On test
Overview of Lightweight Buggies
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Here you'll find the best comments, advice and information
on all of the lightweight buggies on test. Our panel gave the Best Buy
award to the
Bebe Confort Vit but make sure you read all of the categories to see
how the various styles performed under different criteria. Don't forget,
if you're a regular user of any of the buggies in our test or have an
experience you'd like to share, please add
a review.
Our parent panel comments on the following:
Ease of Use
A buggy that's easy to use should have a simple fold that takes up
minimal space, a smooth recline and enough storage for you to hold a shopping
bag or two. As our panel say, 'put this near the top of your priorities
and do your research first, a surprising number of models are actually
more complicated than looks might suggest'
+ For a no-frills basic model that's 'the epitome
of straightforwardness', the Maclaren Volo 'ticks all the right boxes'.
Our panel loved the carrying strap - 'just sling it over your shoulder
and you're off', 'it's the perfect option for holidays, trips into town
or weekends away'.
+ Our panel were also impressed with the Bebe
Confort Vit: 'This buggy takes minutes to put together and you can steer
it, store it and fold it quickly and easily with just one hand'.
+/- The Red
Castle Sport City Link & Aprica First took 'a little longer to get to
grips with but since both offered so much more than a conventional lightweight,
they were worth the perseverance'.
+/- The Jane
Energy is 'great for both babies and older toddlers as the seat is wide,
spacious and comfortable'. However, a few parent panel members found the
fold 'a tad temperamental at times' - 'a pain if you're out and need to
get it into the back of the car quickly'.
Portability
Swivel wheels, a light frame and perfectly placed handles all contribute
to a buggies' portability. As one panel member puts it: 'If you can steer
your sleeping child through a crowd of shoppers with one hand whilst chatting
on the phone, you know you've made the right choice'.
+ The Bebe Confort Vit was found to be 'the most
portable buggy of them all'. 'It twists and turns with the least amount
of effort and is quite simply a dream to use'. Similarly the Maclaren
Volo offered a 'highly portable ride' with 'a small set of hardwearing
wheels that grip onto kerbs with ease'
+ Our panel found the Red Castle City Link 'wonderfully
portable'. 'It's heavier than the others on test but it still winds its
way through crowds impressively well'. They also liked its height adjustable
handles - 'a major bonus if your other half is a foot taller than you!'
+/- With regards to navigating kerbs, steps, escalators
and public transport, the Vit, Volo and Jane Energy were 'the best buggies
by far'. Our panel found the My Child X5 'a tad heavy to lift up onto
kerbs - especially if you've got shopping on board' whilst the Aprica
First had a tendency to 'wobble a bit on attempting to get it up onto
the pavement'.
Comfort/Quality
If the carrier doesn't meet your comfort requirements, it's likely
to end up gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere. To avoid wasting your
money, look for styles that offer extra padding on the shoulders and back
with plenty of support for your baby's head and neck. You also need to
consider adjustability - particularly if both parents are going to be
using it.
+ The Aprica First was praised for its 'spacious
comfortable seat and innovative recline mechanism that adjusts the foot
rest as you move the seat back'. As one panel member put it: 'It's almost
like they're lying in bed - it really does look that comfortable!' The
panel felt that this was 'a major attraction for babies who enjoy sleeping
on the go' as 'they can lie perfectly flat for as long as they need to'.
+ The Jane Energy, Red Castle City Link and My
Child X5 were also praised for their 'comfy seats and sturdy frames' that
offer 'fantastic value for money and longevity for your child'
+/- The panel liked the padded seat on the Bebe
Confort Vit but felt it was best used for 'short trips or holidays'. Similarly,
the Maclaren Volo offered a decent amount of comfort, but it 'wouldn't
be your first choice for long-term every day use'.
Practicality/Looks
+ The Bebe Confort Vit came top of the style stakes
with our panel citing it as 'a refreshing alternative to all those serious,
traditionally boring buggies already on the market' - 'this is a real
head-turner and its fun for both the parent and child'.
+ They also liked the look of the Aprica First,
Jane Energy and Red Castle Sport City Link - 'these buggies are in a league
of their own regarding looks and the children seemed to want to sit in
them which is always a good sign!'.
+/- With regards to practicality, the Red Castle
Sport City Link came out tops: 'This is a highly practical lightweight
buggy that ticks all of the right boxes. It can even be used as a travel
system with the addition of an infant car seat or carrycot - genius'
+/- Some panel members found the Bebe Confort
Vit a tad unpractical for every day use as 'it has no storage space and
no recline mechanism for a sleeping child' - 'not great if you want to
make it your permanent buggy'. Others however, found it worked fine: 'Ok
so it doesn't have a storage basket, but it does have a pocket for keys,
snacks and a drink. Secondly, it may not recline but the seat is already
slanted back and provides a perfectly adequate space for a child to take
a nap in'.
Additional Extras
+ 'The Aprica First has many impressive extra
features that make it stand out from other buggies including push buttons
to alter height of handle, change from forward facing to rear facing,
removable front bar, rotating handle and a push button for open/close
position on pram'.
+ Our panel also liked the Red Castle Sport City
Link - 'this buggy is riddled with extra features, including a specially
designed sunscreen that fits over the front of the buggy - I was very
impressed with the thought that's gone into this'.
+ The Jane Energy has 'a whopping 5 recline positions
and a fantastic rain cover that fits the buggy perfectly and can be twist
folded away to fit in the basket underneath'. Our panel also liked the
extras on the My Child X5: 'It comes with a great quality hood and has
a fab suspension that steers effortlessly over rough terrain'.
+/- The Bebe Confort Vit and Maclaren Volo aren't
equipped with many extras but for their quality and price, our panel agreed
that they offered 'great value for money'.
Results
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Lightweight Buggies
|
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Red Castle Sport City Link
£127.99
|
Ease
of use
|
4/5
|
5/5
|
3.5/5
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
4.5/5
|
Portability
|
3.5/5
|
5/5
|
4.5/5
|
4.5/5
|
3.5/5
|
4.5/5
|
Comfort/
Quality
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
4/5
|
3.5/5
|
4/5
|
4/5
|
Practicality/Looks
|
4/5
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
3.5/5
|
4/5
|
4.5/5
|
|
Extras
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value
for money |
3/5
|
4/5
|
4/5
|
4/5
|
4/5
|
4.5/5
|
Total
score |
24.5/30
|
27/30
|
24.5/30
|
24.5/30
|
|
26.5/30
|
Where to next:
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