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In Step Nipper ATP |
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The Nipper is a lightweight all-terrain pushchair weighing only 7kg. It has rear suspension and a seat that drops back enough for newborns. The main brakes are ratchet style and there is a handbrake for the front wheel. The hood is long with full length pockets along each side and a window in the top to see your baby (can be covered). Space for gear under the pushchair in a drawstring bag. Full raincover.
We came to this after a heavy Mothercare 3-wheeler and halving the weight of the pushchair made walking uphill so much easier!!! It has a long wheel base and fixed front wheel which makes navigating obstacles easy. My baby, who hated his first pushchair, loved this from the start and now complains when his little sister uses it!
The hood pockets are useful for snacks and drinks, woolly hats and gloves but the hood doesn’t fold fully when the pockets are full!! Suspension makes for a comfy ride and the long hood provides good shading and it can be tilted forwards to cut out sun in front.
Overall: Brilliant for the price and a great off-roader - look for an old model though, as the new version released this year unfortunately has a swivel wheel which isn't as good for off-roading as a fixed wheel.
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High points: Comfy for baby, light and manoeuvrable for parents. Very easy to fold and fits in small cars. |
Low points : The drawstring gear pocket underneath isn’t as good as an open basket as you can’t fit as much in! You can buy an add-on basket but this only leaves a couple of inches ground clearance.
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Landrover All Terrain Pushchair |
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The Landrover ATP (also manufactured under the Pegasus name) was one of the best (if not the best) all terrain pushchairs on the market. However, production stopped in 2002 and the only way to get hold of one now is second hand (they are easily available on ebay).
This is a serious lightweight off road pushchair. It has no frills, no fancy cup holders or rattles but is just the raw machine and does everything you need when you are off road. It comes with a small under seat basket, sun canopy (which can be tilted to any angle) and rain cover. There is an optional cot attachment which I would recommend if you are planning on using it from birth. It has a long wheel base which spreads the load well and a fixed front wheel making off road manoeuvring easy. Rear wheels are quick release and the front has easy to undo wing nuts.
We were recommended this by a friend and, as my husband is landrover mad it took very little persuading to get him to buy it! I have to say it is the best bit of baby kit that we have and we use it on a daily basis. We got it second hand and have used it for both of our boys who love it.
Overall:
Fantastic if you can get hold of one. Still command a high price as they are so sought after.
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High points: Cot attachment can be used from birth and comfy hammock seat for 6 months and over. Light and easy to use and really will go anywhere (believe me we have tried!). Easy to take apart and so will fit into most cars.
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Low points : Why did they stop making them!!!!! The basket isn't huge but hey this isn't designed for shopping! The brake is rubbish – don't trust it! Expensive.
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Baby Jogger All Terrain City Series |
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This pushchair is fab for off roading and doesn't come with a silly brake system, like the others. The wheels are 12" pneumatic tyres. The front wheel has a 360 degree swivel, which is great for round town and which locks for off-roading. The swivel wheel is very sturdy and I can even use it in swivel mode on hard core paths and very long grass, although I do lock it when doing much more rough terrain and streams. The footmuff has proven to be invaluable as it is made for keeping baby warm in isolated windy conditions. This pram is excellent from birth and is very lightweight so can easly be lifted over stiles!!! (Needs two people, obviously, to lift) The tyres are thorn resistant - this feature has unfortunately been tried and tested (I was rather worried, but we did survive). I really thought this pram wouldn't do the job but it does! This pram is from newborn to five year and is far more superior than the Out n About model. It took me months to find a suitable pram to replace the Landrover pushchair which I miss but the new one is great. I now have freedom at last!
Overall: Fab for off-roading despite the "City" name. A great all-rounder
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High points: Can be used from birth to 5. Light and easy to use. Easy to fold and comes with thorn-proof tyres. |
Low points : Wheel locks in rear facing position reducing wheel base length. At 10kg heavier than other ATPs. |
Reviewed by Katrina Latham |
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Quinny Buzz |
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This pushchair is a three wheeler and many merchants and parents think that this also means that it is an ATP.
We have tested it off-road and can now report that it is definitely not an all terrain pushchair!
The
Buzz is pretty nippy round town, looks funky and has some cool features (reversible & tilting seat, automatic unfolding, extendable handlebar). The seat seems very comfy and the sun visor gives good screening when the seat is in an upright position. However, the pushchair is heavy, very plastic and, if the front wheel isn't locked, it can be very unstable even when going up and down pavements.
Off-road performance is poor even with the two pneumatic wheels on the back. The wheel base of the pushchair is very short making it incredibly difficult to lift the front wheel over minor lumps. This combined with the weight and instability make manoeuvring over rough terrain difficult and at times scary! The "suspesion" makes manoeuvering hard work as you need a lot of movement on the handle before the pushchair starts to tilt. Considering the high price of this pushchair we were shocked at the cheap, plasticky construction. The wheels didn't even have bearings and so they are unlikely to hold up to the constant battering from rough terrain.
Overall: A three wheeler that is definitely not an all terrain pushchair.
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High points: Reversible seat and extendable handlebar. |
Low points : Heavy, unstable, difficult to manoeuvre and cheap construction, pricey. |
www.quinny.com NB It should be noted that Quinny describe the Buzz as an Urban pushchair and make no claims that it is an off-roader. |
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Mothercare Urban Detour Pinnacle |
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This 3-wheeler from Mothercare was our starter “off-roader” and was seriously tried and tested while writing “All-Terrain Pushchair Walks, Snowdonia” (Sigma Press £7.95). This pushchair stood up to a very severe hammering on some seriously rough terrain, up hills, over rocks, through bogs, sand, mud and gravel, over stiles and through kissing gates.
My main comment – it's too heavy!!!! It weighs in at 14kg, which may not seem a lot, but having switched to a 7kg pushchair, the difference in difficulty is unbelievable. As your baby gets heavier the excess weight of the pushchair really makes a difference. Using the attachable car seat would make it even heavier.
In terms of general design, the seat drops back for newborns and it has a good sized basket for a day out. Good sized pneumatic wheels with pump supplied and it comes with raincover and cosy-toes. The lock on the front swivel wheel is reliable as it does need to be locked off-road and it never jolted unlocked. The ratchet brake system is good and reliable, but the bar used to apply the brake can get snagged on rocks/roots leading to the brakes being applied by accident which can be awkward. The hood isn't big enough to block the sun which led to a lot of wailing in summer. The pushchair is very bulky and I found it awkward in shops due to its bulk despite the swivel wheel, though there's plenty of space for shopping.
Overall: Does the job but walks are a lot easier with a lighter pushchair
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High points: Robust, good basket, coped admirably with extreme terrains. |
Low points : Too bulky and heavy and my little boy found it uncomfortable. You can get a proper ATP cheaper. |
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Maclaren Triumph Stroller |
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This is a basic lightweight stroller (our town buggy!) with 4 double sets of hard wheels, the front two having a lockable swivel. It has an umbrella fold and a shoulder strap which is handy for public transport. It has an integral hood and comes with a rain cover. The brake is a pressure system, but is awkward to apply and comes undone too easily.
This little stroller is brilliant for round town as it is small, narrow and has a low centre of gravity so it is stable over kerbs. Swivel wheels make it easy to steer and its small size is great for those shops which put the racks too close together! It has a shopping basket, but this is really too small to put carrier bags in.
Off road, my toddler loves it as he gets a bumpy ride! However, it can't handle loose gravel, sand, long grass or mud as the tiny wheels just get stuck. The lock on the swivel wheels comes undone on rougher ground. The separate handles mean you can't attach a leash, so steep hills/walks with drops are unadvisable and the low handles make pushing awkward even down fairly gentle slopes awkward (and I'm only 5'3”!) and also make use with a buggy board awkward. On easy access routes, packed gravel or hard paths, it's fine as long as your little one likes being jiggled about. The basket is too small for a day out, so you need to take a bag along as well.
Overall: a great town buggy, but stick to very easy countryside routes.
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High points: Small for town, handy for travel, comes in a range of colours, widely available, cheap! |
Low points : Basket too small, swivel lock poor, brake poor, nightmare to steer with one hand. |
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Landrover Pegasus Double Pushchair |
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A brilliant double off roader that steers like a dream and fits through surprisingly narrow gates!
A well constructed pushchair of the same overall design as the Landrover single ATP, this pushchair is ideal for twins or those of us with small age gaps/lazy toddlers. The seats are hammock style canvas and very comfortable for the pushees. For babies, carrycot attachments are available. There is a basket underneath though this is the same size as the single which is a shame - if you have two kids you need nearly twice the kit, so it's not really big enough. Pushes well over a variety of surfaces and was surprisingly stable over awkward rocky sections. Even with the weight of the extra child it is easy to control. Comes with detachable sun hood and raincover.
Overall: A delight to walk with, and that's from someone determined not to go the double buggy route!
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High points: Can be used from birth with the carrycot, light, easy to steer, narrow. |
Low points : I can't get the raincover down without it catching on the wheel, however hard I try. Dodgy brake, as with the single. |
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Mountain Buggy Urban Double Pushchair |
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Double- best one there is. Suits teeny ones, but my almost 4 year old still fits in reasonably well. The four wheels give a lot of stability, it pushes with a fingertip (apart from uphills) and the shopping basket is huge with lots of lovely compartments for phones etc. The strap gives reassurance, and a carrycot is available. If you use it for toddler groups this is fantastic, you can just take the carrycot into halls with you and it helps keep a little baby safer from herds of toddlers! Easy to steer and fits in surprisingly narrow spaces. Designed to last forever and extremely good value considering.
Overall: Loved it so much I bought the single! The single is as above apart from the 4 wheels- it has 3.
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High points: Can be used from birth with the carrycot, the best double there is! |
Low points : Pricey. |
Reviewed by Dawn Dadswell |
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The Buggy Snuggle |
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A fantastic fleecy sleeping bag to keep your little one cosy and warm while out on our walks! In a selection of 35 designs, the Buggy Snuggle is made of 4 layers of fleece with slots in the back to fit 3 or 5 point harnesses. The extra thickness provides adequate warmth for even cold winter days, and if Baby gets too warm, the top zips off completely to leave just a fleecy pushchair liner. The Snuggle is simply tied to the pushchair frame which keeps it well in place, and we had no problem with the end of the Snuggle dragging on the wheels. It is not waterproof, so rain covers are needed for wet weather.
The Buggy Snuggle was tried on both off-road pushchairs and lightweight town buggies and it really is very adaptable, fitting both styles well. However, you need to detach the ties in order to fold some buggies – our off-roader wouldn't fold with it attached. It also fits a range of child sizes – officially up to 3, but our tall 4-year old fitted so comfortably he didn't want to let his little sister back in…. Finally, the best point from our daughter's point of view is the pocket on the front – perfect for stowing soft toys and comfort blankets, even if bright fleecy ones do end up camouflaged!
Overall – GREAT!
High points – funky, bright designs, warm, adaptable
Low points – may need detaching to fold some pushchairs, ties came off after a few uses.
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Sunshine Kids
Soft Ride Comfort Cushion
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A wonderfully soft reversible cushion that makes little ones comfy and snug in both pushchairs and car seats. The cushion is fleece on one side (perfect for added warmth in autumn and winter) and a soft terry material on the other (ideal for spring and summer) and is machine washable. The light padding of the cushion gives the baby gentle support making a walk in the countryside more comfortable and enjoyable.
Overall– Pushchairs often lack padding and can be uncomfortable for young babies but this cushion solves this problem with great success.
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Sunshine Kids Buggy Buddy |
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If you struggle to get the essentials into your pushchair basket then this is the accessory for you. This handy bag straps onto the pushchair handle bar with simple Velcro straps and allows you quick access to your belongings while you are on the trail. There is space for two drinks bottles, a small zip pocket for valuables or treats and a larger insulated stow area for snacks, hats and gloves. This is definitely a neat addition to the pushchair and the only problem we could see with it was the lack of rain cover (it should, however, fit under most pushchair rain covers). Not ideal for buggy board users
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Overall– A great addition to any pushchair that allows you to get to drinks and other essentials fast.
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Sunshine Kids
Buggy Mate Stroller Organizer
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Stay organized while you are out and about with this handy pushchair bag. The buggy mate fits onto the pushchair handle bar with Velcro straps and has a variety of pockets and pouches to fit all your belongings. The organizer consists of three pockets, a small zip pocket for keys or phones, a medium sized pocket and a large pocket that is suitable for jumpers, hats and gloves. There are also two insulated bottle holders that are great for keeping drinks hot or cold what ever the weather. Our only grumble about this bag was that there were no Velcro straps at the bottom so that when you pushing over uneven ground the bag bounced around and hit your legs.
Overall– Great bag with loads of space but more suitable for strollers than ATP's. Great organiser for the back of a car seat too!
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Prince Lionheart Click n' Go Insulated Cup Holder |
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A practical pushchair accessory for both parent and baby. This insulated cup holder is ideal for keeping drink bottles or cans at the perfect temperature while you are out and about. Whether you use it for carrying babies bottle of milk or mum or dad's flask it is a great gadget to have and helps to clear some space in the always overloaded pushchair basket. The clip will mount on any vertical, horizontal or diagonal tube of the pushchair and has a swivel mount for keeping the drink level. The cup holder is simple to click in or out of the clip when required. There are other interchangeable gadgets (snack pot and bottle holder) in the ‘click n' go' system that will also mount on the same clip. Two handy S shaped hooks are also included in the pack.
Overall – A handy gadget that saves a lot of time while you are out and about.
High Points – Makes drinks easy to access and clears space in pushchair basket.
Low Points – Not all drink containers fit so check yours does before you go.
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Prince Lionheart
Reusable ‘On-the-Go' Bottle Warmer |
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Providing warm bottles of milk for your baby is always a problem when you are out and about but now Prince Lionheart has come up with a novel solution. The ‘On the Go' Bottle Warmer consists of a reusable gel heat pack which you simply click to activate, wrap around your bottle and place within the insulated bottle pouch. The gel pack stays warm for several hours and once cold can be re-energised by placing in boiling water for 10 minutes. The warmer can also be used for baby food too. This system is compact and means you no longer have to take a flask of boiling water on the trip too. For best results we found it easiest to warm the babies milk/food to the required temperature before leaving home and then use the bottle warmer to keep it warm. The bottle warmer did not provide enough heat to warm the milk and food to the required temperature from cold.
Overall – A useful addition to outdoor kit if you are going on a short trip.
High Points – Compact, fits most bottles and food jars. Low Points – Not good for warming milk from cold.
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Sunshine Kids Cool It Bottle Insulator
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A waterproof and insulated bag ideal for keeping a babies bottle or toddlers drink cool on warm days. This compact cool bag attaches to the pushchair with a Velcro strap. It has a mesh pocket, a zippered pocket and a key ring holder which allow mum to carry keys, money etc when out and about on a short errand, walk or run.
Overall – Well insulated and easy to attach with handy storage space. Brilliant for keeping drinks cool on short trips out.
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Sunshine Kids
Snug It Travel Bottle Insulator
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A neoprene pouch for keeping drinks warm or cool when out walking. The pouch attaches to the pushchair via a Velcro strap. There is no need to remove the cup from the pouch when you child wants a drink as you simply release the popper at the top to expose the cup spout. A nice idea but we found that the pouch didn't fit over all bottles and cups as claimed and in fact the side seam ripped on ours the first time we used it! It was also very difficult to use the popper closure on the top when using with a tall cup.
Overall– A great idea but only suitable for narrow cups!
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Sunshine Kids
Stroll Light
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Pushchair safety is always paramount especially in winter when you are often out and about after dark. The stroll light is an excellent way of improving your visibility to road users alerting them of your presence before they get too close. The red light contains two superbright LED's and has three settings, permanently on and two flashing modes. There is a clip on the rear of the light allowing it to be easily attached to either the pushchair or your clothing.
Overall– bright and can be seen from some distance. A great safety device
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Kari me Papoose |
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This is probably the lowest tech papoose on the market being a long piece of stretchy cloth! Despite, or maybe because of that, it is the comfiest baby carrier we tried and we tried a few!!
Once you’ve got the knot sussed, which only takes a couple of goes, it’s easy to put the baby in and out. The double crossing at the back means you can spread the weight across your back rather than it being concentrated on shoulders and neck which was the problem we found with high-tech carriers. It also holds the baby very close to your body which they love.
You can put the baby in 5 positions – cradle, facing in, facing out, on the hip and on your back, though you need help to put the baby on your back.
Machine washable and comes in a range of colours. Packs into a small bag. Can be used from birth up to 35lb and we carried our first on the front until he was nearly 2!!
Overall- this is my essential item of baby gear!!!
(Bearded bloke is an optional extra...)
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High points: comfort for parent and baby, versatile, can be put in a rucksack or under a pushchair |
Low points : None! |
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ERGObaby Carrier |
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This is the best baby carrier we have tried and is definitely an essential buy for all outdoor families. The simple, light weight design is easy to use and very comfortable for both baby and adult. The carrier can be used in three positions, front, hip and back and can also be used from birth with the addition of the lovely soft baby insert. The carrier can be used with kids up to the age of five; the design distributes the weight of older children brilliantly and we were amazed at just how comfortable it was and how long we could carry them for! The carrier is compact and so easy to pack in the bottom of the pushchair for occasional use. Once familiar with its use it is easy for one adult to use the carrier alone, even putting the baby on your back, and the kids seem to love it. Comes in several great colour combinations and has a handy hood to hold the child's head up if they fall asleep. Various accessories from pouches and back packs to suckling pads can be purchased to go with the carrier.
Overall- fantastic and an essential piece of baby kit
(again, bearded bloke is an optional extra...)
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High points: lightweight and extremely comfortable, you can put the baby on your back without help |
Low points : the baby can't face out on your front |
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Tomy Baby Carrier |
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This was our first baby sling and I have to say it is the most uncomfortable carrier I have ever encountered! It's nicely padded and fleece lined for the baby, and very easy to get the baby in and out even while asleep, which was why we bought it. However, for the parent it was like a torture instrument! The cross-over straps were very awkward to get on and off and adjust, the lumbar support didn't, and you end up supporting the baby with your neck, however the carrier is adjusted. My back started going when the baby was only 8lb! In addition, I never quite trusted the press-studs which are the only thing holding your precious baby in.
Overall - Don't bother unless you want a bad back
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High points: Comfortable for baby, small |
Low points : Very uncomfortable and strains the back |
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Macpac Possum Baby Carrier |
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This is a well made and well thought out backpack and everything that you would expect from Macpac. It is designed to look like a rucksack with an internal frame and big pockets. The shoulder straps and waist belt are well padded and the adjustable back length also means that it should fit any user. The baby seat is also well padded and fully adjustable and both my kids have loved it. There is a rain cover, sun shade and neck rest for when baby decides to take a kip!
Overall- A great backpack if you can afford it.
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High points: Comfortable for both child and parent. Lots of space in the big compartments for baby kit and food. So many accessories! |
Low points : Very expensive but they are built to last so check out the second hand market. I find it quite heavy but that could just be the size of our baby! This is easily solved by giving it to dad to carry!
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