Observation: Peter demos strollers

Subjects:

• Peter & Christie (parents)
• Kari (4 yo)
• Ingrid (8 mos)

Baby carrying devices:

• Peg Perego stroller
• Kolkraft Universal Car Seat Station stroller
• Inglesina stroller
• Britax Marathon car seat
• Ergo baby carrier
  
• Umbrella stroller*
  

Devices and their basic usage:

• Peg Perego stroller: heavy - 18 lbs. - only used if both kids are in tow. Has bonnet that closes all the way to totally block out the hot sun or a surprise rainfall - range approx. 10 blocks.
• Kolkraft Universal Car Seat Station stroller: Until they get a new tandem stroller this is the everyday workhorse for Peter and Christie - nice one-handed collapsing feature. See Stroller Hacks posting for a cool car seat hack.
• Inglesina stroller: long range trips with just Kari in tow.
• Ergo baby carrier: Mostly used for subway excursions in the city - Kari can walk these days (though with only an 8 block range) so it's 8 month old Ingrid in the Ergo lately
  

*Peter and Christie don't use their old umbrella stroller anymore. It was too much of a hassle for getting Kari to daycare via the subway. They switched daycare providers so they can walk locally with the Peg Perego.

Peter covers a lot of stroller design and usability issues in this clip: collapsibility, wheel size and durability and the elusive one-handed-door-opening test.




Some findings:

- Collapsing function - requires 2 hands - note that the stroller doesn't balance on end after folding (some strollers do so)

- Wheels - the bigger the better (and the more expensive) - small wheels will inevitably break down and need replacing - replacement isn't always easy or affordable but in the end when posed with the question "If you knew then what you now know about the different strollers on the market and their relative advantages and qualities, would you have taken a different route in acquiring the various baby carrying devices?" his answer was "I would probably have bought the same things I've got. Look, we just sort of stumble through it and even though things like expensive replacement wheels are annoying, you're going to pay for these things one way or another. You just have to choose your stuff based on your budget at the time."

Door test - apparently most strollers with the separate handles don't pass the one-handed-door-opening test


Here's what it looks like to pass the one-handed-door test (this is a different stroller than the one demonstrated above)

This handle bar design solves the problem of one-handed versus two-handed strollers by having both types available to the user. The two-handed bars are made adjustable for pushing comfort and maneuverability, especially through tight spaces. The one-handed center bar can be used for multi-tasking purposes such as opening doors, talking on the phone or drinking coffee. Near the center handle are easy access drink holders. This design also allows for extra bags, purses and backpacks to hang from the inner or outer handles.