off topic now

Got a local selling page on FB? Might be worth a go.

Oh and I LOVE my Oyster. So much so that when I discovered they were bringing out the Max visions of a DC3 popped into my head.

:) [wunk]

I put my pushchairs mainly on Ebay - I have more success there than anywhere else and its less personal.