I have to break for a moment from things I love to things I need, like a stroller. We have been all over the world and back again. I would love opinions on what you have used and like/don't like, I am overwhelmed trying to make this decision!
Here are the models we are currently debating:
1. Uppababy Vista- We love the bassinet feature, several different seating options including an option for baby #2 (one day), large basket and great features like screens and you can exercise with it. I plan to walk a lot although I don't run so it should work for that. Love everything about it so far. Cons: $$$
2. Bumbleride Indie- To be honest I don't know a lot about these but it came highly recommended so I thought I would throw it out there.
2. Bumbleride Indie- To be honest I don't know a lot about these but it came highly recommended so I thought I would throw it out there.
3. The Bob Revolution- It seems everyone in Birmingham owns this stroller and raves about it so it comes with a lot of positive feedback. My concern is the size since this baby will be going everywhere with me if possible, he will be working on my "off" days eventually.
Help please! I am looking for something that is functional enough to be used on an everyday basis, can take miles of walking for exercise, will hold up and is really a one stop shop- we don't have room for several strollers.
40 comments:
We have the Bugaboo which closely resembles the Uppababy one you posted. I love love love what we have, it is light weight, you can steer with one hand, and the option of the bassinet attachment was a huge bonus when the boys were born. Ours has lasted 5 plus years with tons of travel and abuse so I am voting for option 1, even if it is $$$ it will be worth the cost, I am sure the warranty would be well worth the additional cost as well. xx
We got the BOB Revolution CE (not the SE). The CE is more for everyday use and exercise (not off-road running). We only wanted to have one stroller and we were easily convinced the Rev CE was the best everyday use. It compacts so easily and can be "thrown" in the car without much effort. We haven't tried it out yet, baby girl isn't here, but can't wait!
Marianne, Know the overwhelming feeling you are having. I did not want to purchase three strollers--umbrella, jogger, day-to-day. Our friends in Atlanta recommended the Stokke stroller and we loved it. We ordered with bassinet, adjusts to many positions and I also loved it because you can raise it to height of table and use instead of high chair (this is especially useful in restaurants.) All options you mentioned are great as well. Bob Revolution, my friends love as well but it was not great for newborn was their only gripe. My friend is selling her "gently used" Stokke if interested. It is Green. Good Luck!
I have the bumbleride indie (in seagrass) and love it. I would buy it again. I liked the uppababy, but it is (or feels) a lot bigger to me than the bumbleride. I primarily use it for exercise and can walk or run with it. The seat reclines all the way flat and can be adjusted with the baby in it--which is great when the bambino falls asleep on the stroll. It is narrow enough to easily maneuver through stores, etc. It is light (as far as jogger goes) and folds nicely. I am now looking for a double stroller and considered the uppababy but I know my 2 year old is not going to be happy sitting underneath the other seat, so it's not really an option for me as a double. Good Luck and let us know what you pick!
We have a Bumble Ride, which is a great for exercising and travel (it comes apart quickly and easily when going through security). It's a big stroller, so I rarely use it when doing every day errands. If I had to go back and do it again, I would have gotten a great baby carrier earlier (we got an Ergo when our son was 9 months old and still use it everyday- he's now 2!) and an umbrella stroller. I spend a lot of time running into shops for work, so a carrier or small stroller ends up being most practical for me... good luck!
Make sure you get one that is light weight enough for when loading in & out of the car, as well as one that's not too large when shopping/running errands indoors. Have heard good things about the Bumbleride. My kids are 6and 4 and it's amazing how much strollers have advanced in that short span of time. Good luck!
I am also on the hunt for a stroller for baby #1 due in a bit. I am highly interested in an option from Phil & Ted... so just to make the discussion a bit more complicated, I thought I would throw it into the mix.
I apologize in advance that this is so long...
We have the uppababy vista and love it!! We got it before Davis was born and have used it a ton. We took lots of walks around the neighborhood and the park starting when he was little bitty so the basinet feature was great. I also liked that I could add on when baby number 2 came along - either with the other seat or the piggy back board. And the basket is a great size - you can fit tons of stuff in there! It is still a pretty big stroller though, so sometimes there are places it doesn't fit and it takes up a pretty good bit of room in the back of my car. When Davis got a little older, I got an inexpensive umbrella stroller to keep in the car that I use if we are just making a quick trip in somewhere or something like that.
Then this year at Christmas I also got a Bob Revolution (with the 16" wheels). I was trying to start running and as much as I loved the uppababy for long walks, I need a jogger to actually run. It handles great and we love it too. I now usually have the uppababy in the car and we take the Bob almost every day for a jog. Davis still fits in the uppababy (he just turned 2), but will probably outgrow it height wise by the time he is 3 or earlier. Whereas he will still be able to fit in the bob for a lot longer. The bob is also very big and takes up a large amount of space in my car. If you are only going to use it for walking though, you could definitely look into the one with all 12" wheels.
And lastly i'll throw one more in the mix, I have also used a Baby Jogger City Mini while at Disney and it is a great stroller to look in to. It is pretty lightweight, handles well, and is super easy to fold.
We had the Bob Revolution single stroller when we only had one child, and I insisted that we get the double once our second came along. I love the Bob stroller! It is really easy to manuver with one hand, comfortable for the baby, and pretty easy to fold and store in the car.
We just got our new wheels yesterday! Lleyton is the proud new owner of the Bumbleride Indy and it is FABULOUS!!! We bought it in the seagrass color and it is so cute. It only weighs 20 pounds, turns on a dime,rides smoothly, is compatable with his Peg Perego carrier (which I highly recommend) will lay completely flat and has great accessories. Not to mention that Lleyton is 14 weeks old and we can use it as is without his carrier attached if we elect to. Also, it has an extended sun shade that projects further out than most strollers. And, I'm not a runner either, but like you said, we are going to do a LOT of walking and its good on all terrain ;) I give it 2 thumbs up. I searched high and low to find a stroller like all my Eropean friens had when we lived in Europe (cobblestone streets) and this one is the closest. So far, I think its worth the money.
I have friends who have the BOB, but they all complain that it is bulky and heavy. Definitely not a stroller to lug in and out of the car. You wouldn't want to lug the Bumbleride either on small errands, but its fabulous for at home and destinations such as the zoo, parks, etc..
And if I can offer you one great piece of advice that was given to me...buy a Snap and Go! It's a great, light weight small stroller that you can handle easily with your hands full and most all carriers are compatible. One of the best gifts we received!
Another option is the Orbit, its fabulous and the carrier side loads into the car, which is wonderful, but its pricy at $1,000. And the Bumbleride is a great value at $500. We bought ours at a baby boutique, but you should keep an eye on allbeebaby.com, as I think you will get free shipping and possibly avoid tax ;)
Good luck!!!!
First time commenter! We have the Uppababy Vista and love it. My son is a little over 5 months old. We used the bassinet piece so much when he was newborn. I couldn't stand leaving him in his carrier because he couldn't stretch out. It is fabulous. Now that he's almost sitting up, we use the seat that comes with it is great--easily adjustable and a huge shade for this hot Texas summer.
We bought it because it's expandable to 2 children, and the other myriad ways it can be configured. I would definitely purchase it again--it is worth the price. Their Customer service is impeccable. They replaced the entire frame (quickly) when the front wheels were shaking. Even my mom (who is skeptical of expensive baby gear) is impressed with all the different ways it can adapt!
I have the Bob. I'm a runner and love it. I have the UPPAbaby G-Luxe stroller for the car & travel. The Bob takes up a lot of space in the car. Good luck!!
My daughter is 4 months old and we love, love, love our Uppababy Vista! I did tons of research and could not be happier with our purchase. The bassinet has been wonderful for walks and even napping in our living room. Another huge plus is the rumble seat for a second child!
Here's my 2 cents: While all the fancy pants strollers are great and I can personally, attest that ALL of the UPPAbaby products are FANTASTIC! We have both the Uppababy vista and now the G-Luxe umbrella.
Now I'm going to swing to the right and tell you to look at something completely different.
What I found though is that when they are itty the bassinet ones are great but ONLY for going on walks. The thing about babies is they sleep on and off constantly and you don't want to be lifting them in and out of a stroller to put them in a car seat then out of a car seat. Please take a look at "travel system" strollers that have the car seat that attaches to a base when in the car and then to the frame of the stroller is the most useful when they are infants. The less transferring and fussing with straps on straps off the better for both you and them. When they get bigger and can support themselves a lightweight well made umbrella stroller is the way to go.
Now, I know that most of the travel system strollers aren't that glamorous but I swear I used that ten times more than the Uppababy Vista not because the Uppa wasn't great but for ease of transfers. I used the Uppa for walks around the neighborhood when no car was involved.
Now, we pretty much exclusively use the Uppa G-Luxe- can't say enough about it.
Here's an example of what I mean by travel system: http://tinyurl.com/4ya3a98
Sorry so long- hope it helps- and most importantly congrats!!
The Townhouselady
I could not handle how big the Bob was. I am in and out of the car alot and it was just too big. I got the mountain buggy swift and LOVE it. It would be great for what you need. I run with it. It has a bassinet and car seat adapter. Interior Design assistant tested and approved. Remi goes everywhere with me.
I am on baby #2. Here's what we did and LOVE:
1. Snap n Go (used for both kids)
2. Uppa Baby Vista (used for baby #2) Love, love, love this stroller. It can be tight in some stores, but most are fine. I used it almost daily for long, hilly walks. It's awesome.
- I had a BOB with kid #1. I sold it for kid #2 - uppa baby. Haven't regretted it a day! Too big for folding. It was just a monster for me.
3. Thinking about a G-Luxe now that baby #2 is older. She doesn't need a cadilac for running to the mall since she prefers to walk most times anyway.
We love our uppababy. The bassinet was wonderful when our baby was tiny (we used it as often in the house for naps as we did for strolls) and the stroller seat is super-versatile. And it rides like butta. I love the big basket beneath too. Some shops with narrower aisles can be tough to navigate, but I've had very few issues with that.
Our second is due in just a few days and that makes us doubly glad we got the vista--just added on the rumble seat and we are ready to go. I'm relieved not to have to store another stroller in our small house (or to buy a true "double" stroller).
Oh, and to address a concern that Townhouselady mentioned. We used the carseat adapter (for chicco) on our frame as well, which meant if we were out doing errands, baby and carseat snapped right into the uppababy frame--just like with a travel system--but a much smoother ride!
The stroller purchase was our most difficult decision. I ended up going with the Bob Revolution and love it. I'm a runner and I wanted to get the stroller with a smooth ride so my baby wouldn't hate going on runs with me. I've used it a ton and Chase isn't even 3 months old yet. I bought the infant carseat adapter and it works great. I have the Chicco carseat. Once he is old enough the carseat adapter will become the holder for the tray table.
I knew the Bob would be too big to take on quick trips so I keep that one at the house, and I use a cheap "snap-and-go" from Baby Trend on those quick trips. Actually the snap and go stays in my car all the time. I also bought a separate umbrella stroller for when he outgrows the snap and go and infant carrier.
Hope this helps. Good luck! xo, cristi
Spend the money on the Uppa Baby Vista. We did two years ago and it was the best purchase we made for our son. Warranty is excellent too. We travel all over the world with it. J'adore.
Meredith
We have the babyjogger city mini. We absolutely love it! It fold up with one hand and you can put it in the trunk while holding your child. The one handed folding is what sold us on it.
We also have an uppa baby umbrella stoller and like that one a lot as well, but it is a little more difficult to fold up and open. I still prefer our city mini. Only drawback is there isn't an option for a second child, but you can buy an adapter bar for your infant car seat.
I HIGHLY recommed the Baby Jogger City Select. It is large enough to hold a diaper bag and shopping bags, and maneuvers great. I has the ablilty to become a double stroller when baby#2 comes along. We used the bassinett attachement with an infant, was able to attach his carseat to the stroller base for a quick errand, and now use the stroller seat with straps. It compacts easliy for travel and has been a life saver for us!!
baby jogger city mini (or select if you're planning ahead)! search for the video demonstration and you will weep with joy to see how easily it folds and lightweight it is. But, if you run, rather than walk, with the stroller, go with the Bob. Uppababies are nice and faincy, but everyone I know who has both it and the city mini end up never using the uppababy.
The Bumbleride Flite. It has everything the UppaBaby Vista has at a much better cost. It's super light, and goes from infant to toddler. Still very durable, too. It has an option to add the infant seat (certain ones are adaptable--like the Graco Snugride)and you can also buy the extra bassinet. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stroller. Perfect for travel and it doesn't have this behemoth size that makes it impossible to take to places. I wouldn't say it's good for running, I actually Craigslisted an additional stroller just for that purpose, but the Flite is an all in one, go everywhere. Check it out.
I know you don't want a million different strollers, but I LOVE my Snap-N-Go. I leave it in my trunk and it is perfect for running errands - easy to maneuver in tight spaces. You'll be surprised how many places don't have much room for strollers! The jogging strollers are great but are a beast to store and haul around (which is why you see them sitting on every porch in Homewood!). I've just started using my MacLaren techno XLR more and I love it ... I think. Basket's sort of hard to get into and I might wish I had something better for the rough roads in our neighborhood. BUT it was a steal at Homegoods so it'll do! (that was no help, was it??)
I got the Bugaboo Bee at first - not worth the money, and it kept locking on me. Sold it on Craigslist.
UppaBaby - LOVE this stroller. I go shopping with it and to the grocery store and use it as my cart - the undercariage is HUGE .... something I didn't think I'd care about, but it's SO worth it! Such an intuitive stroller and smooth. The best.
BOB - I found a used one on CL and it's also worth every penny. The Uppa isn't able to handle running with it, just light walking. But I feel like my baby was much more comfortable in the Uppa (both the bassinet and the toddler seat) than in the BOB, so I'm glad it's not my primary stroller.
Well, I have owned 3 or 4 strollers, and my favorite for so many reasons is the UppaBaby Vista. I live in a walking city, no car, and used this stroller daily- lots of hard use on cobblestone, curbs, you name it- until dd was almost 3. Love love it and the company has great customer service- have replaced the back wheels 2x (once supplied by the company for free) and that is saying something considering how much mileage I put on this thing! Great one-handed steering, huge basket underneath, can stand when folded, I could go on.
I admit the Bob is also great for handling, but size wise and for stability on the front wheels if you need to maneuver a lot, the UppaBaby is better.
We looked at strollers forever before my daughter was born - I made my husband crazy obsessing over it!! I considered all of those that you mentioned and a few others...
Ultimately, we ended up with the Phil & Teds Smart - it's more compact and less expensive with most of the same features of the uppababy. Highly recommended, we love it!
Otherwise, my recommendation is to get the Bob, but also buy a moby wrap to use when she's an infant. My girl LOVES her moby and I love that taking walks with an extra 7-12 pounds (so far) strapped onto my chest is really helping me loose that baby weight!
Good luck with your choice!!
If I had it to all over again (I have a 17 month old and have learned a lot about strollers since he's been born), I wouldn't waste the money/space on a full size stroller or travel system again. I would recommend getting a infant car seat frame (like the Graco Snugride or Snap n Go. I also think Maclaren makes one too). When they're really little, it's way easier to just keep them in the infant car seat/carrier and pop that in a lightweight frame, than taking them out (especially if they're sleeping) just to buckle them into another stroller. Once they're about 8 or 9 months old, you can just switch to a lightweight stroller that won't take up much space in your car or home. I have a Chicco Liteway and love it. I've also heard great things about Maclaren's.
Good luck!
We have the Uppa Vista for our newborn and we love it. It is great for getting around the city easily and handles really well. We have the car seat adapter which is easy to use, as well. We didn't research too long or hard on strollers, but we knew what we were looking for and love that we can add the rumble seat eventually for a second. We also love the bassinette, bug screen, rain shield, etc. In the 6 weeks we have had our little guy we have used it a ton and have been very impressed. It expensive, but worth it!
The Bob is a no-brainer! You can push it with one finger, and those large wheels can go "off-roading" through grass, down steps, its awesome!!! Just make sure to get the cupholder attachment (for yourself) so you can have easy access to cell phone, keys, snack and drink.
I have the Uppa and love it. It's fairly light weight, sturdy and easy to push. I walk a LOT and wheel it downstairs to get out of my building with my daughter in it, and it hasn't even made a noise yet. My daughter hated being in the bassinet so we barely used it. It's well worth the money.
Love the Bob & use it every day. I haven't had trouble with it being too big, but it's also all I know. I also bought the bar that attaches so you can attach the car seat when they're really little which was awesome. I've literally taken it everywhere - beach, airplanes, out shopping, hiking - it's awesome! There are so many good options out there you kinda can't go wrong, but good luck!
I have the UppaBaby Vista and I LOVE it! It comes apart and folds up easily, is great for power walks in Homewood, and the bassinet is wonderful for a newborn. I highly recommend it! I also have a BOB for jogging and its great for that; however, it is a bit bulkier and harder to store than the UppaBaby
Mitchell
www.dearmarguerite.blogspot.com
As a former Manhattan nanny: The BOB, The BOB, the BOB.
reasons: the break bar is the easiest to use of any stroller brake I've ever used; comfortable height and handle for mom, comfortable & smooth ride for baby, adjustable angle for baby to lay (can lay flat). Great, great stroller.
Hello! I had a BOB single and loved it, but we bought the Bumbleride Indie Twin when our second came along 15 short months later . . . and between the two, I'd choose the Bumbleride. Comes with the infant seat attachment and cup holder, has an adjustable handle bar, and is overall easier to maneuver in my opinion if you're using it for more than running, which I do. The BOB is quite bulky to swivel through store aisles, but the Bumbleride is a bit sleeker. Happy shopping!
I used to have a Zooper umbrella-style stroller. It was so difficult to push. We upgraded to a BOB stroller and it is wonderful. I have a four year old and he can comfortably ride in the stroller. Preschoolers can get tired on outings too. It also works great for my one year old. I have three children and the BOB (while a tad bulky) is a true workhorse.
We have the bumbleride double in Seagrass. I hope you get it because it's AMAZING!
www.runninginheelswithtwins.blogspot.com
Get the BOB! They are by far the best. We currently have the double and LOVE it! We walk 3 to 4 miles each day with the kids and I wouldn't use any other stroller. We take it everywhere and I love that the jogging stroller allows you to move through grass, dirt, gravel... you name it. Love love love it!
I'm starting to look into strollers myself and wondering if decided on a stroller and why?? Thanks!
You wouldn't wish to lug the Bumbleride either on baby errands, but its aces for at home and destinations such as the zoo, parks, etc.
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