Where can I see a range of strollers?!!

[nc0007]

In SE England. I’ve been to Boots, Mamas&Papas, John Lewis in a shopping centre. Each store had maybe 2 strollers on show (the rest were all travel systems / prams). I have a pram but need a nice, easy stroller under £200. Saw some online but want to see and feel them in person before committing. With mothercare going it seems there is no single large store you can view a big range of strollers?! I really don’t have the time to be driving from shop to shop! Help!

Also send me recommendations!

Near me John Lewis would literally be the only option. I can recommend the Silver Cross Pop.

Smyths tend to have a bundle out on show. You have to ask a staff member to unlock them to have a play about with them, but they're always happy to do so.

@ARichtGoodDram that’s a good shout - might have to find a large Smyths. I’m particularly interested to see the kinderkraft and ickle bubbas as I like the look but need to get a feel for the quality! The department stores tend to have the bigger brands

I’m SE and smyths has the biggest range for us. I feel your pain. We’re expecting DC2 and just need a new stroller not travel system. I know what we want (design wise) but want to actually push a few first before committing. I’m trying to find a warehouse or similar that stocks loads but I think we’re going to have to spend a day and travel for one of those

Natural baby shower? It’s Surrey way, so a bit of drive but maybe not depending on where in the se you are.

@SareBear87 right!! I’m the same - set on design but I need to get a feel for them! Warehouse would be a good shout. Would love it if Kiddies Kingdom was local!

YY Smyths have the cheaper stuff which tends to involve more strollers. The big travel systems are the money makers though so if a store has limited floor space it makes sense they would focus on those.

I would go on something like the Silver Cross or Kinderkraft website and see if they have stockists linked and check if any are independents and you might be able to phone up and ask what they have. For example there is a place in Rugby (I know a bit far for you) which is a giant warehouse out in the countryside and they used to have every pram on display including strollers. Maybe there is somewhere like that near you? Are you anywhere near Baby Lady? She always seems helpful on youtube.

I would also look at the stroller workshop on Youtube - they tend to have helpful reviews although they aren't keen on umbrella folds, so might not have many. Ignore the Norwegian name, the channel is in English. https://www.youtube.com/@BarnevognverkstedNo

In fact, thinking about it, is it possible that umbrella fold strollers are just going out of fashion a bit? It seems like people either want full featured with parent facing and car seat adapters and suspension or they want a microcompact with tiny wheels and the most uncomfortable looking seats, or there's a fourth category which I discovered with my younger two which is what I think of as a "workhorse" - huge roomy seat, simple mechanical operation so it's all very robust, but folds down easily/quickly for storage and can handle anything you throw at it plus they tend to be cheap. I have an old Britax B-Agile for this but the BJCM is also popular.

I know that the Stroller Workshop guy had an informative rant somewhere in one of his videos, about how the original umbrella stroller (Maclaren) had the double wheels modelled on aircraft wheels and everyone making that kind of stroller copies them, but they serve no practical purpose.

@BertieBotts thanks that’s helpful info!
I will look for warehouse type places as that’s a good shout. I’ve looked at some videos too but videos can be as good as a picture in the sense that I want to touch it and see if it feels plasticky / rattles when you move it about.

Im not sure I’m too keen on umbrella strollers either, I had a Joie one with my first and as simple as it was, I think I’m looking more for the ‘single hand’ fold ones that collapse. Need it mainly for the car as taking my pram frame out, then the seat attachment is heavy and clunky of a process and we are also going on holiday soon so something practical for the flight. Although we are also taking our car seat so can’t be that practical without taking the pram it attaches to 🙄 thank heavens for suitcase trollies at the airport

John Lewis were great near us but I went to the baby show up at the excel with MIL and tried loads out and then took husband to John Lewis and a local shop which shocked what I liked to have a look!

https://www.frillsallround.com/

Independent shop. Huge range.

There are baby shows in London and Birmingham a couple of times a year! They had massive stock. Or find an independent store local too you I wouldn’t buy one I hadn’t seen in person either especially for the price we’re paying.

That's why I like the Stroller Workshop videos because they are a repair centre and he is quite brutally honest about how solid or not something is.

Thanks! I’ll give it a watch!

I went to a baby show about 5 years ago and I agree there were loads of strollers to test drive but I do need it quite soon so can’t hang around for a show!

@nc0007If you do buy something let me know! I think we’re after a very similar stroller!

We have a Cybex Beezy for DN as we do 4 hour train journeys to Birmingham and London regularly. We saw it at a baby show.

Roomy enough for a small 3 year old. Folds and unfolds with one hand. Folds small so can go in the overhead luggage rack. Seat goes basically flat. Basket is big enough to fit a good size changing bag into. Much sturdier than the Bugaboo Bee I was originally intending on getting.

The only downside for me is that it's a drawstring type thing for moving the seat up and down rather than a click one and I find it fiddly.

Smyths Toy Superstore always has a big selection.
The branch in Greenwich (SE London) has a new shop next door that's a baby equipment retailer. I don't know the name of it off-hand.
Will Google.....
Edit : Ebebek is the new retailer. They are a chain it seems so there's several branches.

Yes! I’ve been to one in lakeside - just can’t remember what the selection was like! I might go there at the weekend

@ARichtGoodDram ah that’s similar to what I’m looking for slightly out of budget! I did see the other Cybex that basically folds in to a cube - DH likes that one 🙄

I wasn't keen on the one that folded into a cube - too many folding parts is just asking for failure or danger for me.

Might be worth having a look on eBay - cybex seem to send more than most to reviewers and influencers.

I bought mine "second hand" off a woman who had reviewed in on YouTube. It still had most of the wrapping and the wee plastic protector bits on it and had never been outside. When the raincover got damaged cybex still happily sent me a free replacement even though I wasn't the original owner.

@ARichtGoodDram that’s a really good shout! I didn’t think about that!

It sucks that places like Kiddicare went under. They were valuable when I was pregnant. I was able to test the prams and there were so many to choose from!