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[seren]

Also, I'm seriously thinking of getting a Maclaren Volo to take with us on the trip to Germany (and to use on public transport when we get back). We leave here in 2 days so I've left it too late to buy a bargain one from Kiddicare or any other cheap websites. I notice that Boots have them on offer on their website - does anyone know if you can

Comments

[deathandsequins]

Don't get the Volo it's really cheap & flimsy - I saw one in store at our local Mothercare & you may as well just get one of Mothercare's £25 deals, in fact the Mothercare one's probably had the edge on them! It's really worth spending a bit more & getting one of the better ones (we got the Triumph), which all the big Boots stores should have in-store (although they don't hold huge stock)

[buzzy_bee]

I've only been using mine a few weeks but love it. I got it on personal recommendation from a bunch of folks (including one reading this) who have used them for 2+ years. A couple of them are in NYC so collapsed it frequently to climb stairs etc as well. I love it, personally.

[bopeepsheep]

We had a cheap one before we got the Volo. The difference is definitely worth the extra tenner or so IME. (Although I would probably go for a Triumph or Quest if I had a do-over, the Volo is definitely much better for travelling than the £25 ones, which warp if you look at them funny.)

[buzzy_bee]

I think next time I will buy a Triumph or a Quest in addition to the Volo. I really needed something for that transition period between the car seat on the snap and go and the Volo that was lightweight. Mind you I see a lot of babies in the car seats much longer, but L wasn't very tolerant of it - not a good enough view.

[deathandsequins]

Heehee, as I was just saying below I live in a relatively rural area & I general have a dislike of strollers as they just don't wear well using them on unpaved paths, country lanes, over fields etc, & after having a country stroller (one of the big wheel deals) they all feel really light to me!

[seren]

So is the Triumph your main pushchair at the moment? I think I remember you saying you're on your 4th one?!

[deathandsequins]

Yeah, I held onto the CS as long as possible but Amélie walks so much now I need something I could pick up & carry (or sling over my shoulder - I love the Maclaren straps)!

This is actually number five! We had a M&P convertible which was great as a flat bed pram, but I hated it as a pushchair, & it had small wheels which were crap. The next one was the one Ryan's brother etc gave us which was a CS, but it was a posh one made for women who live in the cities & have four wheel drives, so wasn't that hard wearing. After the commotion about that one we got a Hauck CS which was my all time favourite but just not practicle with a toddler. The last one we had was a pushchair my mum got for when she has Amélie that I borrowed (can't remember brand), it folds flat (not umbrella folding) & was light weight, but you couldn't collapse it with one hand & I certainly couldn't carry it, hold onto Amélie & carry several bags of shopping like you can with the Maclaren

[seren]

Does the Triumph have a carry strap thing too then? Our Techno XT doesn't! I thought the Volo was the only one that did, which is why I really wanted that one.
I just keep the pushchair upright and put shopping in it if Lucy's walking.. mind you I don't let her walk long distances or anything because TBH she drives me mad by always changing direction, stopping to pick stuff up etc!

[deathandsequins]

Yeah, the Triumph does & I'm pretty sure the Techno I saw did as well, is the Techno the one that's more like a proper puschair rather than stroller?

[seren]

yeah it is, it;s more padded and suitable from birth. They brought a new model out for 2005 so maybe that has a carry strap - I know ours doesn't. I think I'd die under the weight of it anyway!!

[deathandsequins]

Yeah it was v heavy, I ordered online but went to check them out in-store & the woman kept trying to flog me the Techno one, because apparently it had all the extra's & was just as light as the others (obviously hadn't read the display notes that had all the weights listed!).

[seren]

We have a Techno XT and have done since Lucy was a few weeks old.. it's fab for everyday but it's about twice as heavy and we don't want to end up having to pay an excess baggage fee (what with all the other crap we have to take with us on the flight!). I was going to get a Mothercare stroller ages ago but they're really heavy, way heavier than the Volo :/

[buzzy_bee]

AFAIK they *usually* don't include pushchairs in your baggage allowance, rather as an extra like hand luggage and coats and whatnots. Probably best to check with your airline though, especially if you are flying with a budget one (I usually fly on national carriers since most of my travel is long haul). However the shoulder strap is very handy as is the fact its so light.

I'm flying to NZ in November on my own with L, which is part of the reason I bought it. I can put the accessory pack in my checked luggage and carry the Volo over one shoulder and carry L in the sling through security etc. Easy to lift on and off the X-ray machines and so on as well. Given L is already 9kg and likely to top 11 by the time we go, saving a couple of kgs that way is a big plus.

[seren]

So does this mean that I could take any pushchair in theory and they shouldn't ever charge us excess, or that we'll have to pay the excess regardless of how much our other luggage weighs? Sorry if this makes me sound thick - I've only flown four times in my life and never with a baby!
We're flying with BA so they're not *really* budget.. Stu is supposed to be checking.

[buzzy_bee]

AIUI you won't have to pay for the pushchair regardless. You can also gate check it - keep it with you until you reach the gate and theoretically receive it back again as you disembark, rather than waiting for it to come through in the baggage retrieval area.

[seren]

*fingers crossed* :)