Stroller Agony | slackermama . com

Why am I so indecisive this time around? Shoot, every other time I’ve been pregnant, I haven’t had any problems making decisions and sticking with them. I would choose the product(s) I like and wouldn’t waver in my devotion. I even let Kile name Liam, pretty much, without getting all bent out of shape about middle names and the like. This time though, I can’t settle on anything. I think it’s because this is my last baby. It’s the last time I really get to goog out about a lot of this stuff. I guess I just want to make sure I get it right.

Do they offer stroller test drives? Because that might help. See, I’ve thought that my stroller is the Graco Quattro Tour Duo. And at this price (hello, sale!), who wouldn’t love it? But at our local Babies R Us, it’s more like $240. But then, I started sniffing around. I saw this stroller and was impressed because at first glance I thought it was a single stroller. But it’s a double and apparently a lot of people really like it. (Trust me, I’ve done a lot of research on this.) And then, as if that wasn’t enough to decide between, I’ve decided I sort of love this stroller. I love how you can do all sorts of different configurations on the seat, for starters. The price isn’t so bad, considering the Graco. So yeah. I need test drives. Because I’m not sure I’m capable of deciding by myself here. The most I’ve done in person is play with the Graco over at Babies R Us but they don’t have the other two so how do I know?? GAH!

Graco Quattro Tour Duo So let’s compare. Here’s what I like and don’t like about each stroller thus far (strap in folks, you’re in for a bumpy ride). I’ll start with the Graco because it’s my first love. Before I get into features, let’s talk fabric colors. I really prefer the “French Roast” fabric which my local Babies R Us carries, but I have no problems with the “Metropolitan” fabric (pictured at left) if we’re talking about saving $90. I love the five point harnesses because Liam simply REQUIRES them. However, the clasps are a little hard to work, I’ve found. I love the handlebar and it feels very comfortable on someone as tall as myself. The cup holder and storage tray are also HUGE bonuses for me. Liam having a cup holder and snack holder aren’t as important but a nice feature that I imagine he’d get a kick out of. Both seats recline, though only the rear seat reclines fully. Which means, basically, that you can only put an infant seat in the rear seat. I’m okay with that too, because I think that’s where I’d put it anyhow. I love the storage basket and while it could potentially be difficult to access, it does “collapse” for access. I’ve heard it’s harder to get into when the rear seat is reclined however.

The stroller has a streamlined, trendy look that I like. The rear break is easy to use and it has a good, durable feel to me. When we tried it out in the store, Liam seemed to enjoy riding in the front seat and appeared to be quite comfortable there. It was easy and fun to push around (even with the safety tag/boot on the rear tire) and I was impressed with the tight turning radius. I might worry, however, about the rear seat being a little close to the front seat It does seem a little more “congested” back there.

Next is the Safety 1st Transit Tandem. There are some strong feelings about this stroller out there. There are those that don’t like it, but I think the voices of approval are more numerous. At least, that’s what I’ve found. People like how light and compact this stroller is, something neither the Graco nor the Kolcraft strollers can boast. It’s got an aluminum frame, but the word is it’s got a very sturdy construction and feels more durable than it looks. Some think it is difficult to fold properly but I think it’s mostly a matter of being used to how to do it. This stroller is ideal for a baby+toddler combination, though a HUGE drawback is that it doesn’t accept an infant carseat into the back. HOWEVER, the rear seat does recline fully and the bottom of the seat can be set up “bassinet style”. So as long as you aren’t adverse to taking the baby out of the carseat, this stroller could fit the bill quite nicely (and quite a bit cheaper than either the Graco or the Kolcraft as well). It doesn’t have a very large storage basket though. It’s more of a zippered pouch underneath the rear seat and while it’s great that it has some storage at least, I’m sure I’d miss a larger basket. It also lacks a cup holder for the parents but I imagine I could purchase one after-market and attach it to the handlebar.

Like the Graco, the rear seat seems awfully close to the front seat, but with a smaller child back there, it shouldn’t matter so much. I do like that it has five point restraints, again. That’s pretty much a big must for me. I like the large canopy. It doesn’t seem to cover the front seat very well, but covering the baby is a big deal so I appreciate that. All in all, this stroller seems like a very good budget buy. It’s a double stroller for less money (even less if you’re buying it from Albee Baby). I don’t think I’d be upset with this stroller, though I don’t think it would be my first choice.

Lastly, we have the Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem. Hot damn, that’s quite the stroller. Besides looking particularly hot (and in my opinion, the most stylish of all three), it’s got serious functionality. You can configure those seats pretty much any way you want. You can have it set up like you see at right, or you can have both seats face each other. Or you can have them face away from each other. Or you can have them both face the rear. Even more? You can take out the rear seat and put in the included car seat adapter. OR you can take out the second seat altogether and cart one child in the front seat and have extra storage space in the basket. The options here? ENDLESS. And ever so thrilling to a practical gal like myself.

Again, we’ve got five point restraints. (This is a huge deal because none of my current strollers have a five point restraint and Liam LOVES to escape.) Each seat has it’s own canopy though I can see where they wouldn’t be entirely sufficient. There is a nice tall handlebar, two cupholders for mom and dad and a box to put keys and whatnot in. LOVE that. And do you see those wheels? Do you see how HUGE they are? Awesome. I’ve learned, over the years, how vital large, maneuverable wheels can be. And the storage basket is nothing to sneeze at either. There seems to be plenty of room for each child and the versatility here is what really makes this stroller shine.

There are some drawbacks. I hear it’s amazingly heavy and folding it down can be a chore in and of itself (you have to remove one of the seats to fold it). It probably doesn’t fold down very small and would take up beau coup space in the back of our van. I like that we could potentially use it after Liam outgrows riding in a stroller and Kile REALLY loves all the configurations. I don’t think our local Babies R Us has one to play with, but they have a single version so maybe we’ll play with that.

So there you have it. What was once set in stone is now up for discussion as I hem and haw and be wussy about what I want. Each stroller has pros and cons. But at this stage in the game, I have no idea what we’ll end up with. Kile seems to want to put off baby purchases until we get our tax refund. So if the Graco at Albee Baby is still on sale by then, we may be getting that. Otherwise, it may be between the Safety 1st and the Kolcraft. In which case I feel the Kolcraft will win out simply because Kile is enamored of it.

Tell me, are all purchases for this baby going to be as difficult??

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