2008 Stroller Reviews

Having reviewed quite a few strollers last month, there were still quite a few on my list that I have been wanting to check out before making any final purchases. Silver Cross is a high end brand that has long been known for their swank prams like those that Nicole Richie and Jennifer Lopez chose for their tots. Realizing that many more moms see the practicality of a simple stroller, the British company is now selling their own line of simple pushchairs.

Still fairly new to the US market, Silver Cross manufactures three lightweight buggies for young tots: the Pop, Micro and Dazzle. All three of the strollers remind me quite a bit of different Maclarens.

To see my thoughts on the Silver Cross Pop, read more

I won't say that I saved the best for last, but the phil & teds Vibe is pretty darn sweet. Lightweight aluminum frame strollers have been dominating the market in recent years. New to the party is the fabulously sleek and functional Vibe. Much like the other phil & teds predecessors, the Vibe offers the dual-ride capabilities. But the Vibe has got a whole different, well vibe.

The sleek $700 pushchair is comfortably padded with cushy seats in a tandem position. The second seat attachment costs another $110. Each chair can recline for on-the-go napping or relaxing — whatever floats your wee ones' boat. And by wee, I mean newborns through four-year-olds. Older tots take the top seat with a maximum capacity of 55 pounds while smaller babes sit underneath. The bottom seat can handle up to 33 pounds making the entire load capacity 88 pounds.

To see a video and learn what else there is to know about the Vibe, read more

When running after your kids isn't the only exercise you count on, the BOB double stroller enables jogging mommies to keep their running regimen up — even with double trouble on their hands.

Perfect for sidewalks, bumpy roads, and tattered trails, the BOB Revolution Duallie 12-inch Stroller keeps parents on track and their wee ones secure. While it's a bit wider than some others in the same class, the BOB offers families peace of mind that their lil honey is getting treated to a classy ride, as cushy reclining seats and air-filled suspension wheels provide a smooth run even over the bumpiest of roads. And, similar to the single BOB, car seat adaptors are available, making it easy to use at an early age.

To see what else I liked and disliked about the BOB Revolution Duallie, read more

As you may remember from my Maclaren Volo review, I am a Maclaren fan. They are easy to manage, lightweight and practical. For those reasons alone, I was sure the Maclaren Twin Techno XT would win me over — even at $380!

Moms of newborn twins or a newborn and an older tot are in for a treat with the Twin Techno XT. Instead of having to wait until the baby is able to sit up on his own, newborns can cruise around in the separate reclining seats leaving the adapters and infant car seats in their rightful places — the car. The sibling can ride shotgun perched straight up without harassing their kin too much as they are each self-contained in their own chair.

To see what else I thought of the Twin Techno XT, read more

Double strollers can be double the pain as they take up more space and often weigh more than a single option. However, when you've got more than one tot, they are usually a necessary evil.

As I quickly approach my due date, I am eager to find the double stroller of my dreams. The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller ($270) fits the bill so I was hoping this would be my golden carriage.

To see what I thought about the Joovy Caboose, read more

On a personal quest, I was especially fired up to explore the world of double strollers. Thanks to Right Start, I've got a pretty good idea of what's out there and hope that I can pass on some of what I learned to you.

I found it daunting to find the perfect single stroller two years ago. Now here I am seven-months pregnant looking for one that will suit my 23-month-old and her future sibling. I've seen the beastly duos that take up the width of grocery aisles and others that seem suitable for heavyweight lifting competitions. This week I'll show you some of the best and give you my two cents on the two seaters.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Hopefully mothers who like to get a workout enjoyed the write-ups of the three fabulous jogging strollers I reviewed from Right Start. While there are still more on the market, some of which I hope to test in the future, I can hardly see the downside of any of these sporty options. Tell me which one you prefer?

BOB Revolution

Baby Jogger

phil and teds Dash

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Some of the top-of-the-line strollers on the market today are those made by phil & teds. The New Zealand manufacturers have hit a sweet spot with their multifunctional line of duo seating buggies that serve many purposes while still looking sleek and sporty.

Great for a day out on the jogging path, the phil & teds Dash ($550) is suited to give mommy an easy outing while providing a baby (or two) a comfy cruise.

Perks mama can enjoy are an adjustable ergonomic handlebar, easy to manage rear brakes, a roomy storage basket that has pouches to stow small items, a sun canopy with a peek-a-boo window, and a long lifetime. Also, instead of having to double up on strollers, every phil & teds buggy is suited to add another seat (for an additional $100), magically turning it into a double stroller in minutes. A new feature for phil & teds, the area above the front wheel is now plastic. Why is that better you ask? The original fabric foot area design was appealing to the eye, but busy lil feet tended to wear the fabric down leaving tiny toes in danger of touching the wheel. The plastic board is an improvement to an already stellar stroller.

To keep reading about the phil & teds Dash, read more