Little Luxuries Tester Pads - II

I wrote a blog post about some tester cloth pads I received back in November.  I gave a good description of the product and what I knew of them without actually having had a period yet.  I was actually looking forward to my period so I naturally ended up pregnant.  They were tucked away with the rest of my mama cloth stash, waiting to eventually be used. 

I assumed that it would be well over a year before I'd use the Little Luxuries pads (thanks to pregnancy and breastfeeding), but that's not how things turned out.  Between the nearly non-stop periods after my miscarriage and the chronic spotting (and sometimes bleeding!) that I had for well over a month in this new pregnancy, I finally have enough input that I can write a full review about Little Luxuries cloth menstrual pads.

Simply put, they are bulletproof! 

Two of these tester pads, in particular, are the "big guns" of my mama cloth stash.  They were put through the stress and strain of trying to withstand my flow and they passed that test with flying colors.  I never once had a leak when I used the correct pad for my flow.  That's something that can't be said about disposable pads, tampons, or even my Diva Cup.

I have detailed my impossibly heavy flow in this blog so understand that it's absolutely necessary that I have a pad that I can trust or I'd just throw them in the garbage.  How heavy has my flow been?  So heavy that it's impossible to get my Diva Cup to form a seal because my period is quite literally like a gushing red river between my legs.  Not only did I suffer with a ridiculously fast flow (like a geyser, but upside down), but I also had the pleasure of clots.  Not huge clots by some measures, but shooter-marble sized chunks of blood seemed pretty darn excessive to me.  And I won't even get started on the frequency - ugh!  It's accurate to say that I felt like I was being held hostage by my menstrual cycle and "the curse" definitely felt like one to me.

With such a mess going on downstairs, it's fair to say that I expect a lot from a pad.  Add in that I demand absolute perfection in whatever product I use to manage my menses and I guess you could say that I'm a tough customer to please.

It seemed HUGE so I was skeptical about the length of the 13" overnight/postpartum pad, but found that it was acceptable and might have been necessary sometimes.  This was the pad that I relied on for my heaviest days and, yes, overnight.  I almost felt ill seeing and feeling just how saturated it was (it actually was heavy), but it didn't fail me - not even once!

The 11" heavy pad was also good on my heavy days and I preferred it if I had to leave the house while flowing so fast.  I never had a single mishap with it either.  The 9" regular pad was totally adequate at the very beginning or the very end of my period, but I'm certain that it would work well for women with "normal" flows.  I did try it on my heavy day and it couldn't take the force of my flow so there was a little leakage that time.  The 8" liner was fine, but I didn't love it only because I find myself constantly fiddling with any pad that is under 9".  They just don't feel right in my britches and I'm forever trying to adjust them to feel right to me. 

Of course, length preferences are highly personal and it shouldn't be taken as a criticism because I didn't have any complaints about how any of these pads performed.  They exceeded my expectations and I can confidently recommend them to anyone interested in exploring cloth pads.  However, understand that they aren't the trimmest in my stash though they're still far better in that area than a disposable pad.  Also, I found that they took longer to dry than any of my other pads, but I think that's a small price to pay for such incredible absorbency and 100% perfect pad performance.

These Little Luxuries pads are sooooo incredibly soft and pretty that they almost make you look forward to using them.  If you buy them, I'm betting that you'll enjoy and appreciate your Little Luxuries.  I know that I do!

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Though I prefer 10" and 12" pad lengths, these Little Luxuries pads are definitely in my rotation to use once I begin bleeding again.  I do plan to use mama cloth to handle the lochia in the immediate post-partum period so I expect that the 13" and 11" will get quite a workout toward the end of the year.  Hm, wonder if Little Luxuries needs testers for their post-partum pads??  ;)

REVIEW - CI Sport Dual Compartment Lunch Box

I never thought I'd say this, but I totally love a lunch box.  Let me explain.  I was suffering from lunch box envy.  I know that sounds silly, but I saw a really cool lunch box that I loved and it made my (reused) plastic grocery bag seem super-lame.  I  looked up this really cool lunch box and I nearly had a heart attack at the price.  So I decided that I'd look for something more in my budget.

I've looked everywhere for a lunch box that I would feel happy to use, but I couldn't find anything that I liked.  Earlier in the week, I went to Costco to look for an air mattress.  I left with a sportbrella (like an umbrella & sunshade in one) and a new lunch box.  And a $5 roasted chicken.  No air mattress.

It was another scorcher today, so we went to the beach.  I was excited to test out my new lunch box (and the sportbrella!) and see how well it held up in the intense heat between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.  At 10:30 am, I packed the lunchbox with watermelon, pineapple, cherries, string cheese, veggie sticks, goldfish crackers, and a couple of cold packs.  I left it on the sand in the shade under our fabulous new sportbrella.  We stopped to grab a burger on the way home and I left the lunch box in the car for about thirty minutes.  When we arrived home at 3:00 pm, everything was still cold!  I'm amazed and how wonderful it works!

I should add that I also subjected a small Coleman cooler to the same treatment, only the Coleman was packed with ice and water bottles.  The ice was long gone before we even left the beach and it was only cool, not cold, by the time we arrived home.

I'm sorry that the Amazon link is not the exact lunchbox that I purchased, but it was the closest that I could find.  I bought a CI Sport Dual Compartment lunch box by California Innovations. I bought it at Costco for a little less than $12.  It is red, black, and grey and it came with a dual purpose pack (cold or hot) and a stainless steel water bottle.  This lunch box has several features that make it very user friendly and, while I can think of a few improvements to the design, I can't recommend it highly enough.

LUNCH BOX
- It has a swing away handle, meaning that the handle opens so that you can attach the lunch box to something.  I can see this being a particularly useful feature when going on stroller walks to the park. 

- The rubber swing away handle is one piece and it flexes with your hand.  It's hard to explain what that means, but this style of handle makes it very comfortable to hold even if the lunch box is packed with heavy food.  I probably had around 10 pounds of food in it today because four of us went to the beach. 

- It also has a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap.  I initially thought this was a dumb feature, but I actually had to use this today so that I had a free hand to hold onto my son when we were walking back to the car.  Yes, yes, I could have worn him on my back in the Ergo (and that's exactly what I did walking to the beach), but I didn't want to get the Ergo dirty, sandy, and wet.

- The main compartment is very large with a zippered closure.  I can fit four lidded Gerber baby bowls and still have extra space for a couple of medium-sized apples. 

- The main compartment utilizes high performance insulation and a reflective radiant barrier.  This is a fancy way to say that it keeps your cold things cold.  Alternately, it keeps your hot things hot.  Note that you can't have both at once though; fried chicken or potato salad - not both in the same lunch box.

- The main compartment has a clear plastic lining held in place with both a zipper and a hook & look closure.  This clear plastic lining is leak proof and removable so that you can clean it should you have a messy spill.

- The outer compartment rolls shut and remains that way with a bungee and a hook & loop tab.  This compartment is insulated and is expandable via hook & loop tabs.  This is where I stashed the dry snacks because this compartment won't keep things cool for nearly as long as the main compartment.

- There is a mesh pocket on the side for water bottle storage.  This pocket also has an adjustable bungee to keep your bottle secure.

- It has a mesh pocket on the inside of the lid so that your cold or hot packs don't mingle with your food.  This mesh pocket has a hook & loop closure.


BOTTLE
- The stainless steel bottle probably holds 16 ounces or so, but it is not insulated so it's very cold to hold if you have an icy beverage.  For obvious reasons, you shouldn't use it for hot beverages.

- The bottle cap screws on and off.  I don't care for this style, but flip tops are probably more expensive to manufacture.

- There is a carabiner clip on the bottle cap so that you can attach your bottle to a variety of things.


DUAL PURPOSE PACK
- I like that the dual purpose pack offers the flexibility of using it as a cold pack or a hot pack.  My gripe, however, is that most people keep cold packs in the freezer and this means that you can't use it as a hot pack on a whim.

- I did not use the dual purpose pack today because I have several cold packs already in the freezer.  Because I do have an abundance of cold packs, I plan to use this pack strictly as a hot pack.

- To use as a hot pack, you can heat it up while submerged for three minutes in a pot of boiling water on the stove top.  Or you can submerge it in a container of water and microwave it for around 45 seconds.  I think it's pretty cool that it's microwavable and heats up in such a short period of time.


Overall, I'm thrilled with my purchase.  However, there are some things that could definitely be improved.  A big one is the depth because it just isn't all that deep.  Another is that they should have designed it so that you can also transport it on it's side rather than upright.  As it's designed, you load it on it's side and you carry it upright.  This means that your food shifts 90 degrees and you're going to end up with a big freaking mess if you have foods that are wet and you don't have a perfectly airtight container. 

I used to bring leftovers for my lunch nearly every single day and this lunch box wouldn't have been a good choice for me back when I was working for wages.  If you want to tote a bowl of soup or containers of leftovers, this probably isn't the lunch box for you and you'll be far happier with one like in the Amazon link above.  These days my lunches consist of things like sandwiches, salads, fruit, veggie sticks and stuff like that so this lunch box is perfect for me now.

Cold Day, Hot Soup + a REVIEW

Though it is normally hot as the surface of the sun in my neck of the woods by July, it has been unseasonable cool for the last few days.  I had a basket of Yukon Gold potatoes that were reaching the end so I decided to make some tasty hot potato soup for the tater tot's lunch. 

FYI - I find these potatoes at my local 99cent Store for 3 pounds/.99, but you do need to paw through because I've found some bags have potatoes that have already spoiled.

MrsHashBrown's Potato Soup
4 cups homemade chicken stock (canned broth works too)
8 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled & chopped
1 brown onion, chopped
Seasonings:  Salt, white pepper, dried parsley flakes, one clove of crushed garlic

Add stock, potatoes, and onion to pot and set heat to High.  Once mixture is boiling, stir in seasonings, lower heat to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Using immersion blender, blend until soup is smooth.  Alternately, you can let soup cool a bit and blend in food processor or regular blender - but you must let soup cool first if you use either of these appliances!!  Serve hot with garnish of your choice.  Serves four hearty helpings and you'll never want to buy instant potato soup again.

You can also serve this soup cold with a cup of cold milk added as a variation on vichyssoise.  I realize that vichyssoise typically calls for leeks and cream, but I cook with what I have on hand and I nearly never have leeks or cream.

Use whatever you like for garnishes, here are some ideas:  shredded cheese, chopped mushrooms, cooked & chopped bacon, chopped black olives, chopped hard boiled eggs, chopped dill pickle, fresh parsley, capers, whatever suits your fancy.  If I serve it hot, I like to top this soup with cooked & chopped bacon.  Served cold, I prefer chopped black olives or dill pickle.

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If you don't have an immersion blender, I recently purchased the KitchenAid one in the Amazon link above.  I've been using a cheap-o $15 one I got from the drugstore ten years ago and I cursed it every time I used it.  But I adore the new KitchenAid one!  Here are are my top ten reasons why I think it is awesome: 

1.  You can remove the bottom part for cleaning!  Really, this alone makes it worth the extra money to me.  You might even be able to put it in the dishwasher, but I don't generally put good sharp blades in the dishwasher.

2.  It is TALL!  I most often use immersion blenders to make family-sized quantities of gravy or blended soups.  I need a tall immersion blender.  This is probably five inches longer than my old one.  And, as we all know, bigger is better.  Right??

3.  The cord is LONG!  It is easily a foot longer than my old cord, which allows me greater freedom in the kitchen.  Huh, huh, huh, I said "long!"  Do be aware of where your children are when you use this away from the outlet though.  A tragedy could occur far too easily if one little hand grabbed the cord.

4.  Variable speed!  There are nine different speeds on this immersion blender.  Nine!  My old one had OFF/ON and this variable speed feature is so nice.  I like to start off slow and finish up whipped into a furious frenzy.  Um, we're still talking about cooking. . .right?

5.  It comes with a blending cup and lid.  Want a smoothie, but don't want to have to clean the big blender?  This is perfect for that application.

6.  The blades are SHARP!  Now in all fairness, my old one was cheap and, well, old so the blades are nowhere near as sharp as they are on the new one.  But I can't recall them ever being this sharp.  Ever.  Yes, I've already cut myself on it - don't ask.

7.  It comes in a variety of colors.  This isn't really a selling point to me, but it's nice to have options.  I'm impossibly easy to please; I chose white.

8.  I learned something new by reading the owner's manual.  Did you know that you could make whipped cream?  You know, whipped cream, that fluffy white stuff that you put on desserts.  I didn't.  But I'm going to try it now that I have a recipe to make it with my handy-dandy new immersion blender.  I bet you thought I'd make some sort of innuendo there, huh?

9.  Amazon has the best price I've seen for this particular immersion blender.  I paid $15 more at Macy's.  Good thing I was spending gift cards (from our wedding over five years ago - it would be fair to say that I don't exactly like to shop or spend money very often) or I'd be pretty ticked off. 

10.  You can quickly and easily whip up homemade baby food with an immersion blender.  No need to haul out the food processor when this does the job just as well with less hassle and clean up.

REVIEW - Water Add-in Drink Mixes

I struggled with what to say I was reviewing and I hope I came up with a good description.  I've been on a flavored water kick lately and I have tried A LOT of different water add-ins.  Luckily for my wallet, I found a ton of these single serve water flavorings at my local 99 Cent Only Store.  So I grabbed an armful and set about trying to find my favorite.

If you're interested in adding a little tube of flavored powder to your water bottle (or water glass), this is a post for you because I'll be reviewing six different varieties from five different brands!  I have found that mixing according to directions results in a beverage that is a little too strong so I use less mix if I'm adding it to a water bottle while we're out or I use a bigger glass of water if I'm mixing it at home.  In no particular order, here are my thoughts:

Sugar Free Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red Singles to Go - I LOVE the regular Hawaiian Punch, but rarely treat myself because it has a ton of calories in each can.  One tube of this powder has only 10 calories, so I decided to give it a try.  I'm very excited to report that mixing this powder with a small bottle of water results in a product that tastes exactly like the regular Hawaiian Punch!  Exactly!  I did find that it doesn't dissolve very easily though and the small red clumps at the bottom of the bottle really creeped me out.  My solution?  I mix it in an opaque plastic tumbler and drink it at home.  I will definitely buy this again.  10 calories per packet, 8 packets to a box.

Sugar Free Wyler's Light Fruit Punch Singles to Go - I assumed that this was basically like the Hawaiian Punch Singles and I was right.  However, the taste is a little off on this product and I definitely prefer the Hawaiian Punch.  It also doesn't dissolve easily and leaves little red clumps in the bottom of your water.  I noticed that they offered other flavors too, like lemonade or pink lemonade.  I probably won't try those because I can nearly guarantee that I prefer the taste of my homemade lemonade.  10 calories per packet, 8 packets to a box.

Propel Vitamin Enhanced Water Beverage Mix Berry Powder Packets - This is the only product that I've used that does not turn your water a crazy-bright color.  It doesn't have an aggressive flavor.  The best way to describe it is that it tastes like water, only better.  It dissolves easily and completely.  It's pretty fantastic and I like it a lot!  I noticed that they also offered a Grape and a Lemon flavor.  I may try those too, but I think this Berry flavor will be hard to beat.  I will definitely buy this again.  20 calories per packet, 12 packets to a box.

Crystal Light LiveActive Natural Mixed Berry On the Go - This tastes so good and I'm glad that I picked it up!  I almost didn't because it has fiber in it.  I'm skeptical of adding fiber to things that normally don't have fiber - like water!, but this product claims to have 3 grams of fiber in each packet.  I suspect that 3 grams of fiber isn't really going to make the difference in your digestive health, but I could be wrong.  Honestly, I think that drinking 20 ounces of water would have a more positive effect on stimulating your bowel.  That said, if adding this product increases your water consumption, well, then I guess it's a good thing.  It dissolves easily and completely.  I will definitely buy this again.  Did I mention that it tastes really good?  10 calories per packet, 10 packets to a box.

South Beach Living On the Go Tide Me Over Natural Strawberry Banana - I don't really know anything about the South Beach Diet, but I gather that this product is intended to be used as a snack rather than as a beverage.  Per the box, it has 3 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber to help keep you satisfied between meals.  That's great & all, but it tastes pretty yucky.  The word "natural" in the flavor description notwithstanding, it has a very fake banana taste that I find distasteful.  It doesn't even smell good - the fake banana smell is so overpowering.  The box also indicates that it isn't recommended to prepare in a glass.  I didn't have any problems with mixing it that way and it did dissolve well.  30 calories per packet, 7 packets to a box.

South Beach Living On the Go Tide Me Over Natural Tropical Breeze - So, what flavor is a "tropical breeze?"  I guess it's pineapple and mango.  I didn't have high hopes for this product as I hated the Strawberry-Banana flavor and I hate mango.  Boy, was I surprised!  I really, really liked this product.  It tastes really pineapple-y and smells really good.  I prepared this in a glass and it almost whipped up a foamy head by the time I was finished mixing it together.  If I had added a chunk of pineapple and a maraschino cherry, it would have almost looked like I was enjoying a tropical treat.  I will definitely buy this again.  30 calories per packet, 7 packets to a box.


Cheers!

REVIEW - American Crew Daily Conditioner for Men

I know that this product is designed for men, but I've been using it periodically for nearly 15 years and I fall in love with it all over again every Summer.  I have to warn you that it's not that great at detangling, probably because I typically keep my hair significantly longer than the average guy, but I love how it feels on my scalp!  Even on the hottest days, it cools my scalp with a delicious tingly feeling.  There are much better conditioners and detanglers to use, particularly if you have long or chemically processed hair, but this is such a cool treat that I find that I have to use it when the mercury rises.

You know how some conditioners make your hair feel greasy?  This one doesn't.  Per the back of the bottle, it is made with Panama Bark Extract to help reduce oiliness, something that's particularly important to me on hot & sweaty Summer days.  It also contains rosemary, thyme, peppermint, and menthol.  No doubt these are the reason my scalp feels so fresh after each use.  Before anyone laughs at me for talking about herbal extracts (and I can think of a few who will), let me state that I'm not a believer in the magical powers of essential oils (just like I don't believe in witchdoctors!), but I think everyone can agree that this combo yields a cooling result upon contact.

I'd love to hear your experience with it if you use, or have used, this product.  If you'd like to check it out for yourself, you can purchase it by clicking the Amazon link above.

REVIEW - Best of Elmo 2 DVD

Knowing that my son is obsessed with Elmo, my son's Grandma bought this DVD for his birthday a few weeks ago. I think I have watched this DVD at least 212 times since he received this gift. Thankfully, it is pretty enjoyable and I've been tolerating it fairly well. Here is a review for you parents that are on the fence about this particular title.

This is a story about Elmo meeting a robot who has lost his memory. Ever the friend, Elmo supplies the robot with his own memories. Though they return to the robot story after nearly every segment, this DVD is basically a compilation of various celebrities who have met Elmo. Though I'm fond of reading celebrity gossip rags, I must admit that I didn't know who some of these celebrities are and I had to look them up for this review.

In less than 60 minutes, you'll hear Jason Mraz sing about going outdoors, Elmo singing about riding his trike at the park, Feist singing about her favorite number - 4, Diane Sawyer improvising songs, Elmo singing about counting ducks, Ray Charles singing about believing in yourself, The Goo Goo Dolls singing about pride, Destiny's Child singing about a new way to walk, David Beckham explaining the importance of persistence, Adam Sandler making up a song by rhyming words with Elmo, India Arie singing the most soulful alphabet I've ever heard, Jack Black explaining about disguises, and Elmo singing & dancing with his new robot friend.

Here's a breakdown of my take on each segment:
Jason Mraz - This song gets stuck in my head so I'm glad that I like it.
Elmo riding his bike - Very sweet. I almost get a little misty when Elmo thanks his father for bringing him to the park.
Feist - This song gets stuck in my head too and I'm nearly certain that my son can count to four because I sing it so often.
Diane Sawyer - Let's just say it's a good thing that she doesn't need to earn a living as a singer.
Elmo counting ducks - It doesn't do much for me, but my son quacks while pointing at the television when this segment is on.
Ray Charles - Great singer, great song, great message.
The Goo Goo Dolls - This one also gets stuck in my head. Seeing Elmo jam in a leather jacket is pretty cute.
Destiny's Child - Yet another song that gets stuck in my head. I crack up at Beyonce urging Elmo by saying, "Go Elmo, go Elmo. . ."
David Beckham - So many people quit at the first sign of difficulty, so I find this to be a very good message.
Adam Sandler - I'm not really a fan and he's "on" as Adam Sandler so I don't care for this segment. Sandler fans may think it's awesome though.
India Arie - This is the best alphabet song I've ever heard! All I have to do is say "ABC ABC" like Elmo does in this song and my son starts yelling for his beloved "LaLa."
Jack Black - Silly segment and it doesn't do much for me.
Elmo singing with his robot - Doesn't do much for me, but the kid thinks it's hilarious when I do the robot dance.

There's not a whole heck of a lot of learning to be had here, but it's a fun DVD and I highly recommend it if your little one is an Elmo fan. Clicky the Amazon linky at the top of this post to pick up a copy at a good price.

BOB SUS v Jeep Overland Jogger

I don't like to shop. I don't just not like shopping - I detest shopping. I avoid it at all costs because I think it is, generally speaking, a waste of time and money.

There is one notable exception to my shopping aversion: Baby Stuff! I don't just like baby stuff - I love baby stuff. My house is like a baby store full of cloth diapers, bottles (well, when I was trying to get him to take one anyway) & sippy cups, feeding stuff, spit-up pads (I had a major puker!), baby carriers, and strollers.

I have one child. At the most, I might end up blessed with two children. I have enough baby stuff for a passel of children. I haven't made poor purchases; I have found that different baby gear works best at different times and ages.

I purchased a used BOB Sport Utility Stroller today. The price was excellent ($65!), but I already have a jogging stroller that I love. Well, make that loved. My son is tall and his height has become somewhat problematic with the Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller, which I have used for nearly two years. So I bought the BOB SUS and took it for a walk/jog this afternoon.

The BOB Sport Utility Stroller v the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger:Both strollers are great joggers that can easily handle a variety of terrain. Both have nice suspension and thick, knobby, inflatable tires. Both are heavy. Both are traditional joggers with fixed front wheels for stability and neither are really the best choice to take on a shopping excursion.

Things I like better about the BOB:The BOB isn't as long as the Jeep, meaning that it is somewhat more maneuverable. Of course, both are big sonsofguns and neither can be remotely described as nimble. As one could expect, the BOB folds much smaller than the Jeep too. The BOB has a taller and wider seat area for the little passenger. The harness buckles are very user friendly and a snap to use. No child tray to hassle with means that it is easy to put your kiddo in or take him out. The smooth foam covering the handlebar is so easy on the hands.

The BOB has a much better suspension, at least a few inches of play, and it easily handled off-roading. My kid was comfortable and the BOB was easy to push over very rough terrain. The wheels are taller, thicker, and more rugged than the ones on the Jeep. The alignment is fantastic and it rolls in a straight line! The canopy easily rotates so that you can shield your little one from the sun whether you're heading due East or due West.

I have mixed feelings about the wrist strap being attached to the rear axle. I realize it is safer because you won't tip the stroller backwards should you fall. However, I had to move it away from my feet several times to avoid getting tripped up on it.

Things I don't like about the BOB: There are no parent cupholders!!!!! This may not seem like a big deal, but it really is important and it really is irritating. For storage, it has a small & shallow basket and a mesh bag behind the seat - that is it. I realize that you probably don't need the whole diaper bag when you're going for a jog or a stroll to the park, but it's nice to have storage space whether or not you need it. Also, the handlebar doesn't jut out far enough for my stride and I have to remember to watch my steps or I end up kicking the back tires. There are no reflectors on the stroller at all - not even on the tires. The handbrake isn't very responsive and I can't figure out how to set the parking brake.


Things I like better about the Jeep:The Jeep has an adjustable handlebar, meaning that it is comfortable for my husband (6'2") and for me (5'6") to use. The handlebar also sticks out several inches further and it saves me from kicking the back wheels when I'm zoned out. The Jeep has plentiful storage. Really, it is lousy with pockets and places to stash your stuff. It has the largest basket that I've ever seen on a jogger, very deep. It has three cupholders (two for the jogger & one for the passenger) that are easily accessible. It has a music on the go feature, which is basically built in speakers for your CD-player, radio, or MP3 player. I've actually never used this feature, but the hard case for carrying your electronics is handy to keep pepper spray, keys, cell phone, & lip balm at hand.

Things I don't like about the Jeep: The handlebar is covered with a bumpy grip that hurts my hand after about 20 minutes. The passenger tray is fixed and doesn't move, making it difficult to put a long-legged toddler in the seat. The harness buckles have pinched my fingers nearly every single time I've used the stroller - and I've used the thing for nearly two years. Though there are several cupholders, they only fit small vending-sized water bottles so I've always stashed my water in one of the plentiful pockets. The canopy is bigger than the one on the BOB, but I don't find it as useful. I've never been able to get the alignment right and I always have to overcompensate for the pull.


I liked the Jeep better when my son was younger & shorter. The storage options allowed me to securely bring everything I could possibly need while we were exploring the great outdoors - diaper bag, blanket, lunch, drinks, etc. Now that my son is so tall, I prefer the BOB. He still has several inches before he outgrows the seat height and I expect to get at least a year or more of use.