The Best Strollers, Prams & Pushchairs 2020
Stroller, pram, pushchair or buggy? Whether you’re a first-time parent or on baby no 3, picking the perfect baby transporter can seem a formidable task.
After all these things don’t come cheap, there’re an investment piece carefully picked to transport your prized possession safely through those precious early years. So, how do we know which one to choose?
Firstly, we need to distinguish the difference between the three main categories strollers, prams and pushchairs (contrary to belief, a buggy isn’t a fourth style but simply another name for stroller or pushchair depending on who you ask!). Let’s start by age range.
A pram is designed from newborn to approximately 6 months of age. It is essential for young babies to go in a lie-flat pram as opposed to a seated pushchair or stroller to aid lung and spinal development, and breathing. Luckily today’s pram have come a long way and no longer resemble the cumbersome contraptions loved by Norland Nannies. More likely to be part of a “travel system’ pushchair, they are sleek, multifunctional and easy to manoeuvre.
Next we have pushchairs. Relatively sturdy in comparison to a stroller, you should be able to recline the seat fully and have it either forward-facing or parent-facing making it ideal for different stages of development. Suitable for both newborns and older babies, there are several types of pushchair to pick from:
travel system, which include a carrycot and car seat which can be clicked in and out of the pushchair.
all-terrain pushchairs aka the "three wheelers" (also available as travel systems)
double or tandem pushchairs, suitable for twins or a baby and toddler.
Finally, there's the stroller. Smaller, light weight and easy to fold away and store, these are a favourite amongst parents of small children. Originally designed for toddlers until approximately the age of 4 years, many strollers are increasingly incorporating a lie-flat feature making them an appealing option for travelling with a newborn.
For the active parents out there, it could be worth adding one of the new generation running buggies to your list. Increasing your calorie burn by up to 20 per cent, mental health charity Mind lists walking or running with your baby jogger as one way to help prevent or overcome post-natal depression. We love the Bumbleride Speed (as featured in our Rise of the Eco Buggies feature) for its smooth ride, all-terrain features and must have eco credentials.
Still not sure what which one is right for you? Here is our ‘mum recommended’ list of the best strollers, prams and pushchairs on the market.
iCANDY
WHAT THEY SAY: Designed with adventurous parents in mind, the iCandy All Terrain pushchair is perfect for parents on the go! The new iCandy Peach pram has been carefully considered, with everything parents love about the existing pushchair infused with even more style, functionality and creative ingenuity.
WHY WE LOVE IT: The iCandy All-Terrain is the ultimate pushchair for parents wanting amazing functionality without losing out in the style stakes. Available in fetching forest green (just like all the top all-terrain vehicles), this brilliant pushchair comes with two sets of easily interchangeable wheels, turning it from a three wheeler to a four when the terrain demands, an extendable canopy and sun visor with built in SPF50 and ventilation, perfect for keeping baby sun safe and cool during hot weather. It also comes with a very useful extra-large hold that can hold up to 10kg of weight when in 4 wheel mode. That’s a lot of shopping right there!
But aside from its stylish looks, super cosy interior and off roading ability, taking you from city to country with ease; what we really love about iCandy All-Terrain is its one hand to fold mechanism (with autolock) and its compact freestanding fold, making it one of the easiest pushchairs to store in the car or the home. Further more, you don’t have to worry about storing an awkwardly large seat while waiting for your baby to out-grow the carrycot, as the clever people at iCandy have designed a carrycot that transforms into a seat with just a few simple adaptions.
And that’s not where the functionality ends. For those hoping to extend their family, the All-Terrain converter kit can take you from a single to double pushchair and pram, making it perfect for twins or a toddler/baby combo.
Really want to push the boat out? iCandy have teamed up with non-other than the ultimate off roaders, Land Rover, to bring us the iCandy for Land Rover All-Terrain Pushchair complete with signature detailing and full accessories pack.
QUINNY
Hubb Stroller and Toddler Board from £698
WHAT THEY SAY: Meet the Hubb, your ideal city shopping companion. It’s a spacious, highly comfortable and completely modular pushchair. The Hubb has all the storage capacity you need for urban life on the go.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Described as the XXL shopping pushchair, the Quinny Hub really is the definitive “urban pushchair”. Suitable from birth until the age of 4 (carry cot sold separately), its narrower than average, highly manoeuvrable frame makes weaving in and out of city streets or supermarket aisles a breeze, while its XXL shopping capacity means you never need to worry about leaving the carrier bags at home!
Other stand out features include a secret storage pocket to safely store personal items such as your wallet or phone (a must have for any city dweller), UV 50+ shield, adjustable foot rest and the all essential one-hand folding system.
The Quinny Hub does pretty damn well in the style stakes too, offering an array of different colour combinations from graphite and cork on grey, to silver and ochre on graphite and the ever classic, ever stylish, graphite and black on black.
But one of our favourite features/add ons has to be the Quinny Hop-on Board £48. Cleverly designed and beautifully finished in bamboo, this compact board is one of the best we’ve seen. The perfect addition for tired kids whose little legs can no longer carry them, simply click in place to quickly and conveniently transform your Hubb into a Duo
MICRALITE
Fast Fold £375
WHAT THEY SAY: Often, off-road strollers are heavy and bulky. Not the FastFold. It weighs just 7.5KG, making it really easy to push and manoeuvre. In fact, you only need one hand. This makes it great for use in the city; hopping on and off public transport and navigating busy streets.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Combining the benefits of a lightweight, easy stroller with the off roading abilities of a large three-wheeler pushchair, the Micralite Fast Fold is a game changer.
Super sturdy and robust, with large air-filled back wheels and high mud guards at the front, the Micralite is just as good at tackling sandy beaches and muddy fields as it is a busy city thanks to its amazing manoeuvrability. We particularly love the style of its unique hammock seat which is super comfy for kids thanks its brilliant suspension that absorbs shock from bumpy ground, so you never have to worry about waking a sleepy baby when going over uneven surfaces. There are two seat positions, upright and the recline mode, but sadly because it doesn’t fully recline it unsuitable for babies under 6 months. On the flip side it can carry up to 22kg, the weight of the average 5 year-old!
As with some of our other favourites, the FastFold folds swiftly with a single movement, storing in a convenient upright position. However, unlike other lightweight strollers, it can be easily pulled along behind you to transport when not in use and is car seat compatible.
Another fab feature (which we feel should become standard in all baby buggies) is the options of five different handle potions, ensuring upmost “pushing” comfort no matter what your height.
If you’re looking for something to bridge the gap between a large off-roading travel system and light weight stroller, then the Micralite FastFold is for you.
STOKKE
Xplory 6 from £864
WHAT THEY SAY: From the hustle & bustle of the busy city, to your local park and favourite coffee shop; Stokke® Xplory® lets you effortlessly explore while bringing your baby closer to you for more connection and bonding. With multifacing seat positions, unparalleled adjustability and handling; even the narrowest of paths on cobblestone or gravel will be a breeze. So you can focus on more important things.
WHY WE LOVE IT: With its Ergonomic adjustable seat for extra comfort and safety, raising your baby higher for closeness and bonding the Stokke Xplory (pronounced Stok-ah) is truly a pushchair pioneer.
It may place itself as a city run-around but what the Xplory is really about is encouraging that important interaction between parent and child. How can a buggy do that we hear you ask? With 19 easily adjustable settings parents are able to adapt everything from the handle and seat height, to handle and seat positioning, including backward and forward facing seat options and 3 recline positions. Want to include your baby at the restaurant table, no problem, simply place the seat into forward facing and adjust the handle and seat height where needed.
Another game changer is the Xplory’s effortless one-handed steering, making it one of the only pushchairs out there where you can have your much needed coffee in one hand and easily push your baby with the other. Its a winner for us!
MCLAREN
Quest Arc £293
WHAT THEY SAY: A favourite among busy parents who need a compact yet full-featured stroller. The Quest arc has it all. SAFETY- the aircraft grade aluminum frame includes best-in-class features built with Maclaren's Global Safety Standards
WHY WE LOVE IT: When it comes to choosing a lightweight buggy, Maclaren is the original trail blazer.
Producing buggies since the 1960’s, their durable, safe and light weight designs have become a favourite of mums world over and the Maclaren Quest ticks all the boxes. An effortless push, 4 seat positions including a full recline suitable for newborns, a 5-point safety harness, rain cover plus waterproof and UPF 50+ hood. Oh and did we mention it only weighs in at 6.2kg yet can carry up to 25kg in weight making it ideal for traveling with both tiny babies and toddlers.
Its compact fold is also extremely useful for parents who frequently use their car because it folds down within seconds, while its adequately sized shopping basket is handy when nipping out to the corner shop. As an added bonus the seat is completely removable and washable, which considering how disgustingly mucky these things can get (think of a repugnant mix of carrot puffs, suncream, mud and wee) is a real relief.
Pretty much everything you need in a lightweight buggy.
