Tiggy, what did you think of the buffalo?

[Sophialeroy1]

Hiya hope you don't mind me asking, as I am thinking about abandoning my previous choices and waiting for the buffalo. Is it worth the wait : )

[Tiggywunkle]

Yes, its absolutely worth the wait. I am sitting on my hands so hard now because I am desperate to buy one!

If I were starting again, it would be top of my perfect pushchair list along with one other pushchair.
I loved the Cameleon - I had two - and I loved my Donkeys - but the Donkey was just too wide mentally for me as a single - I loved the side basket but it still felt perceptionally too big for me.
The Cameleon the second time round (after the Donkey's) didnt have the same sturdyness and lovely smooth push as the Donkey (the Cam is still a lovely pushchair though and I would buy another!)
So the Buffalo for me is a fab combination of the two pushchairs. An off road, sturdy feeling, smart, good quality, large basketed, huge weight capacity, single Bugaboo.

I will admit I still have nightmares over the Donkey fold - it was too big for our house, car and I didnt like converting it from Mono to Duo. So it was really really refreshing to see how simple the Buffalo folded, and how neat it was even with the seat left on.

The seat is a good size. I did measure it and its the same height as the Cam, but wider than the Donkey seat. The carrycot was lovely. I was yearning for a baby to put in it! Its tapered like the Donkey ones to be wider at the shoulders / arms.

I liked that the wheels locked under or forwards for stability. The kick into two wheel mode looked easier than the Donkey - it was done so quickly. To be fair I didn't try it myself though.

I have to say I am not a fan of the Buffalo hood - I think for a young baby the third fold is fab - it creates a very dark, space for a baby to nap or be sheltered. And for that its great. I was a little worried that the hood would be an issue for me and my LO as he doesnt like hoods which come right down including the Donkey and Cam. So I was pleased to see that the third fold is hidden behind a zip at the rear of the hood. So its a 2 fold hood, and then you unzip the final panel to give the full hood. People were saying that Donkey hoods fitted, and I can now see how.

I love the swing away bumper bar....HUGE basket with the pocket in the rear like the Donkey - its a much better basket than the Donkey because its got all round depth.

I am now sat here trying to think if anything can stop the Buffalo being perfect and I am struggling. There are a few things which could be seen as negatives, but there is a reason for every one and also options. Plus I would rather have them than not IYKWIM. For example the bag hooks are quite low down, but I am sure I could alter my bag strap to fit perfectly, and I would much rather have bag clips than not as these are a really thoughtful feature. Great to see on a pushchair TBH so no complaints here!
The handle appears to hit the floor when folding, but Bugaboo have built in raised 'stoppers' on the handlebar to prevent the handlebar itself getting damaged. The Buffalo we saw had some scratches on these stoppers but the handlebar was perfect - and I bet we folded it more than ten times.
The rear wheels are heavy (5kgs combined weight) - they are the same as the Donkey wheels but are foam filled. It made a big difference lifting the Buffalo without the rear wheels on compared to lifting with them on. But again, for me, I know the rear wheels pop off really easily and then slot straight back on, and the positive is that you wont get punctures. Much harder wearing in that respect than the air filled Donkey wheels.

There's just something lovely about a Bugaboo though....they feel lovely, luxurious, smart, quality etc and I am sat here sighing and wondering how many days there are left until September!!! According to the JL website its 11 weeks (you can preorder now!).....it can't come quickly enough for me.....

[Sophialeroy1]

Ooh I'm excited now, was going to get a single that could convert to a double, now thinking of getting the buffalo with a buggy board, decisions decisions. Out of interest what was the othe pushchair at the top of your list (yes I am very nosey

[chocolatemartini]

I also think it looks perfect, so glad to hear it lived up to expectations in real life... I waaaaannnt one....

[Tiggywunkle]

Its the iCandy Peach - I have had three (due to circumstances) and I still own one now. I love it.

[Sophialeroy1]

That was the one I was orginally going for but I'd got really annoyed how the main carrycot was not suitable for use on double mode. I was since informed that the blossom carrycot can be used in single mode, but icandy do not recommend that. I was also quite taken with the new apple 2 pear, but not sure about the lack of foot rest!

[CruCru]

I would love one but just can't justify it. How much is it?

[MaryKatharine]

How does it compare to the uppababy vista? I much preferred the vista to the cam so I'm curious as I just found the cam very flimsy after the vista.

[CruCru]

At John Lewis the Vista is £600. I had a look online and the Buffalo is about £850 I think.

[Tiggywunkle]

I think if you go and see a Donkey and ignore the side basket, you pretty much have a good impression and feel of the Buffalo. Thats it in a nut shell. There are lots of other differences, but if you know how a Donkey feels in principle, then the Buffalo will feel very similar.
We discussed how much more sturdy the Buffalo felt to the Cameleon - the Cameleon has the flip over handle - and all Bugaboo's do have a little movement in the handle.

The Buffalo is £859.

[Tiggywunkle]

Sophia, I have an Apple 2 Pear and the lack of a footrest really hasn't been a big issue. I prefer a footrest, but equally my youngest prefers to put his feet over the sides of any pushchair seat rather than straight down - just like his sister did when she was little! The Apple 2 Pear seat has been shaped to give support under a child's upper legs and my eldest tells me she is comfy.

[Sophialeroy1]

Lol, I may be back to square one again then hopefully ill come to a decision soon, all this choice is giving me a headache.

[Rockchick1984]

How would the buffalo be with a buggy board? Would it drive me mad kicking it all the time or is it not too bad? Going to have a 3 year age gap and would prefer to avoid a double, but not if a buggy board would get in the way too much!

[whitewineforme]

Rockchick, I would be interested to know that too as I'm also planning for a potential 3 year age gap. Was thinking of ordering a Buffalo as my DS is 13 months and then I would also use it for the next baby. Tried the Donkey in John Lewis today as suggested by Tiggy, and couldn't believe how light and lovely it felt to push!

[Tiggywunkle]

I dont think the board would get in the way ie you kicking it. I just dont like the Bugaboo board because its slippy when wet. I would get the seat unit so that the child is sitting down on the board. Rockchick, hopefully with a 3 year gap you wont need a board :)

[Rockchick1984]

Thanks Tiggy - we walk pretty much everywhere (no car) so it's just for if he gets tired or slow when we need to get somewhere on time :)

[perplexedpirate]

I thought this thread was going to be about Loud Parenting.