Bugaboo vs. iCandy and best off-road pushchair?

[twobecomethree]

Hi all,

PFB is due end of December and have just started pram research in earnest and now I'm hoping that some of you more experienced users can offer some advice please!

Requirements list isn't too long (I don't think):
Want a pushchair to use from birth until child no longer needs pushchair so want quality. Not planning on having another one for a few years but would want to use same pushchair given cost of them! Budget not really a constraint (within reason). I'm quite small and not that strong so don't want anything too bulky or heavy and would like something that folds up easily and small. We live on an unmade road (gravel and very bumpy) and back onto a woodland that like to go walking in a lot.

After some initial internet research thought that best option would be a jogger, and really liked the look of the iCandy Peach Jogger. Went to John Lewis to try some out yesterday and the Peach Jogger did look very stylish and felt very easy to use and sturdy. However the assistant recommended the Bugaboo Cameleon instead for our requirements and didn't exactly rate the iCandy. Apparently the Bugaboo is a better 'off-road' pushchair and has better suspension, which I hadn't expected tbh. The Cameleon was very light to push (which had made me think it wasn't as sturdy) and it was lighter to carry when folded. However it didn't seem as easy to fold as the iCandy. The assistant said that the wheels on the Bugaboo (foam filled) are better suited to off-road than the iCandy (air filled).

Does anyone have recommendations on iCandy vs. Bugaboo? Or any other contenders that I should be considering?

TIA!

Someone with more of a clue than me will be along soon, but just wanted to say its cheap and easy to have air tyres filled with foam instead so I wouldn't take than into consideration with the choice you make, although foam tyres probably would be better as no chance of punctures that way :)

Thanks rockchick I hadn't realised that so will now go investigate!

Have you narrowed your list down to these 2 pushchairs, or are you still open to other considerations? For off roading I would look at something like the Baby Jogger Elite (super easy fold, small-ish but is a bit heavier) or the new Baby Jogger Versa in the GT option would go between town and woodland walks or a Mountain Buggy (but they are a bit heavy and awkward to fold).
I am sure others will have other suggestions and hopefully someone with experience of either the iCandy Jogger or Bugaboo will be able to offer information on them :)

Hello :)

I have a cameleon and I love it! I used it from pram to pushchair with dd until she was 2.5

Only stopped with her cause needed it back to pram for ds.

Mine has been used non stop now for 3.5 years. It still looks new. Very light.

Mine has been thrown in and out the back.of the car practically every day. It's brill for the city as so easy to push around and not huge.

If you go.on rough terrain all you need to.do is move the handle bar over (one motion very easy) so big back wheels are at the front and you've gone all terrain!

I've used it in woods, the beach etc.

People on here seem to.go.on.about the price of them but I've never had to have another push chair so reckon I've spent less than some.

My friend had an icandy but got rid after about 6 months, not sure why though.

Oh, I'm sure the bugaboo website has videos showing what it can do. Hth!

The bugaboo is great. You can also buy off road tyres/ snow tyres for it to replace the front smaller ones to make more off road . We hae had for 3 years now.

However if always off roa maybe a light 3 wheeled jogger type would be better. Maybe mountain buggy?

I have a cameleon and loves it. It's very easy to fold once you understand how it works. It's definitely not flimpsy. I picked it over the iCandy precisely because it's lighter, and smaller when folded. I've used it off road, but I don't know how rough the ones you'll be walking are like. I've used the cameleon on unpaved paths and heathlands in the New Forests, and also on cobblestone streets. And it can handle them easily. But for really rough paths with tree trunks everywhere, we use the baby bjorn instead. It's a pain to lift the buggy up and down over tree trunks, as you could imagine.

Oh I've talked to friends who goes off road and they don't like 3-wheelers. They are less stable in rough terrains. So when I was looking at buying my pram, it has to be 4-wheel off roaders, and I narrowed it down to either the bugaboo cameleon or the icandy apple.

I wouldn't fill air tyres with foam as the pram will have been designed with suspension for air tyres. Foam tyres need more/better suspension as they aren't flexible like air tyres, so filling your tyres could end up giving your child a very uncomfortable ride.

Thanks for all the responses , I'm not set between the two I'd identified, those were just the ones that I've examined in close detail. From your advice I think now swaying towards the Bugaboo, however I'd like to try out some other off-roaders before any purchase.

What about an easywalker june?

I have the Peach Jogger and the Cameleon (and the Elite). The Peach Jogger is definitely better for off road. The Cameleon is also good off road but you really need to flip the handle into reverse wheel mode and you lose steering like this as its rear wheel drive. I think in your shoes, I would be heading for the Peach Jogger.....I think it will be much much easier to push and you won't have to stop each time to flip the handle round to go "off road".

In general, I dont like 3 wheelers - my MN friends here will vouch for that - but the Peach Jogger is very very stable - they all told me I wouldn't like it more than I do my Peach - but I honestly can only tell its a Jogger for one reason - and that is when I stop, if the wheel ends up not straight when I stop then I have to wiggle the front wheel to straighten it up. TBH you probably wouldn't notice it, but I use different pushchairs all the time, and know the regular Peach very well, so I spotted it. But the Peach Jogger has usurped my Cameleon from the car boot for the summer!! Having said that the Cam has had its fair share of beach outings this year.

As for air v's foam - I prefer foam really because they are hassle free - but you can put "Slime" into air tyres to protect against punctures if you wish.

The current Cameleon fold / unfold isn't the best. If you are going to buy a Cam, then 100% buy a new Cameleon 3 that is due out next month. The new fold / unfold looks bliss compared to the present one.

I love my Cameleon - but the Peach for me is far superior. I find the Cam "fussy". It's much harder to access the Cam basket - and its lovely just to be able to fling things under the Peach. The Peach fold is so much simpler. Its much neater in the car boot and freestands nicely when folded either. My Cameleon chassis needs propping up and is long in my car boot.

These two pushchairs though are really my two favourites and are the two that I have had for the longest periods of time (the Peach more than the Jogger though but they really are similar). I think both offer the child good levels of comfort and both look great and feel good to push. But the Peach does have the edge for me.

However - the Baby Jogger Versa GT and the Easywalker June are on the way - and I can see these two both being really good off road options and are both definitely worth a look. Both of these have a neat fold too. I like that both of these are four wheel options.

Wow thanks for the comprehensive review+advice tiggywunkle! Great fountain of knowledge for what I want! I'm now torn a bit so will go in and have a play with both those in shop as well as the easywalker and then try to make a decision....

The Easywalker wont be in the UK for a few more weeks, but DO try and see it because its excellent quality, looks really neat, easy to use etc.

Definitely find a good helpful shop, and play with the pushchairs you like. Make sure you - not the sales assistant - folds them and if at all possible put them in your car.

Make sure you understand about the flip handle on the Cameleon, because I doubt you will be able to push the Cam across your woodland etc without it. You can get snow wheels for the Cam, but these are fixed rather than swivel. But they may be worth looking into.

Just get a good feel of both the Cam and PJ, and go with your instincts. As I said before, both are excellent. Both are two of my favourites. I own both and use both and that says a lot.
I also have the Easywalker June and the Versa GT on order because from what I have seen, they both should rank very highly on my "perfect pushchair" list!!! So choose the one you prefer and enjoy!

I have the peach jogger and think its fantastic, me and partner are keen walkers and the pj has been great on the beach, woods and normal day to day journeys. My family dont live close so we have to drive to see them. When looking for a pushchair we needed something that didnt take up the whole boot, so when speaking to the store they demonstrated just how small the PJ can get, it was very funny indeed watching my partner watch the demo from the lady, he stood their with his mouth open in shock, the PJ just got smaller and smaller lol. I cant comment on the cameleon as we do not have this one. However I would certainly recommend the peach jogger for you! It has lasted us from our child being newborn in the carrycot to now in the seat watching the world go by. (or if mummy wants some mummy and child time I turn the seat around, I think I need it more than my child, nothing like clinging on lol)

I haven't owned either but 'test drove' them both in store. I went with an Uppababy Vista. It felt more sturdy than the Cam and is (from what I can tell) as easy to fold, put in the car etc. And the basket is AMAZING! The carrycot was fabulous. Large, deep and suitable for overnight sleeping.

I too wanted something I could use from birth to walking. DS is is now 11.5 months and I am really considering a Maclaren...

Couple of reasons really, first is nursery - the buggy rooms just don't have the room for large pushchairs, even folded. There actually say you must have an umbrella fold but this isn't enforced. Secondly, whilst you can 'sling' it in the car is is heavy - all travel systems are. It also takes up a lot of room width wise which when you travel with your luggage, baby's, travel cot etc does mount up. I have only ever had DS parent facing which I think is the only reason I haven't bitten the bullet and gone for a lightweight umbrella fold.

All that said, I would't change my Vista for anything up to now IYSWIM?!

Thanks for all the advice ladies, just what I was after. Still no decision made but hoping to investigate a few more shops and options this weekend so hopefully have ordered one before the month is out.

Thanks again - really appreciate you all sharing you r knowledge and experience. :)

MOUNTAIN BUGGY! The Urban. Hands down. It is absolutely brilliant.

If you want a proper all terrain pram, you cannot beat it. We have a dog so do loads of walking, over all terrains and there is nothing it cannot stand up against. It is a 3 wheeler, but super sturdy- I even use it to support myself over particularly muddy ground! It also turns on a pin, so is great for use around town too, unlike some all terrain buggys which are a PITA in shops etc. I also have a Maclaren stroller which I bought to use when we flew to Oz, but I rarely use it as the MB is so easy and super comfy for DD.

It will take a newborn in the carry cot (DD stayed in hers until 7 months she loved it!) to children up to five, when all of my friends babies are out growing their bugaboos and Quinnys at 18mths- 2yrs . You can also clip a Maxi Cosi car seat on to it with the adaptors.

It folds down pretty flat and fits neatly into the boot of my Megane. It looks hefty, but is only about 12kg. It is a bit cumbersome, but totally manageable. I really, really could not recommend it highly enough.

They aren't cheap (though neither are Bugaboo), but the great thing about them being so hard wearing is that you can pick up some great deals on ebay on 2nd hand ones. I bought ours 2nd hand off ebay for £375 with carry cot and raincover. It had a few scratches on the frame from wear, but the carry cot looked unused and seat fabric & straps etc were all in fantastic condition.

....I sound like I am after a job in Marketing with MB!

It really is great though!

Also, both Cameleon and Peach look like lovely prams but they are definitely NOT suitable for off road usey (well not what I would consider off road anyway). Those little front wheels will not stand the strain.

OP have you looked at the buggy review section?

The Cameleon works great off road if you buy the snow wheels to go on the front.
I use the ICandy Apple jogger and I find that fine across fields and through mud.

Hi
I live in quite a rural area, and was given the hard sell on the Chameleon by John Lewis, and it's been ok but knowing what i do now, I wouldn't get it again.

1. out and about. loads of people have them around here.not many people have heard of them, kiddicare have them. cheap enough and Brilliant. only problem is doesn't parent face (but has an adaptor for a car seat which would)

1. baby jogger. a friend has one and the closing mechanism is AMAZING....

1. Mountain buggy. We bought a double from a friend when our second baby came, and think it's great. Would definitely think about the single if time came over again...

good luck! let us know what you get!

Consider the Uppababy vista... It's not that well known -yet- but it's awesome. Large ish wheels, free carrycot, great hood. It's definitely competition for the Cameleon.

I reviewed it recently on my website, i'd add a link but don't want admins to tell me off. You can click on my nickname for details i think.