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.***