Going round in circles! Bugaboo Chameleon or Mountain Buggy

[Hettieboo]

Im going round in circles! Which one? Argh. I live in countryside and have dogs to walk but was hoping to pop baby in a sling for that - am i being naieve? They both seem heavy and cumbersome in a boot which is already pretty full of Labradors! Do people have additional lightweight pushchairs for supermarket/shopping trips? Help!

I do not know either prams, but this looks like a useful tool to help you compare the two:

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/compare-pushchairs/bugaboo-cameleon/mountain-buggy-swift-2/

I've got a mountain buggy swift which I use for doggie walks, great even on quite muddy paths and fields. But for my long walk in a morning I always use a sling, just more freedom to go anywhere e.g over stiles and streams!
Same problem that my boot is full with 2 labs, so have a maclaren volo which folds up and goes behind the front seat in the back. The swift will only go in the boot which means can't have a dog in the car at the same time. Plus the volo is just so easy to fold etc and very light. But would def not be without my MB, if its horrible weather always use the mb, the dogs just have to stay at home! But do get a sling, its the only way to give your dogs the walks that there used to!

I think if you are walking dogs you might sometimes want to leave the buggy standing and leg it after a dog or something...having the baby round your neck is going to make that difficult.

Babies can be very heavy and slings can be uncomfortable - I have tried a good few and never found onethat didn't hurt my back/need an extra hand to support the baby in it/ etc etc.

But others will disagree!

I've got a MB and it's brilliant. It's the best buggy I've had and I had a cam as well for a short while - didn't like it for being so flimsy, and going up and down kerbs wasn't its strongest point so really for the countryside you're best with an MB (terrain probably rather than urban).

I do like the bug though and have got a second hand frog as a compromise.

Yes I think most people do have a second lightweight buggy to fold up and put in the car for shopping, the MB is quite long folded though quite slim.

But at least the wheels come off easily after a muddy walk. Actually the bug wheels come off too but I just have a feeling the MB will suit you better. And a cheap buggy or maclaren style thing for in the car.

Sorry, I do know nothing about walking dogs, forgive my cross posting there!

I love the Cam and the MB - for your lifestyle I think the MB will suit you best as you will get to the point when you have a toddler that will have been walking around knee deep in mud and will want a ride home - imagine all that coat washing if you pop them in a sling!

Also cam is a 2 part fold!

I don't know when you are due (?) but have a look at the Easywalker June and Baby Jogger Versa GT as the off road wheels on both should be similar to the Swift I would think, but will be smaller to slide into a boot. Having said that, the Swift is long but slim. The Swift fabrics remove easily to wash. Look also at the Easywalker Sky and Qtro, and the Baby Jogger Summit or Elite, or even GT which all fold relatively compactly especially with the wheels off.

I have a Mountain Buggy Swift which I use for dog walks as well as everything else. If the wheels get muddy they pop off easily for a quick wash. I agree with biba2 about the sling - I'm glad I bought a decent sling (not a baby bjorn one as it won't last as long). The sling allows more freedom. The MB is great if the weather is bad as it has a good rain cover, or if you don't feel like carrying baby.

The fold of the swift is long but quite slim. Could you attach some straps to the boot so you could secure it standing on its side?? Not sure if this is possible! You might be able to get the dogs in the boot too if you could.

I do also have a stroller, a Maclaren Quest, but it was bought to take abroad on holiday. It doesn't get used much though as the Swift is much nicer.

Go for a sling. I have a baby carrier that is brilliant with my back and doesn't hurt a hefty scar on my collarbone (which is magic really as I can't even carry a handbag on it). Then as baby gets bigger get a rucksack carrier (bush baby). I can use both by myself. I have a Chameleon too but in this foul weather, combined with where we walk any kind of push chair just wouldn't work.
We were out walking for 4hrs on Sunday with sling. DD2 slept and watched trees and dogs ran up and down hills with glee. No way would I scale those hills pushing - argh!

We went all out and bought a pushchair that allowed us to put the car seat straight in without waking DD up, which was great.

Once DD was sitting upright we then opted for a light weight pushchair that took up less room.

None of it was wasted as we used both for DS too.

We then sold the pushchair (as the actual pushchair section came out and was hardly used due to getting the light weight one) and got about £100 for it.

We went for this one (click here). Actually a very good price too!!

It's like buying your first car isn't it : )

Izz