Baby talk: prams

My kids will be 5 years apart, so I've been contemplating how to haul the two of them around. We go on longer walks, where Miss E spends 50% - 100% of the time in her stroller, all depending on her mood. Originally, before the five year gap, I planned to either carry the baby in a sling and use the single stroller for Emmaline, or buy a Combi Twin Sport. Now that E is a busy 4.5 yr old, I'm not sure either set up will be ideal.

So, readers, I spent a few days looking up stroller options. Most seem to be geared towards multiples or children closer in age. I cant imagine a side by side double stroller being fun to push with 40 lbs on one side and 15 on the other. Plus, my Mom has a Combi stroller that while nicer than an umbrella, has some major design flaws (like terrible storage baskets, a flexible bar, and short foot rests). Tandem strollers hold little appeal to me, as one child's view is blocked and they are long and hard to maneuver.  I did find two strollers that seem to be good options, both with very different price tags and very different set ups.

The first is the Britax BReady. $319.96 at Amazon.

 I have always loved my bestie's Phil and Teds jogger, except for the wheels. They are regular tires, so they get flats. Not such a good thing to deal with in our rural town (50% of our area is incorporated county, which means, no real sidewalks). The BReady has plastic wheels, but a very similar design to the Phil and Teds. I love that there are a bazillion ways to configure the stroller- most importantly, it converts into a double with an extra set. Only problem is, the extra seat is an aditional $150. Plus, the child in the second seat doesn't have a great view of things.

The second is the Joovy Caboose UltraLight. $229.95 at Amazon.

 Made by the former head of Baby Trends design team, the Caboose is a lighter, more functional version of the Sit'n'Stand from Baby Trends. I love that there is a bench for the older child, a large basket, is lightweight, has a universal infant seat adapter, and has a large sunshade (covers both kids). I can also find one used for about $150. The caveats - hard to get to basket, doesn't stand up when folded, doesn't handle rough terrain well, no one hand collapse, and a short foot rest.

So, what are your takes? Should I just stick with my trusty Chicco Cortina and make E hoof it? Or do I invest in a new stroller? What works for you? I'd love to know!