Review: iCandy Pear

I don't actually own the iCandy Pear.  It would be a bit silly, in fact, since we have only one baby and the Pear is a double stroller.  But I did borrow it and take it on vacation, which is always a good way to get a really good sense of a stroller.

We had it for 5 days, during which time we used it in both single and double mode.  This was in November, and apparently I didn't take any pictures!

It's a big stroller.  There's no getting around that.  But because it's an inline, it does manoeuvre around racks and through doors really well, and in fact it steers beautifully.  In fact, the more you weigh it down, the better it steers!  In duo mode we would put the baby in the top seat and then use the bottom seat to hold coats and shopping - it wasn't uncommon for it to be carrying 4 adult winter coats plus a myriad of shopping bags without becoming difficult to push.

The Pear carries up to two kids in a LOT of different combinations - for each kid, you have the option of putting in the seat, a bassinet, or a car seat adaptor.  The top seat is larger than the bottom, and if you have two kids of different sizes, the heavier child goes on top.

At the time, Tabby was 8 months old, and went a fair job to filling the top seat, and that's the biggest downside to this stroller:  despite the fact that it's big and strong and can carry a LOT of weight, it won't carry a larger toddler at all, let alone two.

I loved: the lovely british style, the easy manoeuvring, the strength of the chassis, the easy conversion from single to double.  And the price is a lot less than I'd expected, too!  Plus you can get what they call "flavour packs" that consist of a cozy seat liner and canopy in yummy juicy colours.

I didn't love: the small seats, the slightly tricky fold.

All in all, a great stroller - especially if you make smallish babies!

Review: Bumbleride Flite

Our daycare is only 500 metres from our house, but it is up a rather large flight of stairs.  It's too close to want to drive every day, but too far to carry her in work clothes.  Our other two strollers have two piece folds, making them very inconvenient to drag up the stairs at daycare - and frankly, they are expensive enough that I wouldn't want to leave them there anyway.

So, I did a whole lot of research.  (I know.... shocking.)  I wanted something not too too expensive, lightweight and easy to fold, with handles higher than a standard umbrella stroller and with a few more features.

I settled on the Bumbleride Flite, and then after hemming and hawing I got it in Vita, a gorgeous dark fuchsia with lovely grey. It came with the rain cover (though I'm not sure the 2011 model will), the infant seat adaptor bar, and a shoulder strap.

I love it.  She has LOTS of room in the seat, way more than she does in the Bugaboo Frog.  I can sling it over my shoulder when I'm carrying Tabetha, the stroller, and both our bags back down the stairs again (Chris drops her off, and does much the same in the morning) and it's easy for me to unfold and tuck her into before walking home.  We haven't flown with the baby yet, but when we do, I'm pretty darn sure this is the stroller we're going to take.

Best features:

• shoulder strap comes standard, and is fantastic
• easy peasy umbrella fold
• gorgeous colours and details
• removable, washable fabric
• awesome accessories available
• weighs only 11lbs!
• actually has some shock absorption, unlike most umbrella strollers

Worst features (and they're not that bad, or a disadvantage for everyone):

• handles are still low for me
• ride isn't AS smooth as what we're used to
• baby can't face me

So glad I got this.  If we have another kid, I'm going to be lobbying hard for a double version!  The carrycot is so cute... (I really need to remember to take some pictures of Tabetha in ours - though these are the same colour we got!)

***Update August 21, 2011 - We haven't flown with it yet, but a colleague of mine did - and was VERY happy.***

Bugaboo Bugayay!

This isn't exactly a review, because the Bugaboo Frog has been discontinued anyhow.  I took a floor model because it fit in the trunk of our 4Rider, and while I wasn't in love with it, it was going to do everything I needed it to. (I wrote about my gear junkie tendencies here)  Sure, it was great in the snow - but I don't ski, so who cares?

But... then we had a Very Snowy Day.  And I went completely stir crazy.  I had to get out, but many of our neighbours hadn't cleared the sidewalks, and our car had no snow tires.  I got to thinking.  I bundled Tabetha up in her warmest clothes, buckled her in, swathed her in blankets, and we set out.

I soon discovered that the smaller front wheels were as useless in snow as expected, though the were great on the icy pavement.  When we got bogged down in deeper stuff all I had to do was tip the stroller and the rear wheels were as great as advertised!

I didn't think to bring a camera, but I did get some shots yesterday downtown!

Selecting the right stroller pt.2 - What do you want to DO with it?

For part one, which covers the number of kids, click here!

Looking around Victoria, there is one stroller you will see more often than any other.  Different years, different models, different colours, the BOB is everywhere.  And it has some good features.  It's a reasonable pricepoint, it's durable, and it can be good for running with.

However... I very rarely anyone running with one.  And if you're not going to run with your stroller, there are better ones out there.  Even if you are, there are other, arguably better ones out there!  Buying the right stroller can make your life a whole lot easier, so before choosing a stroller, ask yourself these questions.

Are you going to run with it?
If you plan on running with your stroller regularly - and I do mean plan, not just have vague intentions you really know you won't fulfill - you need a stroller that's designed for it.  Running strollers have three big wheels.  The front wheel will either be permanently locked or be lockable.  They can only face forward, and they have a distinctive wedge shape.  Popular brands for running include BOB, Bumbleride, Baby Jogger, and Valco.  Which one depends on where you plan on running, how many kids, what your budget is, etc.  Keep in mind that most manufacturers don't recommend running with babies much younger than about 8 months.

Orbit Baby strollers are beloved by the dads

If you aren't going to run with it, and plan on using it with a young baby, consider a different option.  Jogging strollers offer only one direction for baby to face - out.  Studies have shown that facing their caregivers during the first two years is critical to the development of language skills - babies need to see the world through you in order to learn how to make sense of what they see.  Many strollers are reversible, and one, the super-trendy Orbit Baby, can rotate 360 degrees!

What kind of terrain?
The smaller the wheels, the smoother the terrain has to be to keep baby from being bounced around all over, but the more space the stroller takes up, both when collapsed and when in use.  If you plan on taking the stroller on trails, dirt roads, grass and other rough surfaces, you'll want to look for wheels that are about 12 inches in diametre or larger, preferably with a surface that looks like mountain bike tires, so that baby will be comfortable.  If that's not a part of your lifestyle, smaller, more manoeuvrable wheels are wonderful for navigating narrow aisles in stores and crowded sidewalks.

Cameleon ready for beach or snow

If you spend a lot of time at the beach or on the ski hill, take a look at the Bugaboo Frog or Cameleon's dolly ability.  It's virtually impossible to push pretty much any stroller through snow or sand - but these can be pulled quite easily.

If you plan on running on trails, you'll need to look for one that has a combination of the three-wheeled, wedge shape with with big tires that have good tread on them.  Look for excellent suspension, as well, or baby won't be very comfortable!

Planes, trains and automobiles?
Strollers range in weight from a few pounds for the flimsiest umbrella stroller to 25 pounds plus for a sturdy stroller intended for multiple children.  Bear in mind that whichever stroller you choose, you will likely be hauling it in and out of the trunk of your car a lot.  Try not to choose a stroller you need help handling.  Bear in mind also whether you plan on travelling a great deal - lighter strollers are easier in airports when you already have luggage and baby to handle.  Also consider how many pieces it folds down into.  A stroller with a two piece fold isn't as convenient for travelling by public transit as one that goes down into one piece, and one with quick release wheels can make packing everything into the trunk for a road trip much easier.

Coming up next
stroller bassinets, car seat adaptors, and probably some other stuff too!

Confessions of a Gear Junky

Today I ordered my third stroller.  And... I still have the first two.

My first stroller, which I reviewed here, is the Mutsy 4Rider.  I also have a Bugaboo Frog, which I picked up for bombing around downtown when I sent the 4Rider to live at my dad's for when we go to visit.  And I thought I was done, but...

Tabetha starts daycare next month (too soon! too soon!) and her daycare is on the second floor of the building, and it's a looong flight of stairs.  The daycare is only 500 metres away from our house, so the plan is that when the weather's decent my husband will walk her to daycare and leave the stroller there, so that when I go to pick her up at the end of the day I can walk back with her.

The Frog is a lovely stroller.  I really like it a lot.  But it has a two piece fold and while it's compact, it's not stuff-it-in-her-cubby small.  And so I started to get antsy... and then I started doing some intensive searching... and now a new stroller is coming to join our little family.

The Bumbleride Flite (review to come sometime after it arrives and I get to test the heck out of it) is what is known as a convenience stroller.  It folds like an umbrella stroller, and basically that's what it is, but it has way more features.  Sure, it folds down small and has a carry handle to make climbing up and down those stairs carrying Tabby a breeze, but it also has a generous canopy, a reclining back and a decent storage basket.  And, of course, it comes in all the pretty Bumbleride colours and is compatible with the Bumbleride accessories.  Do I sound a little too excited?

It's a sickness.

Review: Mutsy 4Rider

Type: fullsize european non-jogging stroller


Best features: huge airfilled tires that give a comfy ride and a lovely pushing experience, amazing customizability (different seats, the bassinet, and plenty of accessories),  sleek modern look

Drawbacks: Tricky two piece, not-all-that-compact fold, plastic connections between seats and chassis that sometimes jam, canopy could be more generous

The Mutsy 4Rider Next with single spoke tires was our first stroller.  We chose the more expensive Next for the leather handles and the airfilled tires, and started out with a bassinet.  When Tabetha got a little older we got a seat and the neoprene undercarriage bag. Unfortunately for us, she had zero interest in lying flat on her back and being pushed around, so we really didn't use the stroller much until she was old enough to sit in the seat.  Once that happened, though, we started really using it.

I found it very frustrating in those early days because the fold isn't all that easy, and standing in a parking lot trying over and over again to fold it while the baby screamed in her car seat was a bit frustrating.  Eventually I got the hang of it, though even now (after owning it for about 10 months) I find that I don't always get it on the first try.  It's also heavy to lift in and out of the trunk.

On the plus side, putting it back together again is very easy, especially in the mama-facing configuration, and it's a joy to push.  It's very nimble for a full size stroller, and turns easily on trails or in malls.  We took it "offroad" and the ride was still smooth enough for Tabetha to sleep.  With the telescoping handle it's comfortable for even a tall person to push.

Currently in Canada this is strictly a one child stroller, but a double seat for it is available in europe and the US.   I haven't tried it though, so I can't say how functional it is.

Verdict:  This is a great stroller.  It's very sturdy, comfortable to push, and has a small enough footprint to make travelling by bus easy as long as you don't need to fold it down to make room for more people.  The seat is high, so you can push it up to the table as an ersatz high chair if necessary, and it reclines fully for nap time.  I'm not sure how it would do for folks who do a lot of outdoorsy activities, but it's certainly up for the limited amount we subjected it to.  Not a good purchase if you have a very small trunk or anticipate having to haul it up or down stairs very often.

You get what you pay for: stroller edition

I'm on maternity leave right now, and so I sometimes find myself with spare time.  (read: time when I can no longer stand being at home, no matter how much laundry needs doing!)  Some of that time I spend helping out at a friend's baby store.  (Yay Cat and Fiddle Kids!)  I have fun meeting other moms, sharing my passion for cloth diapering and babywearing, and I get to try out all the gear.

We often see moms come in with the inexpensive travel systems sold at major chains.  They come in at first with newborns tucked cozily into the carseats attached to the strollers (my opinion on THAT for another post) and at first they look all right.  Everything works, they're not stylish but they're fine.

And then we see the moms with babies a few months older.  Now they're crammed into those same carseats, and half the time the strollers have one wheel that seems to want to go in a different direction from the other three like the worst shopping cart at the grocery store.  The plastic frame of the stroller is showing wear and tear, and it looks like it's been through the wars - and the kid it's supposed to grow with can't even sit up without help yet.

And then the stroller goes in the landfill, and another one is purchased - plus a new carseat because the travel system ones don't hold a very big baby.

And I know cost is a huge factor.  But here's the thing - you can buy one good quality stroller and one carseat that will both last from birth right through the toddler years for the same price as buying a couple of the cheap ones - and your child will be safer, the products will be easier to use, you will both be more comfortable, and there will be less garbage in the landfill.  Not to mention, depending on how hard you are on the stroller, you might even be able to sell it or donate it when you're done with it.  Makes sense to  me.

Selecting the Right Stroller pt. 1 - How Many Kids?

There are a LOT of strollers available even here in the Canadian market, and choosing the one that will best meet your needs can seem overwhelming. By taking the time to think about how you want to use the stroller, you can make the choice a lot easier.

How is this green? Buying one good quality stroller that will meet your family's needs - and ideally that you will be able to sell when you're done with it, to keep it out of the landfill - is much better for your family and the environment.

How many?

If you are having twins, you need a double stroller, and you probably need one that's rated for use from birth because you won't be able to carry two babies around all the time. It won't matter to you whether it converts back to a single, because your two kids will outgrow it at the same time. There are many companies making double strollers, and which one to go with in that case has more to do with other features. Accommodating children of different ages is trickier.

If you have an older child still in the stroller years, you may want a stroller that can turn back into a single later when your older child isn't riding anymore. The same applies if you know you want a second child - it's a good idea to have a stroller you can turn into a double later.

How this works changes between brands. The hotly anticipated Bugaboo Donkey does it by becoming wider to accommodate a second seat or bassinet. The Valco toddler seat puts the older child in a seat above the main body of the stroller, where the younger child goes. Both Baby Jogger and iCandy do it on certain models by adding a second seat for an inline double that's easy to push in an urban environment. The Baby Jogger set up allows the children to face each other, which isn't possible with iCandy, but the iCandy seats are much more comfortable and the stroller is far more stylish. Baby Jogger hand brakes are also easily triggered by a mischievous child, which results in a jolting stop for everyone.

Many other stroller companies such as Uppababy and Phil&Ted's put the second, older child underneath the first, with their feet in the shopping basket. I know a lot of parents choose to go that route, but I personally don't like it for a few reasons. One, the child can really only see the bum of the child in front, and usually has very, very little space. Two, there have been cases reported where the child in the jump seat at the rear was able to get fingers caught in the spokes of the wheels.  Lastly, where do you put your stuff if the kid's feet are in the basket?