Perfect pushchair? BabyJogger Versa GT with rear suspension, nicer carrycot, etc etc

[Garnett]

Help!

<span class="italic">Getting bogged down and overwhelmed by the choices! I've been reading Which? and visiting Mothercare and while I've not seen it in the flesh, the Baby Jogger (BJ) City Versa (CV) GT is currently top of the list.</span>

<span class="italic">Why? While the BJCVGT isn't reviewed by which? the BJCV is and scores highly. The big front wheels of the GT look useful for park walks, the BJ build quality and customer services are reportedly excellent.</span>

<span class="italic">Why not? The lack of rear suspension does not sound fully made up for by the better wheels. The Carrycot is unattractive and the compatible car seat options are very limited (2 Maxi-Cosi seats only it seems).</span>

<span class="italic">Now, the rear suspension thing does not seem too big a deal right now.</span>

<span class="italic">But my questions are...</span>

~~~end of waffle~~~

<strong>Can you fit 3rd party carrycots to the BJCVGT (using the car seat attachments perhaps) and are there any good ones out there?</strong>

<strong>Can you fit other car seats to the BJCVGT and/or does anyone actually do this/Is it useful?</strong>

Thanks for any help.

Interesting point. Unless someone has tried its hard to know. Technically the maxi cost carrycot and the older micralite toro carrycot fit using the maxi cost car seat adapters. I tried the maxi cost one on a tandem pushchair I had that came with maxi cosi adapters and it did fit but clearly was not safe. It was massive, in the wrong position, clearly affected stability etc.

Personally, although I am very much an improviser and have used things in unapproved ways before I'm really not sure the carrycot being unattractive would persuade me to go off plan like this. If it was flawed in some functional way perhaps, but the look of it, no.

Car seats - depends how you function day to day IMO, if you have short errands, school runs etc it could be very useful. If not you may hardly ever put the seat on the chassis. I never did, some people use them loads. Maxi cosi ones are fine IMO but some other infant carriers, like the britax one, have a longer lifespan through having a taller back to accommodate a bigger baby. Also there are rear facing lie flat ones now too, such as the casual play sono and the kiddy one I have forgotten the name of. I think you can fit the lie flat be safe one with maxi cosi adapters but do check on that, could be wrong. Otherwise something like the hauck varioguard could see you through from birth to 4 and give you extended rear facing options, you just lose the option to put an infant carrier on the chassis.

Dunno re the wheels. The wheels vs suspension thing meant I never ended up with a versa longer term, I wanted both. If the gt wheels were inflatable it might be different but they aren't.

Crap okay, that was my waffle! In short and purely IMO car seats - choose the best you can find for your car/priorities, maxi cosi fine but newer features exist.
Carrycot - yes it looks rubbish, IS it rubbish functionally? (I don't know but someone here will).
Versa gt - wheels vs suspension. Hmph. Can't help. I love suspension, I love good wheels, having to choose is rubbish.

Wow. Thanks IHP. Very helpful. I see the point about functionality and asthetics. That said, I'm still tempted to find a better looking alternative! The Uppababy Vista for eg.

It's clear you made a very informed choice when you bought - what did you go for? It sounds like what I should be looking at!

I have had a Versa and a Versa GT. I got bogged down with the suspension / re which is better and TBH both are excellent. I got the GT because the bigger wheels and less suspension make the handlebar a tad higher which felt better for me. The suspension was never an issue in use though. However the normal Versa would have done perfectly well and there were times when I wished I had kept that one partly because it was noticably lighter to push.

As for the carrycots and car seats - please don't do it. The Versa carrycot is a good size, and there is a new carrycot on the way next year. The Maxi Cosi car seats are some of the best there are. Anything else which isn't approved, is not safety tested. Ultimately you are putting your baby at risk.

Ah.. The more relevant question is what didn't I buy :-/

Six years and cough cough pushchairs later I finally figured out exactly what's important to me, in my current circumstances Fgs don't ask me what it is because it's a hundred quid's worth of stroller sized cheapo 3 wheeler with unapproved, imported from America air wheels on it

Priorities change over time, with different dcs etc. but if I was buying today, for one child my top 5 choices would be versa, easy walker mini, oyster max (futureproofing), bugaboo bee plus and whatever random cheap and unusual option caught my eye (the joie chrome my latest in that category).

I suppose technically speaking the first pushchair I bought and used was an Icandy cherry, if push came to shove I could have used that for every child in most circumstances. If the wheels hadn't fallen off repeatedly....

I have the versa. I haven't had the chance to try the gt but the versa is excellent.
I've had it nearly 6 months and tbh I hardly use the car seat with it as I love the carrycot. Yes it isn't the best looking but functionally it's excellent. It's been really cosy and warm with the cold weather and my little one sleeps really well in it. Sometimes it's the only place dc will sleep that's not my arms when at home! The hood comes down really low so it makes the carrycot really dark to help with sleep and also provided excellent shade in the summer.
It's also a good length - dc is almost 6 months and in the 90th centile and still fits in it well. It also has a really handy pocket for cards, keys etc.

I really wouldn't use another car seat or carry cot. Tbh most people I know have moved onto the full pushchair by 5 months by which point it's just as easy to put the pushchair in the car and transfer from car seat to pushchair.

Also, the push on the versa is great and it's been fine for park walks off road.

Hope that helps.

Thanks DH. I think the standard Versa might be my best bet.

IHP I'm still intrigued! I love customising and adapting. I'm also thinking we might need a little super lightweight cheap option as all the baby joggers and uppababy etc might be too heavy for the two flights of stairs to our flat.

Thanks DH. I think the standard Versa might be my best bet.

IHP I'm still intrigued! I love customising and adapting. I'm also thinking we might need a little super lightweight cheap option as all the baby joggers and uppababy etc might be too heavy for the two flights of stairs to our flat.

I would be buying a new 0+ YoYo for that option then ;)

Yuh-huh.. two flights to stairs? Yes, too heavy unless you can store frame at ground level. Yoyo 0+
No question. And a good sling of your choosing :-D

tiggywunkle is the GT better for the odd country walk or is there really not too a much difference? Have found a great deal on the Versa but ideally want the flexibility of the GT but it seems so much pricier!

I have taken the standard Versa over farmers fields, through knee deep grass etc absolutely fine with the wheels locked. The GT was fine off road as well, but I think you get a slightly different push / feel with the GT wheels. But TBH if my standard Versa coped with what we went through, I wouldn't pay the extra for occasional off road - I would for every day off road probably....!

I love my Versa carrycot! (We have the Versa GT.) As a pp said, the massive hood is brilliant. I don't think it's the widest or deepest carrycot out there but it's nice and long and I suppose if you've got a giant baby chances are you might want them in the seat unit by 5ish months anyway. Either way, your baby is unlikely to be in it past 6 months so to my mind I don't think it
should scupper you choosing the Versa :)

Car seats - we use the BeSafe IziGo on it, with the adaptors (I think it's the same Maxi Cosi adaptors), although we don't actually find ourselves using the car seat on it that often as my boy prefers the carrycot.

I only ever tested the standard Versa in the shop so can't really compare but personally I think the GT is nicely bouncy and can't see that much more suspension would be worth sacrificing the forever air tyres for.

Like you, OP, I did a LOT of research before buying (hello, which.com!) And although I drive myself and my husband insane, I'm glad I took the time to properly look into the options And definitely glad I went with the Versa, although TBH if I'd gone with the standard Is probably be perfectly happy with that!

Also, as I've just said on another thread, you can pimp the carrycot with a nice footmuff, which makes all the difference!

Just to throw my opinion in - I discounted the Versa because of the ugly (nylon holdall) carrycot and really wish I hadn't. I got a Vista and haven't enjoyed it. Really wish I'd gone for the Babyjogger.

I didn't get out a lot for a while after my baby was born anyway so the carrycot was mostly used indoors. If I could go back I would have gone for something that would last longer without me wanting to swap it for something lighter.

Go with your gut!

Hi, I'm currently debated the versa v versa gt, how much harder to push is the gt, my last pushchair that I bought years ago was the out n about nipper 360 with big air tyres, I love everything about the versa and gt, but it's the tyre issue, with them being small, and not sure about the eva ones on versa. I'm only 5ft 3 1/2, not very strong and suffer with back issues. Would anyone recommend which one is better, thank you.

I'd say the versa, not Gt. it is noticeably and heavier the push and unless you're doing serious off roading isn't worth the extra weight. I use my standard versa on large grass fields every day and it's fantastic and light still. and noticeably smaller than the vista which friends have already stopped using as it was too big and heavy.

Thank you pumpingRSI. Just had another look in john Lewis at the versa not gt, and the suspension really is fab. I can get a fantastic deal at the moment, the pushchair, carrycot, raincover, footmuff, belly bar and feeding tray all for £399. Think I'm going to order it next week ??

Still debating, just can't get past the wheels, I love the GT wheels, does anyone have a versa GT

mummy where is that deal from? Sounds good to me, I have a babyjogger city mini now but looking to upgrade for this baby want a better suspension and feel.

Hi me23, it's from winstanleys

Hi, upthread Tiggy mentioned a new versa carrycot out next year (the post was in 2013), I was just wondering if anyone has any idea when this is coming out or how it'll differ from the current one?
Also does anyone know if the current versa carrycot is suitable for occasional overnight sleeping? I know this is a bit of a minefield! Just would be useful for the odd night away while the baby is small.
Currently torn between oyster 2 and the versa but luckily got loads of time to decide / change my mind a million times as am only 13 weeks...

Hi moggle, the current carrycot isn't suitable for overnight sleeping. The new one is called the 2014 model, so chances are it will be out this year... Hopefully someone else will be along with more information! In your shoes I would definitely still go for the versa, you have plenty of time to find a good sale (we got ours brand new with footmuff for £240!) and then buy the carrycot when it comes out. We have the old/current carrycot, got it new for £50. It's nice enough but would be nicer to have the option to use it for overnights when we go away!