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Meet Mutsy: The New Luxury Stroller From The Netherlands
(Be Afraid, Bugaboo, Be Very Afraid)
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When we first started testing luxury strollers, we were prepared to push through the hype and even a little biased against them. We're Target moms, after all, and proud of it.
And while it was lust at first sight (the delicious solid colored fabrics against the cool gray aluminum is such a relief from the 6000 muted plaid variations of other strollers), it was true love at first push. A luxury stroller system surpasses every stroller we've ever laid hands on in terms of mobility, maneuverability and just plain modern marvelousness. It responds with the slightest touch. Drives as if on clouds. And offers flexibility the likes of which we've never seen.
Only having viewed them (jealously) from afar, we were surprised to learn that luxury stroller systems are more than just a designer stroller. They are, in fact, full systems, good for birth through preschool, for use in the car, in the park, and even in the house. And when you break out the costs of all those separate products, you can actually even end up saving money (see our Cost Analysis of a Bugaboo).
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While the Bugaboo has ruled the market for the last several years, there are some new players in town. One of our favorites is from Mutsy (pronounced 'moot'-sy), a Netherlands-based company that has been producing high quality strollers since 1935.
Mutsy brought their dazzling, best-selling European line across the pond this spring, with the debut of three new strollers: the Urban Rider, 4Rider and the Spider.
The Urban Rider and 4Rider are true stroller systems, featuring a modern, lightweight chassis and interchangeable seats. Both offer divine pram-style beds that easily click off to become inside sleeping cots. They also come with full-size stroller seats and universal infant car seat carrier attachments. Our favorite accessory though, is the additional "Funseat," a bright orange seat with a handle bar that lets older toddlers "steer."
The Spider is Mutsy's revolutionary lightweight/umbrella stroller featuring a 3-wheeled design, reclining seat, canopy, large basket, and previously unheard of in this category, adjustable handle.
The first thing that strikes you about a Mutsy is the gorgeous design. Maybe we've become conditioned to ignore the plethora of Bugaboos hogging the sidewalk, but the Musty makes you sit up and take notice. Its sleek lines and cool fabrics for some reason resonate even more strongly with our husbands. Never have we brought a stroller home that our husbands couldn't stop raving about. They christened it a "boy stroller," but don't let that put you off - it's a modern masterpiece of any mom. (But the testosterone-friendliness does help the price go down a little easier with most men we know. Far easier than a fleecy Bugaboo…)
Aside from looks though, Mutsy strollers have it in the bag when it comes to maneuverability. We thought the Bugaboo was easy to push. Ha! Forget your pinkie; you could push the Mutsy with your breath. It not only glides forward as if self-propelled, it can turn on a dime and navigate even the tightest of store aisles. Trust us, we tested it (against our will) in a Claire's jewelry boutique at a crowded outlet mall. No store is less baby or stroller friendly. And the Mutsy triumphed.
One of our favorite features of the Mutsy strollers is the height-adjustable handle. It slides up and down with ease, making for a smooth transition between parent operators. Even better, the handle collapses to "restaurant height" so you can easily park the stroller at your table. Once we were introduced to this genius feature, we've been sorry to see it missing from all other stroller models.
Mutsy offers all manner of fun accessories for their strollers including coordinating diaper bags, beach bags, dinner trays, and even a frame that allows the stroller seat to be used as a rocker indoors.
While we do love the luxury strollers, their biggest drawback has always been that they are only good for the first child. Not so with the Mutsy! They offer a ride-on board for older hitchhikers, and unbelievably, a duo seat for true double riding or twins.
Bugaboo, we loved you, but there's a new king in town. We're happy to welcome Mutsy stateside, and delighted to see what this venerable company will debut next.
Shop all Mutsy products
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