What is the point of expensive strollers??

dana316 · February 2011

We only use our stroller when we go somewhere without shopping carts (mall, etc)...or when we go to the park, or places where we are going to be for awhile and I don't want to hold her the whole time, but need to contain her.

Our cheap Graco stroller has been fine...no complaints whatsoever.

In shopping for a double stroller, and trying to decide if I want to get another cheap Graco, or shell out the big bucks for a more expensive stroller...it occurs to me...what is the difference between $$$$ strollers and $ strollers??

Are they that much different from the cheapers models? If there are really that much better, I don't mind spending the money.

So, all you expensive stroller owners out there, give me the scoop on your stroller.

Thanks!!

tina623 · February 2011

I don't have an expensive double but I bought a Chicco (140) and I love it but I also bought Graco umbrella strollers for 30 bucks and they are just as great.

MayDayGirl · February 2011

so I agree with you for a single stroller, HOWEVER I have a double stroller that is babytrend (I think) and I HATE it. It's so long and SO heavy to push and VERY hard to steer, impossible in small spaces and even more impossible to push with 1 hand, and I can't ever get at anything in the basket below. I literally cringe thinking of going anywhere without carts bc it's such a pain.

It was free from a friend, but if I bought one I would look into a nicer one esp if I could afford it

A friend of mine has one of those strollers (can't remember the brand) where you can add the second seat on the back and I LOVE It! it steers and feels as small as my single stroller. They are pricey but she got it used for $250.

ETA it was a phil and teds

sara1014 · February 2011

I have an expensive stroller. (Bumbleride Indie Twin) For me, it was the fact that this is the only time I'm going to have babies...I'm having 2 at a time AND my mom said, "I'll buy you whatever stroller you want." That's probably the last time she'll say "whatever you want" to me, but I picked out the one I thought would be best. It worked for them as infants because of the recline, I wanted a side by side instead of a front and back.

That being said, we frequent the zoo with it, the park, and we generally walk about 2 miles minimum each night with the dog. This stroller has been amazing. Turns on a dime, rides super smoothly, and as far as double strollers go it folds easily and I can easily get it in and out of my car. I can also easily steer it with one hand while walking the dog. That and I like the look.

If I already had an older child, I'm not sure I'd opt for a more expensive version...but if my mom were to offer!

JillRock96 · February 2011

Our single stroller was not expensive, but I have found that if you go for walks a lot, a jogging stroller is a necessity. We go for walks daily in the spring/summer/fall -- mostly in our neighborhood. Even though we're on the sidewalks, the jogging stroller makes it so much easier with all of the curbs and uneven sidewalks. Last summer/fall we had the twins in the double snap-n-go, and I thought it was just awful -- I couldn't maneuver curbs or broken sidewalks at all. Now that we're looking at double jogging strollers, I see that the prices for decent ones jump way up from the super cheap ones. If you're just using the stroller for short trips to the mall, the cheap ones are just fine. But if you do any sort of walking for pleasure/exercise, I think a better quality stroller is a must.

ETA: I wanted to add that double strollers are an entirely different ball game. A cheap single stroller will usually maneuver just fine. A cheap (by cheap, I mean poor quality, not price) double stroller, particularly a tandem stroller, is impossible to steer, turn, lift over bumps/curbs, etc. Definitely try them out -- with with weight in the seats.

browneyedgrl4282 · February 2011

I have Graco double (not the duo glider one) and it is front to back, it was great for when the twins were newborns. It is VERY heavy though, it isn't cheap though if you ask me I think it was 240.

I also have two other doubles - I have chicco side by side (like Tina mentioned) which is a pretty nice stroller for the money but they no longer make it. I believe the only Chicco makes now is tandem one.

I also have Combi which I just got because it is easier IMO to travel with because of the straps.

You have to think about this once you have two kids you will probably want to use the stroller all the time. It's a royal pain to put toddler in the shopping chart than have baby in the basket in bucket car seat because you have no room left for your stuff. You could really wear the new baby if you need though.

Honestly if you think you are going to use a double you need to go to the store test them all out. You will find some are PITA to push and fold up. You need to make sure it will fit in your trunk as well. Decide if you want side by side or tandem. Need to make sure that you can fit your infant seat in it as well. If i could do over again I probably would opted for City Mini but they aren't exactly cheap either. Also make sure the seat limit on the each seat is over 40lbs because you don't want one that Caroline will out grow too fast.

You can also try to buy one of the higher end ones on CL!

cjsbdl · February 2011

Of course there are duds at all price points, but in general it's really like the difference between a luxury car or economy car. Better design, better production, handles better, more durable, etc. There's nothing wrong with an inexpensive stroller, and, honestly, whether buying an expensive one would benefit you totally depends on how you're going to use it. We went with a Bugaboo for three main reasons...we wanted something with all-terrain tires, we wanted a seat that could face both directions and we are both very tall people and this was one of the few strollers we found which was a comfy height for both of us. We were willing to pay more for those features. ETA: I agree with pp that it's probably more important to shell out for a good, quality double stroller than single. The gap in ease of use is much wider with doubles.

*Willis* · February 2011

I have an Uppa Baby Vista, which I guess would be considered expensive. I like it because it maneuvers incredibly over sidewalks, brick streets, grass, etc. I don't jog with C, so I don't need a jogger. The UBV works great. It also turns on a dime and has great control. I've been really pleased.

schmoodle · February 2011

cjsbdl:
Of course there are duds at all price points, but in general it's really like the difference between a luxury car or economy car. Better design, better production, handles better, more durable, etc. There's nothing wrong with an inexpensive stroller, and, honestly, whether buying an expensive one would benefit you totally depends on how you're going to use it. We went with a Bugaboo for three main reasons...we wanted something with all-terrain tires, we wanted a seat that could face both directions and we are both very tall people and this was one of the few strollers we found which was a comfy height for both of us. We were willing to pay more for those features.

Agree with most of this. We got a Bugaboo because we wanted all of the features it had and not many strollers had all of them (all terrain, seat that faced both ways, bassinet, carseat compatible without being an awkward sitting on top of the seat setup). Also, we lived in the city when Toodle was born and used it a lot (daily walks, etc.). Even in the suburbs though I'm glad we have it, it just handles much better than our (cheaper but not budget by any means) other stroller. Plus, we liked that they have a high resale so when Toodle either got too old or we had another and wanted a double, we could sell it. We're considering a Baby Jogger City Select if #2 arrives safely and I like that I can offset the cost by selling our Bugaboo for probably $300-400 on craigslist (based on what I've seen it listed for around here).

GypsyEsq · February 2011

Well I don't have a double stroller and I think that as other posters have said that is a different animal. But even as little as we use our single stroller I much prefer our Quinny to our Chicco. It handles better, is far easier to steer, folds better, and smaller, and it's just more of a pleasure to use. That said, there are some downsides, small basket, no tray for DD and no cup holder for me. I think you have to find the features that you want the most and then find the best of those strollers to look at. I think that they will probably be in all manner of price points. And all that aside -- I spent far more on baby carriers for babywearing than I did on either of my strollers b/c for me, on a daily basis, I still carry DD in a wrap and/or sling. And I can see myself using them for far longer than I've chosen to use the stroller. So...when it comes to baby transportation the value is all in the way use them I guess.

emmyloustu · February 2011

I went with the cheapy snap n go frame and LOVED it!! Now that I need a double, I am not messing around. Straight to the City Select for me. The 2010s are on clearance right now and I am so scooping one up. I LOVE it - test drove it last week and they had me at hello. I adore the fact that it can be a single or a double and accommodate an infant seat.

GypsyEsq · February 2011

emmyloustu:
I went with the cheapy snap n go frame and LOVED it!! Now that I need a double, I am not messing around. Straight to the City Select for me. The 2010s are on clearance right now and I am so scooping one up. I LOVE it - test drove it last week and they had me at hello. I adore the fact that it can be a single or a double and accommodate an infant seat.

I want this stroller and I don't even have need of it. I went with a friend expecting twins to our local baby store and LOVED it. It's a freaking awesome stroller. Sigh.

dana316 · February 2011

Thanks y'all...that is exactly the kind of information I was looking for!!

Mrs.Reem · February 2011

I agree that the babytrend sit n stand sucks big time. we have that and I can't wait to get rid of it for all the reasons mayday pointed out. You might be able to wait and buy one later too though. Katen was 23mos when Ana was born and to be honest, we didn't use our double much. I could wear Ana in the beginning and once Ana was wanting into a stroller, Katen was old enough to not want to ride. I almost wish I'd gotten a Buggy Board instead. It's a platform that hitches onto a single stroller that the toddler can stand on.

JillAly · February 2011

I wondered what the point of an expensive stroller was too...I bought a cheap one and then tried to maneuver over NYC sidewalks. The stroller lasted 2 months before it started to show the wear and tear that made it unusable. I went out and bought an UppaBaby Vista and was never sorry I spent the money. I use it everyday.

When I had my 2nd, I got the City Select (I couldn't convert my Uppa Baby b/c it was too old). It is a great stroller and once again, it holds up to NYC streets. I was quickly converted to more expensive strollers - not just for the looks and extra features - but really for the stability and durability of the strollers. It really depends on how you use them- I would have never spent that much if I just used it for the malls.

smilee · February 2011

*Willis*:
I have an Uppa Baby Vista, which I guess would be considered expensive. I like it because it maneuvers incredibly over sidewalks, brick streets, grass, etc. I don't jog with C, so I don't need a jogger. The UBV works great. It also turns on a dime and has great control. I've been really pleased.

THIS. All of this!!!!

I HEART my UBV! Sometimes I want MH to push ME around in it.

Kidding ( sort of).

dundasgirl · February 2011

I used my safety 1st single stroller with Reed. I went for walks almost everyday. It was annoying to maneuver...but I would blame it on a tire needing air, bumpy sidewalks etc. Then I went shopping for double strollers. I pushed around an empty front to back double stroller and it was like driving a truck...not for me! Then I started looking into side by side doubles. I wanted a jogging stroller since I used to run before I had the kids. I looked at less expensive running strollers and many of them were too wide to fit through a regular doorway.

I tried out the BOB duallie and LOVED it. You can drive it with one hand no problem. The wheels are fantastic...it comes with 10 year warranty! I bought a snuzzler to put Penny in while she was a newborn instead of going for the expensive car seat adapter.

I wore Penny in the wrap a lot too. One day I decided to take out my single stroller to go for a walk and just carry Penny in the Moby. I seriously was looking for a place to just abandon my single stroller. I couldn't drive it with one hand at all, let alone turn a corner.

You can get some money back if you decide to sell it when you are done too.

Phil and Ted's looks awesome but I could totally see my kids fighting over who was going to sit where. The baby can't see where you are going from the jump seat in the back. I also saw a woman take one baby out and the stroller almost tipped backwards.

Fashiongal1973 · February 2011

I have the City Mini and love it. I don't think it was that expensive compared to some of the travel systems that I looked at that were huge hulking things that I couldn't fold or lift or fit in the back of our jeep.

It folds small and handles like a dream. I use it almost every day.

After seeing a friend try to maneuver her cheap stroller over bumpy sidewalks and get stuck on the cracks I was so happy I got it. It has a huge canopy that completely covers DS and hers barely covered the baby's face.

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