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Original poster

Bebe Confort Loola - how heavy is it?

27 replies

NatalieJane · 09/06/2006 16:35

Just that really! Is it the sort of buggy you would want to take to town on the bus with a new born and a 4 year old?

OP posts:

Original poster

NatalieJane · 10/06/2006 09:16

Bumpity bump :)

OP posts:

anchovies · 10/06/2006 09:31

Haven't got one although I quite fancied it. When I tried it though, I found it felt quite wide and unwieldy - think it might have been the handles I didn't like?

tribpot · 10/06/2006 09:34

I've looked at this buggy a couple of times, and concluded it's just too damn heavy. \link{http://www.kiddicare.com/invt/bugbecloolab/?rw.cm=Overture_UK,PPC,loola&cm_mmc=Spannerworks--Overture--Ad%20Words-_-loola\Kiddicare} don't mention a weight, \link{http://www.twoleftfeet.co.uk/acatalog/Bebeconfort_Loola_Travel_System.html\Two Left Feet} say 6.6 kg plus seat unit 3kg (not sure if that is the car seat?) \link{http://www.mothercare.com/invt/la0229\Mothercare} says 14kg.

I couldn't even contemplate it and I only have one child! But then again, our bus is one of those old ones with a whole series of steps to get up, pretty tough with any buggy, never mind a heavy one.

Shame, as I would really like a rearward facing buggy.

mandymac · 10/06/2006 09:43

I have one and no way would I try and collapse it and carry it onto a bus on my own, never mind with a baby and 4 year old to juggle. It takes me two hands and a lot of effort to lift it into the boot of the car.

Don't get me wrong, it has been great otherwise - I love the fact that DD can face me and we bought the car seat bit, so it was good to be able to just pop that on and off of the frame, but it is pretty heavy.

SomethingAboutMary · 10/06/2006 10:00

Hmm i brought one of these before dd was born & used it twice when she was born & i hated it i sold it on ebay, i found the whole pushchair frame was to wide & it is heavy as i found out when trying to get it in & out of the car!

Original poster

NatalieJane · 10/06/2006 11:45

Oh no!! Looks like I am back to searching again. Thanks though everyone :)

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tribpot · 11/06/2006 16:21

NJ, what are you looking for? Rearward facing specifically? If so, I can tell you that (to my knowledge) they're all too heavy to manage on the bus, am gutted.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 11/06/2006 20:26

I'm not overly bothered about the rear facing (although I was pleased it was one of the features) it was more because of it having two handles in stead of a handle bar IYKWIM?! I quite often come home on the bus with bags and bags or shopping, and most prams have either a very small basket or like in the Loola's case a basket that is virtually impossible to get bags into, so I like to have the handles to hold the shopping, else I would be pushing the pram one handed and carrying all my shopping in my other hand!

We actually went and had a play at a Babies 'R' Us today, and although it is heavy, I think it may be OK, we only have one low step to get on the bus, and I never once had to fold DS's pram down, except to get it in the boot which DH normally did anyway! So apart from the weight and the useless shopping basket, I can't find anything wrong with it. Why do I get the feeling I will end up eating my words...?

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tribpot · 11/06/2006 20:30

If all you need is two handle bars, why not just give in to \link{http://www.mothercare.com/invt/la0145&bklist=icat,4,shop,shopushchairs,pusstrollers\The Maclaren} as everyone eventually does anyway?!

anchovies · 11/06/2006 20:51

With you on that one tribpot! I bought the techno xp and use it as much as I can get away with (4 month old and 2 year old so often have to take the phil and ted)

Original poster

NatalieJane · 11/06/2006 20:59

We have looked at a few different ones, and crossed most off the list, we need one that is suitable from birth, that can have the car seat attached, that will take the wear and tear, and with the two handles as I said!

If you know of any that do all that point me in their direction please!! :o

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anchovies · 11/06/2006 21:08

Have you thought about a mamas and papas pliko, I quite fancied \link{http://www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/product_details.php?id=P607p01&type=I\this one.}

Original poster

NatalieJane · 11/06/2006 21:20

I have looked at it, it seems lovely but I can get the Loola brand new from eBay for £200, so I can't really justify spending another £130 on top of that for the same sort of pram.

I sound like a right picky cow don't I?! I think it is because last time I ended up with a Graco travel system, that just annoyed me so much I only used it when I absolutely had to, and so this time I want something that isn't going to get on my nerves!!

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AllieBongo · 11/06/2006 21:21

my sister has one. it weighs a ton!

TicTacsMum · 11/06/2006 21:24

You can buy bag clips for a couple of quid that you can fit onto any pushchair handle. Just clip them on and hang your bags on them.

stringbean · 11/06/2006 22:49

I've recently bought a Loola, as I wanted a rear facing pushchair. Dd is deaf and I wanted to be able to talk and sign to her as we walk along, and from this point of view it's fantastic. The seat is quite high too, so she has a good view and I don't have to bend down all the time. It has a few nice features as well eg. very easy to switch to 'wiggly wheel mode', and it's a doddle to collapse. On the down side though, it's extremely heavy (14kg probably is about right), so the last thing you want to be doing is lugging it around on a bus. It also takes a lot of effort to get up kerbs - you have to push down really forcefully on the handles - the whole thing just seems to be poorly weighted. The width is also a pain - I'm always getting it stuck in shop doorways. If I hadn't specifically wanted rear facing I think I would be disappointed with this pushchair.

I searched quite extensively for a rear facing pushchair, and it was either this or the Quinny Buzz (too big, too expensive). If you're specifically after rear facing, then Maclaren is apparently bringing out a rear facing buggy at the end of the year. Otherwise, I'd be inclined to just go for a stroller-type (Maclaren or Cosatto).

Original poster

NatalieJane · 12/06/2006 08:05

Thanks again everyone, TicTac, do you know where you get these bag clips from, and if they are actually up to the job of holding heavy bags, or are they likely to break off?

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womblingalong · 12/06/2006 10:22

The bag clips are 99p for two from Boots, and do work well for carrier bags. You have to balance then properly, otherwise they do break, but apart from that they are fine. I use them on my Mclaren Techno xp all the time.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 12/06/2006 14:07

Thanks womblingalong, I will have a look at those, they would certainly open up lots of other prams to me!! :)

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saltcod · 12/06/2006 20:56

Hi Stringbean, just wondering where you heard about Maclaren bringing out a rear-facing buggy at the end of the year? I've just been to their website & had a good search but can't see any mention of it there. I loved the techno I had for dd1.... but have my heart set on a rear-facing buggy for new sproglet (not due till Jan :) ) But all the current rear-facing pushchairs just seem too cumbersome!

Thanks!

tribpot · 13/06/2006 17:56

\link{http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/pushchairs_manufacturer.html\Some info here on the response to the Talk To Your Baby campaign} - sounds a bit like Maclaren are weasling out of doing a rearward facing buggy for older babies.

If they had bothered to ask me, I could have told them that ds might like looking at stuff whilst we're out, but he also wants to be able to see me and engage in polite conversation (a variety of shrieks and babbling sounds).

\link{http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/pushchairs.html\Home page of the buggy part of the campaign} which lists the four cheapest buggies which can be rearward facing.

saltcod · 13/06/2006 20:35

Great, thanks for the link, Tribpot. Shame Maclaren look like they might not follow through with a rear-facing buggy though :(

I didn't know about the Mothercare rococo one, so that might be one to check out nearer the time. I love all the bebecar ones, but they are just SO expensive by the time you've added the carseat etc!

stringbean · 14/06/2006 13:31

Saltcod, I emailed Maclaren in April to ask why they did not have a rear-facing buggy in their extensive range of forward-facing pushchairs. They replied that they had one in production and to contact them in November for further information. I made it clear that dd was not newborn, so I was not in need of a travel system type that you can clip a carseat onto, but tribpot's link seems to suggest that this is what they're thinking about, which is a shame. Suggest you email them direct and ask for more details.

nixnoo · 15/06/2006 12:39

The Quinny Buzz seems to tick all the boxes.
AT 12kg tho, would that be too heavy to take on a bus?

saltcod · 15/06/2006 21:21

Thanks for the info, Stringbean - will try emailing them in the autumn & see if there's any news.

Nixnoo, the buzz is lovely but HUGE. It was on my shortlist until I saw one in the flesh - it's nearly as wide as some of the double pushchairs :(

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