Taken For A Ride
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Most celebrities choose top-end strollers, but wise parents opt for cheaper, more functional prams. Gwyneth Paltrow went for the versatility of the Bugaboo Cameleon, but Russell Crowe decided the $2000 Stokke Xplory would be his runabout.
They might sound like new cars but, while some cost as much as a second-hand Capri, they are just two of the new breed of designer baby strollers. But results from consumer tests released in Australia and the UK suggest that spending your child’s inheritence on their pram won’t guarantee a great product. What’s more, neither Crow’s nor Paltrow’s choices made the Australian consumers Association list of top performers released last year.
It’s nothing to pay upwards of $1000 now for a top-of-the-line pram. It’s like buying a BMW or a Rolls-Royce, because you’re not just buying the car, but the badge as well. But are buyers of more expensive prams being taken for a ride?
Russell Crow’s Xplory was placed last among 21 prams tested, achieving a satisfactory rating of just 59 per cent. The Bugaboo was only slightly better, with a rating of 69 per cent. The Xplory lost marks for being awkward to fold down and for taking up too much space when folded, as was the Bugaboo. Top spot in the survey went to the $295 Maclaren Techno XLR which had a satisfactory rating of 77 per cent. A $160 Mamas & papas Mamu Mul stroller scored 76 per cent.
The survey showed that while some parents were drawn to a brand, it is weight and ease of use that dictates what most parents go for. Generally women prefer the lighter models as they are the ones pulling them in and out of cars all day. They also like the basket underneath to be nice and big and accessible.
Celebrity stroller choices:
Jennifer Lopez - Silver Cross Balmoral
Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) - Maclaren Quest Sport
Charlotte Church - Mamas and Papas Nipi
Tim Burton - Maclaren Lulu Guinness
Sheryl Crow - Chico Cortina
Peter Andre - Silver Cross Dazzle
Michael and Lindy Klim - Silver Cross Balmoral
Heidi Klum - Bugaboo Frog
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