2010 UPPAbaby Vista with Rumble Seat Review

If you've been trying to get your hands on the 2010 UPPAbaby Vista with Rumble seat, you know it's sold out most everywhere. And it's not just because owners Bob and Lauren Monahan have the "Luck o' the Irish" on their side. It's because this is as near perfect of a double stroller as you can get.

 Which is a good thing, because St. Patrick's Day has always been as near perfect of a holiday for us as you can get. The only thing that would make it better would be if I had a baby born on that day. And I did. Last year, he modeled two strollers for this special day. This year, as he turns 2, it's one stroller with two seats. But if he didn't have his little friend Morgan with him, it could still be one stroller.

That is because, the Vista has the distinct advantage of being the rare breed that can go from single to double, and actually triple, if you get their "PiggyBACK" riding board. Maybe next year, when he turns 3, we can add another little friend to the mix--3 for 3, haha!

I last reviewed the Vista when it first came out. That was four years ago. So I can see how it has evolved since the beginning, and I find all these improvements and options to the 2010 rather extraordinary. I am going to get into them in more details, but here is a quick view of the new changes:

• Four seat positions including the new “0” position which allows your child to sit more upright and creates additional space between the back of the toddler seat and the RumbleSeat.
• Push-on, push-off easy to activate brake system
• 1.5” taller seat height
• Added seat cushioning
• 5-spoke wheel assembly delivers a smoother ride
•  Push-in aluminum-alloy hub-caps for easier wheel removal
• Removable, washable bumper bar cover
• Bumpers to protect the stroller handlebar in the standing folded position
• Bassinet features an extended, ventilated, SPF 50+ drop-down sunshade – an industry first

All these improvements means it's more costly, but really, for once I think the price hike is worth it! I mean, how many strollers can be used for one, two, or three children? That makes it actually, a pretty good investment. Even though I currently have only one main stroller rider, my house is always full of children. And they always want to go somewhere. So it is nice to have the extra seat, or riding board, on hand.

 The 2010 Vista has corrected nearly every little "bugaboo" that bothered parents. Credit Bob and Lauren for their excellent listening skills, and responsive abilities. Super Powers, mon! Shouldn't be this rare, but it is. Let's start by taking a look at the Rumble seat.

Unlike other models with add-on seats, you can actually get this one off in under 10 minutes. Under 10 seconds, actually. Can't tell you how much that is appreciated, since I have spend more time than I can count standing by an open car with screwdrivers and butter knives and the kindness of strangers tugging and yanking on seats that won't budge, and hence won't fold.

Then there is the "feet in the basket" issue, which always bugged me about Brand X. There went all of my storage space. BUT, UPPA has had the foresight of including a clip on footrest, which means you can still stick stuff underneath, and little feet aren't dangling. (The basket is gigantic anyway, so you still have loads of room.) Like the seat itself, it is feather light, and a snap to attach.

And look at the size of this Rumble seat. It is huge! (Check out the measurements below.) It is bigger than most regular stroller seats! Which means you will have a lot of growing room for your older child. AND, ta da! It has it's own CANOPY! Yes indeed, no more sacrificing one child to sunburn! What a concept, whoo hoo! And look how much space there is between the two seats! Plenty of room for a view, if there are no balloons or hats, that is!

But how does it push with the second seat and second rider? Well, Morgan's mom was shocked. I think "Wow" came out of her mouth a few times. And she is the original Bugaboo Bee queen, so she knows good maneuverability when she sees it, or steers it. I have to say, it *is* pretty great. The foam tires aren't *quite* as A/T as air tires. But that also means less weight, and no flats. And they have suspension, so that helps. UPPA used to sell the fatter, more A/T tires separately; not sure if they still do.

The main seat can sit very upright, and it has a napper bar for your little one to hang on to. It also has the amazing sun canopy with pull down UV visor and zip-in bug net. Oh, and for you strollin' die-hards, it comes with a raincover. But one feature that makes this an awesomely comfortable stroller is the way you can adjust the footrest up. Check this out:

Doesn't that make YOU wish you had a seat like this? SP 2.0 was surrounded by little cub scouts bike-riding an obstacle course, and he snoozed while they cruised.

The harness is super easy to adjust, which I have also found to be a problem on other models. Love the recline, it's a lever on the top of the seat! To change the direction of the seat, forward or reverse, just push in the two side buttons. No more reading a 10-page manual to figure out how to do it, yippee! And notice how high up it sits? Wonderful!

There are so many other nice little touches that makes the Vista an excellent choice for nearly everyone: Tall? It has a "no-kick" floating rear axle. Short? There's a height adjustable handle. Green? The bassinet is fully lined with organic soybean fiber and cotton. 

 Low maintenance? The tires are foam, not air, so no worries about pumping or flats. Shopper? One of the biggest baskets EVER! Mechanically challenged? Everything on the Vista is user-friendly, from the fold to the recline to the brakes to the seat reversal. Fair skinned? Pop-out sun shades on the main seat, rumble seat, AND bassinet! 

Big kids? Check out my measurements below. Messy? Fabric is removable and machine washable. Tropics? Zip-in bug cover. Snow and rainy climate? Weather shade included. Limited storage space? Fold is compact, and can be done in one piece, if the seat is forward facing. It is smaller, however, if you pop the seat off. 

 Which of course is a breeze. Newborn? Bassinet included. 2 kids? Get the rumble seat. 3 kids? Get the PiggyBack.

 

So NOW you see why I am not exaggerating when I say the 2010 Uppa Baby Vista is practically perfect, and utterly deserving of my "5 Crown Royal Rating."

UPPAbaby Vista Stroller, Green Carlin
 
Weight:                     26 pounds

Seat Back:                21"

Seat to canopy:         23"

Seat Width:               12"

Seat Depth:               10"

Drop to footrest:        9"

Seat to ground:          24"

Length:                       31"

Width:                         25"

Height:                        40"-44"

Folded:                      33"L x 25"W x 19"H


 UPPAbaby Rumble Seat



Weight:                     4 pounds


Seat height:              20"


Seat width:                12"


Seat to canopy:         24"


Seat depth:                 8" 


Seat to ground:          14"

Bassinet:                    10 pounds

Chassis:                      19 pounds 

I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2010 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online video magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com