And then I found the Icoo Croco. WOW. Look at that orange! I got really excited when I saw the price as being around 249… until I realized that was in pounds and not dollars. Oops. Anyway it looks so cool, big basket underneath, air tires in back, comfy padded seat (though not sure how much it reclines) and a nice hybrid, basically. I wonder how it would do for walking AND everyday? I mean, is it possible to have a stroller that’s good for both?

I’m being pendantic and making a spreadsheet to help me figure out this stroller mess! It’s not completely filled in yet by any means. But it lists the top contenders and some info on them that I’m slowly gathering.

I got to talk to Jo from Lets Go Strolling today because they do free consultations. How cool is that? Poor Jo. She had to listen to me ramble about my Graco and walking and child getting heavier yadda yadda yadda. Not unlike you, really. She made two suggestions which were already on my list, which means I’m on the right track, really. She suggested the Bumbleride Rocket and the Valco Runabout (as they have last year’s model on sale at the moment). Apparently air filled tires really do make a huge difference to comfort of ride. I didn’t know that, although I suppose it makes sense. I also really like the Zooper Boogie which looks quite similar, I think, with suckier colors, but reversible seat, which is bonus. Argh!

Anyway, the point of this is that I actually got to try a Bumbleride Rocket today, woo woo! Boo and I stopped by USA Baby which has some nice strollers, and they had one sitting in the front window! Boo likes it, I think. It has a nice, straight back, pushes sublimely, doesn’t fold up fabulously small but then what does? Not too heavy. Nice colors (this one was red which I suspect Boo prefers — I prefer the green). To be honest though Boo preferred the Queen B which is a pram! Ha! He was so funny tucked all up in the pram. Perhaps I *am* going down the wrong path!

Well, it was fun at any rate. We actually tried out several. Mostly Boo likes to push them himself. Silly boy.

I saw loads of strollers in England. By that I of course mean prams, pushchairs, and buggies. First of all, did you know that prams still existed? I found out about these, of course, on that Yahoo group, but I didn’t really believe it until I saw it. And of course my cute-radar went completely haywire. WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THESE??? The one to the left, by the way, is a Bumbleride, one of my current top pics.

Seriously, I know I don’t need one because if I get to have another baby, I’ll be wearing him/her and when that’s not happening there’s the travel system, so I don’t need one. But argh… soooo cute!

Anyway. There were lots of prams. Although according to what I read, travel systems are winning out. I mean they ARE more practical, are they not? But ah ha! Just as I was thinking, Hmm, why don’t they make a travel pram system? Someone does. Why do I feel like I am saying DAMMIT all the time?

So. Lots of adorable but impractical prams. On the more useful side, LOTS of MacLarens! I lurve the look of Macs. (How suave am I, adopting the lingo already!) Also quite a few Bugaboos and E3s. I also happen to very much like the E3s. And two of my friends have Jane’s. (That would be Ha-nay, not Jane the name, like I initially assumed, completely missing out on the little dash thing over the e.) Did you know that it’s possible for full size strollers to actually collapse like an umbrella stroller? OMG I literllay shrieked with glee. I had no idea. Why doesn’t my Graco do that?

My stroller radar had a wonderful time, that’s for sure. Did it help me narrow down what I want? Umm not so much. I did get to wheel Boo around in a Mac Quest at Mothercare, much to his displeasure, unfortunately. It was REALLY nice though. I tried to sweep him into a Quinny Zapp but he was having none of it. Oh well. Probably a good thing because the Zapp looks way cool but is way expensive. It folds down sooo tiny though! If I actually had to brave public transport with a stroller that one would be REALLY high on the list. Odd that it feels nice and light whilst pushing it but really dense and heavy once it’s collapsed. Kind of like a dark star. Hmm.

Anyway! It was fun, but not exactly helpful in the stroller department. Oh I search!