Stroller shopping

This isn't really family news, just a small dilemma I'm having in trying to decide on a new stroller. So I figured I'd blog about it and maybe the answer would become more clear. So bear with me.

We've realized that our Chicco Trevi and our Peg Perego Venezia just don't cut it in the realm of strollers. We should have gone with an all-terrain stroller from the beginning, but oh well. You live and you learn. The Chicco and the Peg would be fine if we were just using them on sidewalks and at the mall and such, but we would like to use them around the property and yard a lot more... they're quite difficult to maneuver through grass and over tree roots and bumps. And they don't move at all through sand. So we're realizing we really are in need of an all-terrain stroller... a jogging type.

So that brings me to the dilemma of which to go with... the BOB Revolution, the Baby Jogger City Classic, or the Baby Jogger City Elite.

The Baby Jogger City Elite has all the features of the City Classic, plus some additional features... a parent console, magnetic vents and viewing panels in the sun shade (instead of velcro), a vented seat back, much more padding in the seat, and different color schemes. And I think I've made the decision it'd be worth the extra $50 for the Elite over the Classic just for those additional features. The real dilemma is between the Baby Jogger and the BOB.

The BOB has a more rugged look with larger tires than the BJ and would be much better for trails and for running if we ever did jog with it. It has an adjustable locking front wheel so you can tweak it if need be, which makes it better for off-road trails, too. The major positive feature of the BOB is the suspension... it has adjustable shock absorbers whereas the BJ does not. The BJ is a much stiffer ride compared to the BOB. This is what causes me my biggest dilemma. The suspension would be so nice, and much safer, really for Carson or a future baby so they're not jarred around so much.

But I like that the BJ has a one-step fold, whereas the BOB is a two-step and I don't really think it could be done one-handed. Granted, a one-handed fold isn't that important to me really since I've never folded our other strollers one-handed or while holding Carson. Both the BOB and BJ unfold the same. The BOB is a bit larger than the BJ when folded up. So that will probably be a key deciding factor... whether the BOB fits in the Vibe. We know the BJ will fit since Justin and Mary have a City Classic and they have a Vibe, too. They both weigh about the same. And both have color options that I like, though I do favor the BOB's color choices better... although I don't know if I'd go for the orange one or the light blue and brown one. We'd get the tan and black City Elite if we went that way. The BJ has a much plusher seat... the BOB is basically just flat foam, whereas the BJ is cushy padding. The 5-point harness on the BOB adjusts much easier than the BJ. Both have equally large sun shades, though the BJ has side vents and two windows, whereas the BOB just has one window. I wish I could get the BJ sunshade on the BOB. Then the BOB would be almost perfect! :)

So anyway, I don't think I'm any closer to making a decision. I think we'll stop at Moosejaw in East Lansing on our way home from Grand Rapids on Sunday so that Kevin can see the two strollers and do a comparison of his own. And we'll have to see how the BOB fits in the Vibe. Then we can make our decision.