I know from trawling the mumsnet website that you guys collectively have amazing knowledge on most if not all (!) things - pushchairs especially so I am hoping for some guidance from you buggy brainboxes...
My DD is 20 months, will be 21 1/2 months by August when we are travelling to Antigua. She is tall for her age (takes after her 6'5" father and not shortypants me at 5'4") and weighs approx 13.1kg. We currently own a Bugaboo Cameleon. We have the all terrain tyres for it.
Am thinking of getting an easy folding one piece (ie not two piece like the cameleon) buggy for taking with us. However rather than just buying something which is useful for two weeks in August I thought it would make sense if buying a new buggy to get something that also is useful when we are in real (not holiday) life. In 'real life' we live in the country and need a buggy that can cope with mud and gravel and stone and generally mucky off road type terrain. Would also be great to have something that folds up easily and can be chucked (sorry gently placed) in the back of the land rover.
So ideally the new buggy would have the following attributes:
- easy to fold
- good on all terrains (grass, across fields, on stone, on gravel and of course sand on hols, plus tarmac and pavements, but still good in shops etc)
- will last DD until she is finished with being buggied about so to speak
- decently built and not likely to let us down
- ideally not hideously expensive - but will pay for the right thing if it meets enough criteria
- lightweight is a bonus, and would be lovely but is not absolutely vital
- decent sun shade - I know this can be achieved with extra clip on extensions - but if it had a good sun shade that would be great
- in holiday terms would be great to have something quite cool (in termperature ie mesh etc - rather than cool as in The Fonz, though thats nice too as I do like a cool buggy!)
- the ability to drop the seat back slightly is good if she does nap in it early at the airport etc or in the evening or whenever frankly, but would like the upright position to be decently upright so she isn't contantly staining to sit up in a seat that is not upright enough for her.
- bonus would be if she could have a bar in front of her to hold onto - but not vital
- something that is comfortable to be pushed by people ranging from 6'5" down to 5'4" would be handy - but in truth the handle on the bugaboo can be adjusted incredibly easily and yet we frequently forget or don't bother - so thats not vital
- something which the bits are unlikely to fall off when being thrown around by baggage handlers would be nice. I have seen one too many buggies with missing wheels and irate or crying parents at airports...
The following are the ones I have looked at and am in total confusion now as to what to go for, would appreciate your thoughts on my pros and cons incase I have something wrong (which is highly likely):
Micralite fastfold superlite
PROS
V lightweight
Apparently pretty easy to fold
Relatively compact when folded (certainly compared to the bugaboo!)
mesh would be nice and cool when on hols
appears as though big rear tyres would make it OK for various terrains
looks quite funky
not hideously hideously expensive - can get one for 150ish
CONS
reviews suggest the rear tyre puncture easily
reviews suggest the front wheels have a problem where they snap off sometimes
reviews suggest that when walking with it some people find they bang their feet into the rear tyres
seems to have v small sunshade
not sure how upright the most upright position is
some quality control issues have been suggested in various reviews hence wheels coming off and holes in hood and mesh etc
Baby Jogger City Mini
BJCM PROS
Very easy folding mechanism
tyres that wont puncture
HUGE sun shade
bar and tray thingy which could both be useful
folds in one piece to a relatively compact bundle
Quite lightweight
Back has meshy bit so not too hot on hols hopefully
BJCM CONS
It appears it wouldnt be so good on all terrains - is really a city/town job
Quite expensive
all colours seems quite dark which is going to be really hot on hols
Baby Jogger City Elite
Also not sure if we should be looking at a Summit - but think its heavier and bigger than elite and not sure if tyres are foam filled or not
Elite PROS
Very easy folding mechanism
Good all terrain
Foam filled tyres that wont puncture
HUGE sun shade
bar and tray thingy which could both be useful
folds in one piece to a relatively compact bundle
Back has meshy bit so not too hot on hols hopefully
Elite CONS
Heavier than some
Quite expensive
Some say that manoeuvrability in shops etc can be a bore
apparently the quick fast fold can be tricky for some people getting the front wheel in the right place
all colours seems quite dark which is going to be really hot on hols
Baby Jogger City Micro Mini
PROS
Very well priced for a decent brand (£99)
v v light
easy to fold
compact ish
bright fun colour (can only find it in kiwi)
CONS
small sun shade
not great in terms of being all terrain
Maclaren quest techno etc
Have ruled these out due to more fiddly folding mechanism, and not being great on various terrains. Though can see they are v good for lightweight and compactness (not a word but should be) for hols
Out'n'abouts ruled out for being too bulky when folded (grandparents have one for her - which is lovely and she is happy in it but I find it a right faff to get it in the car - and my mother ends up trying to put it in without folding it...)
And finally part of me wonders if we should just get a bag for the bugaboo and take that on hols - but it doesnt seem the best idea... is heavy and big and two parts... but am I just getting exciting about getting a new buggy and so being distracted from the simple answer here... Oh I dont know...
Are there obvious suggestions I have missed and what should I do? Eagerly awaiting advice...