stroller wars part 728
Posted: February 9, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized 19 Comments »Wes and I have been debating the relative merits of the various ridiculously expensive strolles for many, many years now. We had thought it was a simple debate between the Bugaboo and the Stokke Xplory. The first two rounds of in-person exploration of the two landed us firmly in the Bug camp. There were times we thought that the decision had really been firmly made. We thought the Xplory was too plasticky the first time we saw it. The second time, when I was pregnant with the penguin, we thought that the mechanism for taking off the bassinet was too difficult. A green Bug, we decided. We were seemingly done.
But time is a funny thing, and TK has taken a damn long time to be made. We have changed our minds a zillion times. We have explored more stroller websites than seems natural. We have read more daddytypes posts about strollers than could posisbly be good for us. And now we can’t decide again.
And now there are more options!
And now every single solitary person in Park Slope is driving a Bugaboo.
Seriously. The other morning I went in to work late when I was feeling sick. It was 10 am and I was at the corner of my street and I looked around while waiting for the light to change. I spotted 7 strollers from where I stood and 4 of them were Bugs.
I am not completely thrilled with following the herd, but when a product is good, people buy it. I could get over this. Wes, though, would really like to be different. He will go with the Bug if we really decide it is the BEST but if there is an alternative that is just as good, it might win on just not being the Bug.
So. Mutsy came onto the scene because it is suddenly available in the U.S. More specifically, it is now at Buy B*y B*by (ie, the big, scary baby store), where we can compare the three front runners. These are up for consideration because they can all hold a bassinet, a seat, or a carseat – that’s our standard. They are all damn heavy and will be too much for me to carry down stairs to a subway alone (though we could handle it together), so we are aware that we will eventually need a cheap umbrella stroller. But a very large percentage of my time is spent in my neighborhood walking, and we want one of these fabulous strollers mostly for that. So we went for more research at the big, scary baby store.
(They also have the Orbit, which we used to find interesting, but which we did not like in person and which I would not buy anyway because A) the car seat really hasn’t been tested much and B) you have to pay for all the pieces separately and that’s lame.)
We got demos tonight in the Mutsy and the Xplory and learned that the Xplory isn’t really hard to take apart – we just had a bad salesperson at the last store where we saw it. The folding mechanism on the Mutsy is about a zillion times easier than either the Bug or the Xplory, and that’s a really nice feature. Both of them are higher up than the Bug, which we really like. The Xplory’s wheel base is a tiny bit narrower than the other two, though not by a lot. Mutsy has more accessories and fun things, like stands to make the seat into a bouncer or standalone bassinet, and a special toddler fun seat with steering wheel that looks awesome. The Mutsy and the Xplory have non-air-filled tires, which means not having to pump them up and not worrying about popping them.
Wes’ problem with the Mutsy is that it looks a lot like the Bugaboo and he doesn’t want anyone to think that he has a Bugaboo "knock-off." The Mutsy price tag is still extremely high (though a couple hundred less than the other two) and that alone makes it no knock-off in my opinion. Plus, stroller conoisseurs will know that it is a new and special thing. People will start to recognize it as they have the Quinny strollers (still not available in the U.S. and not adaptable with U.S. carseats – otherwise we would be investigating them).
I would almost venture to say that we are now deciding between the Mutsy and the Xplory. But the Bugaboo has a way of winning us back every so often so I can’t say that yet. We have such a very long time to go, still.
Bugaboo
Mutsy
Xplory
i have been firmly in the bugaboo camp from the beginning.
also – on car-seat testing — this is VERY important. i cannot tell you about the various models because I have not done any carseat cases, but i can tell you that defectively designed carseats cause signficant injuries to youngsters. this is a burgeoning area of products liability law.
Let’s just say I so wish I were in your position!! Depsite its massive popularilty, we were very much Bugaboo people. And then there were two. There aren’t many chic options in the twin category, I have to say. It’s big and cumbersome and bigger and more cumbersome. For you, I vote for the Bugaboo. Xplory seems awesome in concept but in reality, it is just to unwieldly. But I think you realy can’t go wrong with any of your three chocies.
now i know why i feel so dumb pushing my combi side-by-side double down 7th ave. you want to be unique, wes? you could push the boys in their stroller someday down 5th. feel the rush.
i’m sure your little one will look adorable and feel snuggly in any of the options put forth. hope to see you soon!
Ok, Bri – You so know I’m a form before function girl, but I feel I should pass on the one piece of advice that a Bug weilding friend passed on to me as her kids turned about 4 months old and were outside for longer periods of time.
While they may be really cool, you will regret the day you didn’t buy a stroller that had a drink holder on the handlebar.
She could be full of it, but, i mean, it kind of makes sense. I can imagine it’s hard to push, talk on a cell phone AND carry a cup of coffee at the same time.
The Stroller Pro/Con List
BUGABOO
Pros:
classic good looks
solid construction
attractive handle bar thing on the toddler seat
bassinet easy to remove
folds with keeping the seat onCons:
bassinet can’t be used for sleping (on the Frog, which is the one you like)too common
handlebar doesn’t adjust to different heights (on the Frog)
heavy
tires can pop
somewhat difficult to fold (
wheelsseat has to be removed)MUTSY
Pros:
solid construction
cool toddler steering wheel
bassinet easy to remove
bassinet can be used for sleeping
bouncy seat base available to use off the stroller
folds easily
folds with keeping the seat on
handlebar height-adjusts
seat rests high off the ground
unique
wheels can’t pop (ed. – not totally sure about this now – research seems to contradict my memory)
Cons:
looks like a fake Bugaboo
handlebar on the seat is ugly
heavy
STOKKE
Pros:
bassinet can be used for sleeping
handlebar height-adjusts
seat rests high off the ground
Easy to use as high chair in restaurants
narrowest wheel base
wheels can’t pop
unique
Cons:
plastic looks cheap
possibly hard to fold
seats have to be removed to foldCORRECTIONS to Wes’ Stroller Pro/Con List
aka, Evidence of the Fact That Wes Never Listens To Me
The Bugaboo seat must be removed to fold (not the other two).
The Frog bassinet CAN be used for sleeping, but not the Gecko.
You don’t absolutely have to remove the Bug wheels to fold, it’s just that you can if you want it more compact (ie, for the carrying case for travel).
Finally, he’s right that there are different positions for the Stokke handlebar, but it doesn’t exactly adjust up and down for height. It’s just that one of the positions works for us.
Oh, and on the cupholder issue, J – you can get them for a Bug, you just have to get them separately. But this should maybe be added to our Pro/Con list – we could get one to work on the Bug or the Mutsy but not on the Stokke (without some major creativity involved, anyway).
we have the bug and LOVE it! we get lots of compliments on it but they are not as common in Atl as they are in NYC. The cup holder thing really pissed me off but we found one seperately so it worked out just fine. we also bought a $50 porta stroller to travel with so that the airline people couldn’t break our bug ; )- we love it!!
Hi there. We’re ex-Park Slopers (St. John’s Pl.) and native NYers…so we know from fashionable stroller watching
However, I must say–now that we’re on our third child and have been through a few strollers in two decades of baby-wrangling–our favorite is our current non-posh but totally wonderfully stroller: Graco’s Metrolite “Travel System” in an appealingly gender neutral color
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-MetroLite-Travel-System-Delancy/dp/B00005NZ2K
It has two cup holders, a comfy handle, “drives” smoothly, is easy in-out with the car seat and best of all, you truly can collapse the whole shebang with one hand. (I’m the mom with fibromyalgia who dropped you a line a while back…so comfort/ease with baby equipment is key for me.)
The uber-trendy strollers tend not to have under-carriage space to stow things…we loved having that tray or bag below to stash whatever items we’d buy during an outing. Also important: try hanging a diaper bag from the handles of whatever stroller you’re considering. Make sure it doesn’t block your view of the baby or change the stroller’s balance. The trendy ones tend not to be made for diaper bag access. Anyway, there’s some more stroller food for thought! Good luck shopping.
And I’m very glad to see things working out well for you now!
I know how much you love to correct me, honey, but I was right about a couple things you said I was wrong about— The seat of the Bug can stay on if you fold it only part way and the Mutsy wheels aren’t air filled on the model we looked at (the one sold in the US). So, um, I just needed to say that.
I really think that the decision is going to be between the Mutsy and the Stokke.
You are being tricked by the Bug site. You need to read the reviews. Everything everwhere says it has to be taken off to fold it.
Does seriously everyone in NYC have these things? Christ! They must have just not hit here as much, though I have seen a few when I’ve been out in the high-end burbs. We have disposable income and a grandma with $$ and I still can’t fathom spending that much on a stroller. Perhaps it’s b/c I live in Minnesnowta though, and am more into the slinging than the strollering. But we did get a fairly nice stroller (a Bumbleride) which seemed like a good compromise between looking trendy and not extremely expensive.
love the bug.
i second the Graco MetroLite system. The seat folds all the way back for newborns (and some of the styles come with a boot, or you can buy one separately) and it’s really easy to fold and quite light. Ours came from the Toy*s R Us in Times Sq, so you can check it out there.
sure, it’s not $700, but you can use the money to save to buy more coffee (and put it in the built-in cup holder).
I got so many laughs out of all the Bugaboo pushing sheep in NYC. It’s not a status symbol if everyone has it, now is it?
What about a MicraLite fast fold? I seriously hate the thing, but it might be just what you’re looking for. Nice and light and TINY.
http://www.arunningstroller.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ARS&Product_Code=EBMicraTravSys&Category_Code=ERB
I actually really love the Baby Jogger City as well. Probably not what you’re looking for, but the easiest fold in the world, and stores pretty compactly. I wanted one, but Charlie said it had razor blades in the seat. I have a BumbleRide Flyer, which I love, but would be totally horrible for you.
Valco? The new RAD might appeal to you. Mia Moda?
And I know Wes would rather be caught dead than be seen with a mass market stroller, so I’ll skip any references to anything costing less than my mortgage.
I’ve heard good things about the Orbit car seat. However every other car seat even remotely similar has gotten recalled eventually. That swivel action is a recipe for disaster.
the more i think about bugaboos, the more i can’t believe humanity actually survived without them for so long.
Very funny to read you two arguing about the various buggy properties!
I use to really want a Bugaboo, despite the expense, but they are just too damn common now for them to be desirable for me.
I’ve no idea whether you get Mamas & Papas brand stuff in the States (or whether the car seats are compatible), but we’ve gone for a Skoot pushchair/stroller http://www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/product_details.php?id=1162688&type=I
It’s not as funky looking as the Bugaboo/Xplory/Mutsy, but it’s pretty cool (and definitely out of the ordinary – I’ve only seen one “on the street”). It’s very easy to use and very versatile, you can clip a co-ordinating carseat on to the frame, and you can flick the handlebar back and forth (for front/rear-facing baby views) at the press of a button, like with the Bugaboo. Plus it has a huge basket underneath. Only drawback is it just comes in 2 rather dull shades of grey.
Oh it is so nice to see others having the same strollers “talks” as we are. We are due in 2 weeks and have been looking at strollers for the past 9 months with nothing so far.. We are now in the critical stage and it has come down to 3 strollers the bug cameleon, the mutsy urban and the orbit. If only we could just afford all 3 then the problem would be solved.
Things we like
bug even though everyone has one its still a cool stroller.
mutsy I think is the most sturdy stroller and the fun seat looks so cool.
I think it has the best stroller seat which seams like what is going to be used the most. but seems big when folder but like the one hand fold.
the orbit is really cool and seems so easy with the car seat. and the rocker that comes with the bassinet is really cool. We just didnt like the stroller seat that much.. And you could take off the canopy. It is kind of pain to have to buy the bassinet and stroller seat seperate but when you add it up its about the same price as the bug.
So thats where we are in the talk.. and at last another day passes with no stroller purchased. Tomorrow will be the day
DAN — Mamas & Papas is Peg Perego’s UK label. You can get the Skoot in the US now. It is called the “UNO” and is available in lots of colours. But, I still think the Skoot/Uno in the original drab “vapour” colour is most distinct.