Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help me!

[lovinsparkles]

I have a trip in two weeks, the first flight with baby (10 months) and I need to get some gear. Most importantly, I need a stroller that I can bring on the plane and use for the zoo, walking around, etc.

I have the Bumbleride Indie, which I love. It is the only stroller I've used, so I don't have a lot to compare it too. I like how smoothly it pushes (goes over bumps easily, no vibration in the handles). What I would love is to find another stroller, of lighter weight for use for travel, that pushes comparably smoothly. Does such a thing exist? Do any light weight strollers have air filled wheels like the Indie? Will a stroller w/o air filled wheels still push smoothly?

I researched forever before settling on the Indie, and unfortunately I don't have that luxury this time, so I'm hoping some PSers who already know this stuff could set me straight? I've tried to search other threads, and read a lot about the Volo and the G-Luxe for travel -- would either of those meet what I'm looking for? Is there something better? It doesn't need to be super cheap... it just really need one that is going to push nicely. The only other thing I would definitely want is a decent sized sun shade. Thank you to any takers who can help me out!!

 

[MustangGal]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

I've got a Joovy Kooper as my light weight stroller, and love it! They make another light one now too, the Scooter I think it's called. The Kooper has a HUGE canopy, parent cup holders (good for closed containers), pushes really well, comphy hand grips, and it folds down pretty small for it's size. Not as small as some umbrella strollers, but it has a lot of extras that ones like the Volo don't have. It also reclines very far for a small stroller, enough for the kid to have a good nap in and be covered under the canopy. It's very stable too, you can hang a ton of bags off it and it won't tip.

http://www.amazon.com/Joovy-Kooper-Umbrella-Stroller-Appletree/dp/B003H10D1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300028364&sr=8-1

If you check them out on ebay you can probably get one for less than $150. Mine was an open box/new condition and I got it for about $100.

 

[Mara]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

I didn't do that much research so I am not sure how it compares but we got a Volo on eBay for $65 shipped. It has a pretty big sunshade on top and folds up pretty lightly. It's a great umbrella for what we use it for.

 

[lovinsparkles]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

Thanks, ladies! I was having a panic about not having time to research, but was able to squeeze in a trip to Buy Buy Baby and see a few in person. I hate to spend a ton on one we're going to take on the plane, but oh well...no time to bargin hunt. Thanks again for the ideas.

 

[MustangGal]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

Oooohhh, what did you get?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

Do gate check with your stoller and it is less likely to get damaged or lost! You can do that with little kiddos, and it makes going through the airport easier. I would also invest in a stoller cover/case if you think you will fly often. Keeps all the bits in place. We lost a couple little covers/flaps because we did not buckle the stroller at gate check, for example, so I think a case is a good investment.

 

[lovinsparkles]

Re: Need stroller for travel pronto...stroller experts, help

MustangGal, we went with the City Mini based on easy of pushing and big sun shade. I had thought it would be too big for travel, but our friend swears by it and lifting it next to the G-Luxe, there wasn't *that* much of a difference. And the folding was so easy. If it turns out to be terrible for this purpose, I'll update later to spare future shoppers my misfortune...but I'm hoping it will work out. I almost went with the G-Luxe b/c I felt like I should get a smaller stroller for travel. If I had been deal hunting, I might have gone with something else, but I needed a quick decision and City Mini seemed a safe bet.

Thanks Dreamer...we bought the carry case too and are planning to gate check. Hopefully it will come through in one piece. I did look for options where you wouldn't have to remove the wheels before putting it in the bag, and it seemed like most of the strollers required that Hopefully it won't be too big of a pain. We should probably do a test run before getting to the airport.

Thanks again!