[Bruckner]

Silly question but here goes. The kids will be 2-1/2 when we arrive in NZ next August. We don't own a car so I walk almost everywhere in all types of weather to get around. Our double stroller is on its last legs and we can either tough it out with an old double umbrella stroller someone gave us or purchase a MBUD, or a Jane Powertwin or another Combi Twin Savvy.

In NZ I imagine we'll probably use a car most of the time rather than walk so I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a really good walking stroller when the Combi gives up the ghost. I also use a heavy duty windshield and a Toastie Toddler for cold weather. Will this be useful there?

Sorry for the silly questions. Just trying to work out what we'll need and what I'll be rolling up to the jetway when we fly out.

Emily

[sarahw]

Personally (we have a 4 month old, but we bought our stroller for the long-term until she's 3 or 4) we have a Mountain Buggy - it can easily be used in the city, or out in the country, or on the beach. V. sturdy, folds pretty small.

You'll find that double buggies are v. popular out here. People do walk quite a lot here (don't know where you're moving from or to but certainly around the Welly area lots of walking done!) - lots of mums groups go out walking on nice days - I walk loads here! Would think nothing of going out for a 2 or 3 hour walk for the afternoon with baby in tow.

I'd recommend either a Phil & Teds or a Mountain Buggy - buy them on Trademe second hand when you get here you'll save heaps - you can also get travel bag (for holidays) wind shield, sleeping bags & sun shade (you'll certainly need the sun shade in the summer or on bright winters' days).

Good luck!

[jubjub]

Its a tricky one because they are so close to being out of a stroller/buggy altogether...

You will need a suncover and a storm cover for whatever buggy you chose, so the little mites dont get burnt or blown away! Walking with a buggy is a very popular pastime, you even get pram walking groups!

The best ones here seem to be Mountain Buggy or Phil & Teds, I have a phil & teds and for your age kids it would be great, you can get a double side by side version or one sits behind the other. They are both pricey though, over $7-800, so if you can get one cheaper, over there, bring it with you on the plane, but the better quality nz ones do seem to hold the value for resale on trademe.

https://secure.intellihost.co.nz/philandteds.com/framesetstroller.htm

The prices on the P&T site are the manufacturers recommended price, you can get them cheaper from other places

[Tia Maria]

Bruckner

Not sure which area you're heading to, but a lot of Mum's where I live walk also, (North Shore, Auckland). Most people have the 3 wheeler variety, my 4 wheel one looks quite old fashioned in comparison, but it does the job (and the tires never go flat!)

Be prepared for hills and, as the others have said, all sorts of weather. You can often find yourself out with cosytoes/raincover and sunshield, although the way my buggy is set up I can often do without the raincover and just use a combination of the other 2. Definitely bring your Toastie Toddler, we had hailstones here in September!

Having said all that, my 2 were pretty much out of a buggy by 2 and a half. But there is a good trade in buggies over here, so if you did by one now in the USA and get some benefit out of it, but found you no longer needed it in NZ, you can sell it on Trade Me, or locally (unless you plan to have more children!).

Cheers

Tia

[Bruckner]

Thank you Sal, Sarah and Tia! It's true that by the time we get there they will be spending less time in the stroller but my stroller may not make it through the winter so I'm going to think about either a MBUD, a Jane or a Phil and Ted side-by-side if only for the re-sale value. When I took mine to get the brake fixed the guy looked at it and said "Lady, you don't even have any tread left on those wheels!"

Emily

[Tia Maria]

Bump

Having just watched a hailstorm followed by glorious sunshine I remembered this post.

Funny thinking that there have been hailstones again almost exactly a year on, maybe the NZ weather is predicatble after all - I'm going to jot it down on next years calendar just in case! :D

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Bump

Having just watched a hailstorm followed by glorious sunshine I remembered this post.

Funny thinking that there have been hailstones again almost exactly a year on, maybe the NZ weather is predicatble after all - I'm going to jot it down on next years calendar just in case! :D

Cheers

Tia

:laugh been nightmare here, hailstorm every half hour or so here, kids gone mad, bouncing on beds :o

btw for info on jane powertwin, not easy to get one in nz but i was lucky to get it on trademe! phew! love it!!

[Bruckner]

LOL! I saw this post reappear and and to click to see why. So glad I bought their stroller bags!

Emily