Good stroller for SF

kpv

We live in San Francisco where we do a ton of walking and the streets are very hilly, sidewalks are often uneven, etc. I have read Baby Bargains and the recommended strollers for this type of environment seem to be the Uppababy Vista, Baby Jogger City Mini or Elite, Bob Revolution, and a couple others that I am forgetting.

Can any of you who live in SF (or similar areas) recommend your stroller? How/why did you pick it? I know you can go to the store and play with them, but that's not really the same thing as pushing it up a big San Francisco hill with a baby in it. Since some of these strollers are $600+, I really want to buy something I'll be happy with. 

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We live in a very hilly area of the city.  We got the Bugaboo.  I thought it would be great since it has the bassinet (she hated it), the baby seat and then the regular stroller.  When she was little, we used the moby and the carseat attachment a lot (like a snap n go) for walks.  We also got a umbrella stroller and we use that a lot too since most restuarants are tiny.  If I did it all over again, I don't think I would be so quick to invest in such a big purchase.  The Bugaboo is nice for longer outtings since it's a more comfy stroller, but since we are probably going to have 2 kids, I am already thinking about a double stroller. 

Also, I would make sure there is an area for sippy cups and snacks.  Don't need it as an infant but it sure would be helpful with a toddler (the Bug doesn't have one.)

 But if you plan to go on daily walks, I am sure you want something nice.  Maybe start with s snap n go (or something similar) and then see what your needs are. 

 

EmmieB

every time we've gobe into SF we've used the beco. I can't imagine taking a stroller on some of those hills. But we live in SJ, so...

we own a bumbleride indie and I love it.

futrkingsley

I do not live in SF, and wouldn't walk up those hills much less push a stroller up them. So that is my disclaimer.  But I have the Baby Jogger City Mini and LOVE it.  We got it a few months ago as a replacement for our first stroller.  We had a Kolcraft Contours 3 when DS was a baby and we really liked it. Or liked it well enough.  If was tough to fold and sort of unweildy but it allowed DS to face us in a stroller that was less than $150 so we took it.  Anyway, he outgrew it by the time he was like 15 months old.  And he wasn't old enough to walk all day on outings like to the zoo, aquarium, etc.  So we needed a toddler stroller. 

The City Mini is a breeze. We got our's new for about $150 shipped.  It is super super light weight, and folds with one hand.  The seat is big enough for my 30 lb/36" tall 2 year old.  And I believe you can get an infant seat adapter for it.  The negative in your situation that totally didn't apply to us was that it does not fully recline so tiny babies and smaller kids won't be able to lay flat or even nearly flat.  It's fine for DS who was 18 months when we got it but it wouldn't work for a much younger kid without using the carseat I think.

RozieGirl

We live in the city as well and can totally relate.

We first bought a lightweight stroller that was compatible w/ our car seat and found that we hated it. Although it was light and easy to fold and fits in the trunk of our car just fine, it didn't push as well. You're talking pot holes and uneven pavements all over the city and a lightweight stroller just didn't do it for us. We also have an umbrella stroller that works for us too but then again, doesn't work out for DH because he's taller than me and it's not comfortable when he has to hunch over a bit and push. We've found that the umbrella stroller works for us if we're going to a crowded event and for restaurants, we don't even bother bringing it. For long outings, we decided on the Phil & Teds Sport. I must say we are much happier with the way it pushes but the downside is that it isn't as light, compact, and it's a bit bulky compared to our other 2 strollers. What really sold me is the doubles kit for a 2nd baby if you are planning on more kids. The attachment just snaps to the back of the stroller instead of those side by side strollers that takes up a lot of room and you know living in SF, that's not going to work.

I know there are a ton of strollers to look at and which one but your best bet is to go down to CitiKids or a store where you can test out strollers.

GL!

MrsEmm

loved the city mini but the main draw for city living is that it doesnt have much of a basket for carrying stuff. Other than that it was an AWESOME stroller.

green3000

I have the City Mini and love it.  I've pushed it up and down our big hill with more or less ease (we are not in SF but live in a hilly area on the Peninsula.   I'm not sure what the previous poster means by it not reclining - it does recline fully and DS has spent many quality hours napping in it.     I got it when DS was 4 months old.   A friend of mine has used it since her son was born and used the car seat attachment when he was very young.  

futrkingsley

green3000:

I have the City Mini and love it.  I've pushed it up and down our big hill with more or less ease (we are not in SF but live in a hilly area on the Peninsula.   I'm not sure what the previous poster means by it not reclining - it does recline fully and DS has spent many quality hours napping in it.     I got it when DS was 4 months old.   A friend of mine has used it since her son was born and used the car seat attachment when he was very young.  

I'm a tool and just realized I have the MICRO, not the Mini.  Ooops!  The Micro doesn't fully recline, the Mini does.  And the Micro is slightly smaller, with a smaller canopy and is a few bucks cheaper.  Sorry for the mixup!