Strolling With Orbit & Peg Perego

We planned to only have 2 strollers - one for baby's comfort and another for traveling.

Comfort - we look for roomy interior and for newborn to lie flat.
Travel-friendly - has to be lightweight and easy to fold.

I researched on reviews and decided that I would like Baby J to cruise on Orbit. Then when J was delivered, we received a generous gift- Peg Perego Skate!
Since both these 2 strollers are bulky and not travel-friendly, I had to purchase another traveling stroller. At first, I thought of getting McLaren XLR stroller; it is one of the most popular strollers and I had thought its the roomiest, lightest and easiest.

After being the stroller dept for 2 hours to decide on a stroller while Baby J patiently waited for the mommy to decide, I finally bought Peg Perego Pliko. And I didnt regret.

Here's my opinions on 4 very popular strollers.

Orbit
Pros:

1. Good looking and cool dome shaped; lots of people are impressed.
   
2. Love the Paparazzi screen to shield Baby J from onlookers and light when she's sleeping.
   
3. Easy to load on and off stroller to place as car seat. Easy to rotate the seating position.
   
4. Great manuvearability!
5. Able to hang some of mommy's shopping
6. Folds well. Able to put pod down and fold the stroller quickly.
   

Cons:

1. Suede inner fabric does not vendilate! Baby J sweats while seating inside the pod.
   
2. Although designed to be safe as car seat, the pod is not the most comfortable. Baby seats uncomfortably and Baby J's cousin gets claustrophobic. She only used it until 5months and she struggled to get out.
3. Heavy and not travel friendly.
4. Have to purchase toddler series
   

Skate (Peg Perego)
Pros:

1. Bassinet is comfortable for baby to sleep from newborn onwards. Baby J sleeps soundly on it. Can walk for long while baby sleeps.
   
2. Folds ok.
3. Heavy enough to place shopping on bottom basket of stroller.

Cons:

1. Heavy and not travel friendly. Too bulky to put into the car. Restaurants and cafes aren't too welcoming for big strollers.
   
2. Difficulty in folding. Sometime it works well and sometimes doesnt
3. Ok on manuverability. Orbit win on this.
4. Expensive
   

Techno XLR McLaren
Pros:

1. Roomy and can lie flat for newborn.
2. Lightweight
   
3. Easy to fold and store
   
4. Easy to find accessories to add on.
5. Has padded shoulder straps.
   

Cons:

1. Made in China for those who really think this matters :)
   
2. Seen it around; doesn't stand out.
3. Not as lightweight as it is. Quite bulky to store in car.
4. Topple over when loaded with shopping.
   

Pliko Classico (Peg Perego)
Pros:

1. Made in Italy as assured by the salesgirl- does it matter? Hmmm...
2. Sturdy stroller and doesn't topple with many shopping bags!
3. Lie almost flat and has a roomy space for baby to sleep soundly.
4. Easy to fold. Compared to Skate, this is just great!
5. Better manuevearability compared to Skate.
6. Has a coffee cup holder
7. Has a bar to put those stroller toys, has 2 bottle holder.
8. Lighter than the XLR Techno, almost same price too!

Cons:

1. Still a little bulky to store in car.
2. Can't change seating position to face mommy.
3. Hope to have an extended shield.
   

Good and bad news: Theres a new Pliko series - PLIKO SWITCH COMPLETO that can change seating postion and able to put car seat. Sucky to know it now and good for those who read this review and decide that Pliko is the choice. They even have a rain shield included!
I would highly recommend this new Pliko! It seems to cover what I want- comfort and travel-friendly!

All images via web and use for reference only.