Buggy addicts - Xplory or lightweight umbrella-fold. Help me decide!

[bonym]

Currently have Pliko pramette and bought Maclaren Triumph for hols earlier in year.

Pliko is too heavy to lug in and out of car (although great for walking) and Triumph is too insubstantial for dd2 to be comfortable (7.5 mths).

Was originally thinking of replacing the Triumph with something like a M&P Pulse or Ziko but have been looking at the Stokke Xplory on-line (not test-driven it yet!) and really, really want one!! Only things that put me off are portability - would it fold and fit in the car easily? - and storage - doesn't seem to have a basket, or handles to hang bags from?

I would really like something that has the option for her to face me so the Xplory ticks the boxes on this.

Thoughts/opinions please!

are the strokke one s those really werd looking things?

Bloody awful IMHO.

• Yes I know they look a bit odd, but I like the fact that the baby is high up so can see what's going on (and not so close to care fumes), can face you, and you can push it with one hand (I'm so sick of getting soaked walking to and from school because I can't hold an umbrella and push the pram at the same time).

Car fumes, obviously!

But would a toddler sit comforatbly in one?
The seat looks teeny weeny

Don't know - I need to get to Mothercare to try one out. Just wondered if anyone had one and could give me some feedback. Or recommend an alternative.

I don't think the Xplory folds up well and might not fit in your car. I do think they are nice, but with your dd being nearly 8months old, I suspect a normal lightweight buggy might suit you better.
They are incredibly easy and nice to push apparently.

See it's tiny

Bonym - this could have been me writing the thread a couple of weeks ago !! I too had a Pliko Pramette, then got a triumph and dd decided she did NOT like it when on holiday ! So had to buy a third - was choosing between the pulse or the Quinny Zapp which I really wanted first time round. I went for the Zapp and so far, so good I love it although I know a lot of people think they look awful !! It doesn't recline though, so depends if your dd uses it for sleeping in (my dd doesn't sleep even in the pliko so I decided it didn't matter and she has in fact, slept once in the Zapp).

I would say, if you really like the Stokke and think it will last, go for it because you'll always be hankering after it otherwise !!

Yes, the Zapp looks nice, but I really want something that will recline flat as I know she won't sleep in it otherwise. Also something that will face me as she can get grouchy if she can't see me!

Bump for the afternoon lot!

Anyone?

quinny buzz

Does the Buzz lie flat?

the buzz is a muti postistional, but larger folded than strollers. xplory looks odd, but have always wondered what they are like. way too out of my price range.

Bonym, I've got a Quinny Buzz and love it. It lies completely flat if you need it to and has a lovely footmuff that's like a mini-sleeping bag which DS looks sooo snuggy in. It pushes like a dream and looks really stylish (IMO but some people will think it's awful). Downsides are that it doesn't have a basket but that's never bothered me, the changing bag that comes with it is quite compact but again I like that as it stops me carrying the kitchen sink but probably most important for you, it can't be folded into the boot with the buggy seat attached if you have the seat facing you.

This doesn't worry me as I have to take the seat off for the car anyway as I drive a convertible and nothing fits in the boot but it might be a problem for you.

HTH but ask away if you have more questions as we've had this from birth (used it with the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio car seat upto a month ago).

Hi, i am so glead to see a thread on here with some buggy addicts!! The only ones I have seen so far have been saying how "chavvy" we are for buying expensive pushchairs and haven't we got better things to spend our money on!!??!!

A friend of mine had the Stokke Xplory and had nothing but problems with it. She had to have the handle replaced and then had to have the chassis replaced - twice!! They replaced the seat unit too and in the end sent her a new one (which she sold coz she was so sick of it by then she didn't want it anymore). It was hell to fold up and get in the boot, but the baby loved being in there high up so he could see everything (nosey bubba)!! HTH

I found the Maclaren Techno XT a good fold up, the Pliko P3 lovely to push but heavier to lift (i see someone else said that too), the Freestyler is fantastic to push but a much bulkier and heavier pushchair and not as "trendy" now.

I haven't tried any of the new fold ups as I now have two under 16months and have no choice but to use doubles now (got several of them if anyone need advise, I have tried 'em all)!!!

Good luck, I hope you find what you are looking for

Hi Busywizzy - is the seat easy to remove from the buzz?

You would think, wouldn't you that with all the buggies out there I would be able to find one that fits my requirements!!

All I want is a reversible seat, reasonably lightweight and a lie-flat option. There must be something .

Bonym, the seat is very easy to remove but you have to have 'the knack' so to speak There are buttons either side that you push down and then the seat just lifts off the chassis. The knack comes from being able to push both the buttons down with your thumbs at the same time whilst using your hands to hold the seat and lift it off (not sure if I've explained that properly) If you push the buttons down but don't lift the seat at the same time, it just locks back into place. I invariably cock it up when it's raining and I'm rushing

it does look good bonym, i think john lewis stock it if u need to test drive it.

What about the Bebeconfort Loola? It's reversible, and their stuff is usually good quality.

Well - have been to look at both the Buzz and the Loola (couldn't find an Xplory yet!). (Misdee - we don't have John Lewis in Cardiff yet - although it's coming soon!) Like them both but think the Buzz might be better for me as I am quite tall and the handles are bit low on the Loola.

They also do a shopping basket for the buzz now so that's addressed one of my concerns. Busy - is there anything you don't like about it? You say it fits in your convertible boot ok - dh has an A4 convertible - is it likely to fit in there?

The shop said they no longer sell the Xplory as they'd had loads of problems with it (the chassis breaking) so they've withdrawn them all from sale! Might rule it out then! .

Bonym, I drive an A4 convertible too so deffo it will fit in the boot. Usually, I put the chassis in the boot and the seat on the back seat of the car but if I need to have two people in the back, I can take the wheels off the chassis (very easy to do) and the seat fits in the boot as well.

There really is nothing I don't like about the Quinny with the exception that it's a bit of a pain having to take the seat off. So as long as you've had a look at how you dismantle it and you're happy with that, then go for it.

Two minor points slightly bug me sometimes (depending how much sleep I've had ) The hood isn't attached to the back of the buggy so if you pull too hard, it comes right forward, leaving the back exposed and you have to push it back. Can't imagine why they designed it like that. The other thing I think is common to all three wheelers and that is that it's quite wide where the wheels are and it can be difficult (impossible) to get through some narrow doorways and some shops are difficult to navigate if there isn't much room between isles (tends to be small shops where this happens).

That's it really. In summary, it's small, light and a dream to push around. DS loves being in it as it's sooo snuggy. Deffo get the footmuff but be prepared to get stressed when you try and put it on, it's a right faff. On the downside, it's a pain having to take the seat off to put it in the car but you only need to do this so long as the seat is facing you, once you turn it around it will fold down in one piece (so long as it fits in the boot of course).

Sorry really long post but wanted to give as much info as poss. Happy choosing.

Thanks Busy - am almost certain we will go for the Buzz.

One more question though if you don't mind - I read somewhere that the raincover is a bit of a pain because you can't just "open" it if you do into a shop for example, you have to take it off completely. Is this true?

Yes, thinking about it, that would be right. I've only ever had to use the rain cover once and didn't need to open it but it's a bit like a car seat rain cover whereby it just fits over the whole buggy so you couldn't really roll it back. Hmmmmmmmm not ideal !!! Will have to think when that might cause a problem and how we'd get around it.