Calling all pushchair fanatics - advice needed

[Klio]

I currently have an iCandy Apple and absolutey hate it for a million and one reasons but most as it is so, so heavy and cumbersome to steer and in either mode the wheels are just useless. I do a lot of walking and everywhere I take it is is just more of a chore, and poor ds get rattled around with me trying to get the wheels to unjam, etc... I do have a McClaren Quest as well but we do need a more substantial buggy as we have a German Shepherd and so are often out and out over all kinds of terrain with him.

I have a ds who has just turned 1 and we hope to begin ttc no.2 in the near future. I have stuck with the iCandy, because it was an expensive buy but I just can't stand it any more. In short I lothe the bloody thing!!

I would love any advice and suggestions on what to get as a replacement. I have been thinking about the Phil and Ted's..... are they all they are cracked up to be? Space in the car boot isn't an issue. I am going to put the iCandy onto ebay once I've worked out how to do it so hopefully we'll get some money back for that. I have got a little bit of money saved up so can afford up to £350, £400 at a push.

fancy a bugaboo? its up for £450 ono.

I have a Red Castle ShopnJogg
Shop n Jogg at Olivers Baby Care
I currently use the car seat as the pram but I love it and have tried the seat for a bit - I walk a fair bit and have done slow jogging with it (but not much as ds too young) - it is a hybrid, not a jogger but too big for most shopping buggies.

P&T is easy to push and would be good on rough ground I guess (I am an urban dweller)
Plus it can convert to a double for when you have 2

For DD1 I had the Jane 360 and it was great -though took up all the boot space, for DD2 I now have the Quinny Buzz - also love it.

BIL has the Jane Powertwin and loves it, theres is about 18m being his children.

HTH

I do lots of walking to and have bought a phil & teds - its bloody marvellous TBH and worth every penny. My back is so much happier!

You probably won't want to hear this, but my lovely dp bought me an icandy cherry and its fab! Very stable, easy to steer ,light to push etc I absolutely love it
Only downsides for me are it doesn't fold with the seat on and hanging a nappy bag off it is tricky!
I had a go with my friends Quinny Buzz and mine is lighter to push than that. I walk a lot so am pleased to have found something so easy.

i have a quinny buzz for sale, lightest thing in the world to push and very sturdy

My vote is for the Mountain Buggy Urban. It's so light to use and as they would say on Top Gear - corners like a dream.

Mountain buggy if you want something over rough terrain - tho a mb terrain might suit you more as that's what it's designed for. I bought mine on ebay for £320 new & got a 2ndhand carrycot for £60 so within your budget, less if you buy the pushchair secondhand and terrains go for less. I find it really really easy to push with one hand which is kinda useful when I've got a 3 year old on a bike next to me most of the time It would really depend whether your ds is going to be quite young when new baby arrives as a buggy board on a MB is a pita iyswim. Mine was 3 when his brother was born, so able to walk most everywhere.

Misdee, why r u selling your bug, thought you loved it?!

because dd3 is walking pretty much everywhere (as well as trying to run into the road)

I so look forward to that again

I love Mountain Buggies too! We have had six buggies and both the Mountain Buggy and Phil and Teds are fab to use

Thanks for all the advice. Sorry it has taken me a few days to get back to you, been unbelievably busy with foul, teething ds and dh away at moment, nightmare! Some really good food for thought there. I like the idea of the mountain buggy or the Phil and Teds

Really pleased iCandy seem to have improved things with the Cherry. Glad you are not stuck with a hideous things like me pamplemousse!

Have some serious research/shopping to do I think

I have had the BUgaboo, phil and teds and Mountain buggy, I walk a lot and they are all great my personal favourite is the MB it is so light to push it can be done one handed while holding on to a toddler, and I liked the fact you can put a carrycot on it, the Phil and teds is brilliant as well but no carrycot and not a cosy for just one child. I like the Bug as well but didnt find it as good as the other two on all terrain. Have fun choosing

Klio - the P&T has some funky little design details, but the mountain buggy is easier to maeouver [sp] as the frame is all in one peice and very light, so you can pull it up steps or hills with one hand. The P&T can be coverted to a double buggy, which is its main selling point.

Slight hijack, is there a buggy/pushchair that has some semblence of suspension, ie it feels bouncy to push, if that makes sense.

mamas and papas do an xcel chassis that has big wheels and is bouncy
here

Ooh I do like the look of that. Thank you

no problem they seem to go fairly cheaply on ebay so have a look on there