Babble Best Picks:
Strollers
One of the biggest purchases for your baby is the stroller, riddled with safety, style, and status issues - as well as affordability, of course, considering some strollers climb above the $1,000 mark. The choices and questions are seemingly endless: How do you accommodate your newborn without wasting money on a short-lived purchase? What are the features you absolutely need? Are luxury strollers really worth it? Can you find a good stroller in the $100 range?
To make your search easier, Babble assembled and test-drove over 30 of the newest strollers - from lightweight umbrella strollers to all-terrain joggers - to find the best of the best for every budget, geographic location, and age group. Did we miss one? Nominate your
favorite stroller here.
BEST OVERALL | Bugaboo Cameleon
Shocking, right? Bugaboo landed at the top of yet another "Best Of" round up. We know the Bugaboo Cameleon seems a bit expensive for many people, but it's truly the only stroller you'll ever need to buy.
Included in the hefty price tag is a stroller that accommodates newborns through toddlers, saving you from buying multiple strollers. The Bugaboo Cameleon (appropriately named for its variety of color choices and customizable features) comes with a newborn bassinet and a seat with various levels of recline, literally accommodating any age.
It's more lightweight than the typical full-service stroller and has infinitely more features than the typical lightweight stroller, pretty much making it the stroller to end all strollers. In fact, the Cameleon was the single most maneuverable stroller we tested - ideal for city sidewalks as well as bumpier paths. It includes everything you'd possibly need in one design: The handlebar reverses so the larger wheels can be in front to handle all-terrain paths, or the smaller wheels can be in front to maneuver around sharp corners and tight spaces. Also, an infant bassinet comes with the stroller (not sold separately as an accessory), which adds to the longevity.
The only downside? You have to remove the stroller's seat before folding it, so it isn't a one-handed process. However, to be fair, the seat can be removed with the slightest push of a button, and the frame and seat fit more compactly than most all-terrain strollers.
Runners Up:
READERS’ CHOICE | UPPAbaby Vista
We unfortunately weren’t able to get our hands on the UPPAbaby Vista in time for testing, but seeing that it’s such a popular, well-loved luxury stroller (providing competition to our “Best Overall Stroller” category), we asked our readers for their input. Based on the glowing reviews, it seems like the UPPAbaby Vista is one of the best: One of our readers has been using her 2010 UPPAbaby Vista for almost a year, and this is her hands-down favorite for everyday use. As an urban NYC mom, she said the UPPAbaby has excellent maneuverability, even on the bumpiest of sidewalks, and an incredibly large storage basket that’s perfect for shopping. She also loves the SPF 50 canopy extension, simple foot-activated break, and extendable handlebars. Compared to other luxury strollers, the UPPAbaby seems to stand out for several reasons: First, it’s one of the only luxury strollers that can be folded with the seat still attached – the Bugaboo Cameleon, iCandy Peach and Stokke Xplory all have to be disassembled. Also, there are many attachments included in the price tag, including a bassinet, rain cover, and bug nets. But the biggest perk, in our opinion, is that the seat and bassinet sit higher than other strollers, which is especially important for rear-facing infants who we’d like to keep close to us. (We prefer our babies to see our faces, not our legs.) In fact, this was our main complaint with the Bugaboo and iCandy, and one of the biggest reasons our reader didn’t choose the Bugaboo Cameleon. However, unlike the Stokke, the seat height isn’t adjustable. There are some downsides to keep in mind: The stroller isn’t especially narrow for navigating tight spaces. Along the same lines, the heavy, bulky frame isn’t ideal for parents frequently using public transportation. For that, our reader uses the Baby Jogger City Mini (our choice for urban parents) or UPPAbaby G-luxe. Also, our reader had some problems with rain leaking into the canopy’s peekaboo window flap, even with the rain cover attached. Another downside that we’ve heard from parents is that the seat doesn’t adjust to a fully upright position (such as the Bugaboo Cameleon or Stokke Xplory), which some kids hate.
5 Responses to “Best Strollers: UPPAbaby Vista”
Features
Starting with the 2010 Vista the seat does go all the way upright. 2009 and earlier models didn’t, which drove my friends with earlier strollers nuts, but I have the 2010 and it has the new “0″ setting.
The best on the market for comfort, design, adaptability and value. Seat sits higher from the ground and I can fold it without taking the seat off. Have had 3 kids in it, at once! One in the toddler seat, one in the 2nd Rumbleseat and the oldest on the skateboard style ridealong board. Love the huge basket! Can’t say enough about this stroller! I bought the bassinet stand. Ingenious, I’m turning it into a hamper when I’m done with the bassinet! They have the best ideas!
The UPPAbaby is definitely worth it. It is pricey, but in terms of what you get for your money, compared to the other luxury strollers on the market, this one can’t be beat.
http://www.squidoo.com/luxury-stroller-update-uppababy-vista-2011-reviews
My favorite feature: UPPAbaby Vista folds into self-standing position – a lifesaver for people with limited storage space.
I had great bihrts! 7 hours with the first (20 minutes of pushing) and 5 hours with the second (about 1 minute of pushing- seriously 2 pushes and he was out!). I had epidurals with both which made my experience much more enjoyable, and I wasn’t as tired as most women are after having babies.I’ve heard lot’s of bad birth stories so I always enjoy sharing mine!