Baby Jogger City Select or iCandy Peach/Blossom?

[ATourchOfInsanity]

I tried out the iCandy today and loved it! Just wanted to see if anyone has tried both or perhaps long term users with pros/cons for me?

Haven't yet tried the new Baby Jogger but like the fact the children can face each other rather than just one position. Also both seats on the Select hold up to 45Ibs whereas the 2nd seat on most other doubles with detachable seats is usually 10ibs less or so. My DD is 11 months and already 28Ibs so I need one that will last!

Not due until Feb though so perhaps it is best to wait and see what will come out nearer the time? Any new doubles on the horizon?

No question the PB2. I had a PB1 and realised it didn't have longevity (reclining small lower seat), so sold it and bought a BJCS. The BJCS was fabulous until the day came out of the blue when it actually hurt to push it...agonising pains up my arms. I was forced to swallow humble pie and i now have the PB2 and it's been fabulous. The BJCS is 90% fab but it's no good if you can't push it after only 9 months. I now carry around two heavier toddlers - almost 4 and 2 in the PB2. I have just got a Twone which s easy to DH but the access is very poor. The Oyster Max is due at the end of the year but I woudnt hold out for it. if y can afford a PB2, get one :)

Oh no, another option has popped up! Britax B Dual...any ideas on that one?

B Dual is very nice but it's biiiiig. If you have till Feb I would be tempted to wait and see. The PB2 will be more widely available by the end of the year, the Oyster Max should be out, the Micralite Twofold. Possibly other things which I have forgotten (Tiggy?) you will have more choice.
I have a PB1 on the basis of not being able to get a PB2, it followed a B Dual which I really liked but was too big for my house and local shops, pavements etc. If they would agree to shave 3cm off either side I would be sold because I LOVE lie flat seats and so many things only have carrycot then bucket seat

Thanks Tiggy. The lady in the shop today was adament the BJCS was too long for them to have in the shop and they only had it in their warehouse...however they do always push iCandy's so I was a bit wary of just listening to her!

My DD is on the large side already and so imagine the next won't be a small fry. Better to err on the side of caution!

Just seen a B-Dual youtube demo and handle looks a bit pants (if it extended it would be better), plus I am not sure I could walk with the lower seat at your shins!

Yes, a good all rounder. Nice and bouncy, loads of options for seating, carrycot, soft cots, car seats although some are better than others (true too of the BJCS). I dont like the seating positions though for older children - there's no footrest which doesn't help.
Look too at the Smyths Dimples Duo...

Wow, that Smythes one is cheap! Is it sturdy enough though? Looks a little rickety?

Am being v swayed by the PB2. One Q - is the break a foot break that you have to flip up with your toe to unlock? I have ruined a pair of shoes and hurt toes this way with my BJ Mini... not keen on these types of breaks.

Yes and Yes. The peach is the flip type of footbreak and the dimples duo is a bit rickety. Without keeping it a year I'm not sure how it will hold up!

Grr and Grr! I wish you could customise breaks or they did the same buggy with two options!

Maybe I need to try out the BJCS and put my DD in with change bag (can weigh about as much as she does at times!) in the other seat... Trying to find a local stockist is proving difficult for the 2012 model though. It doesn't appear in JL website, but do they stock it?

Hmmm...just seen the Micralite Twofold demo and thinking that looks good too. Can you use it from NB? It didn't show seats popping off so am imagining they are fixed and possibly only starts at 6mo?

And there was me thinking I had narrowed my options to 2! Pah!

The Peach footbrake is much easier than the BJCM one! I fell over trying to put the BJCM one on recently - dont laugh!

The Micralite Twofold can be used from newborn with a carrycot parent facing and a toddler in the seat on the back. I could link to photos but my desktop has just crashed but when I restart my computer I will link.

I think its a good idea to try tandems out TBH. I dont think the B-Dual is that huge - its quite compact really - again I will link you in a minute. But its wide and thats its biggest issue.

Actually I managed it by opening a tab!

Micralite Twofold. If you look at the picture near the end with the yellow hoods, it shows all the configurations including a carrycot or car seat with toddler second seat or toddler standing.

B-Dual and BJCS

Peach Blossom 2 and BJCS

Oooh thanks Tiggy! Hope your computer lives to see another day. My laptop died last month and am using my partner's Apple which drops internet every 10mins or so, so feel your pain!

Good news about foot break on iCandy. Just the limited viewing from rear seat that is concerning me now with it.

Microlite looks very different and possibly not as 'cosy' but may well be best of both. I like the fact the boogy board is built in and not an extra too.

Where is the best place to try all of these though? I don't know if there is a Kiddycare in SE England? Seems to be the best place to go to try all at once?

I have restarted it now and its chugging away! Its just a bit overloaded!

Dont worry about the view from any back seat - except maybe the Twone and a P&T's. My eldest loves being underneath - she will bag her place in the lower seat before we even leave the house! There's a good view in the PB2 down each side because the seats are well spaced.

I am not keen on the Micralite's hard seat either but I do like the buggy board and bag options.

Kiddicare is in Peterborough but you wont find iCandy there. You are much better off starting in somewhere like John Lewis that has the BJCS and PB2 and other tandems in store or an independent retailer - iCandy's website has a list of retailers on it and you could always phone round and see if they stock the BJCS as well. Also look at the B-Dual if you can because it is a safe bet and a good all rounder. Any iCandy stockist should also have a Pear too to look at.

The Micralite isn't due out until the end of the year...so you wont get to see that, but I suspect if you have a good look at a Superlite or Fastfold that you would get an idea of what one is like.

I have the citiselect which I currently use as a single but have used as a double when with friends. I haven't found it too hard to steer but will say that I put the heavier child upfront and the lighter child further away. I paid $800 for the whole kit including rain covers, tray, board, 2nd seat, bassinet, cup holders and car seat attachment (I got the 2011 version and used my PFB 25% store discount). I once pushed 3 kids (one on the board) and while it wasn't easy peasy it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I walked 3/4 mile with the three of them.

The only way you know what works is go try it out. I would call the stockists listed and ask if they have both strollers. Borrow another child to test it out or use a sack of potatoes (yes I walked into a store with a 25lb sack of potatoes but when spending so much money I wanted to be sure it would work). The shop I went to allowed me to test using them outside and putting the strollers in my car.

Beware that if you go 2nd hand the 2010 select doesn't have a firm back. You can call the company up though and they will send you an insert for free :-)

Thanks Want2b - I tried to find one locally to test run but alas. I think I will have to venture miles to test one (had already planned to over pack the change bag and put it in the seat, thanks though ;) ). When you say 'up front' I assume you mean over the front wheels rather than back? I think this will be the way I would prefer it, NB nearer me, anyway, so that works... Still hoping I will love the 2012 version as it really is everything I want. We got a price for it with x2 footmuffs, buggy board, car seat & attachments and x 2 raincovers for £850 which I think is pretty cheap for here in UK. Kiddicare had the same for £960 or something when I looked the other day, and they are usually pretty good :)

I know I really should just be patient and wait...

When I say upfront I mean the seat closest to the handlebar - ie the seat over the big rear wheels. I preferred having the NB (my DD) further away. Either she slept or cried when walking. The toddler wanted to rear face and interact.

JL are pretty good and when my Dad called up to ask if they had the traditional silver cross pram available to test drive before buying the lady told him that they would bring in the pram from another store. If you have a JL close to you I would def give them a call.