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Original poster

Off road travel system thoughts please!

18 replies

countrybumpkingirl · 17/05/2015 20:13

We live in the sticks and on mat leave I will be walking the dogs everyday in mud, rain, and over roots and hills...proper off roading!

Ive decided that a travel system is what we need for early months although may end up getting a proper off roader (mountain buggy etc) at some point.

Looking at uppababy vista, silver cross pioneer, maxi cosi Mura 3, I candy peach all terrain, poss quinny buzz Xtra.

All thoughts welcome on which is best suited to my off road needs! Thank you Smile

OP posts:
AndHarry · 17/05/2015 20:16

None. Proper off-roading with dogs and a huge pram is going to be a royal PITA. I can recommend an easy soft stretchy sling for the first few weeks, followed by an Ergo carrier. Bonus is that you will have your hands free.

CheshireSplat · 17/05/2015 20:17

I have an uppababy vista and it is good. But I found a sling and the baby bjorn the best of all off road.

CheshireSplat · 17/05/2015 20:18

Ha! Cross post with Harry. Great minds.

Cupoftchaiagain · 17/05/2015 20:18

U know mountain buggy etc can be travel systems?

Gluetap · 17/05/2015 20:20

Out N About Nipper 360. The latest version can take a Maxi Cosi car seat which I used when my DC was tiny.

Frolicacid · 17/05/2015 20:25

Jane trider might be worth a look. It's got good suspension, works as a travel system and, unlike many other all terrain's, can be parent facing.

willbillycome · 17/05/2015 20:42

Will you have to travel in car to go on the dog walks? Most of the walks I do are on our doorstep so I have a off roader (battered second hand one as it was just going to take more punishment from us) which I use for dog walking and a clean car buggy for shops, play park etc
Defo agree a sling will become your best friend, try find a local sling meet to find one that suits you.
If you need car to do dog walks, do you have massive boot because if dogs and off roader (which aren't great for folding down tiny) dont fit in boot together it gets v messy.

AnnaBegins · 17/05/2015 20:43

We've just bought a Quinny Buzz Xtra for the same purposes, my SIL had the previous version for 5 years of hard use so that persuaded us! Liked the Maxi Cosi Mura 3 but it was heavier... Also bought a sling Smile

Haggisfish · 17/05/2015 20:52

My britax was fab-faced both ways and went through mud, stones, water etc etc. loved it. I was tempted by a jane though.

maamalady · 17/05/2015 21:09

My Baby Jogger City Versa GT is great off-road (fields, tracks, and beaches, not tried in proper mud). DD did bounce in the carrycot on rougher surfacesunless I went at a snail's pace though, which I imagine is true of most prams off-road. I agree with others that a sling is MUCH easier for moving at a reasonable pace over any terrain, and babies are often happier too.

DevonLulu · 18/05/2015 09:26

Baby jogger summit x3 is excellent. I had the carry cot for when my little on was small. Can take car seat adapters I'm pretty sure. Brilliant off road and easy fold. I am very rural and would never have used the travel system for my off road pram. I bought a cheap second hand pram which lived in my car and was compatible with the car seat, much easier to manoeuvre around town and meant that I didn't have a boot full of mud or have to clean my off road pram all the time. Little things like this make a big difference when time is short!

DevonLulu · 18/05/2015 09:27

Would agree with others too, had a wrap, ergo and a back pack for waking. Much easier (and snuglier!) to carry not push

Original poster
countrybumpkingirl · 18/05/2015 12:33

Thanks for your replies everyone! Haggisfish which britax did you have? I'm quite keen to get a parent and world facing one if possible. AnnaBegins how was the quinny buzz off road? I'm interested in it as it's on offer at the moment making it a LOT cheaper than vista etc! Only problem is the small basket but I'm not sure how much it matters as I have to drive to get to any shops so do supermarket shops online already.

If I'm going to end up getting a "proper" off-roader then spending less now would be ideal so in favour of quinny. I'm also interested in the maxi cosi mura but can't find any shops that stock it to try it out! Anyone seen it?

I've got a sling already and think that might be a good option too...as you say it keeps hands free and it very easy.

Also very good point about keeping the car for the "clean" buggy...already on it! And have a big boot on my Passat so dogs can fit in with big buggy.

Thanks again Smile

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 18/05/2015 19:53

Britax b smart is the nearest I can find to the one we have. It was also good because the car seat clipped onto isofix base and then straight onto base so baby didn't wake up. Good luck!

cathpip · 18/05/2015 20:05

I have the old style (New Zealand made) mountain buggy, the new style would not be upto the job and I also have the baby jogger summit x3 as a back up buggy. The mountain buggy if you buy the correct one from eBay will go up over and through anything, I have spaniels and live just outside the Yorkshire dales, and I have used it from when dc were about 8 weeks. The bonus being is that the seat is all poppered onto the frame so it is easily removed and washed. I would advise that you invest In a good carrier, I have a macpac back pack which I have used from 6 months in all weathers, it does come with a waterproof cover but I have found that a golfing umbrella is just as good at keeping everybody dry!

cathpip · 18/05/2015 20:08

Oh and a passat will fit a mountain buggy/baby jogger and two labs in the boot easily, I used to have labs and a mob with a passat when dc1 was born!

Velvet1973 · 19/05/2015 02:55

I have the Jane trider and love it. It's not great for proper "deep" mud as my stupid brother discovered but then not sure many would be. It has been great on 95% of our dog walks. Was a joy in snow and pretty good with an almost 2 stone baby in over gravel. It's amazing around shops and town too though as turns one handed on a sixpence. You have many different combinations re travel system for it including a proper carrycot that is a travel carrycot for the car or the matrix car seat which can be a lie flat car seat as well as normal car seats and carrycots. It takes a nano second to flip from forward facing to parent facing and vice versa so have flipped to forward to use it in place of a highchair if needed.
Downsides are it isn't a great compact fold (however it is very easy!) but the wheels clip off exceptionally easily so if we've done the whole really muddy thing I take them off and put them in a carrier bag. It is also quite heavy to lift if you fold it with seat unit in place. I love it and think the quality is excellent. Unsure why it's not a much stronger brand in the U.k.

AnnaBegins · 19/05/2015 22:14

Sorry for slow reply! My SIL's old Quinny coped with many scout camps and muddy walks, so hoping ours will do the same.

If you're near rugby, baby barn at marton had the Mura 3 and the Quinny buzz to try out.

I liked the seat reclining mechanism on the Mura better, but liked the hood, fold and (slightly) lighter weight of the buzz.

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