I became obsessed with strollers as this purchase would mark my official First Large Baby Investment and hitting that milestone meant I really was having a baby. I looked at every stroller going by, I did internet research, and I finally started chasing down people pushing strollers I was considering in order to grill them on their strollers and to see if they were happy with their purchases.
I finally decided that my needs were as follows:
- Relatively light (but not so light as to compromise durability)
- Turns easily and can be steered with one hand
- Does not require a PhD in structural engineering in order to fold
- Can grow with me as I hope to have another baby before this one graduates from the stroller
- Has a nice pattern that doesn't scream boy or girl so that I can keep it should the next baby be a boy
As I ticked options off my list, I started looking at the "luxury" lines. They really met my criteria - although they also made my inner cheapskate die a little. I eliminated the Orbit for its non-traditional looks and proprietary (and expensive) car seats. The Stokke Xplory was too futuristic for my baby dreams. The Bugaboo Bee didn't have a carrycot (at the time).
I was down to the Bugaboo Cameleon and the Uppababy Vista. Two things really sold me on the Vista over the Cameleon: being able to fold the frame up with the seat attached and the price point. Also, every person I spoke to that had a Vista RAVED about how great it is.
I proudly hauled home my new Vista and regaled my husband with stories of its greatness. He was only marginally sold and not entirely convinced that we really needed all of this. But oh boy was I happy and I knew it would just be a matter of time before he loved it too.
Fast forward to having my daughter and proudly pushing all 6 adorable pounds of her around the block in the bassinet attachment (it was exactly like the image I had in my head). My husband joined us for a walk and, half way down the block, stopped to proclaim "This is the most awesome stroller of all time! No really, this thing is great." Aha! Convert! I knew he'd see the light.
The Vista is everything I expected it to be and I can confidently recommend it now that I've used all three attachments with it. My only complaint about the stroller is how much room the frame takes up in my trunk. I have a Prius and it takes up virtually the entire footprint of the trunk (it's too wide to stash it on its side). That being said, this is not reason enough to tarnish its image in my eyes - a smaller stroller just wouldn't get the job done in the same way.
Also, if you have to fly with your Vista, the travel bag is really the only way to go. The double stroller gate check bags only fit the frame if you also remove the wheels - which is a real pain when you gate check. Order the travel bag when you can find it - it tends to go on backorder often!
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