ICandy Peach Blossom Twin or Bugaboo Donkey Twin?

[KnackeredCow]

So we went in to John Lewis today. I am only 15 weeks pregnant with twins, but because I had my heart set on an iCandy Peach Blossom Twin 2 I'd read that orders need to be placed very early if you want to have any hope of getting one. We've put in a preliminary order - no deposit required and JL said I can change my mind if I want to, or cancel with no charge if the worst happens. I would never have normally ordered this soon BUT given the iCandy back order, thought it was sensible.

However, DH has fallen in love with the Bugaboo Donkey. He thinks it's better for the toddler years and we'll get better longevity out of it than the iCandy.

We were allowed to "test drive" both round the store. The iCandy is heavier, but both were easy to push and I did like both. However, I found the iCandy much easier to manoeuvre especially in a shop!

DH thinks the donkey will be better generally when we're "off road" with the dog and liked the parent and outward facing options, and the fact that both twins will be able to see what's going on. I, on the other hand, am worried about coping when I'm out and about on mat leave, on my own and going into town, meeting up with friends etc. I think I'm going to struggle with the donkey - especially when nipping out somewhere in the car and using the car seats.

In an ideal world we'd have both, but we just can't afford it. This will be a gift from my parents and DH's parents. We want to get it right so what should we do?

We live in a house with a wide front door (85cm clearance) and a good sized hallway so space at home isn't limited. In terms of boot space, I have an Audi A3 so it's reasonable.

Any advice? TIA

[Ihateparties]

I have no experience of twins so in that sense no particular help but he's definitely right the donkey will be better "off road" although I'm not sure how much off roading I would ask it to do. I have had a PB1 and found it quite a hard ride, it would get stuck quite often off pavement I think. What about a peach for everyday, your use etc. Then something like an out n about nipper for the more off road stuff? Dunno what to say about parent facing, it's a personal choice. I've only had doubles and tandems for siblings, it has never been worth the other compromises (mainly width and access to things like you say) to have them facing me.

Have you seen or would you be able to see anywhere local to you the Brevi Ovo Twin? I haven't seen one IRL but it looks really interesting and has lots of seating options. The stats page here suggests that where is it long in two carrycot mode it is a perfectly reasonable length in two seat mode. I would love to see and push one of these IRL just to get the lay of the land. Would mainly like to know whether it is like the peach in that it remains easy to push with older kids in or whether it is like the city select and gets difficult/impossible as children get heavier.

[Tiggywunkle]

I have had both the Peach Blossom 2 and the Buagboo Donkey at the same time. Both did different jobs for me...and its amazing how many mums of two end up with a car pushchair, and a walking pushchair.

I loved the Donkey for walking with. I loved having the children parent facing - more important as they got older because when they were younger both slept everytime I left the house. It was lovely off road and on the beach. But converting it was a complete pain to do.....and the fold is really large - better with the new chassis that is about to come out but you need to remove the rear wheels to benefit which is another step in what is something like errrm....15 steps to get two children into the Donkey - Believe me I hated undoing and doing up all the clips, undoing and doing up the handlebar (with no indicator of whether it was level or not). It once took two of us in the cold to pull the chassis apart. I took the Donkey out shopping once. I couldn't get it down the side of the car, so it was left in the middle of the road part of a very busy car park in the rain. I was trying to strap the children in with cars inches away from me. The conversion was horrible and it was just an awful experience. If I had a car with a huge boot where the Donkey could be all ready to go, then I suspect the experience would be different. Dont get me wrong - the Donkey did fit in my boot folded with both seats on, but I also had changing bags, potty, coats etc in the boot and I had to take everything out to get it in.

Going back to the Peach Blossom 2 was a complete breath of fresh air. Its so easy on your own to clunk the pieces into place. Its flick open, 2 adaptors in, 2 seats in. No clips to undo, no tugging to do, no clips to force back into place, then the seats to get right, and the handlebar to lift up etc. Plus no hoods that fall off everytime you put it together. The hoods lift up much easier - although are noisy. I like the pretty colours and customisability of the Donkey - and the looks are a huge draw for me. But for ease of use, whizzing around shops, there was nowhere I couldn't go with the PB2....but yet with the Donkey I had to check before going through any doorway that both children had their hands and feet inside the frame - hard to do if they are forward facing and you just get one child's hands in when the other sticks theirs back out again!!

I am all for having two pushchairs - but there are plenty of cheaper good side by side options just to go off road with. Even now the thought of converting the Donkey makes me start to panic slightly. The car seats also make the Donkey much wider than a standard door frame.

I would buy the Peach Blossom, and save up for a cheap off roader - like an air buggy Mimi or Nipper (under £100).

[KnackeredCow]

Thanks parties.

Yep - the assistant suggested perhaps a PB2 and then a cheaper side-by-side for when they're older. That would definitely give DH the option he wants and me the width I want!

Like you, I am more concerned with the compromise of doorways etc because it will be me using the pushchair most of the time - DH conveniently forgets this. Actually when we were trying them out a lady who was walking past said she'd go for a tandem over a double for twins as she'd done both and had twins. It's difficult - if all doorways were wide and all shops spacious then the donkey would be lovely. I just have this horrible thought that I'll end up in tears with it through frustration! My use will definitely be city based!

Will have a look to see if there's any local stockists of the alternative you suggested. Sounds interesting - thanks for the tip.

[KnackeredCow]

Thanks Tiggy. I am now pretty convinced that my initial gut feel was right and it does sound like PB2 is going to be better for me - especially when I'm on my own. I feel overwhelmed enough by the thought of having two babies let alone having to struggle with a push chair!

Think DH is just going to have to accept that we'll need two - it definitely seems it's not possible to get one pushchair that does everything.

[doblet]

Not much to add except that the i candy is rubbish off road

[hev154]

Tiggywunkle what a great post, I'm glad you have said what you have about the icandy, if it works that well in double mode it must be great in single! I have just purchased a peach, with the idea of converting it to a double if we have a second child. I cannot wait to use it! I mentioned in another post, quite a few of my friends have icandys and they love them, I just wanted to add my friend also speaks highly of her icandy peach twin (hence why I know about icandy and went for one :)) and she lives near woods and says its very good for walking through the Forrest, just have to remember to wash the wheels on very muddy walks :)

[Tiggywunkle]

The Peach is one of my all time favourite single pushchairs.
Just to add that since the OP was written, I have had a Babystyle Oyster Max on test and I have to say it definitely gives the Peach Blossom a run for its money - in fact the Max is fab value for money and is really excellent. I would be hard pushed to choose between the Oyster Max and the Peach Blossom 2 on functionality. I think the Oyster Max has greater longevity, and is lighter to push and carry, but the Peach has the basket space which is an essential for me, and is better as a stand alone single. But there really isn't much in it - apart from the price tag :)

[apachepony]

Tiggy, does it not annoy you that that the icandy peach single is so much heavier than the other top singles? I've just about reconciled myself to the price, to mixing up old and new colours if necessary as whoever designed new colours felt mothers of boys should be happy with monochrome - the weight is just the final thing before I at last buy this after weeks of pushchair obsession. Just really worried that if I buy the peach, much as I love it, the weight will mean I become one of those who swap the "heavy monstrosity" for a MacLaren after 6 months. And I might never have the second baby!

[StateofConfusion]

If the peach is anything as good as the pear go for it. My pear was fantastic, yes a bit weighty getting it in the car but it was a revelation for me with a close age gap I felt like I still had my freedom, and it managed walks in the woods and the beach I loved that pram! I'd have another icandy in a heartbeat if I needed a tandem.

[Tiggywunkle]

No its never bothered me at all that the Peach was heavier. It was easy to fling over my shoulder to carry and the sturdy feeling was one of the best things about the Peach for me. Honestly, the advantages in tandem mode outweigh the weight as a single.

The Peach Blossom 2 is way way better than the Pear :) The seats are taller, the turning circle is much smaller, its lighter to push, easier to set up, the seats are easier to recline, there is useable basket space in tandem mode, its smaller and neater folded and more!

[ZombieTribble]

I would go with the icandy for the cat and a nipper for in the house. My friend did this and loves them both!

Although with her toddlers she uses the nipper more nowadays.

[nannykatherine]

When the icandy pb2 has to be used with the second stage seats .. Ie NOT the carrycots can one of them face you ? I saw someone in the park with it in this position . Lower seat facing forward and top seat facing me .... Would prefer this . As having both facing forward means cannot interact with the twins at all . I don't want to try in case it breaks .. Help .

[Ihateparties]

I spoke to iCandy about this, the answer was a resounding no, it is not intended to be used like this AT all :-(

[nannykatherine]

Why do they say no ?

[Ihateparties]

I don't know, you'd have to ask them that.

[Tiggywunkle]

I asked a friend this the other day and she says you are forcing the seats into the socket (I think its the shape of the pin) and she knows of someone who split one - and it cost them a whole new pushchair as iCandy wont replace the parts / chassis if you try somethng like this.