Recommendations for prams/pushchairs for doing lots of walking (not off-road)

[AllyMcBeagle]

Hello lovely MNers,

I'm expecting my first baby in a few months so am ready to start thinking about prams/pushchairs.

• I'd like something where I can convert it from a pram to a pushchair when DS is old enough.

• Ideally it would have a parent-facing option.

• I walk a lot (or at least I did until I got HG with the pregnancy). At least 15,000 steps a day, very often 30,000. My record is over 65,000 steps in a day. I would like to do as much walking as I can with the baby to get fit and back into shape again. I'm not sure how much walking is realistic with the baby, but I'd like to do as much as I can in the nice local parks. I don't do running, just lots of walking.

• I am really expecting to only do pavement/concrete path walking, so don't need lots of off-road capabilities.

• We don't have a car so an easy ability to fold/load it in the boot doesn't matter too much to me, and I can leave it unfolded at home.

• I am hoping to travel to London to visit relatives occasionally, which will mean a train journey and then underground, but this won't be a frequent thing. I am not otherwise planning to do a huge amount of public transport and/or shopping.

• There's a possibility we might have another child, but not soon and I'll have to convince DH first so one of those seat attachments at the back ought to be fine.

Any thoughts on what would be a good match for me? I am thinking about the Bugaboo Bee because it is supposed to be light weight but durable. I am willing to spend a decent amount if it's the right product and will last years. I'd hate to struggle with something cheap and then have to replace it after a short period. I'm hoping to go to Mothercare at some point on a day when the nausea is less bad to try and push a few around, so any reccomendations for what to look it for would be gratefully appreciated.

We got the silvercross wayfarer. Not done as much walking as you're planning, but for months sprog would only fall asleep in the pram so for a good chunk of my mat leave I would be clocking between 5-10 miles a day. It's survived pretty well, has no bars to interfere with my stride, and multiple positions on the handlebars. It's been very comfortable to push. In hindsight, I wish we'd have gone for the pioneer due to its bigger wheels. You'd be surprised at how bad many pavements are!

Other good points were nice big basket, easy to fold and fit in car, and came with a cosy toes/easy to convert between pram and pushchair.

Thanks - I'll be sure to check them out.

We have the Pioneer and chose it as we have a black Lab and do a LOT of walking! A very durable and reliable travel system/pram. Foam wheels are good too, be mindful of air tyres if you are out a lot as you don't want to be stuck with a puncture and a newborn! I also like the Out and About Nipper my parents have for when they have my son. So lightweight and easy to steer and push on rougher terrain. Have a look at the new Silvercross Wave if you want one that converts to a double later on. Happy pram shopping!

I love my bugaboo bee. We were restricted as I needed the pram to fit into my car boot but I absolutely love the pram, he's out the newborn but now and it's even lighter weight. The handle adjusts a lot which is ideal for us as I'm short and husband is very tall, it comes with a rain cover which is needed when walking around I l leave it in the underneath basket just invade when out. The sunshade has a zippy part to extend it which is ideal for keeping the sun off baby. I walk about a fair bit, we go for a walk every day with the dog and I walk to family, to shops around half an hour away a lot as it's such a faff in the car when on your own!

Baby jogger city mini but the GT version. It has like air wheels but they are foam. Very light to push, amazingly easy to fold and lift for public transport. Good size seat that will last the average kid for a long time, huge hood. I think you can buy a carrycot for it and then the adaptors. Pricy but retains well on a second hand sell. GT version is imo far the best!

I've got a Joolz Day2 and it's amazing.
So manoeuvrable, compact when collapsed and I also do a lot of walking so it's definitely durable. If you went for the Joolz Geo2, that has the option to add extra seat/carrycot for a second baby.

Thanks everyone. Lots of great reccomendations. Keep them coming if anyone has anymore

I have a quinny mood it is great for walking, and off road even though you mention this isnt neccessary. It is easy to fold down but quite bulky which might be difficult on public transport. It is parent and world facing, reclines fully and is high up for baby to look out of

I had a baby jogger elite, but would have had a premier if I knew they existed!
We had a Quinny Moodd and I really didn't like it. DP wasn't too happy that we got rid of it as it wasn't cheap, but I was so much happier with the baby jogger.
The premier is parent and world facing, the seats are much bigger and the sun canopies are fabulous on the baby joggers. They also have adaptors to fit on maxi cosi and other big brand car seats.

Hi AllyMcBeagle firstly, congratulations! It's such an exciting time. I head up reviews here at MNHQ. I thought I'd just pop on to this thread to say that we tested a whole bunch of travel systems last summer including the Bugaboo Bee5.

It's a lovely buggy, really compact and easy to manoeuvre. I'd say it's a great choice if you know your walks aren't going to take you off road. If you think you'll be heading to the countryside, or even gravel roads, then it might not be the best fit. The tiny wheels, whilst great for cities, aren't ideal for rougher terrain.

If future proofing is important to you, it might be worth taking a look at the iCandy Orange, it can take a second seat, and comes with a buggy board as standard. It's lightweight, but actually really sturdy so you won't have to worry about it toppling over. And it's got full suspension and puncture resistant wheels so hopefully, you shouldn't have any issues while you're out and about.

Another option would be to not bother with a big travel system at all and see if using a sling for walking works for you. Lots of MNners suggest using a sling for the first few months and then moving on to a lightweight pushchair when their kids get a little bigger. Hope that helps! Let us know how you get on

In your shoes I’d get a baby jogger premier (ticks l boxes except the double conversion) or an icandy orange if the double bit clinches the deal (I love that it has a built in buggy board if your gap is a bit bigger).

Then get a cheap stroller for travel to London (eg mothercare nanu)

Dash. I don't remember the brand but the pram is called Dash. I love the colours but more importantly, it's great for walking and veery light and adapts to second seat. There was a parent facing seat as well but my friend didn't get it as it cost extra.