Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Travel System - Confused!

33 replies

Slan1 · 14/05/2015 14:06

Hi,
I know there are quite a few threads here about travel systems but I just wanted to see if I could finally come to a decision! I have looked at the Joie Chrome and the Venicci Mini. I would like a travel system that is not crazy expensive but I would also like one that is durable. I like to be outdoors and while I don't live in the countryside I do walk a lot. I have seen a few brands that seem nice such as the Joie and the Venicci but wondered if any of you had any other suggestions or can tell me if they like either of these.
First time mum here so this is all very confusing and just when I have deicded on which to get, I see another brand and change my mind!
Thank you!

OP posts:
Goanddoapoothen · 14/05/2015 14:11

Not used either of those but would recommend you look at the baby jogger range of you walk a lot. I had one and it was well made and a dream to push! What's your budget? Does it need to fit in a car boot?

2boys2girls · 14/05/2015 14:17

Opt for cheapest possible as once 6months you'll prob ditch it and want a umbrella fold buggy ...

AnythingNotEverything · 14/05/2015 14:20

I disagree - if you buy right, then you won't switch down to a stroller. I still use my Uppababy Vista everyday - it's so much more suitable for me than a stroller.

It's tricky though - think of it like buying a car. You wouldn't buy a car without researching fuel efficiency and road tax cost and boot space etc. so have a good think about what you want from a pram, then think about your budget, then see if anything matches.

AnythingNotEverything · 14/05/2015 14:21

I meant to add that DD is 18 months. A pram is an expensive purchase for just 6 months use. Better planning helps you get preview from it.

Laquila · 14/05/2015 14:22

If parent-facing isn't important, and you walk a lot, then I'd heartily recommend a Baby Jogger City Mini, or the GT version. It takes a Maxi Cosi car seat (I think the GT maybe takes the BeSafe too) and has a simple, compact fold and a nice roomy seat.

I have a Joie car seat and highchair and like the brand, but I've never used their buggies. Never heard of the Vennicci. The Graco Evo seems to get good reviews and I think is at the cheaper end?

A lot of people say what a pp has said here - that you'll only use a travel system for 6 months - bit it's each to their own. I used mine (Baby Jogger Versa GT) "full-time" for 18 months but have retired it a bit now - still use it for long walks and rough terrain though.

purplemunkey · 14/05/2015 14:35

I agree with goand. DD is six months and I'm sick of my travel system already, and I DID research. I'm a FTM so tbh it's hard to know what you really need/want from a buggy until you start using it. We're going to buy a stroller as soon as we need a new car seat, which won't be long, and I can't bloody wait for something less cumbersome. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I'd made a better choice at the outset but as I say I didn't really know what I'd find annoying. FWIW I've got the Chicco Urban Stroller system and wouldn't recommend it but from what I can gather from other mums they're all much of a richness anyway.

purplemunkey · 14/05/2015 14:36

*much of a muchness

Original poster
Slan1 · 14/05/2015 14:37

Thank you all. These have been helpful. I am not totally stuck on a budget but from advice I have been given I would like to stay under 700 for the full system (pushchair / pram / car seat / base). I think I would prefer the pram with it and the pushcair. Our car is not huge (3 door) so wouldn't like anything too bulky either. I am just looking up the baby jogger also.
It's so hard to choose one!

OP posts:
Goanddoapoothen · 14/05/2015 15:11

£700 would get you the baby jogger city mini, carrycot, maxi cosi car seat and base with the adapters to clip seat to pushchair from John Lewis. I'd almost guarantee you'd not want to part with it after 6 months! Definitely worth going and trying one out.

2boys2girls · 14/05/2015 15:36

Wouldn't waste my money I would then go half decent mother care one bout 250 or second hand as 700 pound is not needed really its not

myusernameisusername · 14/05/2015 16:59

Graco Evo XT

purplemunkey · 14/05/2015 18:19

Just realised I meant I agree with 2boys. Easy to confuse posts scrolling up and down on my mob! £700 is an awful lot to spend on a travel system IMO. My whole lot cost £350, it was on offer but there are always offers on somewhere between mothercare, mamas and papas, kiddicare etc. There's nothing wrong with what I've got, it's just bulky (as most are) and I'm looking forward to a lightweight and foldable stroller. When we bought it we had envisaged using it for at least two years so it seemed like a sound investment. If we have another DC I'd just get a stroller with a full recline feature so that I could use it from birth.

myusernameisusername · 14/05/2015 18:51

OP I'd go on the mothercare website and look at the graco XT it has a car seat and base available separately and is perfect for what you need at about £250 cheaper than your budget Grin

Christelle2207 · 14/05/2015 18:59

If you are interested in a baby jogger it is well worth checking out ebay.
I got one in very good condition for just over £100 and there are so many of them you'd be able to view some locally.
We then ended up with an even newer one when we went on holiday and another family took ours (presumably by mistake) at baggage reclaim and we ended up with theirs!
I'm not convinced it's that great for newborns but it's generally very good.

Christelle2207 · 14/05/2015 19:01

Oh and we also got maxi cosi and base for well under £100 on ebay-
Again there are lots about. When it comes to car seats though most will prefer to buy new.

myusernameisusername · 14/05/2015 19:04

It's idiotic not to buy new Hmm how crazy do you have to be to buy a used dangerous car seat that could be past its expiry or been in an accident all for a brand name Biscuit

2boys2girls · 14/05/2015 19:05

I got a brand new car seat and a 2nd hand loola frame for it and I used that 4 1st 6mths then buggy .... Seriously don't waste your money

Superexcited · 14/05/2015 19:08

The graco XT is nice but the chassis is quite bulky for Somebody with a small car. We were tempted by the graco XT but then I fell in love with a Jane pram system which doesn't need adapters to fit the car seat and carrycot and has a very small folding chassis.
There are plenty of decent travel systems on the market the key is finding one that you like, will fit easily into your car and will not be too heavy to lift in and out of the car. You can get something very decent for under £700.

Superexcited · 14/05/2015 19:10

To add: I bought a chicco trio with my second (which was many years ago) and we used it for a full three years. It was a good system that combined a stroller, a pram and a car seat. I think if you get the right system you will use it for much more than six months.

TheGirlAtTheRockShow · 14/05/2015 19:11

Dd is 10 months, still use our uppababy vista, no plans to buy an umbrella stroller, my neice is 17 mo this and still in her uppababy vista with no plans to change.
Buy the right one and it'll last a lot longer than 6 months!

myusernameisusername · 14/05/2015 19:14

You used a car seat for the first 6 months !?!?!? Good god that's awful for your poor Child

icklekid · 14/05/2015 19:16

We have just bought a stroller for ds 10 months but only for holiday when other one will take up too much room in car. I still love our mamas and papas sola city compact, not heavy and just been great for us. if I was buying now would get mamas and papas armadillo worth a look!

Superexcited · 14/05/2015 19:23

Who used a car seat for the first six months? Did I miss something?

Superexcited · 14/05/2015 19:25

Sorry, just read back and saw that somebody used a car seat on a chassis for six months. I agree - that poor child.
Car seats are not designed to be used in place of a pram / lie flat pushchair as they are bad for spine development if used for extended periods.

NerrSnerr · 14/05/2015 19:29

We got a Gracco Symbio for about £350 in the sale. Came with car seat, push chair and carry cot. 8 months on and it's getting lots of use. I wouldn't risk getting a second hand car seat if you don't know it's history.