NEW NEW NEWS!

Baby Planet Unity Sport: 

 
2007 was a very good year for double strollers. This is the latest one to arrive on the market, the very cool Baby Planet Unity Sport. It has the same curved profile that I really liked on the Solo, but completes the look with the rounded handle. It is padded with foam, so it is comfortable to push. What's nice is that tall people can push from the top, and shorter people can push from the bottom. Oh, and check out the cupholders on the handle!
The color combo is very stylish. It's called "Red Tech."  An appropriate name for a "tech-y" stroller! Another original feature is the smaller set of wheels in the center, to avoid long striders from kicking the back. The seat has a pretty decent recline, and extendable leg rests.

The seat reclines by the use of a back buckle strap. It's pretty easy to do. The company advises that you can use the Unity Sport for a child three months old, to 55 pounds. Big span!






As you can see, the baskets are a really good size, larger than of it's counterparts. The fold is pretty typical for an umbrella stroller. Kick down the right side latch, kick up the two bottom center round pieces. It has two self-locking latches on the side that really keep it closed tightly.

All in all, it's a pretty versatile double. It's compact enough for travel, or to keep in the car. While the wheels are not A/T, they do have shocks, so they perform pretty well on cracked sidewalks. The canopy is a good size, with a rain visor, so it's not a bad choice for moderate outdoor use. www.baby-planet.com

Baby Planet Unity Sport:
2007 was a very good year for double strollers. This is the latest one to arrive on the market, the very cool Baby Planet Unity Sport. It has the same curved profile that I really liked on the Solo, but completes the look with the rounded handle. It is padded with foam, so it is comfortable to push. What's nice is that tall people can push from the top, and shorter people can push from the bottom. Oh, and check out the cupholders on the handle!
The color combo is very stylish. It's called "Red Tech."  An appropriate name for a "tech-y" stroller! Another original feature is the smaller set of wheels in the center, to avoid long striders from kicking the back. The seat has a pretty decent recline, and extendable leg rests.





As you can see, the baskets are a really good size, larger than of it's counterparts. The fold is pretty typical for an umbrella stroller. Kick down the right side latch, kick up the two bottom center round pieces. It has two self-locking latches on the side that really keep it closed tightly.

All in all, it's a pretty versatile double. It's compact enough for travel, or to keep in the car. While the wheels are not A/T, they do have shocks, so they perform pretty well on cracked sidewalks. The canopy is a good size, with a rain visor, so it's not a bad choice for moderate outdoor use.
www.baby-planet.com 


Baby Planet Unity Sport:

Weight:  29 pds.

Width:  28"

Length:  29"

Height: 39"- 45"

Seat width: 12"

Seat depth: 8"

Seat back: 19"

Seat to canopy: 25.5"

Drop to footrest:  10"

Folded:  41" x 15" x 26"










Easy Walker Skys

The first time I ever saw the Dutch "Easy Walkers" on display, the thing that struck me about them were the colors. Beautiful, bright, vivid colors. That was true for the "Classic", and it is now true for the"Skys". The new "Sky "comes in both the single, and the "Duo Walker". The ones pictured here are "Army", and "Aqua." But you can also choose orange, lime, pink, navy, red, and black. Since "Easy Walker" is a European stroller it comes with great accessories. For newborns, you can get a carry cot for both the single and the double. The napper bar is included, and I put a "Carry You Piccolo" snack tray  on it. It actually works a little better if you turn it around, facing the child. And I have my Skip Hop saddlebag on it, just because I thought the "Ocean Stripes" matched the aqua so well. But you can also get the "Easy Walker" matching diaper bag, footmuff, raincover, mosquito net, parasol, car seat adapter, travel bag, and a wheeled board for another child to hitch a ride. Whew!
The Skys feature adeep recline, and the seat sits higher up than most strollers.
The seats recline by using zippers. But an extra buckle strap on the back means they also sit very upright. The Duo features a split canopy. The "Skys " look simple at first. But they actually have a lot of high-end features that make them very enjoyable to use. The 12" swivel air tires make them easy to maneuver, and all of the wheels have suspension. The height adjustable handlebar goes up to 45", making it a good choice for a tall person. The seat on the single is one of the hugest I have seen, 15.5" wide! So an older or bigger child will feel quite comfortable in it, (see dimensions below.)  
There is a back panel that zippers off the canopy, for more ventilation on hot days. And there is loads of storage on the Skys. The baskets are wonderfully large, and will hold quite a bit--purses, jackets, toys, snacks , etc. There are also three pockets on the back canopy; one that zips, one that snaps, and a net bottle pocket. Very convenient!

The fold is very quick and easy. Just lift up the red safety latch on the right side, press in two top levers, it folds in half, and you're good to go! www.easywalker.nl
Duo Walker Sky                             Easy Walker Sky

Weight
                38 pds.                  25 pds.
    
Width:                 29.5"                     26.5"

Length:                36"                       36"

Handle ht:            32"-45"                 32"-45"

Seat back:           19"                       20"

Seat width:           13"                        15.5"

Seat depth:            9"                         9"

Seat to footrest:     8"                        8"

Seat to canopy:     23"                       25"                  

Folded:                 34" x 20" x 29"      14" x 24" x 33"

Joovys!
It's kind of amazing that as saturated as the stroller market is these days, there is still a dearth of lightweight doubles. It is probably the number one desperate question we get asked here in Strollerland, "Strollerqueen, PLEASE help me find a double for my car!" Rob Gardner of the long-awaited Joovy line has some solutions with two of his newest models, the Groove 2 and the Caboose Ultralight. The Caboose has been around for in various incarnations for a while. But this latest version has some great improvements. the wheels have ball bearings for greater maneverability, the canopy extends over both the main seat and the jump seat, and both seats have reflective harnesses. Great news for parents of runners! The rear standing platform is a good size for smaller toddlers, too. The fold is super easy, just pull up the two side latches. There is a side lock to keep it closed. There is a front snack tray, and a back removeable neoprene parent cupholder. The front seat has an extendable leg rest, and a small net pocket on the back of the seat. The recline is slight, though, or there would be no room for the rear seat rider. It is car seat compatible with most major brands. Comes in orange, black, and sage. Best of all is the weight, just 22 pounds! The Groove 2 is a more traditional side by side umbrella stroller. It has a fairly deep recline, and separate canopies. It comes with matching head-huggers, and reversible seat pads--fleece for the winter, and cotton for the summer. I really like the three handles. I used it to push the Groove 2 one-handed on the SQ Obstacle Course, for about two blocks. Quite respectable. They are made of a squsihy foam that is really easy on the hands, too. The back canopy has net bottle pockets, peek-a-boo windows, and large zippered pockets. There is also a latch to lock the stroller shut. Comes in blue or green.The Groove is very similar in form and function to the Groove 2. Except, of course, that it is the singleton of the group here. Both have the great canopies with sun visors and pockets. Both have the reversible black seat liners. and decent reclines. But the Groove has an extendable leg rest. It also comes with an additional, really cool feature.ANOTHER seat fabric and canopy in black! So you can change the look as it suits you, or switch out the skins for washing, or mix and match...and where do you put them? Voila! In their own canvas hanging bag of course! The bag is zippered, with net organizing pockets inside. That's a raincover in the bottom, too!   The Groove has a side carry handle, and a good sized basket. You recline it by pushing up the two side levers, and sliding them back. Comes in green, blue, or pink.
To fold it, you pull up the red knob in the middle, then push down on the red latch on the right side. Although I would characerize these as "car" or "indoor" strollers, all three performed very well on the SQ Obstacle Course, and on the grass and gravel paths you see here. Very versatile!
www.joovy.com
Groove                        Groove 2                  Caboose Ultralight

Weight:  16 pds.               30 pds.                  22.5 pds.    

Width:  19.5"                    29"                        21"

Length:  26"                      25"                        32"

Seat Width:  14"               11.5"                      12" (both)

Seat Depth:  7"-15"            7"                           8" (front) 9.5" (rear)

Seat Back:   19"               19"                         16" (front only) 

Seat to canopy:  26"         26"                          25.5" (front) 23" (rear)

Drop to footrest:  10"          9"                            6" (front) 9" rear

Handle height:      42"        42"                           41"

Folded:  14" x 12" x 42"     20" x 11" x 42"          11" x 21" x 42"

Mia Moda Terra
Want a lower cost alternative to the Bugaboo, that folds easily, no fuss, no muss? That has a big basket, parent and child snack trays, but still has the "cool" look? The "Terra" is the answer! As with other Mia Modas I have tested on the SQ Obstacle Course, I was pleased to see how well the Terra steers with heavier children. I tried children of different weights in it, and you really couldn't feel the difference. I think this would be a great carnival/festival/theme park/playground stroller. Retails for $319!   www.miamodainc.com
Folds quickly, in one piece, by pulling up two side levers. This fabic is "Oxford', a very pretty denim, tan, brown, and cream stripes.Look at the large back canopy pocket with leather closure, large basket, and suspension on wheels; which are quick release.  The handle adjusts for both short and tall people.There is a full recline with a leg rest, and snack trays for parent and child. Removeable, washable seat pad.And on these hot summer days ahead, the mesh back for more ventilation comes in handy! 
Stats:
Weight: 24. 5 pds.
Width: 24"
Length: 32"
Seat back: 17"
Seat to canopy: 25"
Seat width: 14"
Seat depth: 11"
Drop to footrest: 10"
Folded: (without wheels) 14" x 32" x 17"
Handle height: 34"-41.5"
Wheel size: front--7.5" x 2", rear--11" x 3"

  

Phil & Ted's Sport
The first Phil and Ted's Most excellent Buggy that I ever received was in a stroller swap. Which also, coincidentally, was the start of my "Kingdom of Strollerland" group, or "Strollerswap." http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrollerSWAP/  As we have evolved to over 8300 Loyal Citizens, so the original "Explorer" has evolved. It became the E3, then the E3 V1, then the E3 V2, and now, the Sport! It's ever changing profile reflects Phil & Ted's willingness to listen to what parents want, and to respond accordingly. I have had every version, and am always impressed. There is nothing else like this on the market. Not back then, not now.

 

Of course the brilliance of the Sport is the ability to quickly change from a single to a double, without adding to the width, and only 4 pounds to the weight. That has not changed. But the canopy is different now, a little sleeker, a little lighter, with a peekaboo window. The wheels are quick-release, and come with mudguards. The bumper bar pops off a lot easier, the handlebar is height adjustable, and the add-on seat now reclines! And of course, there is this cool "Blue Camo" fabric option.

There are some other new, less obvious touches, too. Like the harness. Addressing compaints of parent with little babies, the harness now adjusts to a much smaller size. The toddler seat slides on and off easier, and the fold is much gentler. There are little storage pockets sewn into the canopy and basket. And there are bottom straps to hold the Sport closed. The recline is still very flat, and there is a large back viewing window. 

 The maximum load capacity is 55 for the main seat, and 33 for the add-on. 

I wish the back cupholders came standard, but, oh well. Phil & Ted's still has come of the coolest accessories available, like this. Have bag, will travel! Perfect for summer vacays!  www.regal-lager.com
Stats:
 
Weight:   27 pds. single; 31 double
Width:    24"
Length:   39"
Seat to canopy: 26"
Seat back:     24"
Seat width:    14" at shoulders, 11" at hips
Seat Depth:    10"
Drop to footrest:    6"
Folded:   36" x 11"  x 24"

Baby Planet: Solo Sport
Umbrella strollers are no doubt one of the most popular types of strollers, due to their easy folds and lighter weights. But what can you do to make yours different, to set it apart from the pack? How about making it just more beautiful than the rest? That's what Pete Myers, co-founder of the eco friendly new company, Baby Planet. did. And that's why I gave it the "Most beautiful" award, in the 2007 Big Stroller Roll-Out! Look at the cobalt blue frame; STUNNING! And look at the graceful curved lines. But it's practical, too. As you can see, the basket is HUGE. Much bigger than most umbrella strollers. And the hard cupholder that comes with actually stays attached! There's a rain/sun visor that can be pushed back, padded shoulder straps, a self-locking latch, and window in the canopy. The recline is pretty decent, the seat is well-padded, and there's an extendable leg rest, which makes it a good choice for a younger baby. The company says it's suitable for 3 months, up to 55 pounds. Quite a span! The handles are foam, at a very comfy angle to push, for tall or short people. The fold is pretty typical umbrella, kick down on the side latch, kick up on the bottom middle one. The front wheels do protrude a bit, because of the curved frame. Check out their website for an interesting travel system, and a double that's different. Coming soon: "Endangered animal print" strollers!
Stats:
Weight:                    16.5 pds.
Width:                      18.5"
Length:                    29"
Seat to canopy:     24"
Seat back:               18"
Seat width:              12"
Seat Depth:             11" to 15"
Drop to footrest:    10"
Folded:                     10.5" x 10.5"  x 41"
Mia Moda
Like Silver Cross, "Mia Moda" features an entirely new line-up, of a half a dozen different models. But Mia Moda doesn't have the pedigree of a century-old British icon. They are both made in China, but Mia Moda was conceived in Wyommising, PA, by Kevin Gallen. The line made it's inital debut at the "2007 BIG Stroller Roll-Out"! Their slogan is "My life, my way, my style", and they do try to cover all the bases. There's a reversible, a swivel 3-wheeler, a lightweight umbrella, and the two that I chose to review, the Libero and Cielo.
Cielo:
NBC came out to interview me last week, and everyone loved this model. We jokingly called it "The 007" stroller, because of the cool, "James Bondish" way it folds into a small suitcase. You can carry it by the top handle, or you can stuff it into it's own little matching carry bag. At 15 pounds, and a folded size of 11 x 10 x 18, it is very easy to carry. Move over, Zapp! There's a new little guy in town! I was impressed with this one at the Stroller Roll-out, and even more impressed once I actually used it. It did a lot better on the Strollerqueen Obstacle Course than I anticipated. Really, the wheels traversed all but the largest cracks and bumps.  It is not at all tippy. I tried a loaded Skip Hop on the back, while it was empty, and it remained stable. I also used the Carry You Pescara and Torino as drink holders. The space is narrow, so something like a Milan would be too long. The fold takes a little getting used to. You push in this top button, and then do a series of gyrations to bend it backwards onto itself. It also has a good sized basket on the back, that detaches if you want to just take it off when folding it, rather than emptying the contents.The round handle is a very modern look, although I wish it was padded with foam or something softer than hard plastic. It also has quite a bit of "play" in it when pushing, although this may have just been my model. The seat reclines with a back drawstring, similar to a Mac Triumph, or a little deeper. It's a pretty good size, (see entire measurements in table below), but the lack of much side support and legrest means this is better suited to an older baby, or toddler. The fabric is very good quality, and I love their little "Surfer Dude." This is a very good value for the price, and I highly recommend it.
Libero:
Long time readers know that one of my favorite strollers of all time was the  Chicco 2002. I loved it because it was a full-featured umbrella, that you could actually push one-handed! And the push was very smooth, sort of "glide-like." These were my thoughts when I first used the Libero. I couldn't believe it, how could it steer so well? Much better than alll of the similar models currently on the market. My conclusion is that the key is the front, independently swivelling wheels. This is the design so popular now, in all the lookalikes spawned by the Bugaboo phenomenon. But it is popular because it is very effective.
The Libero comes with a matching boot, which is a nice touch. It reclines with a back lever, to about half-way down. But the canopy does not pull down very far, there is no snack tray, and no rear steps for an older rider. Ah, well, you truly can't have everything in one stroller, I guess! I was also hoping that Mia Moda could improve on the weight a little. At 20 pounds, it is the same as the P3. But I still feel that is heavy for an umbrella stroller.   There is a HUGE back canopy pocket, with a leather latch;  another nice little touch. And a peekaboo window in the top of the canopy. The fold is similar to the P3, too. Pull up on the trigger handles, then give the round handle at the top of the basket a good yank.Again, this particular style; i.e. a full-featured umbrella model  with a "3 D" fold has proved very popular and enduring, especially for first-time parents. It's a good choice if you are on the short side, since the handles only measures 38" from the ground, and they are not height adjustable. Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Did you see Buddha?)
 www.miamodainc.com
Stats:
Cielo:                                                          Libero:
Weight:               15 pds.                                  20 pds. 
length                 25"                                        26.5"
width:                 17.5"                                      21.5"
backrest:             17"                                        19"
seat to canopy:    22"                                        24"
drop to footrest:  10.5"                                       9"
seat width:          11"                                         11"
seat depth:          10"                                         9-15" w/ footrest ext.
folded:                11 x 10 x 18                           19 x 40 x 12
 
Silver Cross
The return of Silver Cross to the US heralds an entirely new line-up, well, almost. There is the Sleep-over, which is basically your classic pram; the Linear Freeway, a smaller, swivel-wheeled pram; the 3-D,  an umbrella fold pram, the Micro V2, similar to the Micro that was here before; the Pop, a forward-facing umbrella fold, and the S-4,  Silver Cross' answer to a jogger. I am showing it here with the pistachio footmuff, which is hands down THE cosiest cosey toes I have ever seen!
 
Not only that, but it comes with an additional "apron", shown  here in black, and a raincover. Stand-out features include the canopy that pulls down to the napper bar, shocks on the wheels, (which are NOT air, so no flats and no pumping), and incredible steering, a serious two-fingered push. It glides over big cracks and bumps, and performs as well as any tir tires.                          The recline is completely flat, and makes a very plush, warm bed for baby. A fleece-lined headhugger and strap covers come with. You can unzip the top of the footmuff, and just use the bottom, fleecy part as a liner. The recline is kind of different, you push in a silver button on the side to lie it flat, and pull up on a side strap on the right to sit it up straight.There is a handbrake on the handle, which extends upward by pushing in the center button,  and a peek-a-boo window in the canopy. This is definitely a full-featured buggy, weighing in at 29 pounds.It folds by pushing up two side levers, pushing the handle forward, and tucking the wheels underneath.Other measurements are as follows:   Seat to canopy--21.5", seatback--17.5", seat depth--9", drop to footrest--8", seat width--14.5", overall width--24", overall length--32".
 
POP
 
This is Silver Cross' lightweight umbrella, for "popping in" and "popping out." It comes with a raincover, and I am showing it with an optional black footmuff, just  because I LOVE these footmuffs so much! Here it is without the footmuff, and with the legrest extended. It has reflective piping, white stitching, and a back canopy pocket. It reclines fairly deeply with a backstrap, weighs 14.5  pounds, and is very stable--not tippy. Here are some more measurements: Seat to canopy--25", seatback--18.5", seat depth--9" without the footest extended, 16" with the footrest extended; drop to footrest--9.5", seat width--13"; overall width--19.5", overall length--24".It folds umbrella style, by kicking up the back side lever, then stepping down in the center. Then it self locks, with latches on both sides.I  www.silvercrossamerica.com
Valco Buggster!
If the Quinny Zapp is like a cooler Mac, then the Valco Buggster is a hipper P3. Even though it only weighs one pound more than the Zapp--17 vs. 16, it is a much more full-featured stroller. To begin with, it has a fairly deep recline. Next, it is not at all tippy--again, think Mac vs. Peg. And, it comes with all the accessories--one of the first to start this trend for 2007. It has a boot, seat pad, front bar, sun mesh cover, and rain cover.  
True, it doesn't have the same one-handed steering as the Zapp, (again, think P3 and Mac), but it is pretty darn good. It has the same chunky wheels as the Zapp, which means it does surprisingly well outdoors. It folds bigger than the Zapp, but much less bulky than the P3. You can pop off the front wheel to make it fold even flatter.         
The measurements are surprisingly similar to the Zapp. I am comparing them because, well, it is a logical comparison, lol! A lot of people are considering the Buggster as a more substantial, feature-rich Zapp. And they are right. 
 
Buggster                                                         Zapp
Seat bottom to canopy bottom:         24"            24"
Seat back:                                         21"            19.5"
Seat width:                                        17"            15"
Seat depth:                                          9"            8.5"
Drop to Footrest                                 12"           12"
Overall Width                                     23.5"        23.5"
Overall Length                                   36"           30"
Weight                                               17 pds.     16 pds.
 
As you can see from the measurements, the seat is very tall and wide, the biggest I have seen on a lightweight stroller. My children actually pushed ME around in it! This is truly one stroller that will take you from infancy to pre-school years. The basket is fairly accessible, and holds quite a bit. I took it to a carnival when it was raining on and off. I had three children with me; their jackets, umbrellas, teddy bears, balloons, dolls, and a giant inflatable sword they won, bags of cookies they didn't eat, even plastic bags of water and swimming goldfish, lol!
The seat and canopy are made of a nice canvas material. The seat pad is reversible, with canvas on one side, and a breathable mesh on the other. The handles are a hard rubber with finger grips on them. The canopy has a peek-a-boo mesh window on top, and a flip down visor; great touch for really sunny days. 
And the accessories make it an all-weather stroller. Finally, it's strength, stability, and fairly compact fold makes it a travel, shopping, basically a do-everything stroller! (Well, OK, maybe not great in the snow or sand, although I haven't tried it there yet!) It is in stores now.  www.valcobaby.com
Pop Quiz...Anyone remember which stroller I reviewed a couple of years ago at the "Big Stroller Roll-Out", begged the manufacturer to sell here, but to my chagrin it never made it? Well, it's finally arrived, with a new suit of clothes, and a new name, :THE MICRALITE FAST FOLD! 
Yes, it has a very odd shape. Triangular, with widely spaced front wheels, and a horseshoe shaped handle, my son calls it the "Darth Vader" stroller! But it's cool and different, and that is why two years ago I begged Kolcraft to bring it in. At that time, they were calling it the "Jeep Rubicon." But they couldn't figure out a way to fit it into their marketing strategy. But now Bill Jacoby, of Euro-Baby, has.I knew it would fill a niche. It has a very compact fold, which is nice for tight trunk space or travel. Yet it has the air tires, which are wonderful on cobblestones or bumpy roads.You can just tip it back when going over the rough stuff.  Best of all, it only weighs 16 pounds. So if you always wished your Mac Volo had bigger tires, this is your answer. It has the partial mesh on the seat like the Volo, a net basket, slight recline like the Triumph,  the inadequate sun canopy and "tippy" factor that vexes us all about Macs, and the supreme steering that is the trade-off. Comes with an optional bassinette, so it can be used with a newborn. Oh, and it really DOES have a"Fast Fold"!  http://www.euro-baby.us/micralite.php