Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

Original poster

Baby Jogger City Mini

25 replies

Luckystar82 · 26/02/2015 15:11

Hi there

21 weeks pregnant with first child and I've narrowed down my decision to BJCM with a deluxe carrycot (only available online).

My question is whether to go for the basic City Mini or the City Mini GT? Would appreciate advice from those of you who are familiar with both as I'm relying mainly on information from the internet (have seen the CM in John Lewis and love the steer but the shop floor is so smooth!)

A bit about me.....

  • I live in town and use public transport so was attracted to the fold. I noticed the GT is quite a lot heavier than the basic version - does this make it more unwieldy to fold and carry?
  • We drive a car with a small-medium boot (Golf) but don't use car that much
  • We go for country walks now and then, but don't do seriously off-roading and live in a flat area of the South East where we don't see much snow. I'm planning to buy a sling.
  • We like to travel abroad by plane and trains
  • My DH and I are the same height (5'10'') - child likely to be tall (according to scan!)
  • I realise neither is parent facing which is why I'm opting for larger carrycot that will last longer

The money is not really an issue, so which would be the better option for us in your opinion? Does the GT really ride that much better than the extra bulk and weight is worth it?

Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:
Ihateparties · 26/02/2015 18:27

Yes, definitely worth it imo. Particularly if you walk more and are in and out of the car less. Maybe think of it as time spent pushing it vs time spent lifting it? It's loads better than the normal city mini to push, LOADS better. It isn't really any bulkier I don't think, I have had a city mini double and a gt single and there's no comparison, gt every time.

Original poster
Luckystar82 · 26/02/2015 18:29

thanks ihateparties that is very useful feedback!

OP posts:
moggle · 26/02/2015 20:36

I must admit ive only pushed the non-GT in john Lewis too, but the GT is fab to push. My mum is totally in love with it and is always twirling it round on the spot...!! I do lots of walking, including along a canal lots, and it's just great. I wince when I hear rattly plastic wheels clattering all over the place (though not saying the CM is like that).

I am 5'4" and 9st and find it easy putting it in and out of the boot; we also can fit it behind the driver seat in our Focus which is v handy when going away with lots of stuff.

Oh and the deluxe carrycot is lovely too :-D

FlossieTreadlight · 26/02/2015 20:43

I love my GT. both of us tall... The push is great, basket is great, handling great... :) like the adjustable handle. Definitely a recommend from me.

Apparently the Ikea under bed storage bags serve well as a travel bag for it ... Haven't tried it myself yet.

TeaPleaseBob · 27/02/2015 19:36

I have the normal city mini but wish I had the gt after pushing a friends. It feels much lighter to push and adjustable handlebar is nice feature to have. Smile

Shetland · 27/02/2015 19:49

What tea said - I love my BJCM but I wish I'd spent a bit more and got the GT.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 19:52

Love my GT. I've carried it around on public transport but I didn't have to carry DS at the same time as DH was there.

I do find it fairly heavy but it makes it more stable and I just put it in and out of the car mostly.

jugglingmonkey · 27/02/2015 20:01

Hmmmm I'm going to throw a spanner in the works...

I have the GT. It handles beautifully, great in the park and on long walks... Fold is obviously superb.That's about all the positives I have to say though.

Negatives;

It's big, and heavy. You won't be folding this on public transport...

Carrycot is cumbersome and won't last you very long at all. My DS was out of it by 4 months. I'd have loved him parent facing a while longer (thought this wouldn't bother me but it did).

The reclining seat mechanism isn't great. Ours is lopsided, causing DS to lean into one side. It also has a very reclined position, even when it is at its most upright. Frustrating for a little one who wants to sit up and see what's going on!

Straps are a nightmare. Always twisting, too short.

So, as you can tell, I don't love mine. If you're set on a three wheeler, have you considered a Phil and Teds? I think they have proper seat settings and can sit much more upright. That's my biggest bugbear with the GT.

shitebag · 27/02/2015 20:07

Juggling, I got a sit up strap for mine and its great. £5 on EBay, its just 2 bits of webbing that go around the poles either side of the seat and they popper together when you want it upright.

It has definitely solved a big issue for me :)

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 20:12

Oh yes, having read juggling's post I didn't take in that this would be for a newborn. If this is the only pram then I personally wouldn't choose it because of the lack of parent facing seat.

We'll be getting a Versa for when I have DC2. We had the GT from when DS was 1 so lack of parent facing wasn't a problem.

I don't think many children stay in carrycots for six months! We had an Oyster before and the carrycot had ceased to be useful beyond four months. Friend had the same with a M&P one and DSis had the same with Silver Cross.

jugglingmonkey · 27/02/2015 20:13

Shitebag.... Wooooooo thanks so much! Buying now!

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 20:15

Also agree about straps not being long enough and twisting. But the one handle fold wins over that minor annoyance!

Thanks for that idea though Shitebag, eBay sales will go up from your recommendations!

jugglingmonkey · 27/02/2015 20:19

I also want the versa if we have DC2!!

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 20:22
jugglingmonkey · 27/02/2015 20:25

Have you tried mamas and papas? That's where I first got my hands on one!

jugglingmonkey · 27/02/2015 20:25

Our local JL has a display one too.

PS, sorry for thread hijack!

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 20:26

Ta! Didn't realise they sold prams other than their own Smile

Sorry OP, back to you...

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 27/02/2015 20:26

Guy at JL Brent Cross said no JL in the country had one in the shop! Filthy liar!

Annietheacrobat · 27/02/2015 20:28

I have both and I would recommend going for the mini if it is going to be your only pushchair. The GT is considerably heavier and bulkier. We always take our mini when travelling - the GT feels like a beast in comparison.

If pushability is your main concern go for a mountain buggy swift - I really regret getting rid of mine.

marshmallowpies · 27/02/2015 20:52

I love the city mini - the fold mechanism is so easy to use, and we take it on & off the bus a lot. Having fixed handles was a bit of an issue for DH though as he is tall and the handles are not at a very comfy height for him.

Imperialleather2 · 27/02/2015 23:00

Sorry to Hijack but I am having a similar baby jogger dilemma.
I definitely want the 4 wheel version so considering either the city mini or the versa .

I've got a chameleon at the moment which i find so cumbersome to fold and squeeze In the car. so I want a light weight easy buggy.

I like the look it the versa more but worried it's just as awkward as the chameleon.

anyone have any advice? likewise I haven't found anywhere with them actually on display so that I can compare them in the flesh.

JuniperTisane · 27/02/2015 23:07

I've had both. If I had got the GT the first time round I wouldn't have bought the other 4 pushchairs in between.

moggle · 27/02/2015 23:25

juggling the newer deluxe carrycot is bigger than the old one. One of my friends with a DD a day older than mine has the versa with the standard carrycot and it's amazing how much difference there is. Her DD doesn't have much room left at 3.5m while mine still has plenty. Think my DD will get fed up of looking at the hood before she technically grows out of it!
I am also currently having a wobble about facing her forward though. But hopefully she'll be in it another month by which time it'll be a bit warmer and she'll be a bit bigger...

LilyBobtail · 27/02/2015 23:34

I have a normal city mini and I really don't like it. It is really tippy and hard to push unless on a flat surface. Plus my DD always slumped in the seat. There is no foot riser either so it is not very comfy for sleeping. I did love the big hood, big basket and easy fold, though.

We now have the Versa GT which I love - only down side is it quite bulky when folded.

Tiggywunkle · 14/03/2015 17:16

Get the GT - Yes it is worth it - absolutely!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread