Our Zooper Twist has arrived and we are very pleased
. We ordered it from Costco online for $119 (plus a $6 charge because we are not members). This price includes shipping and is really the best out there by far. The lowest I saw online at other sites was $189.
So here's our review so far....
The stroller is light (weighs 13.5 lbs, same as the Quest), very attractive, and comes with a lot of accessories. We ordered the green and love the color. A hard plastic cup holder and mesh cup holder bag were included. The mesh bag does not look like it will hold much, but our DD4's sippy cup does fit nicely. In addition, there is both a rain cover and a UV shade in a small bag that attaches to the side. The bag is a really nice feature that isn't mentioned anywhere online. It will definitely make it easier to have these 2 items accessible at all times. Both of these are custom for the stroller and snap into place very easily. I am in LOVE
with the UV shade. My DS tends to fuss if we "enclose" him with the canopy of our large graco stroller, but he doesn't stop looking around enough to fall asleep without it. The UV shade is really a happy medium. It's hard to explain, but it sort of "mutes" the visual environment. He can see through it, but everything is duller. (I told you it was hard to explain). Anyway, with the UV shade, he falls asleep like a charm. I have decided that I will review this stroller again once we get back from our trip, so I will let you know how it handles and if the shade helps him nap in the craziness of WDW.
As for handling, I have to say that the Maclaren's are smoother. The twist has a 4 wheel independant suspension system, so it doesn't feel as sturdy when our DD4 is in it like the Maclaren does. It is fine, it's just that the suspension gives you more movement when more weight is in the stroller. I actually phoned Zooper though because online the stroller is listed as 55 lbs and in the manual that arrived says 40lbs. Zooper told me that Costco is selling the 2007 versions (rated to 45lbs, not sure why the manual says 40) and the 2008 are rated to 55lbs. BUT, the service representative also said that neither the materials nor the structure were changed from 2007 to 2008, so technically the 2007 can also be rated to 55lbs AND that they have actually tested both to 80 lbs. So I really have no concerns about my DD who is 50 lbs. Another note was that one of the wheels had a squeek to it right out of the box that we couldn't figure out. They have already shipped us a replacement. Overall we are very happy with the customer service we received from Zooper. Again, after we get back I can post about how well the stroller is holding up and how it handled.
I think that for us, the biggest advantages of this stroller are the price, the accessories (oh, I forgot to mention the thermal boot/cover that was also included. It's very warm and useful for New England winters), and the fact that it will recline for our 7 month old DS to sleep, but still hold our DD4 if her legs are giving out at the end of a long day. My DH would also like me to add that it's light, and even though I never carry the stroller, this is a plus as well
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Just an additional note. It doesn't recline fully, but more than enough for our DS, who has already taken a couple of nice naps in it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the stroller naps continue throughout our trip.
If you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask. I'm completely in debt to this wonderful thread/board. I hadn't even heard of the Twist before reading everyone else's posts and advice, and now I have a wonderful new stroller that should add to the enjoyment of our trip.