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(Review ID: 120)
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20 of
20 people found the following review helpful:
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Plush yet lightweight ride with British style., June 10, 2005
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Reviewer: MeredithsMom from Philadelphia, PA
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MeredithsMom
saw things this way
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Overall Grade
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(9) |
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Pros:
Full-featured, stylish, relatively uncommon stroller.
Cons:
My feet tend to hit the back of the stroller (see review).
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When I was about five months pregnant with my first child, my husband and I decided to look for a stroller--in yet another one of those desperate attempts to make us truly believe that we were about to be parents. For the record: no matter how many baby products you peruse and/or purchase before the arrival of your first little one, you're not really going to believe that a baby is coming until after the blessed event (and even that takes some time to sink in!). So, armed with hopes, dreams, and a 20% off coupon to our favorite baby store, my husband and I ventured out to purchase a Maclaren Techno. They did undisputedly rule the sidewalks of Manhattan where I worked, so who was I to argue with the NYC baby gear fashionistas? These people know sidewalks and style, right? Once at the store, however, I was seized with what was likely my first "mommy moment." I couldn't let my helpless babe ride around in a seemingly bare bones Maclaren. She needed a cushy, plush, full-featured ride. My husband and I were frankly repulsed (NY snobs that we were), however, by strollers that clearly feel that "plastic"+"gigantic" = full-featured. The middle ground between unwieldy plastic travel systems and streamlined Maclarens, we learned that day, is the Silver Cross Camden stroller. While my husband and I were initially drawn to the Ascot pattern's decidedly Burberry-esque (or fauxBerry, as I call it) plaid, the more we looked the more we said "Maclaren who? There's a new British stroller in Manhattan!"What did we like? The Silver Cross Camden steers incredibly well--at least as well as a Maclaren, infinitely better than a Graco Metrolite, but not as well as our other stroller, a Bugaboo Frog. Still, you'll never miss that slight difference in steering, at least not as much as you'd miss the extra money you shelled out for a Frog. Besides its terrific steering ability, the Camden is blessed with a padded seat for my little diva and an ENORMOUS canopy to shield Her Fairness from the harsh rays of the sun. The fold can be one-handed if you're somewhat gifted and have a step to lean the stroller against; store employees seem universally mystified by the fold, incidentally, but I assure you it is a snap. The basket is a good size and, again, the weight is what I consider to be reasonable (and I live in a 2 story walkup). I can manage the folded-up stroller in one hand and my now 10-month-old daughter in the other as I ascend and descend the stairs; I prefer the descent, in case you were wondering, though not as much as I'd prefer an elevator.Cons of the Silver Cross are mere minor quibbles. Both I (5'7") and my husband (5'9") find that our feet tend to hit the back brake bar as we walk. It's not a constant irritation, but it obviously happens enough that I felt it worth mentioning. Interestingly, the specs I've seen online of the 2005 model indicate that the back brake bar will no longer be there. That should solve the problem! There is also no cupholder for the parent; this does not bother me in the least, but it seems to be tantamount to some and hence bears recognition.In April of this year, we gave our Silver Cross perhaps the ultimate test. Not the Iditarod or the Boston Marathon, but seven days at Walt Disney World. It performed beautifully (and we were a little nervous b/c we felt we were spoiled by the Bugaboo). The easy fold and light weight were a boon on resort transportation; we boarded buses and boats daily with relative ease. My daughter seemed comfortable for hours in the stroller, with small breaks of course, and napped easily in two of the three reclines offered. Perhaps best of all, and the definitive reason we took the Silver Cross, was the copious canopy. When it was pulled down entirely, it covered all but a hint of sunlight on my daughter's sunscreen-lathered ankles. As a bonus, it was amazingly easy to find in the mind-boggling stroller parks outside of rides. There were relatively few Silver Crosses there, and when I did see one I like to think that its owner mistook me for a fellow Brit. High praise indeed for my Anglophile husband and me. In the end, I have been thoroughy pleased with the Silver Cross Camden and prospective buyers should purchase with confidence. When remembering that day in the store when I picked it out, I can't help but snicker. When my husband and I got the stroller home, he immediately put it together and strapped a teddy bear in the seat after wisely giving the cat a merciful pardon. Did it make me feel like we were really going to have a baby in four months? Hardly. I would need labor pains, scary diaper blowouts, and the sweetest eyes you've ever seen looking up at me to truly believe.
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(Review ID: 847)
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2 of
2 people found the following review helpful:
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first_baby_for_me
saw things this way
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Overall Grade
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(9) |
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Pros:
Works with Snug-ride car-seat, rugged tires, sturdy
Cons:
No cup holder, sometimes hard to steer one-handed
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Our stroller search was gruelling. We wanted either a travel system or infant seat-compatible stroller that didn't break the bank. We also wanted a stroller that wasn't heavy and loaded down with plastic siding (a la the Gracos). Hubby also insisted on rubber tires. We also wanted something that wasn't the typical navy blue or pale plaid. During our search, we drove an hour from home to an independent baby store that carried a wide variety of brands not available at stores like BRU and hit pay-dirt.We liked the Silver Cross Camden from the start for all the reasons stated above. We decided it was the one for us, but thought we could find it cheaper online. We were half way out the door of the baby shop when my hubby spotted the clearance section!They were closing out the Burberry style plaid and had a floor model in pristine condition. We ended up paying $160 versus the list price of $250.Our daughter is 14 months old and we've used it since she was just a few days old. We bought the conversion bar so we could use it with the Graco Snugride infant seat for an extra $25.00.It's sturdy, but not heavy and folds easily (I can do the one-handed fold, but need the other hand to lock the clip).The lack of adult cupholder is my only complaint. I've tried several clip-on (or velcro-on) cupholders and they just don't work.There are alot of other unique strollers on the market now so I know I'd have an even harder time if I were shopping now. We're thinking about having another baby so we're probably in for another gruelling search if we need to buy a double-stroller!
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