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Micralite vs Techno XT vs Quinny Zapp - Any others?

10 replies

hrc · 16/03/2007 09:29

Yes I know this is another buggy question but ....Please help, I am travelling solo to NZ from London with my 10 month old daughter at the end of the month. I can see there are a lot of buggy gurus out there on net mums so desparately looking for advice. I need to buy a buggy asap that I can take with me but nothing seems perfect. I am 5ft 3 and the XT handles seem too high however it fits the bill in most other ways - goes flat, seems manoeverable, has small shopping basket etc. But doesn't look like I can fold one handed whilst holding HRH. Have seen some bad reviews for Micralite and Quinny Zapp has no shopping basket and I've also read can't be one handed fold/tips easily. Does anyone have any other ideas. I don't want to have a buggy collection so really looking for one that will last (I already have a Bebe Confort Loola which as a buggy I hate but with carrycot it was great when she was younger). Thanks in anticipation!

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hollyandalice · 16/03/2007 09:56

I love my Zapp!! It has its faults, but overall it is a fab buggy and perfect for travelling. We took ours to Australia 6 months ago and it suffered no ill effects! It comes with a travel bag that goes over your shoulder so is really easy to transport. It is really light and folds up really small. No it doesn't have a basket or recline, but apart from that it's great! I will be sad to see mine go (having to sell it as have no 2 on the way).

Lupu · 16/03/2007 15:52

I'm nearly 8 months pregnant and still wallowing in the sea of choices of travel systems,pushchairs, carry cots, car seats etc. I've looked at the reviews but what I really want to know is, who wins, travel system or pushchair? Someone please help!

katzg · 16/03/2007 16:00

i have a zapp and i love it but it doesn't fold one handed but you can get round the shopping basket thing, there are shops on ebay that sell goes underneath baskets.

i would go to an independent buggy place and try a few, put them up push them, try putting them up and down whilst holding your dd, this is what i did when i chose my zapp. although i didn't do the folding whilst holding dd, it wasn't a requirement.

The best thing for me about the zapp is the weight, its soo light to push, i can happily push dd1 whos now 4.5 in it is necessary.

kittypants · 16/03/2007 16:03

i hated my zapp!ds wanted to lay back atleast a bit and if my other dc held on to handles it tipped!

SoupDragon · 16/03/2007 16:08

I borrowed a Zapp to go to Spain recently. It was a real b*startd to fold. So much so that I begged the security checkers not to make me fold it to be xrayed as I'd only just unfolded the bloody thing.

nearlythere · 16/03/2007 16:10

what about the graco citisport- not greatly inspiring but imo one of the most practical buggies for travelling- light, fold one handed and even has a carry strap- also much cheaper!

hrc · 16/03/2007 20:11

Thanks all will do some more research. Where are the micralite owners - anyone out there???

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CarGirl · 16/03/2007 20:16

agree the xt - the handles are too high if you're a shortie plus they are relatively big and bulky. Look at the smaller maclarens - They ryder or even a quest. I too was surprisingly impressed with my graco citysport easy to steer one hand, large basket, very light, easy to fold one handed and compact fold.

hrc · 17/03/2007 14:21

Lupu hope the following is of some help to you. I too did masses of research. I had to have a planned Csection so I knew from the outset that I wanted a carrycot - which forced us into a travel system. ie buggy, carseat, carry cot. If I had my choice over again I would now buy a bugaboo - I expect they are worth every * penny you spend on them. I ended up with a Bebe Confort Loola which was fab for a carrycot (though outgrown about 4 months). The car seat I have never really been happy with as HRH always looked very slumped until v recently (shes just about to finish using it). However the frame collapses Very small and this was great for our boot. So for first 4-5 months it was great for around town. Then I had to swap over to using the buggy. Its very heavy when all together. Shopping basket is small but it surprisingly didn't trouble me. Its never tipped over and has good raincover/protection from the wind. If you think you will do a lot of walking early on I think the carrycot is a great idea as they sleep so well in them (as we live fairly close to town we managed to walk out and eat lunch out fairly frequently). If you think you will use the car a lot them really pay attention to the car seat and how easily the buggy it fits into the boot (try it before buying). HRH NEVER managed to come from the carseat into the house and stay asleep so am not convinced a travel system is really necessary but I do think if it suits your lifestyle a carrycot is great. (We did not use a moses basket and she slept in the carrycot or a hammock for the first 4 months). The reason I would buy a bugaboo given what I know now is a) they are VERY MANOEVERABLE? spelling! b) Have great shopping basket c) Carrycot is a good size etc d) people seem to be able to keep them till the children are quite old. However we did not buy one as I sometimes need to use public transport and I was told you need to take it apart into 2 which is not conducive to London buses. I hope this helps a little! Good luck. PS I am a fan of rear facies buggies, I think it is very special to be able to see what your little one reacts to and react to them as they do. I still have HRH's facing to the rear at 10.5 months old and only very occassionally face forward.

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alfielooloo · 19/03/2007 11:16

I bought a Micralite to keep in the boot of the car for shopping etc, got a 3 wheeler for everyday use. I got it soooo cheap £50! Only because it was a small independant baby shop who had bought 3 of these buggys & had only managed to sell 1 of them & so wanted to get rid of other two to make room for new stock. I'm so glad I didn't pay full price for this buggy. It isn't nice to push, the shopping basket is too small & difficult to get things into it, it tips up very easily. Only good thing IMO is the fact that it is very easy to collapse & doesnt take up much space, & wheels come off easily.

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