StrollerMama Blog

I'coo Targo in Starry Night

Well, we thought it was gone for good but got a call from our friends at Grand Touring Baby that there was one last shipment of 2010 I’coo Targos left before the 2011 models arrive and we’ll be getting some.  The even better news is that since they are clearing space for the 2011 model, the 2010 I’coo Targo which is normally $599, will be on sale for $449. 

It’s a great deal for a terrific full service stroller.  The I’coo Targo comes complete with the chassis, seat frame that can be configured as a bassinet or reversible seat, rain cover and universal infant seat adapter bar.  The Targo has a great, smooth push and a classy, polished, European style (which is no surprise since I’coo strollers are all over Europe!) The I’coo Targo was also the much anticipated follow up to the ever popular Rock Star Baby Stroller.

I'coo Targo in Walt Disney World

I used the I’coo Targo myself on one of our family trips to Walt Disney World and it was a pleasure!  My then-two and a half year old daughter was comfortable and it was easy to push and easy to fold with the seat on to bring onto the bus.  I had the now-discontinued Disney version, but the Starry Night and Mocha patterns are the same stroller, just different fabrics. 

If you are looking for a high quality, full-service, fully loaded stroller under $450, this is your chance.  We are taking preorders for the last shipment now and we will have Starry Night and Mocha available.  They are expected to ship at the end of September.  They won’t be around for long!

Baby Jogger City Mini Double in Crimson

Many of you know that one of our favorite double strollers – the Baby Jogger City Mini Double - has been backordered forever due to delays in the factory production.  We had plenty on order and retailers were shocked to learn that their orders for the strollers would be delayed by months.  I remember my jaw hitting the ground in July when it said strollers would be arriving in September, October and November!  We actually had people calling to ask us if it was a mistake on our website!  Well, the good news is that some Baby Jogger City Minis are starting to trickle in.  We didn’t think we would have any double minis until late September but we got a surprise shipment of Black and Crimson doubles today!  So, if you’ve been trying to find one, we have a few left. Just thought we would give everyone the heads up!

Boulevard 70 CS in Waverly, Boulevard 70 in Onyx and Roundabout 55 in Davenport

As many of you already know, Britax has been the leader in the industry for car seat safety and innovation for years and years.  Personally, I have been a huge fan of Britax as a mom myself long before StrollerMama was even a glimmer of a thought somewhere in the back of my mind!  I bought my first Britax car seat almost nine years ago and I haven’t used anything ever since.  Even when I opened StrollerMama five years ago, it took some time to become an authorized Britax dealer and during that process I sent many of my customers to other sources to get Britax seats.

StrollerMama has been a proud seller of Britax car seats for sometime now so I was very excited to receive our first shipment of the new, redesigned Britax seats today.  This is the first major redesign by Britax in a long time.  Big changes include higher weight limits, a new safe cell technology and a major difference in how the seat sits in the car due to a lower center of gravity on the seats.  It allows the children to sit “lower” in the seat which is good for cars with low ceilings (like my mom’s) where some of the Britax seats sat up too high.  The new fashions, of course, are wonderful!  Britax never disappoints with the styles and comfort of their fabrics.  This afternoon we unpacked the Boulevard 70 CS in Waverly, the Boulevard 70 in Onyx and the Roundabout 55 in Davenport and they all looked great.  We think you will love the new Britax seats!

Phil & Teds Explorer Stroller with doubles kit and infant seat

Imagine my surprise when I heard a “knock knock” on our warehouse door and in came two pallets of Phil & Teds Explorer strollers and all of the accessories!  We were crossing our fingers for a late August/early September delivery date and here they were right in front of my eyes!

After we unloaded everything, we took a Black/Apple Explorer and Explorer doubles kit out to the showroom to set it up and test it out.  I felt like I knew what to expect about the changes as I learned much about the new Explorer when I put up the web pages but it was a pure joy to actually see it in person.

We had some families already in the store looking at the Baby Jogger City Select so they were very interested to see how the Explorer would compare (as was I!)  To start, my overall first impression is that the Explorer is terrific.  The folks at Phil & Teds really did put their money where their mouths were and took all of the “flaws” of the Sport Buggy and fixed them for the Explorer.  The most exciting change was the ability to use an infant seat in the front with the adapter bar while still being able to have a rider in the doubles kit in the back.  I wasn’t sure I would believe it until I saw it but we put the Graco adapter bar on today, snapped in a Graco infant seat up top and snapped the doubles kit on the back and it looked great!  The space in the back is a little crammed (at least when compared with the space on the Baby Jogger City Select) but keep in mind that the weight limit back there is only 33 lbs. anyway so it won’t hold a huge child to start.  We had one mom in the store today that was intrigued with the new Explorer and thought it would be the perfect solution for her travel plans to Disney and on cruises with her 2.5 year old and 4 month old.  She wanted the convenience of being able to snap the infant seat in the stroller which wasn’t an option on the Sport Buggy.

Other features that I loved were the little pockets on the sides of the canopy that could easily hold an iPhone or a Blackberry.  The seat cushions were soft and easily removable to clean.  The new push footbrake is a huge improvement over the wire Sport Buggy brake that was a challenge to use with flip flops!  The new fold mechanism is under the seat and was easy to do – a slide and push motion and the stroller folded right in half and locked shut. 

Other nice improvements are the plastic footwell and an added mupflap on the front tire.  The ventilation on the back of the main seat was impressive.  Of course, another big news improvement is the addition of a sun canopy on the doubles kit.  It is not a huge canopy and it appears that the slight recline on the doubles kit has disappeared but the doubles kit has a nice seat cushion and some sun protection is certainly better than none!

I wasn’t sure if the Explorer would live up to what it said it was on paper but I can honestly say we really loved it!  It has been a long time since Phil & Teds has brought any excitement or innovation to the table and the Explorer certainly brings both.  It will definitely be on the radar of parents looking for an inline solution for two kids that includes being able to use an infant seat.  I think the Phil & Teds Explorer is a great choice for parents.  And we have everything in stock (except the All Apple which is on backorder for all retailers until October).  Be the first to get yours today from StrollerMama!

New Phil & Teds Explorer

Say goodbye to the beloved Phil & Teds Sport Buggy because the all new Phil & Teds Explorer will be arriving soon.  The all new Explorer takes all of the great features of the Sport Buggy and adds to it.  New features include a one-hand fast fold, a large follow-the-sun canopy, a sunshade for the doubles kit, a new Seat Performance System with more padding, contoured shape and a one-hand recline, interchangeable seat pads, a plastic footwell and an easy-to-use pedal brake. 

The biggest change, in my opinion, is ability to now use the doubles kit in the back and an infant seat with the adapter in the front.  This could never be done on a Phil & Teds stroller in the past.  The Explorer will work with the doubles kit and the travel system.  Carefully designed in accordance with relevant market safety standards with maximum stability, the Explorer can take a toddler in the back and a newborn in a Chicco, Maxi Cosi, Peg or Graco infant seat in the front.  Finally- a feature that parents have been asking for!

Phil & Teds Explorer with doubles kit and travel system adapter bar with infant seat

The Explorer will be available in Black with Black liners, Black with Red liners, Black with Apple liners or Black with Navy liners or in All Apple.  Regarding accessories, most of the older Sport Buggy accessories will still be compatible with the Explorer. The exceptions are the Sport Buggy sun and storm covers which will not work with the Explorer and vice versa.  Also, the new Explorer cup holder will not work with the Sport Buggy (but the Universal Bottle holder will work with both).  Doubles kits from the Explorer will also work with the Sport Buggy and the other way around.

We are really excited about the new Explorer which should be shipping in a few weeks.  They will be up for preorder by Friday so keep an eye on the website for more information!