Oh NO! Another stroller question! Can you help?

[cinderlexa's mom]

I will have a 5 mos. old when we visit this Fall. He's a big guy--but I don't know if he'll be able to sit-up.

Anyway, I have my beloved Zippy, but I don't want to sacrifice it to the airline gods ...So if I want a lightweight, full recline, "umbrella type stroller" with a canopy--what's a good choice? I'm thinking no more than $100, but hopefully less?

Target has a Combi for about $86--but it seemed kinda flimsy...any ideas? TIA!

 

[dawnball]

Well, this won't quite meet all your requirements, but I think it might be a good choice anyway. I've got a Maclaren Volo. The only thing it doesn't do is recline. However, it's not bolt-upright, it has kind of a sling back, and it has shoulder straps, so your little one doesn't need to be able to sit up unassisted. It's sturdy as all get out (made out of aircraft aluminum), comes with a canopy, and weighs 9lb. (Note that pre-2005 models that are being closed out don't come with the canopy. You can get it as part of the accessory pack though.) Second choice would be a Britax esprit. I haven't see this one, but DH has, he says it's a lot like my volo, but with a recline, it's a little heavier - around 12lb. They both run right around $100. They both come with a basket too!

 

[scrapperjill]

We have a combi (Ultra Savvy)and love it...Of corse we got it years ago...so I'm not sure if it's the same as what Target has. We actually got our at a baby boutique in Hawaii in 95'...it was at that time >$150...It's heald up very well...easy to get around very light weight....We got it and used it for our then 2yo...and now it holds our 2nd child who is now 7 just fine (of course she's not a heavyweight...but her whopping 48lbs does just fine in it) It even folds super small making it great for travel.

The Zippy isn't that big is it? Have you asked about checking it at the gate...and not with the luggage? I beleive alot of times they'll let you take it right to the entrance to the plane...then have it checked there (which I could be totally wrong...but I don't think they take it out and under the plane at that point...butput it someplace else) Where ever they put it...they have it out and ready for you as you get off the plane...So I really can't see them rushing under the plane to get those things out and have them there waiting for people to get off. Anyway...it wouldn't hurt calling your airline and asking.

 

[abacobaby]

We have a small stroller, which is amazingly sturdy and does recline, which is a great help when DD wants to take a nap. In my opinion, when going to DW, you need a stroller that reclines. I can't remember the name of the stroller, but we paid $60 for it here in the Bahamas, so I know it is more than 50% cheaper in the States! It has a small basket to store stuff underneath and a shade canopy that you can adjust or take off of the stroller completely. Regarding the plane, we always push our DD in her stroller right up to the plane and they take the stroller from there. We fly on smaller planes (50 seaters) so the procedure might be different with the planes you fly, but they put the our stroller in the back with the rest of the luggage, the only difference being that the stroller is right up front and easily accessible after landing. Hope this helps!

 

[Colinsmom]

A Volo is not the right Disney stroller for a 5 month old. But maybe a Maclaren Quest would work for you - it does recline and has an adjustable legrest. www.albeebaby.com has them for $130 (over your budget, but has more resale value than a cheapie stroller).

 

[akamom]

I just bought a Combi that One Step Ahead sells under their name. It was 40.00 + 10.00 shipping. It's made by Combi, it's just a little different than the city savvy. Here's the link:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/27209/325755/117.html

 

[NotUrsula]

Use your Zippy; that's why you bought it, right? Compact, full-featured, comfy? Get a cover bag or sleeve to protect the upholstery, and remove the hood and any other attachments (bumper bars, cupholder, etc.) and put them in your checked luggage to keep them safer; you won't need those features in the airport. Gate-check the stroller.

I've got 4 expensive Euro-fold buggiess, and I took them on countless trips, even overseas, always prepared as above. No damage. If you protect against the obvious opportunities for damage, the risk is minimal.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

Not Ursla, you're right! I'd love to bring my Zippy. DH says no way! Both times we've gate checked our strollers (Airtran), they've been dented (metal) badly. Airtran wouldn't reimburse us at all--first we we're nice but persistant, then angry--all to no avail!

I'm thinking that $40 stroller looks pretty good...but I'm really going to miss my Zippy. I wonder if we ship it down...anyone ever done this?

 

[Colinsmom]

I wouldn't recommend shipping the Zippy - you'd be better off gate-checking it. I've shipped a number of strollers (chronic buyer and seller, lol) and usually they make it there safely, but because of their size, it is expensive to ship them and they are sometimes delayed. Never mind that it can get lost or damaged in the process, too. Plus, then you would not have a stroller in the airport.

 

[SueM in MN]

I just wanted to reinterate that gate checking a stroller doesn't totally protect it from damage. It does still go in the baggage hold, but goes in last, so it is more likelt to be on top. We have had damage to DD's wheelchair over the years gate checking it, and wheelchairs are a lot more sturdy than strollers.
That said, if you follow the "gate checking preparation" advice that NotUrsula posted, you will greatly decrease the chance of damage.

 

[amarberry]

The Zippy is a great stroller. I'm with your husband...don't sacrifice it to the airline gods!!!

We have a similar Combi to the one at Target (I think the one that we have is the Savvy Soho..I think we paid about $100 at Babies r us last fall) and we love it for travel. I did a lot of stroller research and prefer the Combi to the Maclaren's for a variety of reasons (I know the I'm just asking to be flamed on this board by saying that ). I was also concerned that the Combi was a little on the flimsy side when we were looking for a lightweight stroller, but it's actually made of aircraft grade aluminum. I think that it feels flimsy because it's so lightweight and because of the suspension system. I can tell you that our Combi was used heavily on three vacation and used somewhat regularly at home (husband's car stroller) and we have had no problems. I think that the Combi is a great stroller with a lot of features and a great value!

 

[madelyn]

Having owned both Combis and Maclarens, the Combi is cheaper upfront and will work well as a travel stroller for awhile but the Maclarens fit older/larger children better. Both manufacturers state similar weight limits but the Combis are harder to manuever as a child gets heavier and also usually sit lower to the ground (or have more shallow seats?) so that when a child gets taller, their feet drag on the ground. I was able to use our Combi until my average sized son was about 3.5 years old and now at 7 years old, he can still fit in our Maclaren Volo (although it is meant for my 3.5 year old to use!) But the Volo is not a good stroller for an infant, so a good Maclaren for this age is the Quest, which an earlier poster mentioned.

 

[ryan840]

We bought our Combi from Target (Savvy Soho, about $70) for our WDW trip and loved it. Our son was 21 mos at the time, but it does recline pretty far back (I can't recall at the moment exactly how far, and it's in the car waaay out in the parking lot or I would check). The carrying strap was awesome, as well as the compact fold and light weight of it. I have not found it to be flinsy at all, and we bought some cup holders and hooks at Babies R Us to hold our stuff which worked out great.

 

[madelyn]

Some other suggestions, slightly cheaper than a Maclaren Quest....Inglesina Swift (on Ebay $79 BIN plus $20 shipping), Zooper EZ (on Ebay $69.99 BIN plus $19.99 shipping), and Kidco strollers (various listings on Ebay).