The Mutsy Spider three-wheeled stroller surprised us with its relatively low price point for its size and design features (around $250; feature discussion below) and we were thrilled to receive one from the company for review; in fact, we selected it over the other strollers in Mutsy's line, which range from $500-$800, because we thought the Spider looked like such a great value for its price.

But between the time we received it and the longish real-world time it took us to do a couple of solid test drives of a stroller we grew increasingly fond of, the Spider has been discontinued! We don't use a stroller a lot anymore as Z is nearly five and is happy to walk, but we took it to BlogHer last weekend and, lo and behold, it was a lifesaver when Z got violently ill Saturday night and we had to ferry her through our return travel. (More on that in another post.)

Long story short, we have debated running this review at all but we think this is a great stroller, and you still have a brief window of opportunity to get one if the pros and cons sound like a good match for you. So here's a quick and dirty assessment of a very well-priced stroller that we're sorry to see be discontinued. But that means deals, too, so if you're in the market for a stroller, want a three-wheeled design, and want many of the better features of premium strollers (smooth ride, smart ease-of-use features) at a low price, read on.

The basics

The sturdy seat of the Spider is easy to adjust. It has a cinch-up strap that tightens or loosens to raise or lower the back. The heavy-duty seat back adds a bit of weight they might have trimmed from the design, but it is certainly sturdy.


The lightweight tube frame has a stroller handle that can be raised or lowered using two simple locks. It is really easy to raise or lower the handle and we did this all the time (I am 5' 2" and Jeremiah is 5' 8").



In its absolute lowest position, the handle interferes a bit with the removable sun shade.


The seat is pretty standard. It's decently padded, has padded shoulder straps, and a five-point harness.

The Spider also has a piece that can be raised like a little platform to support short legs, or lowered to provide a rest for the calf for older children. It's easy to raise or lower.

Wheels and brakes

We really like the way the Mutsy Spider rides and the way it opens and closes. As for the ride, the front wheel spins freely and never gets hung up, and it is easy to steer with one hand. The stroller feels well-balanced, although this also means the back wheel base is a little wide. I wouldn't use this stroller in the narrow aisles of a corner grocery store.


The Spider's wheels are soft and foamy but very durable. This gives the stroller a very smooth ride.


The back wheels lock with a dual-wheel brake that uses a cable running from one to the other. You lock both brakes by pushing down on a lever at the top of either wheel. It operates smoothly releases easily, yet the brake is very strong.

The carry basket, which you can sort of see in the lead picture above, is roomy enough for the basics. The space it offers is not as tall as some strollers we've used, but the triangular shape is roomy and the fabric is stretch, and there's a good distance between the bottom of the basket and the ground, which means you can load it up without stuff dragging.

Opening and closing the Mutsy Spider

Our favorite thing about the Spider's design is the way it opens and closes. It's hard to explain, so we'll just show you.




It is easy to open the Mutsy with one hand, although a little awkward; you just have to grab the handle and remember which way to lift it, and the seat will snap in place with a little push once the wheels hit the ground. It is also possible, and not that difficult, to close the Mutsy with one hand, once you learn to give the handle a little jerk instead of just lifting up gently. Both of these actions are more difficult for Jenni than myself, but she has chronic pain issues that make a lot of things like this difficult.


Hydraulics under the seat assist with the opening and closing.

The Spider is one of the easier large strollers to travel with, but that doesn't make it as easy as a lightweight umbrella stroller. It is moderately heavy (22 lbs. or so) but it is more notable for its bulky shape (about 25 x 19 x 12" with the wheels removed, and we don't remove the wheels). If you have a small trunk, like our Toyota Corolla Matrix, you may find yourself putting it in the rear passenger seat when you have a bunch of suitcases, instead of cramming it in with them. (If you do, buckle it in, please!) I don't think it's larger than other full-framed strollers out there, and although it is sort of larger in a turtle-shaped sense, it is not as long as an umbrella stroller when folded, so until they come out with a stroller that can be shrunk down and fit in your pocket, it isn't a bad way to go, especially for air travel.

So we'd recommend the Spider for anyone who doesn't mind a reasonably bulky and not super lightweight stroller that is easy to use, attractive, and has a very smooth ride.

Availability

If you like what you see, we think you'd like the Spider. The original MSRP of $250 was what inspired us to ask for this stroller to review in the first place; it has the look and feel of a much higher-priced stroller, and many quality features you don't find at this price point. But on Amazon you can currently get the Spider in black/silver for about $179 (28% off) with free shipping; a turquoise Spider is less discounted, and the bright blue one is still marked at full price. Not sure how long they'll still be available for sale on Amazon or anywhere, so this is an opportune deal for those in the right position.

If you've used the Spider, we'd love to hear your thoughts on it. We'd also love to hear about your real experiences (no spammers, please) with other strollers in this price range - say, $200-$300 MSRP - that are as big-boned and fully-featured as the Spider. We're sad to see it go because it seemed like a unique value for its price, occupying a nice middle ground between mass-market four-wheel strollers and the really expensive strollers people like us balk at.

Our review sample of the Mutsy Spider will be donated to a local charity.