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

Quinny Buzz Review

Halloween Buzz

Halloween is such a fun time to pick a stroller. Of course, as with all holidays, the colors have to be right. In the past, I have chosen an orange Quinny Zapp, an orange Phil & Ted's E3, a black Micralite Fast Fold, etc. This year I have a little baby, so I wanted a stroller that faced me. I also wanted one that could sail over any bumps or cracks with ease. It's dark, there's a lot going on, and I don't want to have to watch where I am going. So the perfect choice is the new gold and brown Quinny 4-wheel Buzz!    http://www.quinny.com/quinny/productdetail.aspx?id=64

When I tested it on the SQ Obstacle Course, the performance was stellar. The four wheels make it much more A/T than the prior 3-wheel version. More stable, too.  I really like it.

It's a good thing, because this year, we had a lot of chasing around to do.  Chasing a Star Wars Clone Trooper and Supergirl, that is. When it comes to kids and candy, speed is of the essence. It's kind of funny to see them running from door to door, as fast as they can, trying to hit as many houses as possible before everyone runs out of candy.

And this year, we all did. There were so many ghosts, goblins, princesses, clowns, Hannah Montanas and Barack Obamas out trick or treating this year. They started early, and they continued until late. For hours our sidewalks were packed. I mean shouder to shlouder, rush hour on the subway in NYC packed. The wide base did make it hard to weave through the crowd.  Although, as tight as it was, even my Shanghai Tang Mac Quest would have had problems. And it is the width that makes it so stable, so therein lies the trade-off.   I do wish it had a bigger basket. Though it wasn't something I needed on this night. You can get the optional "Buzz box" for more storage.

This stroller is extremely comfy. Look at the cozy footmuff, and the thick neoprene seat padding.

A wonderful thing about the 2009 Buzz is that it comes with an additional seat, a "toddler seat".  Not quite so plush, so there is more room for a bigger child's shoulders and hips. In addition, it comes with a raincover, and mosquito net. To complete the set, is the fabulous carrycot. SP 2.0 naps in this every day. It has the same soft, terrycloth-type lining as the footmuff. He loves to snuggle in to it. All in all, this is a great choice of a pram that can get you from newborn to toddler; even a pre-schooler.

Anyway, despite our best efforts, the Pumpkin, the Buzz, and I lost our Clone Trooper and Supergirl. Well not lost in a bad sense. The Clone Trooper ran into Commander Cody and Obi-Wan, and wanted to navigate the Halloween galaxy with them. And Supergirl stumbled across several classmates having a silly string war. So she was off to fly with them.

The Pumpkin, the Buzz and I attempted to do a few houses on our own. But that was mostly met with scorn. "He's too young for candy! That is really for you, isn't it! You are going to eat the candy!" Well, duh.

But all was not lost. My friend was playing "Twas' the Nightmare before Christmas" with a movie projector on a big screen. On her front lawn! We slowly strolled our way through the mob, past three haunted houses, down the hill and one block over. And there it was, Jack in the sleigh! The party had begun.

Quinny 4-wheel Buzz Stats:

Weight: 31 pounds

Width: 25.5"

Length: 29"

Handle height: 39"-43"

Seat Width: 12" (baby seat, toddler seat is wider)

Seat Depth: 9"-17" (footrest extended)Seat to Canopy: 24"

Seat back: 20"

Drop to Footrest: 9"

 

Mutsy Slider Review

Mutsy in Malibu and the Mansion

Summer was here, and we were invited to a party at a house in Malibu. Hmmm, now, who to take. It must be elegant but hip, cutting edge but classic. It must have nice summer beach colors. It must have a bassinette, (so SP 2.0 could have a nice nap), and it must be able to traverse the sand. Tall order, but...I had the perfect candidate. The Mutsy Slider!

 SALE Mutsy Slider 

As I predicted, the Slider was a real attention-getter. People flocked around it, asking me questions. Particularly the pregnant types, and the husbands thereof. Having the bassintte at the party was a great idea. SP 2.0 was overwhelmed a few times, from getting passed around by strangers. When I placed him in it, he calmed down right away. I think he felt safe. And the bouncy suspension was amazing. I just pushed down the handle a bit, and it's like the thing was on springs!
I also liked how high up it sat. Nearly as tall as the Stokke Xplory. Great for the sand. Or for the snow, slush, unpaved roads, tree roots, etc. How often do you find such shimmery beauty, and rugged functionality, in the same package? (Gee, that sounded like a new car ad.)
Now one thing I *didn't* think about, was how many steps there are to get up to a Malibu beach house. For this particular one, to have the breathtaking overhang view of the sea, there were a lot. And at 29 pounds, (that's with the bassinette. It's 25 with the seat.) hauling the Slider up them was no easy feat. Of course, it would have been easier if I did what the manufacturer recommends, which is to break it down into two pieces (very easy. The top half of the stroller just pops right off!) I was looking forward to using it again that next week-end. This time, it was at a party in a mansion in Beverly Hills. I had been there before, so I knew it was relatively flat. Now this particular mansion once belonged to a very famous TV star. Even though she has long since moved, it is still on the "Maps of the Stars Homes" tour bus route. We had to park on the street, because there were ponies in the driveway of the mansion. The minute we got out of the car, the tour buses appeared. And all the tourists were snapping pictures. Not of us, but, of the Slider! The Slider was a celebrity, haha!Well, I was a bit wrong about the flat part. At least in the back yard. This is a historic BH home. And there were brick steps that went up, and brick steps that went down, and brick steps that went up, and brick steps that went down. And yes, I meant to repeat that, because they kept repeating. And narrow, all of those walkways were NARROW. Despite it's fabulous manueverability, the Slider's 26' width meant the wheels kept getting hung up on the bricks. I guess that is the way they built 'em back in the roaring '20's. Well it was almost perfect. The best laid plans of mice and men...
Inside the party, the Slider continued to turn heads. My friend's mom said it reminded her of a pram she bought 57 years ago, which they had paid $10 for! Her husband asked, "How much does that one go for, about $50?" "Well no," I said. "It's a bit more. Actually", I tell him, "A lot of strollers are running up around a thousand dollars now". "A thousand dollas!" exclaims his wife, the one who bought the $10 stroller 57 years ago. "That's the price of a CAR!" "When mom, when?" shouts out one daughter. "And she has a bunch of strollers, hundreds", says my friend. "HUNDREDS???" says her sister-in-law. "Have you been on Ripley's Believe it or not?" And she's laughing her head off. "No", says my friend. "But she has been in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, the CBS Early Show, the Today Show..." "But what about Good Morning America?" says her mom. "Have you been on Good Morning America? That's my favorite!" Now the sister in law, who has been sitting there thinking, says "Now WHY do you have so many strollers? I had one Maclaren for every kid, and that was good enough!" "Well", I say, "How many pairs of shoes do you have? How many bags?" (She is very well-dressed.) "But that's different", she says. "Not to her!" says my friend. She has a stroller to match every outfit, a stroller to match every bag, a stroller for every holiday." "And what do you DO with all these strollers?" demands the SIL. "I run them on the Strollerqueen Obstacle Course, up and down hills , one -handed, with a cup of coffe in the other" I say. At this point, the sister across the table spits out HER coffee, she is laughing so hard. "AHHH," says the SIL, waving her hand at me, "You're just nuts!" Now the mother chimes in again. "Stop talking and go to the gym!" she says. You all need to go to the gym and work out!" With that command,the daughters, granddaughters, and sisters-in-law dutifully stand up to go, pushing their chairs back under the table. "See", I said to the SIL, "If you had a jogging stroller, you could just take a good run instead".