Consumer Editor says...Lightweight buggies are a godsend at any time of year. Whether it's for a trip abroad, use on public transport or for navigating the hordes of Christmas shoppers, they are an essential item for families who require a more compact and convenient method of getting around. The benefits of lightweights include:
Lightweight BuggiesMany lightweight buggies will accommodate your child from birth, whereas some are more appropriate for use from 3 or 6+ months (depending on the size of your baby). If you're sceptical about purchasing a lightweight because they don't have all of the features and benefits of a travel system, think again! A lot of buggies are built with comfort in mind and have additional features such as a fully reclining seat, cosy toes, rain covers and sunshades to keep your little one safe and content. Our panel have spent the past five weeks testing six very different models and have rated them under six different criteria to see how they measured up. If you've used one of the buggies on test and agree/disagree with our panels findings, you can have your say too by adding a review.
Review highlightsOur panel agreed that 'comfort was the most important thing to look out for' and praised the Jane Energy , Aprica First and My Child X5 for their 'comfy, padded seats' with 'extendable leg rests that provided lots of support for children of all ages'. As one panel member put it: 'I would only buy a buggy with a padded, spacious seat that has the ability to recline. With so many of my children using it, I'd need to ensure it offered maximum comfort - especially for the smaller babies'. Ease of Use was rated highly on the list of priorities and our panel found that a 'compact fold, portable swivel wheels and smooth recline mechanism is essential for long term use, particularly if your child likes to nap on the go'. The Red Castle Sport City was praised for its 'travel-system like qualities that give you the best of both worlds' - 'a really good buy for people not wanting to compromise on features but need a lighter and more portable set of wheels'. On looks and portability, the Bebe Confort Vit was a winner: 'This buggy screams style and is so fantastically portable, I'd be tempted to switch to this permanently'. The Maclaren Volo also performed well with our panel citing it as 'a refreshingly easy, portable and simple buggy with the high quality and durability you expect from Maclaren'. The product reviews will give you further information on all of the buggies on test, but if you want to see how they compared under different criteria, make sure you read the Test Overview Meet our panel of parentsThis month's panel are all childminders and look after children ranging from three months - 4 years old.
The panel hard at work
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Where to next:
- Add a review on a product of your choice
- Read the test overview to find the right lightweight buggy for you
- Read the product reviews:
- Add a review and you could win a prize!
- See all our other reviews on lightweight buggies
- Visit the babyworld shop
- Become a parent panel member
