Bugaboo bee or uppababy vista?

[shelbelle100]

Hi

OH and I have trawled the pushchair shops and tried most travel systems... We had pretty much decided on the uppababy vista but some friends have visited this weekend with the bugaboo bee and now we are undecided again!!! They have pointed out the benefits of the bee - it is narrower and lighter - and they love it. Now I wonder if we need a big travel system or if we could just use the bee from newborn.

Has anyone else had either pushchair from newborn that could help with the decision?!

[chocolatemartini]

Are you in a city or out of town?
Will you want to off road?
Will it go in and out of a car a lot?
Will you use buses/ trains much?

[shelbelle100]

Hi chocolatemartini I am in a small city. I think I will do some offroad as I have a dog. At weekends we may use a baby carrier for this but I think realistically the pushchair will have to go off road a.bit too - especially when the baby gets bigger. It will go in and out of a car - hard to say how often - I expect 2-3 times a week. I won't use buses or trains very often....

[chocolatemartini]

I'd go with the vista then. I prefer a higher seat and the calf support the vista has for a napping toddler, and a proper carrycot. Bigger wheels are better for off road. I get buses and trains all the time and live in an upstairs flat and probably should have had the bee but could never get my head around how low the seat is.

[shelbelle100]

Thank you. I did notice that today with the seat being so low and the high seat was something I loved about the Vista. That and it seemed so well designed - everything was thought of eg basket easy to reach and big, pull out sun hood etc. I just had a panic today that maybe I need something lighter!

[shelbelle100]

Thank you. I did notice that today with the seat being so low and the high seat was something I loved about the Vista. That and it seemed so well designed - everything was thought of eg basket easy to reach and big, pull out sun hood etc. I just had a panic today that maybe I need something lighter!

[sugarandspite]

Have you looked at the Baby jogger city range? The new BJ City Versa GT in particular looks amazing and has rave reviews on here.

Folds down v compact, one handed fold and unfold, good off road and in town, parent facing and forward facing.

[chocolatemartini]

I thought I wanted a light pushchair for ages, until I realised that good mid weight pushchairs with good wheels are easier to push than most small wheeled pushchairs. Having said that, I'd say the bee is a bit of an exception, it's the best small wheeled lightweight pushchair I've pushed. Wish I could afford one for a car/ public transport/ second pushchair. But I wouldn't want only a bee.

[chocolatemartini]

I'd also say vista over versa, unless you're going to fold it a lot. I prefer the more upright seating position the vista has. Hate to see toddlers unable to sit really upright when they naturally have such wonderful posture

[chocolatemartini]

Oh and I should own up to not having owned any of those three. But I've pushed them all and am currently a very happy cam owner

[Meringue33]

Vista. It's great. Sun hood is so much better than a parasol in this weather. And carry cot feels really safe - far from dogs in park etc. Oh and all the bits are included in the price - carry cot, maxi cosi adapters etc

[Ihateparties]

Depends what you want really imo, i see loads of bees daily, newborns, big babies, toddlers etc. I v rarely see a vista with an over 1 in (i'm sure there will be some, i'm only comparing what i as an individual see).

I would really consider a versa because of the fold, it's still pretty large overall. I don't think the seat is reclined iirc, my dcs would have mentioned it.. they go in a lot of pushchairs and they are big mentioners .

Bee and vista so different, i believe for most people the bee has more longevity but it does depend on your useage.

I feel compelled to ask, do you want to buy just one pushchair to last you the distance? Or happy to supplement a big pushchair with a lightweight easy fold one as your baby gets older?

[shelbelle100]

Thank you to everyone for the advice. I would be happy to get a lightweight as the baby gets older (although it does seem a shame there isn't one pushchair that can go the whole way through...but I am sure everyone thinks that). I looked at the versa (only online - for some reason it wasn't one we were shown) and it seems not far off the vista in size.

[chocolatemartini]

I do have a bit of a bee (no pun intended) in my bonnet parties about seats being properly upright. Having got used to the cam seat I find most others have a too reclined most upright position. I thought the vista was closer to a 90 degree angle than the versa, but you may well know better, as I've only played with the versa in JL. My friend has a vista I've borrowed and she is very happy with it. I liked the seat position on that. I had an iCandy for a while and the not very upright upright seat position was hopeless for DS, he really wants to sit up at 90 degrees.

Anyway, for others the fold is understandably a greater consideration.

Ps *Parties I got the Neobulle mei tai you mentioned on another thread. It's lovely!

[Loupee]

I have the Vista, and a big 11 month DS have no plans to change my pushchair anytime soon. Love the easy push of any terrain, and with it fully loaded. I expect to be using it until my DS is out of a buggy. I hate pushing my friends Mclaren, you actually need to put effort into it!

[Ihateparties]

martini mine broke inside a fortnight, some stitching where the shoulder strap and body met, I had to send it back . What colour did you get? I'm working up to ordering some colimacon et cie fabric and making a similar thing .

Also haha, your upright seats are my width obsession

[chocolatemartini]

Noooo really? I don't like the sound of that especially as I was hoping to carry my already heavy DS in it for a couple more years. Do you think it was a faulty one or they aren't that strongly made? I love how adjustable they are, don't really want to send it back... I got the anthracite too. Booo... V impressed that you can make mei tais though!

Yeah, strangely, although I get on buses all the time, I'm not so bothered by pushchair width

[Tiggywunkle]

Its good that we all differ. I am the opposite. I don't like the very upright seats of the Bugaboo's -especially for a baby. Its better when you have a toddler. But I have often wished for a semi recline that is between the mid recline and upright on say the Donkey and Cameleon. Does that make sense? The upright was too upright for us when my LO was under 18 months. Strangely the pushchair my DD tells me she likes the most - absolutely umprompted - she was always tell you is the Easywalker June because its got a snuggly seat. She loves the recline, as does my son - he tucks his legs up and looks mega comfy!! I know other children would hate it, and indeed DD probably would have aged 18 months.

The more I learn about pushchairs the more I wonder how much companies look critically at their current pushchairs and especially the seating positions and harnesses. There seems to be a critical seating position where a child doesn't "hang" or the harnesses arent huge, and the seating depth is right along with the length to the footrest. They all have to work together. A number of my pushchairs ARE too reclined - but they tend to be the hammock style ones, but again, a bit of tweaking and most of those could be more upright. I think your child's character really is the deciding factor. If they want to pull themselves upright - and both of mine do in certain hammock style seats - then its not right for them.

[chocolatemartini]

I think it's safe to say that whatever pushchair you have, at some stage the seating positions will be less than ideal. We mostly used the sling for the first 15 months but I agree, a position between the most upright and the first recline on the cam would have been useful if we'd have been using it then.

It's sooo difficult buying before the baby is born, as you say their characters and preferences vary a lot and you have no way of knowing exactly what you're going to need. Some babies prefer front facing from early on in which case you could save loads of money (as we tried to do) buying something simple & light like a bjcm that's suitable from birth but not a full on pram/ travel system. DS still doesn't like front facing so that was hopeless for us, but many of my friends with 18mos use a bjcm or maclaren all the time now.

[chocolatemartini]

Also, yes, pushchair manufacturers should really do after sales surveys of all their customers. They'd surely soon find ways of fixing all the stuff that annoys us. I sometimes wonder whether actual babies/ children are ever used in the testing process. The June is a case in point, HOW do you tip that thing?!! I tried one in Peppermint Clapham and I literally couldn't tip it. Lovely apart from that though
But how did it get through any type of testing, did no one think to try to get it up the kerb? And with the Stokke scoot, who would only want two seating positions? It's a huge drawback for an expensive pushchair. I suppose it's one reason to go for something that's been around a while and had several incarnations.

Anyway, OP I feel I may have highjacked your thread a bit with mei tais and bugaboos! Have you decided yet?

[GirlWiththeLionHeart]

I have a Vista and love it! Love how its high up, comes with bassinet and very easy to manoeuvre.

[Tiggywunkle]

The difference is Chocolate Martini Easywalker HAVE listened to feedback and HAVE looked critically at the June and the new MINI DOES go up kerbs no problem even rear facing! I am quite proud of Easywalker for doing something about the issue.
I agree re the Stokke - 2 sleeping positions is daft on something from newborn. Plus no leg support. I think the double Crusi is even worse - there's no way to alter the seat recline on the top seat once its in situ, and the lower seat only reclines. What do you do if your baby falls asleep in the top seat or vice versa wakes up! They have to stay put until you get home!

[chocolatemartini]

That's great that the June is so
Improved. I'd better not look as I'll be tempted! But I still don't understand how the original version got through a testing process. It wouldn't have even taken a day out to realise there was a problem. Just a short stroll round the block! Anyway great news about the Mini. Fortunately I'm not so keen on the whole union jack thing so I won't be as tempted as I would otherwise have been

[Tiggywunkle]

I have to say, I have been using my June so much this week (and I love my June for all its niggles), that I know I definitely want a MINI next. I like the Blackjack fabrics - they are more subtle, but I know DH loves the Union Jack and wouldn't grumble at me getting that one!