Fatherhood Has Its Rewards, Like That $1,700 Stroller

[Syt]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/fashion/mens-style/the-baby-stroller-i-always-dreamed-of.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur


Sorry, Malthus, 1,000 buckaroos are not gonna cut it anymore.

Fatherhood Has Its Rewards, Like That $1,700 Stroller

Guys, it turns out, like to be behind the wheel, whether it is a motorcycle or car. Or pram.

Way before I was ready to be a dad, I obsessed over strollers the same way I obsessed about 1970s-era cafe racer motorbikes: I knew about form factors, wheel widths, safety features and even aftermarket add-ons.

The one difference is that baby strollers are not something you brag about at a bar with your buddies. My obsession was something that only my wife knew about, and appropriately made fun of me for.

Then, a few weeks ago, we were at brunch with several couples (some with babies) and the subject of strollers came up. At first, I kept quiet, but the men at the table began voicing very strong and considered opinions about their favorites.

"I'm totally into the Uppababy Vista," one dad in his 40s said matter-of-factly, noting that the one he owned cost $750. Another man said he loved the Baby Jogger City Mini because it is light, agile with little wheels and costs around $400. He added that his "dream" stroller was the Stokke Xplory, which can cost more than $1,700, if you include the carry-cot.

I chimed in proudly: The best stroller in the world, I said, is the Bugaboo, and this was after a decade of research, long before I even wanted a baby.

The Bugaboo, I noted, costs $1,100 (though you can find deals online for $900) and has won dozens of accolades, including the Red Dot Design Award, and profiles in Time magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek. It's also great for off-terrain exploring and hiking, not that I'll be doing either of that with our baby.

Our affection for strollers is so great that some of the men had secretly test-driven baby strollers in their spare time, wheeling an empty pushchair around to check its brakes, wheel traction and ease of use. We are not alone, judging from the photos on stroller manufacturers' websites, which often feature men pushing their babies through parks and jogging paths.

After that brunch, I had a huge grin across my face, as my wife and I walked back to our car. "See, I'm not the only one," I said. "Lots of men love strollers."

[Syt]

The Stokke Xplory:

[jimmy olsen]

I thought his stroller cost $2000?

[Pedrito]

The Stokke stroller is, as a matter of fact, an extraordinary stroller; its driveability is excellent, manoeuvers are very simple and hassle-free, and it's very pliable. it's better than any other stroller I've tried, and my wife (and the children) loved it

Bugaboos, OTOH, although not as good as the Stokke, can be favoured by those who have problems of space, because they're smaller and lighter than the Xplory. Slight downside, though, it sometimes can look like a pushchair, while the Stokke's peculiar design puts it in a category on its own.

Both excellent strollers, IMO.

L.

[derspiess]

My wife wanted a Stokke stroller and I almost let her talk me into it.

[Legbiter]

For rugged off-road and all-weather capability you can't beat a Swedish Emmaljunga stroller.

[Barrister]

We bought whatever was cheap at Walmart.  And it's lasted through three kids.

[Admiral Yi]

What, if anything, do you splurge on Beeb?

[frunk]

We bought whatever was cheap at Walmart.  And it's lasted through three kids.

We didn't quite go cheapest, but got a reasonably light one that comboed with a carseat from Target.  It's been great.  I don't think it cost more than ~$150.

[Valmy]

Somebody gave me one so I spent nothing. :mono:

[derspiess]

For rugged off-road and all-weather capability you can't beat a Swedish Emmaljunga stroller.

In retrospect I would have liked to have a stroller that would do well on hiking trails.

[Barrister]

What, if anything, do you splurge on Beeb?

Childcare costs and trying to pay down debt.   But only 11 years left on the mortgage...

I just don't see the point in paying an extravagant amount for a baby stroller.  I mean ours is really only used to trips to shopping malls or the local play park, where everything is nicely paved.  The one time we did something exotic and needed strollers (going to Brazil) we found it was easiest just to buy two $10 umbrella strollers (again from Walmart) to take with us.

[Norgy]

I wasn't surprised when I found that the Stokke strollers are made in Norway. And that they are crazy expensive. The more likely scenario is that they are not actually made here, but rather in a factory in Indonesia where the employ children and then someone earning 100 000 Euros a year slaps a sticker on it.

A local company here makes strollers for elderly people. They are prize-winningly great, apparently. And expensive like they had a gilded frame.

[Josephus]

I thought his stroller cost $2000?

Canadian

[Eddie Teach]

After that brunch, I had a huge grin across my face, as my wife and I walked back to our car. "See, I'm not the only one," I said. "Lots of men love strollers."

[/quote]

Apparently lots of men love My Little Pony as well.