help me - umbrella stroller

CiaoBella07

Sorry to post on this again, but I am still going back and forth about this.

Backstory: I'm trying to decide if we need an umbrella stroller for traveling. We currently have the Bumbleride Flyer. It is a great stroller.  It weighs 19 lbs. and folds up fairly easily.  I have gate checked it before.  However, it is a full size stroller.

I had all but decided on the stroller Ann posted earlier this week, the Britax Blink because it seems like a great stroller for the price. However, it is 16 lbs -- not much less than my current stroller. 

Do you think I really need to spend the money?  Is it that much more convenient?

I also have a "free with purchase" umbrella stroller from BRU that looks like something I used to push my dolls in when I was little.  I can't imagine that would be comfy for Anne (plus no sun shade) or for me to push.

Help!  I'm overwhelmed!

amstep

Page me tomorrow and I'll tell you all about the Blink.  UPS tracking says I'll get it by the end of today!

CiaoBella07

Will do!  Thanks Ann!

Illinois_to_Indiana

Honestly I hate our umbrella stroller! The handles are lower than a regular stroller and it is just uncomfortable to push and it doesn't recline back for comfort and isn't that comfy for extended periods of time. Your stroller looks like a good choice to keep and its fairly light. We usually just use our jogger or regular stroller when going out and that isn't very often anymore now that she wants to walk by herself.

gv5499

We bought the Joovy Kooper and LOVE it! It is a little heavier than our other umbrella stroller (Chicco Capri). I love that Preslee can lay all the way back in the Kooper and the sun shade is fantastic! The wheels pop off for traveling and so far I have not had a single complaint about it!  Here is a link to the Kooper (sorry, I don't know how to do the linky thing)

https://www.joovy.com/pages/pd_kooper.php

CiaoBella07

I really love that joovy kooper too!  I don't think I'm looking to spend that much, however, since I still like using our Bumbleride for most trips.  And since the Bumbleride isn't the cheapest stroller on the market either, I feel like I want to get our money's worth (well, we got it as a gift, but ykwim). 

Honestly, right now Anne doesn't use the stroller that much, but I bet that changes in the summer.  I'm totally overthinking this decision.

 

fruitcakes

I would consider a couple things before buying a new stroller for travel:

- What is your transportation when you get there?   If you're taking public transportation, are you having to fold up the stroller constantly to get on a bus, climb subway stairs, etc.

- What are your typical vacations like?  Are you out and about all day long or is it for a quick walk?

- If you don't fly, do you have the additional space in the car for the Bumbleride?  We overpack like crazy when we drive, so having a smaller umbrella stroller is nice.  

IMO, I wouldn't purchase a 2nd stroller unless you're constantly using public transportation.  I love that with my Maclaren, I can hold Olivia, my diaper bag and the folded stroller slung over my shoulder to get on a bus or go down stairs.  What I hate is that we're almost always gone the entire day, so I feel like I have a lot to carry and the stroller just isn't very big.  The Bumbleride seems to be a middle of the road option...not huge, but not so basic. 

As far as airport travel, for me the size of the stroller is not an issue.  Nearly 99.9% of the time we're pushing the stroller with either Olivia or one of our bags in the seat. I don't think there is a single airline that has a size limit for gate checked strollers. 

CiaoBella07

Kelley, thanks for your questions - they definitely give me good things to consider!

We travel mostly to see family, so there's usually a car involved, but you make a good point about having room for the stroller, since it is pretty big.  The bumbleride takes up almost half of the trunk space in my car!

You're right about the stroller often times being a carry-all in the airport...this has happened to us several times too.

gv5499

It was definitely a little pricier than what I had in mind. Luckily, I had a coupon, a trade in and a terrible experience in Babies R Us that helped make it a lot less expensive! Good luck in your stroller search.