Do Over on "in between" stroller

[Lila]

So I'm just going to start a new thread for my "in between" stroller. I still haven't decided.

I saw a bee today and I think it's odd looking and the kid's legs were kind of "hanging" out of it. Odd. (Maybe it wasn't a bee, but it looked like one).

I also saw a pilko and didn't love it.

I want something comfy for my LO and something that reclines, as she loves napping in her stroller. I also need something that folds EASY and I can throw in the back of my subaru. I guess parent-facing isn't a must. It needs to be fairly inexpensive ...

So am I back to a Triumph? Anything else?

[jacksmoma]

bjcm!!! best stroller, just used it today for some quick errands- can't be beat!

[jenny]

If you want something light, why not look into the Uppa Baby G-luxe stroller? It's pretty light, has all-wheel suspension and a deep recline.

You can compare the g-luxe and the triump on youtube...they have a bunch of stroller reviews if you do a search.

[Lila]

Ugh. Maybe I want a Peg P. Switch...

[ehf]

I think you and I are in the exact same situation. It seems to me:

The Triumph is best if you are mainly at the mall.

The BJCM is best if you are mainly on slightly rougher terrain, like city sidewalks.

The Bee (or, I'm starting to think, the Peg Perego Switch) is best if you really are dedicated to the reversible seat.

I do have to say, that I have the Mac Techno, and I'm appreciating the non-tippability of it. I had a massive shopping day, hung all kinds of things from the stroller, took her out of it to put her in the car seat, and it was fine. I also realized that in the few instances that I couldn't fit in small spaces, she still wasn't far from me. I didn't need to be as nimble as I thought I did...

I did, however, frequently have to stop to walk around to the front of the stroller. At BRU today, where I was playing with strollers, I liked having her face me--and she was interacting and calm.

We travel a few times a year, so I'm trying to decide if I need a travel stroller and a home stroller, or what. I'm not finding the slightly heavier/bulkier Techno to be a problem, because I'm not lifting it far (my child is now heavier than the stroller), and I have a Rav4, so the size doesn't much matter either.

[Lila]

oh, good, someone in my situation! I really have to get to babies r us and just check them out in person, but i do know I don't want a bjcm - I saw one today at the park and it's def. no. i have the bjce and that's enough.

i can't afford a bee at any rate.

She is in a fit of sep. anxiety at the moment so if i "park" her somewhere in a store to look around, she's frantic if she doesn't see me, and so I do feel pretty attached to parent-facing option - for me, and for her. But I also def. need a recline - sometimes I even have our sitter give her a nap in the stroller (in the house) b/c she has trouble napping anywhere else.

[arivecchi]

FWIW, I love our Mac Triumph. It gets the most use at our house. We also have a BJCCD and a Valco Trimode. It is my DH's and my DC's fave (3 and 1 yo).

[AnnieW625]

Maclaren Triumph, unless you want something with a better recline then I would look at the Quest or the Techno. The Techno is the largest of the Maclarens, but it is the only one that has a full recline as well as a full suspension.

[Lila]

But do any of the maclarens do parent-facing?

[Suzanne74]

You are not going to find a umbrella style fold with a parent facing seat. There is not one in the market in the US. There is the Inglesina Zippy Free in Europe but they are not selling it here yet.

Parent facing seats that you haven't mentioned yet are the Bumbleride Flyer and Graco Flip It. But really, there will quickly become a time when the child facing you won't be an issue and you will regret not getting something more compact.

Look at the Maclaren Quest, Peg Perego Si or the Inglesina Zippy if you want nice easy folds with lots of extras. The Si is my favorite everything stroller.

[Lila]

suzanne, what are the major differences with among those three?

[Suzanne74]

Quest is by far the lightest (12lb) and most compact fold. It reclines well, steers super and has a carrying strap. Probably has the widest seat. Here is a video review: http://www.babygizmo.com/media/video_maclarenquest.php

Si is about 15.5lbs heavier. It has a plusher seat, cushioned sides, better basket, adjustable handles, bumper bar, folds one hand compact and stands on it's own. Video review for 2009: (2010 has bumper bar and stronger basket)
http://www.babygizmo.com/media/video_pegperegosi.php

Zippy is 19.5lbs, has a interchangable bumper bar or kid snack tray. Easy recline feature, has a comfy seat, okay basket, great adjustable handles and the easiest fold ever and also stands on its own.
Video review: http://www.babygizmo.com/media/video_inglesinazippy.php

[sariana]

Love my Mac Quest.

(It doesn't have a carrying strap, though. I think it is the only Mac that doesn't. It does come with a rain shield, which I actually have needed and used, even here in SoCal.)

[Lila]

So a si is 27.5 lbs??

[AnnieW625]

Love my Mac Quest.

(It doesn't have a carrying strap, though. I think it is the only Mac that doesn't. It does come with a rain shield, which I actually have needed and used, even here in SoCal.)

The Triumph has the carrying strap. I have never needed a rain cover either.

[GraceH]

So a si is 27.5 lbs??

NO -- strollerqueen measured it at 16.5 lbs.

I would like the Si as an all around, portable choice if you can afford it ($200+) -- I myself have a Graco Mosaic (http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Mosaic-Lightweight-Stroller-Mickey/dp/B002Q0YALW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1270228953&sr=1-1) for similar reasons, which is more affordable for me (~$100) -- if you don't want it to possibly take a car seat, I would also look at the Keekaroo (http://www.amazon.com/Keekaroo-Karoo-Lightweight-Stroller-Crimson/dp/B002S0NVMO/ref=pd_sbs_ba_3) or g-Luxe (http://www.amazon.com/UPPAbaby-G-Luxe-Stroller-Black-Jake/dp/B0034L00OS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1270228893&sr=1-2)

[Lila]

wow, keekaroo looks great! no one's ever suggested that to me before.

[Karinyc]

The Mac Quest does have a carry strap (I think older models didn't).
The new Bumbleride Flite looks like a nice lightweight option (around the same price as a new Quest).

http://www.bumbleride.com/collection2010/flite-home.php

[Lila]

This is a good price for the si, right? But then you're stuck with that orange color -http://www.albeebaby.com/peg-perego-2009-si-stroller-in-papaia.html

[AnnieW625]

Oh yeah forgot to add before what about the Quinny Zapp (http://www.albeebaby.com/quinny-zapp-strollers.html)? That was a really nice stroller when we looked last year. It only goes to 40lbs (and sort of had a shorter seat), but it steers very nicely. My dd really wanted the pink one!

[Lila]

I'm feeling more sold on the Pegs... just not sure which one, though.

[ehf]

I'm getting close to committing to the Peg Switch. I liked it a lot at the store. I'm going to try to haul my husband to BRU next week to take a look. The reversibility was very easy and it maneuvered well. I want to check its fold and think about the weight some more.

We're flying to FL on April 18. We were still thinking about the Bee, but now that they've pushed the date from Apr 1 to May 1, it might have knocked itself out of the competition.

Let us know what you decide to do. If someone can create a lightweight, easy-fold reversible stroller, that company will make a fortune. I see people looking for that on these boards all the time.

[Momof3Labs]

Oh yeah forgot to add before what about the Quinny Zapp (http://www.albeebaby.com/quinny-zapp-strollers.html)? That was a really nice stroller when we looked last year. It only goes to 40lbs (and sort of had a shorter seat), but it steers very nicely. My dd really wanted the pink one!

The Zapp doesn't recline and the fold/unfold is a total bear.