Prams, pushchairs suitable for walks on rough ground

[ferrit]

My misses is worse with push chairs than I am with bikes, we have the Buggaboo Cameleon and the Phil and Ted Sport shown below

Bugaboo Cameleon - this really is style over substance when off the beaten track although you can run it on the two pneumatic wheels only or with steerer wheels to the rear but its a bugger to drive then.

Phil & Teds E3 or Sport is OK but you really do need to lock the front wheel off or it digs in, and if running the second seat option it starts to weigh a ton, although I did manage to lug ours to Italy last year as hand luggage.

If I was buying without the influence of my other half I would look out for a second hand Mountain Buggy Terrain (no longer available new), it is built like a tank and has a proper fixed non steering front wheel which in my book is essential when off tarmac surfaces

 

[stevet1]

thats what I'm talking about, looks like a panaracer smoke tyre tread on those wheels as well

 

[cchris2lou]

my wife is the same with pushchairs . we seem to have more than I have bikes .

but the Phil and Ted is really worth the money . I wish we had bought it with our first one .

very practical , easy to push , fold easy .

well worth the money .

 

[Caramba Kid]

Nipper 360 gets my vote.
Had our's about 2 months, it's great - so manoeuvrable & lightweight whether off-road or dodging the zombies in the shopping centre.

Only slight niggle is the fixed bar height is just too low for me to push it all day without lower back ache, I'm 6' 1" so if you're taller I'd look elsewhere.

 

[hamster]

Backpack types work well - we used a Vango one for our two boys, they like the view and can sleep in it. They have good resale on ebay, unlike much of the baby stuff.

 

[stevet1]

Cheers all. I could be swayed by a backpack type one (probably second-hand if anyone is selling ...) as have used the front mounted ones with success when baby was smaller. Do you find it difficult to put on when you're on your own as pigman said or is it just certain models? Also, can you turn you head and see the child or do you just have to hope he hasn't poked his own eye out / stuffed a pine cone up his nose / been attacked by a swarm of bees?

 

[ferrit]

If you want a back pack I can highly recommend the Vaude Butterfly comfort

Pretty comfy for both pack horse and passenger.

edit

to load up I either have to sit on the floor and put the pack on like a squadie would put on a bergan or sit it on a table a back into it.

You will not be able to see the nipper with any of these but I think Macpac may include a little mirror in the belt or shoulder strap which you get out when you want to check your cargo

 

[uktyler]

Another vote for the Mountain buggy here. They are superb if you can find one.

My missus purchased more prams than I have bikes, and the Mountain Buggy was the best of the lot, light, easy to steer and well balanced, you can't go wrong with one of those.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Babecar Racer has been excellent off road and general around town and on the sea sand.
Not light, but does the job and doubt it's made now.
Push my 2 year old son around it in still when shopping, so had it for about 5 years now (other one used it before that). Only had to change on eflat tyre and once noticing a ball bearing race was missing it fixed the front wheel pivot (only took 4 years to fix that, but still worked ok before, just wobbled a bit at high speed) To top it of it's a 6001 2RS bearing the same as my Ti-Glides

Maclaren XT
Good offroad, not so good in the sand unless dragged backward.

BabyJogger City Mini
Better than the Maclaren for towpatch/gravel/Bridleways/fields) off road
Useless on the Sand and has to be dragged backwards.
The best of all three for general usage
VERY easy to fold and light (excellent for busses)


I should be buying one of them Vaude Butterfly comfort for our 2 year old to go up hills.

 

[REKIBorter]

We bought a 2nd hand Mamas & Papas three wheeler off Ebay several years back. It has been to the beach, up and down all sorts of terrain. Fat tyres are essential for floatation and passenger comfort. Our son is disabled and nearly 8 years old and it still gets dragged out for holidays and outings. He is far too big for it but it works just fine. The picture shows me sitting in it BTW