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What better way to
road test the UPPAbaby Vista stroller then to get the expert opinion
of working mum Bianca Luykx.
 "Buggies are one of the most
important pieces of a parents' kit. It may sound dramatic - and before I became
a parent I would have definitely thought so - but a good buggy has the
potential to make or break your day. Forget about the child (joke), 'the fold'
and 'the storage' are the buggy-deal-breakers. I have struggled so often
with buggies that just weren't built to fold. I often imagine passerbys
watching on with sympathy as I ram, roar and boot shove. I have tried to
fold fast, I have tried to fold slow, I have tried to fold to the chorus cries
of my newborn and my three-year-old. But... there is light at the end of
the buggy tunnel - the Uppababy is not perfect, but of all the buggies I have
had, and I'm on five now, the Uppababy has the most perfect fold of all - now
doesn't that sound sexy!!
It may come as a shock but the
Uppababy folds flat, yes, flat! It's also super light and can be folded with
one hand - that's what the ad says - and I tried it and I could do it first
time, and I'm quite awkward and clearly no fold expert.
As regards storage, there'll be no
latte drinking while pushing if you have no under-buggy storage. Hanging
shopping bags off handles - not a good idea. Hanging shopping bags off arms -
even worse. You need a big deep basket and the Uppababy's is huge. You could
feel a small family from the Uppababy basket.
Compared to the McClaren's, this
pushes and steers like a dream. Perhaps it's the air-filled tyres or the
super-duper suspension but it's fierce bouncy. And steerage involves little
heaving and ho-ing. I even pushed with one finger.
Now to the child (it's not all about
the parents, remember) the bassinet for the little one's under six months is
cozy as anything. You wouldn't mind a kip in it yourself. The sheet on the
bassinet mattress and the outside covers all zip off easily allowing you to
wash away life's grime. The seat for the over six-monthers is padded too, and
definitely comfier than all buggies I have had before. Another easy-handling
feature is what they call, the 4-position recline. Basically it's an easily
positioned lever, at the top of the buggy, near the hood, which allows you to
position your baby in any of the four chosen positions, flat to upright. Most
buggy's have two position, some three, but I have never before come across four
so, this is fancy!! It also moves smoothly which is handy if you've been trying
to get your child to sleep for like, forever, and are loath to wake he/she up
with jerky movements. The Uppababy Vista also has a pop-out SPF 50 canopy that
will keep the harmful sunrays away from baby's face.
 Some other need-to-know's, yes, it
comes with the attachments for the Maxi-Cosi car seat and has the essential
rain covers. Also available is the buggy board called a PiggyBack that you can
purchase separately. Good for the over 3's who want to run around a bit.
However the price.... it is hefty,
but if you add up the cost of all my four buggies, the Uppababy comes in at a
quarter of the price. And it should last longer than the average because it's
made that bit hardier and better by a husband and wife team whose previous
projects were Reebok and Ford. And oh, I nearly forgot, this is the buggy the
stars (Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew McConaughey) are choosing to free-wheel
with these days, not that this would encourage you to buy it over any other
brand but it is styling or band on trend or whatever the word is these days.
Before I sign off I should inform
you that, no, I do not work as an advertiser for the brand. I am a humble
parent, a working mum, who has a love/hate relationship with four-wheelers. I
did like this buggy because it's light, folds well and is easy to put together
and to push - simple as that. At the end of the day though it is just a buggy,
it doesn’t self-wheel, has no remote control and won't put the baby to sleep!
Happy wheeling."
Bianca
Watch the video of Bianca's review
on Xpóse.
TEST
RESULTS Rate from 1-5 (5 is best)
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Performance
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Handling
quality
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5
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Performance
over Rough terrain
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4
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Ease
of car seat attachment
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3
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Convenience
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General
ease of use
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5
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Comfort
to push
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5
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Using
the storage basket
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|
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Ease
of reclining the backrest
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4
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Ease
of folding and unfolding
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5
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Assembly
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4
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Cleaning
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5
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Storage
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5
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Using on public transport
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Using
on a bus
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5
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Using
on an escalator
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5
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Overall
use on public transport
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5
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The UPPAbaby vista travel system is
available to purchase in six colours. Visit
our webshop to read more on the stroller specifications and to find your local stockist.
RRP for the entire travel system is €709.
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