Review on UPPAbaby Vista 2011 Baby Stroller

2010 UppaBaby Vista Baby Stroller

My wife and I love the 2010 UppaBaby Vista stroller. Yes, it’s pricey, but we think it’s worth the cost. We just ordered the Denny Red Stroller from Baby Fashion and Bedding and we couldn’t be happier.

Here are the features we liked about the UppaBaby Vista:

· Steering – The Vista handles like a dream – it’s not as frictionless as a Bugaboo Chameleon, but it holds its own. The Vista is not a compact stroller, so the easy steering makes it a must if you want to navigate through grocery store aisles or airports.
· Bassinet Included - this is a great feature to have as baby can nap or even sleep in the bassinet – you won’t have to buy a separate bassinet for the bedroom.
· Wide rear wheel spacing and arched rear axle – For taller parents, this feature is crucial – If you’re 6’2” or taller, you will constantly be kicking the back of most strollers. The Vista solves this problem by having the rear bar arch upwards to give you more space for your step.
· Telescoping Handles – again, a great feature for tall parents, and if one parent is taller than the other, it’s easy to switch back and forth.
· Eco-friendly – My wife and I aren’t exactly chemical free, but when it comes to baby, exposure to even low levels of chemicals can be dangerous due to their small size (We fretted for weeks about which crib mattress to order before finally settling on an organic Naturepedic mattress). The Vista bassinet is lined with organic soybean and cotton
· Huge Basket – The Vista basket is enormous – more than big enough to hold a diaper bag, a purse, and maybe a medium-sized microwave. You don’t have to fill it up, but its comforting to know that you could store most of your personal possessions in there.
· Non-Deflating Wheels – The Vista’s foam and rubber wheels will never go flat. Ever. This is not to say that they won’t get worn down, but you should see that type of wear and tear coming from a long way off.
· Design – We loved the Vista’s slick design, aluminum frame, and bright colors (we went with “Denny” red). It’s also convenient that the Vista can fold with the stroller attached – no need to disassemble before stowing in the trunk. The red/green “successful attachment” indicators are also incredibly convenient, as the last thing you want is for your stroller to disassemble mid-walk.
· Room to Grow – If you purchase the Rumble Seat and the PiggyBack stand, you can fit three kids on the Vista. This was crucial in our decision to spend this much money on a stroller - you won’t have to buy a new stroller every few years to accommodate your growing family.

Alas, every rose also has thorns, and there were a few things about the Vista that were not ideal. These features, or lack thereof, didn’t stop us from buying the Vista, but here are a couple of things you should take into consideration before purchasing a Vista:

· Accessories – Besides the bassinet, there really aren’t any included accessories. A cup holder will set you back a ridiculous $20-25 dollars. The as of yet unreleased snack tray will likely be as much or more. The Vista does not come with a bassinet rain cover ($20) or travel bag ($80+). If you plan, as presumably most do, to attach an infant car seat to the Vista, an adapter for Graco, MaxiCosi, Chicco or Peg Perego will set you back an additional $30-40. These costs add up quickly, so be sure to add them to the cost of the stroller when calculating your total expenditure. With so much else to buy for baby, you may be better spending all that money elsewhere (like on a 529 college fund ;-)
· Weight – Although the Vista, made of Aluminum, isn’t the heaviest stroller out there, and handles well for its size, it’s not exactly lightweight. Petite mothers may struggle getting the Vista in and out of the car trunk or picking it up to get on a bus or train, etc.
· The Karate Fold – To fold the Vista for storage, you have to press a button and jam the handlebar into the stroller. It’s not a tremendously difficult physical task, but for exhausted, sleep deprived parents, who have a lot of other things demanding their time and energy, folding
the stroller up can be an unnecessary exhaustion.
So there you have it - Our thoughts on the 2010 UppaBaby Vista stroller. We love our Vista and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but every family situation is unique and you should try a variety of products before deciding which is right for you and your baby. Big thanks to Jackie at Baby Fashion and Bedding for helping us through the chore of choosing and buying a stroller. Good luck!
Nancy and Ryan