Spider or Zapp??

I just got a great stroller question via Twitter: what stroller to choose--the Mutsy Spider or the Quinny Zapp?

My first thought was, "I want both of them!"

And then I thought about how both share a modern, minimal design and a super compact fold, which makes them great for parents on the go either in and out of the car or the airport. Both feature swiveling front wheels for easy cornering, too. Of course there are some qualities that set them apart. Let's look them over, shall we?

The Quinny Zapp:
The Zapp has one big advantage over the Spider: it can be used from birth. It doesn't have a full recline so you can only use it from birth with a car seat and the only car seat that's compatible with the Zapp is Maxi-Cosi's Infant Car Seat. In fact, the Zapp doesn't recline at all, which surprised me. It accomodates children from birth (with the car seat) up to 50 lbs. And it only weighs about 15 lbs, which is incredibly light and makes life on the go a lot more fun! It retails for $220 on Strollers.com.

The Mutsy Spider:
I love the Spider's 3 wheeled design. Thanks to it's adjustable footrest and wide seat, toddlers have room to grow while staying comfortable. At 19.8 lbs it's also very light--though not quite as lightweight as the Zapp. Another nice feature is that the wide back wheels keep it from tipping over. Adjustable handlebars ensure both parents can push comfortably. The Spider accomodates children from 3 months up to 55 lbs. So you can't use it from birth but it does hold more weight than the Zapp. It's also much less money at just $150 on Strollers.com.

As always, finding the perfect stroller comes down to your needs (I suggest picking 3 things you refuse to compromise on) and your budget. Keep sending me your stroller questions.

Happy Shopping and Happy Strolling!

Along Came the Spider...

Today I want to talk about Mutsy's Spider Stroller. It's been on my mind lately. Why? Well, because it has almost all of the characteristics that many of you have been asking me for in your stroller questions (keep them coming, by the way!).

I say "almost all" because it lacks one feature that many of you need: it doesn't accomodate infants. The seat does recline but not all the way down and it is not car seat compatible.

But for all the rest of you who don't need a stroller that can be used from birth, you should definitely take a look at this one! Consider this: it only weighs 19.8 lbs and has an extremely compact fold, which is easy to do. This makes it a great stroller for suburban parents who need a stroller that can fold, fit in the trunk, unfold and be ready to roll around town.

Wide set back wheels make this stroller sturdy and tip-proof, albeit slightly wider than some of its peers. The front wheel swivels to make cornering a breeze. And the handlebar is adjustable for short people like me and their much taller spouses. The wide seat and adjustable footrest also ensure that growing toddlers can sit comfortably.

Plus, for those of you who like your stroller to stand out, this one is sure to get lots of attention. It's got a really unique, futuristic look.

The Spider Stroller is officially the only (yes, I mean only--even Charlotte didn't win me over) spider that I like!

Quest for the Golden Chassis Part II

I just wanted to update you on my search for the stroller I spotted at the mall which had--I believe, if my eyes weren't blurred by last minute holiday insanity--a gold chassis.

One helpful reader emailed me and suggested that perhaps it was a Mutsy stroller, which does come in some goldish colors at least in Europe. Man, it makes me jealous to think of all the stroller colors (or should I say "colours") that might be available across the pond.

Alas, I really think this stroller had a gold frame not just gold fabric. However, thanks for the suggestion! Anyway, I had fun skimming all the beautiful Mutsy colors...even the ones not available in the US.

The search continues...

Mutsy's Fabulous 4Rider

Yesterday I got to play around with a couple of Mutsy strollers. I told you about the Slider in a previous post, so I thought I'd tell you about the other stroller I saw: the 4Rider.

The 4Rider comes in two styles: lightweight or single spoke. This refers to the wheels. Everything else about the stroller remains the same. The 4Rider Light has lightweight, foam-filled wheels. The Single Spoke 4Rider(shown) has air-filled, single-spoke wheels, which make it about 4 pounds heavier but give it a very unique look.

Like the Slider, the 4Rider has a very airy, sleek design. I could keep talking about how good looking this stroller is, but I want to tell you about some of its amazing features as well.

For starters, it folds so easily. I've seen a lot of stroller demonstrations and this one really impressed me. In two simple moves the stroller was folded up on the ground with no loud cracking noises that would make me think I'd broken the thing. And it can be folded with the bassinet or seat in it!

Let's talk about the bassinet. It has several zippered pockets around the outside, which are perfect for little essentials that you want to keep within easy reach. They just melt right into the design. Very cool. The bassinet also sits very high so that, similar to a Stokke Xplory, you can be close to your baby as you go about town. If your baby falls asleep while in the bassinet, you can remove it with the carrying strap, bring it inside, and set it down (it has feet to keep it upright) without ever disturbing your baby.

The seat fully reclines and can be moved forwards or backwards to adjust the seat depth for a customized fit. You can check on your baby thanks to the window in the generous hood. The window can be hidden with a velcroed panel. Some strollers have nixed the hood window because they felt it disrupted the design. I think Mutsy has found a great way to compromise. And really that's what Mutsy is all about: the compromise between attractive design and practical functionality.

And now for some great Friday news! From now until June 24th you will save 5% on all Mutsy strollers and high chairs. Get shopping now at Strollers.com!

Stroller Alert: Mutsy Slider

I've got a sporty new stroller to share with you by Mutsy! Mutsy has been making strollers since 1937 and they're really good at what they do. They recently unveiled a new stroller known as the Slider. Fit Pregnancy even named the Mutsy Slider one of the best strollers of 2008.

The Slider has an attractive, modern design and comes in three colors: Red, Green, and White (shown). I have to admit, as much as I love orange (and I do), it's nice to see some different colors on the market for summer. The white is really eye-catching but I also like the Green, which is a subtle, moss green. All three colors would work well for a boy or a girl.

One really innovative aspect of this stroller is its compactness. The Slider frame consists of 2 parts: the upper part (the seat) and the frame. The upper part can be configured as a bassinet, baby/toddler seat or travel system (Graco or Maxi Cosi car seats work, as long as you have an adapter). Since the entire upper part detaches from the base, the frame folds up extremely small. The wheels are also removable to make the frame even more compact!

The Slider is also very lightweight and maneuverable. Two large front swivel wheels make it easy to travel over cobbstone or uneven city streets. Brake pedals on either side and a single-hand, easily adjustable foam-grip handle make this stroller easy and comfortable to use.

Take a look at all of Mutsy's strollers at Strollers.com!