Phil&Ted v. Jane Powertwin for use offroad- help me decide once and for all.

[MuffinMclay]

I am bored rigid comparing the specifications of various pushchairs and need to order one asap. It is for a 20+ month old and a newborn, and will be used every day off road (45mins-1.5 hours) on muddy (sticky clay) and bumpy paths and fields, and once or twice week in town.

It has to be a tandem one as we have to fit through some narrow gaps, and I've now discounted the iCandy Pear and the Zoom, as better for urban than rural living.

I have a Jane single pushchair, and have struggled with it on occasion - one broken wheel, lots of punctures, and hard work to push through mud and grass. However, it occurs to me that actually I haven't had any problems with it for months now, and perhaps it isn't so bad after all. I don't know if the P&T would perform any better in the same circumstances - better the devil you know, etc. P&Ts are ten a penny round here, but I don't know anyone who actually uses it properly offroad.

The dimensions and weight are aren't hugely different, and the Jane is about £100 cheaper. I'm also not keen on having the baby at ground level, as in the P&T.
Dh is deadset on the P&T because he thinks it looks more stylish (quite ridiculous as he is hardly a style guru), but he would only use it once a week. I don't really care how they look, just how they perform out and about.

Have not tried the P&T, but I loved my Powertwin. Honestly though, not great on 3 -dimensional hills, ie a slope to one side as well as up, as it feels a bit top heavy as if it might topple over, but my guess is that any three wheeler may do that? On rough ground and grass etc no probs whatsoever.

Personally I would go for the mountain buggy over the P&T. I have had this and haven't had any problems with narrow gaps.

It is much better off road imo.

I think that the P&T would be better off road as the jane has a longer distance between the front and rear whees which I think would make it more unstable. Also the P&T were designed as an off-road/running buggy in the first place.

Hello again Muffin, I think the P&T is better of these two.

We don't sell Jane where I now work but did in my last job. They were terrribly unreliable and the customer service from Johnston Prams (the UK importer of Jane) was utterly appalling. However, I believe the products and customer service have improved a little since then. I'm still not very keen though because of all the issues we had with them at the time, many customers paid a lot of money for prams that did not live up to the hype and caused them loads of un-necessary problems.

As for the punctures, well, thats just the way it goes with pneumatic tyres, sometimes you get punctures. I have a Mountain Buggy for my DS and we havn't had any puncures yet. We bought some Flat-Away Kevlar Puncture Resistant Tape which is fitted between the inner tube and tyre from a local bike shop. It doesn't guarantee no punctures but definately helps. Alternatively, you could replace your inner tubes with thicker thorn resistant ones. This company sell these online www.pushchairs.co.uk/acatalog/punctures.html. It may be worth your while since you use your buggy mostly off road.

Hope some of this helps.

Definitely P&T - the one I had (sold now as only need a single - Mountain Buggy) coped well offroad/on beach etc.

Tried a friend's Powertwin and that struggled just with kerbs because of weight distribution, ie heavy one at the front.

My DS was incredibly unsettled as a baby but enjoyed being in the newborn position and the rear toddler position. Would definitely recommend the Sport version as toddler seat reclines, much comfier for baby

Thank you all. I'll go with the P&T. Great to have the decision made for me.

I know the Mountain Buggy would be best of all off road but it won't fit through where I walk the dog (farmers have narrowed the path at various points to stop quad bikes getting though). I took measurements - anal I know but it is important.

Teaandcake - thank you for all the puncture advice- really helpful.