Running buggy for everyday use

[wtdx]

Hi!
I'm 4 months pregnant with my first baby and thinking a little bit about prams. I'm a really keen runner, as is DH, and we'd like to be able to run with a running buggy once our child is old enough.

We've started to wonder if we can manage with just a running buggy (with bassinet to start with), as we live rurally so will need an all-terrain pushchair regardless. I've been looking particularly at the Cybex Avi Spin and the Thule Urban Glide 3. Does anyone have any experience or advice of using this type of buggy for everyday use? Is it wishful thinking and should I expect to buy two? Or any recommendations of what might be a good fit for us?

Thanks so much!

My daughter is 9 months old now and I got a running buggy when she was 6 months so I could start running again (they say not to run with baby til 6 months), I love mine but it’s not my everyday pushchair, great for dog walks and running but it’s not particularly practical for things like popping to the shops or putting in the car- takes up a lot more space than our everyday pushchair, and if you use public transport you’d probably struggle with that, definitely workable if you wanted to just have one though!

I had the out & about 360 (with locking front wheel) and adored it, used it for absolutely everything (also live rurally). I did distances up to 18miles with that buggy. I did eventually buy the sport version when my son was coming up to 3 because he was getting a bit heavier.
Whatever you decide, I really recommend getting the wheels slimed to prevent punctures :)

Thanks so much! Did you find it was too big to take into cafes etc? I don't need to get on public transport as we drive everywhere but trying to weigh up splurging on running buggy that I can use with bassinet etc, or finding an alternative 'main pram' and a cheaper second hand running buggy just for running. The main complaints I seem to find is that the running buggies are too big for day to day use.

Thanks so much - really appreciate it! That's my main concern about it being too big to be convenient for everyday use. Public transport isn't such an issue as we have to drive everywhere rurally but I I'd like to be able to get into cafes etc easily!

No, I actually found, compared to friends' buggies it was much easier to move around and you can completely control it with one hand, which is useful for shops etc. It is also narrow enough for all single doorways which some buggies aren't. It probably doesn't collapse quite so small, but the wheels pop on & off really easily.

The Out n About Nipper Sport running buggy with the fixed front wheel struggles to fit through some shop doorways. It’s not the width, it’s the fact you can’t manoeuvre it around doors and cramped shop displays with a fixed wheel. You would definitely need a second buggy, mostly because you’ll go mad trying to squeeze it into not big enough spaces.

We went for an ultra compact buggy (Joolz Aer) plus the normal Out n About Nipper off road buggy. Having the book ends of buggies worked really well for us.

Running buggies can be picked up pretty cheaply as almost no one uses them consistently. They turn out to be more of a wishful thought than essential item for most people!

I got a great tip from a friend when we were looking at prams, and 3 years down the line I whole heartedly agree with it.

No one pram can do everything well. So you either compromise all round, or get picky. Or get two.

We had three. A Silver cross reflex umbrella fold buggy, an uppababy vista and an out n about nipper. All bought second hand, total spend less than any single one of them new.

For what you’re after, it’s definitely worth looking at a running buggy + lie flat umbrella fold combo. For cafes and boot space, use the umbrella. For outdoors and running, use the running buggy.

Pram mitts, cosy toes etc are all pretty much interchangeable.

Vista was great for walking miles on pavements, bringing half the weeks Tesco shop home, decent paths in country parks etc. Was good middle of the road, particularly with an October baby in NE Scotland where the bassinet got a lot of use.

We bought an out n about when our little one was 6 months old, wish I'd had it earlier. From birth I used a second hand bugaboo fox but stopped using that pretty quickly. I've run with an out n about no problem. we are rural and the out n about really does go anywhere!
It's our only buggy now and I take it into shops and cafes

Out n about nipper v5 is a great option as it can be used as a normal day to day buggy and then the wheel can be locked for running. The uppababy ridge is a bit bigger but also a great option, I like the easier accessible basket on it

Had an out n about nipper for both our daughters, with DD2 we used it from birth and have never found it a pain for general use. We haven't used it this time for running as DD2 is not a fan of the buggy at all and is a walker. With DD1 we used it until she was 4 and I used it to run with quite happily.