Best Buggy For A Man?

[fairylamb]

My other half is currently a slightly unwilling stay-at-home-Dad. Being a practical kind of girl (the type who only has 2 handbags ? one brow, one black) I opted for a Maclaren (nice one that lies flat) to use from birth reckoning all kids end up in a Maclaren anyway. Trouble is my other half can?t stand the rattling sound of my trusty Maclaren, it?s general lack of style and panache and finds the handles slightly too low for everyday use.

Any advice/recommendations required please on the best buggy for a 6?1 man and 10 month old child? Must have extendable handles, be reasonably light and manoeuvrable, suitable for heavy everyday use (walks twice per day plus the odd jog in the park)? I was thinking maybe a Mountain Buggy would fit the bill? Not sure they are very good on public transport?

Thanks!

[fairylamb]

Would also be good if you could wheel it around Sainsburys with one hand!

[The Nappy Lady]

I'd say the new Mountain buggy swift would meet all criteria, handles don't extend but hinge up and down to varied height.

I have one if he wants to come and see if it fits the bill, first buggy Ive found that does everything I want it to (been a long search!!).

Molly

[littleEDfamily]

Do you need to get it up stairs to your house/ flat?

[Moos]

How odd, our MacLaren (with extendable handles) seems OK for my 6'3" other half?

An Urban Mountain does sound suitably butch, though! Big rugged wheels, bar handle and none of your namby-pamby girly handles, solid and very heavy iron frame, tiny turning circle, comes in mud brown... perfect. We have a very elderly double Urban Mountain which is a bitch to fold and I wouldn't even try to get it on a bus, but perhaps the singles are better?

[The Nappy Lady]

Moos, the new Mountain Swift is a single, narrower, lighter and easy folding MB answer to the Mclaren. It weighs 9kg I believe. 10" wheels so a smooth ride without making it impossible for the bus etc. Urban would be ok too but wider and heavier.

Molly

[fairylamb]

Thank you for the very kind offer of a trial Molly (I think he would be too shy to take you up on it though) however I will steer him him towards a pushchair showroom over the weekend for a test run!

No stairs so we would only be putting it in the boot (of a Golf) for car journeys.

Yeah I'm surprised about the complaint about the handle height - he does do a lot of walking though - maybe needs to adjust his buggy pushing gait!

[The Nappy Lady]

No worries, but do call ahead as I found not many shops had them in.

Hope you find something he approves of - keep us posted!!

Can always let you know when we are going to the park and you can randomly steer him past and point it out....tee hee!!!

Molly

[katgod]

Molly may I ask where you got your Swift from? I haven't seen it in anyof the shops I have been in so far. Your reviews on here are making me think it could be just the job for us too. Thanks

[crystal7]

The Bugaboo Cameleon has an extendable handle, is great for walkers and my OH runs around Dulwich Park with it. I've seen the Mountain Buggy Swift and they look great BUT not so good for the bus as 3 wheelers as they're longer they tend to stick out a bit if you know what I mean?

[melbourne groover]

I have a Swift now too and am loving it. Suddenly I can get easily into all sorts of places! Am loving the narrowness. Having had a Phil and teds and a ABC (genius for two kids but unnecessarily large for just one) this is my favourite so far. Basket smaller though so have had to re-adjust my shopping storage... Both my husband and I are tall and the handle and stride depth are great so no probs there.

Beware of Bambino direct though, they completely mucked me around - nightmare! Have a look for the 2009 model, there is still a few knocking about at really reduced prices and still NZ made (think 2010 are made in China - not sure if this makes any difference though).

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes, I got the 2009 model from mumstore.co.uk they were really helpful and efficient, so if they have any left and you want one would recommend them.

For me the folding (or lack of) of the Bugaboos rules them out now - I need something that 'flat packs' down, which the Swift does....the only thing I can possibly find against it is that it is still quite long when folded, my old 3 wheeler folded more in the middle where as the MB folds at the front, then the handle folds in. Not the end of the world, and probably makes it a stronger buggy overall I suspect.

Oh and hands up to being very naughty and sometimes not using the over the shoulder straps because my little one wants to sit up more (but waist staps are very snug so she is firmly anchored in - one bit of very clever design with the waist straps is that you can thread them under a bit of fabric each side and then out again to make them come from an anchor point about 1" narrower on each side for smaller children, which I think is very clever. Similar thing with shoulder straps and 3 different settings.

Couldn't find it in any shops Katgod, but you are also welcome to come look at mine if you want!! I reckon all buggys should be available for test drive before purchase!

M

[sunbob]

My OH was very taken with the 'gadgetyness' of the CityMini's amazing one hand fold! One year on and it's fixed handle seems a fine height for him (6') and a really good height for me (a tad over 5'). It's really light to pull up stairs and the OH loves being silly running round and swerving its swivel wheels in the park!)

[????]

As a dad Stoke was my favourite and pratical and easy to push (folding down a bit of a trial*) for a small one and used to get looks and even enquiries...still looks good but more about nowadays.

PS poor storage too

[ryedalema]

For a double buggy my OH is after a Phil and Teds 'Vibe' or 'Dash'. The other P&T models see him kicking the lower child in the head as he strides out. The Vibe and Dash are much better for taller (or more lanky) people..wethinks.

[Belle]

on a slight tangent, what is the difference between the vibe, dash and sport P&T buggies? ryedalema do you find the sport has a lower back bit then?

[SteveT]

Fairylamb wrote:- Yeah I'm surprised about the complaint about the handle height - he does do a lot of walking though - maybe needs to adjust his buggy pushing gait!

My biggest complaint of buggy pushing was the height/length of the handles which always gave my back grief, and that you seemed to have to shuffle your feet as there was not enough room to pace out.

I frequently spied other guys useing the left handle with their right hand so they could walk and pace out offset to the buggy.

I am five foot nine.

[ryedalema]

Hi Belle - it's either the higher handle or that the handle sticks out further from the chassis but the Vibe and Dash prevent my husband from doing what SteveT describes. He can stride out behind the Vibe and Dash models without kicking bottom child in the head.

As for any other pros - I haven't a clue. This is the only one he particularly cares about ;-)

[Sanne Panne]

My husband likes our P&T Vibe a lot, we bought it a couple of months ago although baby 2 is only due in June - he likes it a lot better than the rattly ones we used before. If you're planning on having a second one before your first child is 3 it may be worth planning ahead and getting a double one (unless you don't like the parcel shelf concept of the P&T - took me a long time to get over the idea).