Another stroller dilemma

Strollers have been the hardest cost to swallow and hindsight is soooo 20/20. Here is my stroller history:

Registered and received Graco Quattro with both carseats (yay no out of pocket cost) - was great to get out with as newborns but now whoever is in the backseat at a store gets angry quick. Not to mention it is a huge monster to take along when you want to put other things, like a dog, in the back. Thinking of selling. CANNOT push with one hand so what's the point with grocery shopping, etc. Still stinks because it is a nice comfy stroller...just big.

Bought a single zooper tango (for quick outings with one LO bjorned) and instep jogging double on craigslist and both started out good but were obviously worn and were a pain to push, etc. Got rid of both after a couple months. Couldn't push with one hand.

Tested a BOB duallie at store - used to coupons to get decent deal. Walk the park 4-5 days a week even in winter - this stroller is so incredible but it is big to take in the mall. Great for groceries as I can push with one hand and pull cart with other. Otherwise, a lot to take for short trips. But I will never get rid of my beloved monster.

My DH is like, now you are talking yet another stroller??? Heh heh. Well, here's the thing. I am trying to get out more...walk to mommy and me yoga, go to the mall to get out, go to the zoo, etc. And I always have to plan for whether or not there will be a place for a BOB. I thought about getting another single and bjorning one but truthfully, I enjoy having both in a stroller - backaches! And we live in a 120 yr old house with no storage and having a BOB and the Quattro presents quite a storage dilemma.

SO...now that I have exhausted you, I am really thinking of purchasing the COMBI that everyone is talking about. What makes it worth the money to you versus a cheaper one? Also, as anyone tried the MacLaren? These are at the top of what I want to spend, but I just sold my breastpump on Craigslist for $150 (woohoo) and I am putting all of it and a little more toward a new stroller. I have read the reviews and of course you can find happy and unhappy customers. I have two active 10 mos olds and I have decided on a SBS because they are very competitive girls and a tandem is not going to cut it. I don't have a car always during the day so I need to be able to walk outside too, not in the park, just down the street. Can you give me specifics for your favorite and why you love and don't love? Thanks in advance. Driving me crazy! :headbang:

 

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE my combi! I think the only cheaper SBS is the jeep one, and it was just too flimsy for my taste when we tried it out at babiesrus. I like the maclaren, but didn't like the price tag, OR the single umbrella type handles on them. I prefer the long handle of the combi, makes it super simple to attach bags to, as well as push with one hand. I grocery shop with it all the time, pushing with one hand and pulling the shopping cart with the other.

The only things I don't like, are the canopies are small in the summer sun. But I bought canopy extension things that just velcro overtop and will go all the way down to their toes. It doesn't have a cup holder, but again quickly remedied with a cup holder kit from babiesrus. And the baskets underneath are TINY! And you can hardly get anything into them. So I bought some gigantic hooks to hang on the stroller handles, and I just clip my diaper bag to them (or use my long shoulder strap overtop of the handles).

It's lightweight, takes up a small amt of space for a double stroller in the back of my truck, and is easy to unfold and fold. I don't regret my purchase at all!

 

I know you said you want a double but I just thought I'd chime in that if you end up not going that route we have a quinny zapp for our 19 mo and LOVE IT!!! We got it because it folds super small so we can also fit the double stroller for the twins in the van too. It pushes like a dream and is definitely pushable with one hand...now if only they'd make it as a double!!! Who knows maybe they will!

I just got my valco but haven't gotten it out of the box yet, I cannot wait to be able to have one stroller that will hold all 3!!! Don't feel bad we have gone through quite a few strollers too for just our singleton. :FIFblush: Good luck!!

 

I have the valco and the maclaren double SBS. I looked at the combi in BRUS, and I liked it (in retrospect, I think it is probably as good or better than the Maclaren). The reason I didn't buy it is that my boys at only 6/7 mos old looked like they filled it out already. The combi has these fluffy pads that kind of encompass the baby and I think because of that it looks like the seats are more narrow than the Maclaren. I thought they would outgrow the stroller too fast.

Anyway, I like the Maclaren. It does have 2 handles (instead of a bar), which I don't like. It makes one handed steering impossible. Basket/storage is limited. And honestly after pushing something like the BOB or valco, it's hard to go back! It's just so heavy and hard to push/steer. But, it folds up SO compactly, light weight, etc. So when storage space is tight in the car, or just going to be in a store and I want something smaller, I use it. I bought the Maclaren first thinking it would be my only stroller (after the double snap and go) :rotflmbo: , but for walks, etc, it's a work out. So I got the valco, and now I don't use the maclaren much at all. But it does have it's purposes.


ETA: I've been thinking strongly about getting a single umbrella now as well. I think for what I use the double umbrella, I'd use a single just as effectively. Plus there have been several times I have to take one boy to the doctor, or run errands, and I don't have a single stroller. So maybe a single is the way to go?

 

have the SBS maclaren and love it!!!!!!!! is pretty expensive though At $265

 

I'm in the midst of the great stroller debate too. I have loved my snap-n-go. But they are getting too big for it now, and I have to figure out where to go from here.

 

Ah, the wonderful world of double strollers!! We currently have a Peg Perego Duette but I am looking to buy a side-by-side stroller and came across the Bumbleride Indie Twin. I love the look of it!! Does anyone have one?

 

Oh boy do I know where you are coming from! I'm the queen of strollers but I think you might be ready to dethrone me! :lol: It took me two year of people telling me, Combi, Combi, Combi to finally give in. It wasn't hard when a great friend was giving me her used one. I LOVE it and am so mad that I haven't had it all along. Our jogger is just too big to take anywhere but the zoo and Walmart other than for my walk/run's. I still use my Graco front/back about once a month for places like Kohl's and the Dr's office. Every other time, I just bring the Combi. My boys will be 2.5 in March and they still fit great in it. My Skip Hop bag attaches with both the clips and the long strap. I decided on Combi since they have cupholder which are a MUST for getting any grocery shopping done...can anyone say Puffs?? I'm wondering if the Babies R Us used goods deal works on strollers. If so, you could get rid of one and get 25% off the Combi.