a stroller expert answers:

Reversible-seat stroller: Oyster 3, Concord Camino (will its canopy be enough?), Mamas&Papas Ocarro?

29 Jul 2020

Hey, Eli.

I need to ask for advice. I am searching for a stroller. I went through many reviews, and I will have to decide only based on that - I don't have the possibility to take my (multiple) children out to the city and go through many shops, trying out different strollers... So I rather ask for your advice.

I need it to have a reversible seat unit - my son does take naps in the stroller, so thaa comfortable sleeping position is also a necessity. He will not even be a year old in the winter, so he will not be walking yet - he has to fit in there comfortably even with a winter footmuff. I need at least some suspension because of the curbs around as well as us being often on playgrounds. It doesn't have to be super compact - I don't drive, and we only load the stroller in the car a few times a week. Which out of the three mentioned strollers is the widest and the longes, seat surface-wise?

I am strongly thinking about the Oyster 3. I am a bit afraid that the shirt-ish canopy on the Concord will annoy me. Or do you think it's not that much of a problem and there's not as much difference?

Thank you for your advice, have a nice day

Eli • 29 Jul 2020

Hello there!

The Concord Camino feels the best here to me, to be honest. You say you don't prioritize the compactness, and apart from that, it's one great-to-push, comfortable stroller that can take A LOT - even everyday terrain use like playground mulch, grass, gravel and such... The seat is very good width-wise, and even if not as long surface in the seat compared to the Mamas&Papas Ocarro, the fact that the Camino has a differently positioned and secured canopy (not on the backrest, as the Ocarro has), there's actually more space for a larger child in the Camino seat. And about the canopy... yeah, it's not the largest, BUT this can always be resolved with a universally fitting sunshade (one for the reversed position is even included with the stroller), and also, in the laying position, the fact that the canopy doesn't move with the seat makes this even kind of smaller canopy pretty much as large (if not larger) than the other two strollers' canopies... The Oyster 3 or the Ocarro canopy are moving with the backrest, so maybe they are longer in the sitting position, but their seats are nonetheless quite open in the fully reclined setting. Also, the Oyster 3 is a little noisier overall, but for the use you're describing, it should anyway be OK...

So, in general, a nice choice of three good strollers, from which (also because of the unnecessity of a compact-for-the-car stroller you claimed) I would probably take the Camino 😉 But if you'll feel differently after thinking about it, the other two (more compact) models are still very nice and relatively spacious, and better to fold in the car. There, I would, probably because of the design, choose the Ocarro - it''s simply beautiful and super-sturdy. The slightly lower weight and the height-adjustable canopy put some points in the Oyster favor, on the other hand. So check your priorities there, if unsure!

For some more inspiration and food for thought, I would also suggest looking at the Gesslein FX4 Classic, which is very nice weight-, coverage-, space for the child and overall comfort-wise very nice and practical model.

Your -very berry- Eli.

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