And plaids always makes me think of Maclarens. The perennial umbrella fave, who doesn't have a Mac or two stashed in the back of their closet? Or in my case, maybe 40! Not all at once, of course. But their relative light weight, quick fold, and one-handed steering has made them the brand I have had the most of over the years. Why so many? Well, who can resist cute patterns like these:These three are all older models, all made in the UK.
They are the Vogue 2001 in Honeybee Black, Vogue 2000 in Marie Claire, and the Bug, (98', I think?) Their counterparts of today would be, roughly, the Ryder, Quest, and Triumph. Another reason I have/had so many Macs, is that I switch them out according to the season. The Bug for the summer, for example, Marie Claire for fall, and Honeybee Black for winter.
Next up is the Concorde Duo in Citrus, also UK made in '99, I believe. And the 2006 Techno XLR, which is definitely extra large. I can even sit comfortably in it! Although, if you compare it next to the Vogue, it doesn't look quite so huge.
A great thing about Macs is the amount of headroom they provide for an older child. You can see this clearly in these pictures. They all measure 27" from the bottom of the seat to the bottom mid-point of the canopy. I think that is the tallest I have measured.
Maclaren's website does a good job of explaining the differences between the current models. www.maclarenbaby.com A good way to remember the differences is that the models start at the most basic level, which is the stripped down Volo. No recline, no legrest, and small wheels. But people like it because it is so lightweight, about 9-10 pounds. Then you go up a couple of pounds to the Triumph, with a slight recline and more seat padding, then the Quest which adds an extendable leg rest, to the Techno which has a very deep recline, largest canopy, and largest wheels. Finally, one more reason that I've had so many....they fold up so small that I can stuff an awful lot of them into the coat closet!
Am I dreaming? Dare I pinch myself? Yes, I am awake, and yes, they are they really, finally here in the USA! I first reviewed the Buzz and Zapp a couple of years ago, back in the day when we had to import them ourselves from Europe. But the citizens of Strollerland loved the Quinnys so much, that we frequently organized group orders, to help defray the high overseas shipping costs.The changes to the US models have been subtle, but they are good ones. The Dorel Juvenile Group has clearly been listening to what parents want, on this side of the pond.
The 2007 Buzz sports a very modern looking fabric, to match the cutting edge design. It is a cushy neoprene; very thick and comfy, as you can see here. Loads of wonderful features...including a front napper bar that swings out, a footrest that goes up or down by pushing in two side buttons, and an adjustable handlebar that slides out, by pushing in the center middle button. The front wheels are made of a softer rubber, so no more "clack clack" on the sidewalks. And the 12" rear air tires make for a smooth ride on bumpy surfaces. You can tilt the seat to recline completely flat, and you can pull the canopy down, to shade your child's face from the sun. The Ocean Stripe Skip Hop saddlebag matches this "Capri" Buzz beautifully. Perfect for summer! 
The US buzz now comes with a raincover, mosquito net, windbreaker, and basket. You can also get the optional "Dreami carrycot", which I highly recommend. 
Speaking of baskets, the Zapp comes with one now, too! It is small, but way better than nothing. You can see all the stuff I can stuff in there, lol! I have always used the Carry You Milan on the back of my Zapps, so I'm set now with storage on it. 
The Zapp still comes with a travel bag, raincover, and car seat adapter. But instead of a 4-step fold, it is now three. It still has one of the tiniest folds of any stroller, and the steering is STILL two-fingered amazing, thank goodness! But remember there is no recline, so this is NOT a good stroller for a little baby. As you can see from the measurements, though, the seat is very wide and tall, and excellent choice for an older rider . 
The wheels are made of a lovely rubber material. No cheap plastic here! Performed very well on the SQ Obstacle Course, gliding over grass, cracks, and bumps. It is very enjoyable to push, very quiet, no rattles! The handle is height adjustable, with a comfortable foam covering, which makes it a good choice for short or tall people. It is a cinch to fold. Underneath the seat there is a lever that you pull out. Then there is another handle that you pull up. That's it, it folds in half. Very user friendly, takes about 2 seconds. Makes a nice little package.
There is an adjustable footrest, and it reclines to about halfway. There is a lot of headroom in this one. And the seat is very wide, wide enough for me to take a rest. Even my overtired DD hopped a ride when she was having a meltdown at Home Depot. Gotta' love it! Happy 4th of July, and I wish you lots of fireworks! 
June has always been a special month for me, it's the beginning of summer; of sunshine and swimming and sleeping in and trips to the Zoo. And, it's my birthday month! Accordingly, I always get a special stroller for this special time. And what's more special than a Mountain Buggy Urban Double? This is the latest of their greatest, and they've done it again! Every year they improve this always fabulous buggy. Which, I must admit, carries a very soft spot in my heart. When I was first searching for a great double stroller, I was forced to literally search the ends of the earth. All I wanted was something that folded easily, fully reclined, fit through doorways, and didn't push like a tank. That's it. I couldn't BELIEVE it was so difficult! But I finally found one stroller from New Zealand that met all my requirements--the Mountain Buggy. And that is how I became their FIRST U.S. customer! I am so very glad they are sold here now! 
Since I bought my first, there have been many improvements. There is a height adjustable handlebar, that is now reinforced with steel. There is a pocket in the canopy, and also cool pockets in the basket. 
The seats are more padded now, the canopy is 2" higher, there are shock absorbers, the wheels are beefier, and they are quick release. The frame is anodized to prevent scratching, and the riser and footplate have a moulded finish. 
The "Elite" model comes with a softer, cotton-y fabric, kind of like a higher thread count sheet. It also comes with a matching diaper bag, cupholder, and fleecy seat pads. So as we have grown, I am happy to say that the "MBUD" still meets our needs; still has the highest standards of quality and safety; and still has the one-handed ease of push that it is famous for, even with heavier children. 
To fold, you just pull up the two side levers, and it folds flat. It is on the large side, though, so make sure it will fit in your car! 
.This canopy is so big, so huge, that there are actually TWO, count 'em, two viewing windows in it; one on top, and one in the back. The wonderful net side vents are still intact. 
The new canopy does give the stroller a higher profile. While this is the most dramatic change, there are subtle ones as well. First, the fabric is nicer. It seems to be of a better quality. There are now pads on the shoulder straps. It looks like there was a frame change, because the back stability bar is now lower. The wrist strap is now tethered around the bottom, instead of the top handle. That way, if you fall while pushing the stroller, you are less likely to pull it back on top of you.
The handlebar is still height adjustable, the huge net bag is still there on the back, and the wonderful, fast fold has remained the same. But the center strap recline is MUCH easier, truly one-handed.
The wheels are now quick release. See the little buttons just to the side of the '07 wheels? Also, see the self-latching lock here?
Hanging on the side? And check out the reflective stitching,
for better night visibility.These little touches make a stroller that was already easy to use, even easier. And, Baby Jogger put in all of the new improvements, without sacrificing the old features that we love. Well, except for one--the squishy foam handlebar. Since it was so prone to tearing, the handle is now made of a hard material, covered by a neoprene zip-on sleave.
Lots ofof new accessories on their site, too! 
If the Bugaboo was a three-wheeler, it might look like the Red Castle Whizz. There is no other A/T out there this elegant, with this many features, and with the price tag to match. It is beautiful, and very French. You first choose your base fabric, in either orange, chocolate, grey, or black. A matching two-sided seat pad comes with it, with a cool summer cotton on one side, and a warm winter fleece on the other. You can also select another fleece pad to change the look, in turquoise, fushcia, chocolate, orange, or light blue. The weight is a manageable 22 pounds. 
The seat fully reclines, by the use of two silent side zippers. This makes it good for a yong baby. (But the seat is quite large, big enough for a tall child.) Then, you have the option of rolling up the back canopy, for more ventilation. There is a built-in netting on the back, one feature I really like. 
This is only one of the little touches that make this a well thought-out stroller. The footrest adjusts up, to three different positions, there is a large velcro pouch on the back of the canopy, two zippered pockets on the back of the seat, a wrist strap to prevent runaways, and the bottom basket has side zippers for easier access. 
More nice touches: a suncover and raincover and front bar come with the Whizz. Also included are wheel covers, tire pump, and maintenance kit. muff, and a matching changing bag. The little blue pouch is a pacifier holder! 
You can also buy a carrycot or footmuff, and one of several different styles of changing bags. 
The frame is aluminum, and the handle is height adjustable. The steering is superb. And yes, this cute little air tires are smaller than average, for more maneuverability. The rear are 9", and the front is 8". Maybe because they have suspension,
but the smaller size did not compromise it's performance on the SQ Obstacle Course. It is as rugged as it is exquisite. To fold it, you pull up a lever on the right side of the handlebar, then squeeze in the levers on both sides. It is the latest model to be distributed by Euro-Baby US, the same company that brought the Micralite to the U.S.
I have been asked a lot lately what the differences are between the Esprit, 
and the Candy. So I wanted to show you a comparison. For starters, you can see that the frame is very similar. But the tubing on the Candy is curved and thicker. The Esprit has small side pockets in the canopy, while the Candy has viewing windows. The handles are similar, but the Candy's has a thicker foam. Both have side carry handles, but the Esprit's is of a harder rubber than the Candy. 
But the Candy's is even bigger. The Candy has bigger, fatter wheels. This gives it a little better performance.
The Candy boasts the only one-handed recline in it's class. It is WONDERFUL. Just pull down that center back lever. If you need to recline your stroller often, this alone is worth the $40 price difference. The Esprit uses the side slider bars, like on Maclarens. You can also see the difference in the fold. The Candy has the pull out handle, although I folded it the same way as the Esprit. Just like a Mac, you kick up the bottom lever, then kick down the right side lever. 
The front of the canopies are the same, complete with a sun/rain visor. And both have very long extended legrests. The footrests are different. But most pronounced is the fancier fabric on the Candy, with the embroidered star and RSB logo. The Esprit retails for $99, and the Candy is $149. Both are pretty good values, in this era of high-priced buggies. The fold is a typical umbrella. For more info, go to: 
As you can see, it comes with a bassinette, elegantly trimmed in black suede. The shoulder harnesses sport the same upscale trim. The basket is huge, yay! And easily accessible. The seat reclines nearly flat, by the using a back lever, and the footrest extends all the way up or down. The wheels are "rubber-like TPR tires stretched over EVA foam."What that means , in practical terms, is that they are lighter than air tires, won't go flat, and require no pumping up. The front swivel wheels are 8", and the rear are 11". They are very fat, which makes for a better ride. But it also makes the stroller a little wide, at 27". I didn't notice much suspension going over bumps. Nevertheless, the "Vista" is very fun to push! It just has a nice feel. 
The seat sits up higher than most, measuring 24" from the ground. The handle is telescopic, and pulls straight out and high, for taller people. It is quite easy to pop out the bassinette to change to the seat, or to switch the seat from rear to forward facing. Comes with an additional sunshade and raincover .
It also has a side latch to lock it shut. 
The seat reclines nearly flat, but a bassinette comes with, along with a boot and raincover. It is a really simple recline, you just push in the two side buttons. The legrest extends really far out (see stats below), and the telescopic handle extends very high. The wheels have nice suspension, and are quick release.
It can be folded easily, in one piece. But with all strollers of this type, I prefer detaching the seat from the chassis, for a more compact fold. It is lighter to lift that way, too.
I found it on the heavy side, and I wish the front wheels were more A/T. I wish there was not a bar going across the back of the basket, blocking access. And I really wish there was a way to prevent the sun from streaming in through the sides of the canopy. My son spent the entire ride covering his eyes with his arm, yelling "close the flaps, close the flaps"! But there are no flaps to close. 
One of the really fun things about the Easy Walker is how "easy" it is to switch the look. You can readily buy different seat covers, canopy, footmuff, or bag, to go from this, to this. 
There are also loads of accessories available. The footmuff is one of the biggest and cosiest I have ever seen. And this raincover was also one of the "easiest" I have used:
I had a little trouble with the canopy today. The sun was going straight into my son's eyes, and he was complaining mightily. I think I need to look into an add-on shade or drape. And, when you retract the canopy, it sticks straight up. Ah well, no stroller is perfect. And there are lots of things to make up for the canopy shortcomings, like these cool back seat pockets:
The fold is a little intimidating at first, but you get the hang of it very quickly. Then it becomes really "easy", like just about everything else on this lovely buggy! 
The fold is fool-proof, just pull up on two side levers. It has a peek-a-boo window in the canopy, wire shopping basket, and a height adjustable handle. The frame is a lightweight aluminum, and the fabric is an easy to clean canvas. 
You can also add a kiddyboard to the back for an older rider. This is a great choice for someone who wants an all-terrain stroller, in as small of a package as possible. Here are some measurements: Weight: 18.5 pounds. Seat to canopy, 21". Seat back, 20.5 ". Seat Depth, 10". Drop to footrest, 8.5". Seat width, 12.5". Overall width, 20". Overall Length, 33". 
The wheels are fixed, 10" air tires with sealed bearings and rust-proof rims. Don't be intimidated by the lack of swivel wheels. Fixed wheels are really much better for going over cracks and bumps, because they run true. Whereas swivel wheels tend to go wonky and spin around when they hit the rough stuff. If a stroller is well-balanced with precision engineering, then fixed wheels are a "Breeze" to push! 
But if you need a double, or just something more substantial, then how about this:
This is the Kiwi E3, made by Phil and Ted's Most Excellent Buggy Company. The beauty of this model, in case you haven't heard, is that it is a single, that become a double.
The main stroller itself weighs 24 pounds, and the add-on seat weighs 5. It folds pretty compactly, although you have to remove the extra seat when you fold it:
And it has all kinds of cool accessories, like the hangbag and carrycot, which makes a lovely bed for an infant:
Even in doubles mode, it feels as if you are pushing a single. It is 24" wide, and the seatback is an astonishing 23"! So it is suitable for a tall/older child, although the weight limit in the main seat is 55 pounds. (The add-on seat is 33 pounds.) 