Mountain Buggy Urban Single (MBUS)

[nycmom13]

Got back from Buy Buy Baby and now onto a new track. Considering the Mountain Buggy Urban Single. A couple of questions - (1) is the swivel wheel important in manuerving around the city? (Urban is 3 lbs more and 6 inches longer than Breeze), (2) do you have to buy the mountain buggy raincover or can you use any old cover, which is what the guy at Buy Buy Baby told me. Any other feedback welcome, including where I can get one for cheap!

[Susann]

The strollers with swivel wheel is easier to maneuver but if you're used to a fixed wheel stroller, there is no problem. In Europe everybody is pushing around a pram, even a twinpram, with fixed wheels without even thinking about it.
Swivel wheel comes handy when the baby is heavier and it gets heavier to lift up the front wheel.
I think the Breeze is a very nice and portable stroller but it has about a year less of use compared to the MBUS b/c the seat is smaller.

Susann

[bubbaray]

The Graco raincover works fine on the '05 MBUS.

HTH

Melissa
Mom to Maya http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/binky.gif & Dog Mom to Bubba http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/dog.gif

http://www.babysfirstsite.org/newtickers/ticker/11089.birthday.png

[nycmom13]

When you say a year less use, up to what age do you think you could use the Breeze vs the MBUS? I have a 2 year old daughter and I would like to be able to use this for at least 2 years. Also, what do you use for a sun cover on the MBUS?

[Susann]

I got the Breeze when my DD was 3.5 years. She's tall to her age, she was about 38 or 39" at the time. Her length was ok, she fitted under the canopy and her legs were probably a little more comfortable than in the MBUS. But the seat was too shallow or something. She kept on pushing her butt towards the backrest. First I thought she needed to use the bathroom but she actually had a feeling of falling off or gliding out. She also tried to hold on to something. She hasn't been riding in a stroller with a napper bar since she was 1, so it wasn't that either.

Anyway, b/c she obviously wasn't comfortable, I returned the stroller and got a MBUS instead. It was a amjor disappointment tht the Breeze didn't work for us. I really liked the fact that it was so much narrower (wheel to wheel). It was easier to lift into the car and it took less space. Also in stores, the MBUS feels really wide. I think the Breeze is more of a mall stroller than the MBUS. I would have loved to have a stroller that just glides smoothly. I wish the seat was even a little bigger. Also it would have been really nice on trips, b/c it's light and small but it still has nice beefy wheels.

Susann

[Susann]

I forgot: I still have the regular suncanopy. I got the extra tall one for my MBUD but it's designed so that the front is higher up and the sun ends up on the kids face. I think that I'm going to use a RayShade for extra protection. I like the Rayshade better than the other brands that are double the price. It has worked well so far on my Quest and on my jogger. DD likes it, too. She hates hanging blankets or such that end up on her lap. And I know she would really dislike the Outlook's sunshade that MB sells.


Susann

[mcdonald29]

I think this stroller looks perfect...but what constitutes a "serious" runner?
DH runs 4-5 times a week, no more than 5 miles per outing. Would an MBUS be OK for that type of duty?
TIA, as always!

[dules]

I'd take a swivel wheel over a fixed any day. If you are in NYC look at most of the other strollers you see....Maclarens (super tight steering) and Bugaboos (amazing steering too) abound. I think with the fixed wheel you will only be able to truly "steer" indoors 2-handed...that might not sound like a big deal right now but when you have to do it, it might.

I bought a Pliko instead of a P3 at first and thought, what's a little one handed steering? Until DD had a meltdown in Target and I had to carry her and push the stroller...we were becalmed in a sea of shoppers, lol!

Just my $.02.

A lot of places are clearancing the MBUS...and BuyBuy Baby has it for $299 (the 04).

Hope that helps.

Best,
Mary

[Susann]

I'm not a serious runner. I jog about 4 miles at least 3 times a week. I once took the MBUS and it was like pushing a load of rocks in a wheelbarrow compared to running with a real jogger. JMO

Susann

[betsydenny]

I know multiple moms who have the MBUS as their primary stroller here in NYC and love it. Many jog/run with it as well. I would definitely say get the MBUS over the Breeze. Swivel wheel is essential in NYC. I occasionally ran into the grocery with my jogger and it was a disaster! You defintely need the maneuverablility of the swivel.
I dont know how another rain cover would work but in these very cold windy days I am glad I have hte rain cover that was made for the stroller (I have an MBUD)because it fits tightly and well on the stroller. But htat is just my opinion.
There are definitely lots of Macs and Bugaboo's out there but had the mt buggy been out when I had my first I would only own the MBUS and perhaps a volo for subway travel not the 4 singles I own now! (heavy duty Mac, Volo, jogger, snap n go)
Good luck!

[mams99]

You've gotten a lot of great feedback already, but I'll add my 2 cents.

The swivel wheel is a convenience thing, but it is a nice convenience. With a fixed wheel, you have to lift up the front of the stroller EVERY time you turn or need to make adjustments. IF your front wheel is not perfectly aligned, you will find you need to readjust your stroller every few feet which can be annoying. I had two fixed wheel stroller with my son (who is now 8.5) and while I loved the easy of use and lightness of the strollers, I found that maneuverability was less - especially in tight places like malls. Therefore, I bought a mall crawler.

Now, about jogging with the MBUS. They don't even recommend that. The swivel wheel is meant for walking, not running and even with it in the fixed mode, it still "jiggles". If your husband runs as much as you say he does, then he would do better as would your child, with a TRUE jogging stroller.

You may find that you need two strollers - one for outings (walks in parks, jogging, etc.) and one for mall crawling. There is NO ONE stroller who can TRULY do both of these extremes perfectly and the MBUS is pretty darn close to perfect.

Plus, most runners will say not to buy anything less than 16 inch wheels as it's smoother for baby and easier to push for the runner.

And lastly, you need to look at stride length of the runner with strollers. The MBUS and I'm assuming the Breeze wouldn't leave much room for a long stride, but only your husband on a test run could tell you what works or not.

We had the Bob stroller for our jogger and it was great, just not great for malls or anything indoors!!!

But... that's just my experience

[smzapalac]

I found the swivel wheel very important when wheeling it around the city. With so many people walking on a skinny sidewalk, I end up darting in and out. Without a swivel wheel I would end up hitting people's ankles. I would check out ebay for the mountain buggy raincover. You may be able to get a deal.