I was a nanny before having my own DC and have used every single stroller under the sun.

When we picked ours we took in consideration all the "test driving" I've done plus our life style.

We lived in the city but owned a car and drove a lot to friends' houses and travel.

We ended up with the Uppababy Vista for the first 2 years and never needed another stroller.

It did beautiful during the newborn stage - we never used the carseat adapter, I'm not a fan of babies in carseats when they're not in the car. We always used the bassinet. It was AWESOME! It even worked as a travel bed for the first 6 months so we never had to use the pack 'n play.

The basket is HUGE! We did all our grocery shopping walking and never needed anything else to carry our stuff. When traveling the basket was very handy, all our carry on fitted there so we didn't need to worry about luggage and the stroller.

It folds relatively easy (gotta practice a little) but the stroller fits anywhere, including the XRay machine in the airport

We did snow, sand, pebbles, grass, bumpy sidewalks... I called it my little jeep.

DH is tall and I'm short. We both had problems when trying other strollers with kicking the axle in the back... him because of his long lets, me because my short arms. The Vista was perfect for both of us!

Obviously we got nasty looks at the metro but I could not care less. It fits perfectly where strollers are supposed to go - the elevator and the spot for wheelchairs. I always made sure I was at the very end or very beginning of the platform so we never disturbed anybody.

We have a Graco Metro and nearly got the Phil and Ted but the City Mini seems to be the standard among my friends right now...a Graco is considering NOT cool so don't expect to be able to get any admiring looks from Georgetown mommies with one (for that, get the Bugaboo), but it reclined, fit the car seat, had a big basket for grocery runs, a cup holder, stands by itself, folds with one hand...and is still going strong 5 years later.
The Snap N' Go was great until we stopped using the baby carseat, you can get them used.
Look up the old thread about judging people by their stroller, it was hilarious (and sad.)
I just couldn't see dropping 8 hundred on a stroller.

FWIW, we do drive (though not everywhere---walking distance to stores, restaurants, metro. etc.) and we skipped the Snap 'n' Go. No regrets. We did just get a used umbrella with a car seat adapter for a plane trip at six months to avoid carrying the seat through the airport, but the SnG wouldn't have served that purpose since we need a stroller when we get there. So the umbrella with adapter is perfect.

Just an alternate view on SnG!

Anonymous wrote:The City Mini is fantastic. We're using it now with the carseat adapter, and it handles beautifully (much better than the standard Snap n Go), and it folds easily (I can collapse it and swing it into the trunk with one hand). Soon we'll be removing the carseat bar and using as a regular umbrella stroller. Can't wait.

Not sure about the height issue, though. DH and I are much shorter than you all. GL.

City Mini is AWESOME

DH is 6'6" and I am 5'3" and we both like the City Mini. We had a Maclaren Easy Traveller (their version of a Snap n Go) and liked that as well, though I am a mechanical doofus and sometimes had trouble closing it. We didn't get the City Mini until he was almost 6 months.

Not to belittle your concerns, because I had the sames ones, but I wish I could take back some of the time I spent researching a stroller. Now, at 17 months, DS won't sit in any stroller -- he has to walk everywhere by himself -- so the Mini is mostly gathering dust.

If you plan to use your carseat bucket to transport your baby (i.e. you drive...at all) then I agree with the poster re:snap and go. It is sooooooooooooo convenient and cheap. Used it exclusively for several months. Then, pick the stroller you want later. I really do recommend waiting until you have a better idea of the things you are going to need the stroller for.

We had a snap n go. Then we bought an all terrain stroller that we could use on trails around our house and other outdoorsy places. Now that we're out of the bucket, we need an umbrella stroller for quick trips to the mall, shopping, travel, etc.....but the ones that don't have adapters are much cheaper/lighter and really all you need if you have a second heavy duty stroller.

Anyway, buying all three actually is cheaper than buying "one stroller to rule them all".