Bugaboo bee my only option?? Please say no!!

[squigglywig]

At the moment I have got a HUGE Emmaljunga pram which is lovely but, well, HUGE and DD is also getting to the point where she wants to be able to see the world. I'm also getting out and about more these days and finding that the Emmaljunga is just too unwieldy etc. etc.

So - all things considered I need:

A v. small and light pram/buggy that will be fine on public transport.

Forward and backward facing

Different positions so DD can lie back to sleep or be propped up and sit up when she's older

A big-ish shopping basket - I don't have a car so all my shopping is done with the pram

Be pretty robust so as to cope with beaches, walks off paths in woods, snow (considerable amounts).

Ideally I'd like to spend considerably less than the cost of the Bee but if it's going to last then I'd grit my teeth.

From what I can see the Bee is the only one that meets all this (with the snow wheels). Please tell me there is another option!!

the bugaboo bee is this one which doesnt have the snow wheel option. do you mean the cameleon?

Ah.

When I went into my local store they said that the snow wheels could be fitted to the bee. Is that not right?

OOOOH, No. Not snow wheels on a Bee, definately not.

The Bee is thenewest memeber of the Bugaboo family and can be folded all in one lot whereas a Bugaboo Cameleon or Frog has to have the seat unit taken off to fold.

The Bee is nippy and compact folded. Can face forward or rearward but is not suitable for an older toddler, imo.

The Bugaboo Cameleon can be forward or rearward facing too and can accomodate the front snow wheels.

Aaargh!

Any suggestions for another pram that would do what I need??

Icandy cherry?

Do you think it'd be alright on beaches and whatnot? It looks grand other than that.

How old is dd? You could use Jane Carrera with a Matrix mayb? Ds fitted in the Matrix until 12 months +

Big Shopping basket, off-road capability, manoeverability? You definately need a Mountain Buggy Urban. Great if you're a walker (and you sound as though you are).

Was going to suggest the Out'n'About Nipper 360 but the shopping basket is too small for your needs.

Doesn't tick the rear facing criteria box but covers all your other needs.

The Bee is v good but was designed for city use and not really suitable for woods/beaches.

Don't touch the Icandy Cherry, v flimsy IMO.

That's be great, but sadly it can't be a three wheeler. Lots of places round here don't have lifts but have "train track ramps" up the stairs instead which are impossible to negotiate with 3 wheels.

Aaaargh! This is a nightmare!

DD is 15 weeks atm. Ideally I want this to be my last foray into the world of prams. It's altogether too confusing!

Hauck Infinity? Thats pretty good on rough ground , easy to bump up and down steps, rearward facing and folds up in one piece (with seat forward anyroad!)

How about the Micralite Toro? I don't think it does the rear facing thing, but I had the Fastfold, and those big back wheels were great at off road and at the beach.

Only reason I say Toro instead of the Fastfold is because the Fastfold doesn't recline properly, whereas the Toro does.