Which twin buggy? Out n About Nipper or Maclaren?

[Imafairy]

Ladies, I need your advice please.
I need to buy a twin buggy for DS1 (a large nearly 3 year old)and DS2 who is 6 weeks. I have narrowed my selection down to the Nipper (new ine with swivel wheel) and the Maclaren but now can't make the final decision!
On the one hand I think the Nipper will be more comfortable for the boys, but the Maclaren will be easier to travel with, and will not take up the entire boot.
I am looking for the pros and cons of each, so naturally there was only one place to turn!!!
I will be using the twin mainly for taking DS1 to nursery, shopping, and longer walks at weekends - but not long country treks.
Can anyone help?
TIA
x

Have you checked the width of the Nipper. I know a lot of the 3 wheel doubles are very wide and don't fit through standard doorways. I've got a MacLaren and have yet to find a single doorway that it won't fit through. It's also lovely to push and comfy for both kids.

Thanks Olihan - apparently the Nipper is only a cm or two wider than the Maclaren. Which Maclaren do you have?

Hey! I am exactly in the same dilemma. I am torn between the nipper 360 and the Maclaren Rally. Though I know that the first one wouldn't fit our door... But I met yesterday a mum with twins and a beautiful red nipper, she let me put my eldest and have a steer. It was light! I currently have a Cosatto tandem, it is too heavy.
The only thing with the nipper is that DS has very broad shoulders and when is time for sweters and coats, he will be tightish in his seat, but I guess that it will be the same with every double pushchair. I'm off tomorrow to the shops to see and try the Maclaren with both kids in it.
Also, since I'm not in a hurry, when I decide, I'll wait for it in Ebay .

So, if you have the chance try them both and good luck!

I faced exactly the same choice and was thinking of the Rally twin til I tried the Nipper DOuble - absolutely no contest. Love the Nipper (I've got fixed wheel) - it's so light, even with loads of clobber and 3.5 & 1 year olds in. I never feel like I'm really pushing it and I'm only 5'3. Can also push one handed easily. Always worried that the Rally would take a lot of effort and my arms/shoulders would feel very stretched. It goes on the bus and in certain cafes no bother.

The downside is it does take up a reasonable amount of space when stored (and it doesn't fit in my very narrow front door!). But tbh if I'm going in the car to town I take a single buggy and DD1 walks round shops, so not really a problem.

HTH - go for the Nipper, you'll not regret it!

Zeebee, so what do you do when you get home and the kids are sleeping? Do you have to open the door, carry one in, go back and get the other, then go out again to get the pushchair and fold it? That is what worries me, if I'm with DH, we should manage, but maybe there is a routine/technique I should learn from you. Also, are you happy with the fixed wheel? Thanks!

sorry - i can't help with either - i'm a big philandted fan - especially with a little infant

Koalabear, but is that the pushchair that carries one child near the floor? Is the child going on that seat happy to lie there? It seems to me that one cannot see much from there. Also, what is the weight limit? Thanks!

Aprilmum - happily it will fit in the back door - french windows! But mine is the only front door I've come across that it doesn't fit through if that's any reassurance. The Rally wouldn't have fitted either.

I was worried about the fixed wheel, was a swivel wheel fan til I tried it but haven't found it problematic, especially as it's so easy to tip if needed to get round tight/sharp corners. Generally though it seem to go round more gradual corners without needing to be tipped up. I've tried the E3 with one child in and I'd have to jump up to tip it, eg up a big curb. A nanny friend of mine prefers nipper to e3.

When DD2 was little I did put a fleece in her seat for extra snugness.

The Nipper double was recommended to me by a couple of friends. You'll have to let us know what you decide or if you've more questions! I feel I'm starting to sound a bit sad now!

I have a nipper double. It fits fine through my front door - althought there is an art to getting it up the steps .
It is very easy to push.- with one hand and another holding onto a toddler with 2 inside the chair that is.
The only downside is that I have had lots of punctures though all in the same tyre - i think it must be a dodgy tyre, which have proved to be a pain at times.
I can usually get it into everywhere I need to go - including on the bus.
Currently is sometimes also has a buggy board on the back too.

April mum - bigger child sits up front (high) until whilst smaller child lies flat underneath (which was great when my dd was days old)

When younger child reaches 5/6 months, the bit which lies flat converts to a sitting up position, and the toddler seat which was "up front" attaches behind this ("almost on the floor" as you put it ). You can then either put toddler in front bit, or in the second "floor" seat. Personally, my toddler LOVES the second seat and scrambles in there himself with a big grin on his face. This leaves baby in the front.

However, when he is having tantrums I put him in the front and put my 7 month old in the lower seat, which also works very well

Take a look at the phil and ted website which shows the different configerations

www.philandteds.com/cat.htm

Have you considered the combi we2 which will fit through almost anything and looks fairly similar to a maclaren? I have twins and did extensive research amongst parents of twins before buying and they all passionately recommended against the maclaren. I ended up having the choice between the nipper, which I loved, and the combi we2 which is a little lighter and more compact, and particularly good if you're not doing cross-country walking.

Thanks TDM - funnily enough someone I spoke to at the weekend recommended that too!
I test drove both the Maclaren and the Nipper at the weekend, and think I've ruled out the Maclaren as it's so heavy, so next step is to look into the Combi, and check the Nipper can fit through the door.
Why is nothing every straightforward???

I've owned the maclaren and the comi. The maclaren is a nightmare to push and the comi is rather flimsy. It's very lightweight and manueverable but this is because it is mostly made of plastic! I snapped the bumper bar off mine and it felt like the whole thing would have collapsed sooner or later so I got rid of it. I'd go for the nipper out of those three, but personally I don't think it is very well padded or comfty for a newborn. I would recomend the Jane powertwin, or the emmaljunga twin. They are the two that I've got on best with. The boys got fed up with the powertwin once they got over a year, and we now use an emmaljunga which is extremely comfortable, and faces both ways.

I have just bought a 360 nipper for my 4 month old and 2.5 year old. Had a phil and teds e3 but it's now on ebay as ds2 was so uncomfortable in it and I needed something that reclined. Absolutely love the nipper, have been so surprised how easy it is to push and it really does fit through all standard doors. It is very easy to use, folds easily and I especially like the way it clips together and stands up folded (my e3 didn't) Oh and plenty of shopping space with the shopping tray thing you can get to go underneath.

We tried a combi but the seat was a bit too small for ds1 and we do a lot of walking.

Alison222 - how does the buggy board work best with the nipper double? Do you position it centrally or to one side? Does child put head between handle and hood?
The one handed pushing is fab, isn't it.

loving my nipper - i have 10k version as we are both tall - used it from newborn and d3 3 is 3.5 so both extreme sizes fit in!!!

I am now the proud owner of a Nipper 360-I will report back once I've taken it out of its box .

Thanks for your input!