I’m a massive fan of umbrella fold strollers. For discreet storage in the home, ease of getting in and out of the car, and negotiating busy public transport, they offer a supremely practical solution. For second-time around mummies who have quickly tired of their bulky travel systems, or mums with toddlers who need something more portable for everyday trips, they’re also the pushchairs-of-choice.
Dexter has a Maclaren XT for this purpose. We originally bought it for holidays abroad as we had one or two disasters hauling travel systems around busy airports and getting them to pass strict baggage allowance rules. But I must admit, the Maclaren isn’t without its faults. If your change bag goes within 30cms of the handlebars it’ll tip over in protest, the basket is a nightmare to access, the sun canopy is virtually useless, and it’s a pain in the butt to keep clean.
When I was offered an opportunity to have a first-peak and play with the new Silver Cross Reflex - I couldn’t wait. Could this be the perfect solution for jet-setting families, and could it rival the simplicity of the Maclaren and dazzle me with new features I didn’t even know I needed? I think it just might have.
First up, it’s the first UK-made umbrella fold that’s suitable from birth. The pushchair can be simply modified for baby using a newborn accessory pack which converts it into a parent-facing pram. The beauty is that even with this add-on, it can still be collapsed via the umbrella fold mechanism - this means no more dismantling for transportation or storage. The pram sports a seriously comfy-looking bamboo baby-nest which keeps baby snug and warm whilst remaining breathable for the summer months.
Even if prams aren’t your thing, you can use the car seat adapters to plug in your Silver Cross Simplicity car seat for quick trips. This means your Reflex has all the flexibility of a traditional travel system. It’s a small disappointment the adapters aren’t universal, especially as I’d expect the Reflex’s appeal to be strongest for second time-mums who already have a newborn car seat, but I doubt that Silver Cross will hold out on this for long.
The chassis itself also has some great features. The handlebars are extendable (a major plus for tall mums and dads everywhere), the brushed chrome effect is attractive without being blingy, and this bad boy has lights! Yes lights. These are 3-mode (static, flashing and rotating) integrated LEDs that sit within the chassis on either side of the pushchair. There’s a 4 second delay to activate the lights (simply push them in and hold them to turn them on) to save you from accidentally bumping them on when you’re getting the buggy in and out of the car boot. The idea is to improve visibility for parents, other pedestrians and cars on the road. A great little solution for mums and dads who walk late at night. These take standard batteries which can be found at your local supermarket.
When folded down the chassis has a dual hooking lock to keep it uber compact. I thought this was genius but it was later pointed out to me by Gadget Mummy that this could be fiddly for some mummy’s - she’s written up an impressive account of the Silver Cross Reflex herself which can be found here. Personally I like to think this will be easier to transport and store, but I can appreciate that it will require two hands to release the catch - not so easy with a baby in your arms or an armful of their paraphernalia.
The standard forward-facing pushchair seat also has some neat little features. The seat has a 3 position recline and a lie flat function. The ergonomic seat is naturally curved for greater comfort and is best described as a hammock design. The frame is therefore kept away from baby at all times and promotes healthy airflow to mitigate against sweaty backs. There’s also a clever bumper bar (perfectly detachable) which doesn’t require taking off before you fold the pushchair. This would be fabulous for Dexter as he hasn’t got past the novelty of leaning out to grab at leaves on bushes or chocolates in the newsagent (grrr).
The reflex has a 5 point harness and comes complete with comfy detachable buckle pads to offer a more secure ride. The apron is well padded with a ribbed design for extra style points. This is also finished off with reflective piping which gives greater peace of mind in built up areas. I must admit I’ve never bothered with an apron before and Dexter tends to kick it off - but the reflex has magnets which secure to the bumper bar to keep it in place. This is ideal for the winter months and scores highly on that list of features you didn’t realise you needed!
I’m also really impressed with the pushchair canopy. This is absolutely enormous and comes right down and over baby offering maximum sun protection. If you plan on taking it to sunnier climates (as we will be) this is huge bonus as it means you won’t have to go through the faff of using ill-fitting parasols to shelter baby from the sun. This has built in UPF 50+ sun protection too - genius! There is also a handy parent viewing window at the top so you can ensure baby is dozing peacefully without having to adjust the canopy and shoving your face in the front - I’ve lost track of the number of times we’ve disturbed Dexter doing this. I can’t think of anything scarier than finding Craig’s or my face inches away from yours - Dexter seems to agree!
The basket is surprisingly generous and also elasticated at the sides for side access. This is such a clever and simple idea, but typical of Silver Cross’s attention to detail. There’s also a handy pocket located on the back of sun canopy too for stowing keys, purse, sunglasses and other essentials you might need so you won’t disturb baby.
To sum up, it’s an incredibly versatile and well constructed piece of kit. There are seven different colourways (chilli, black, lime, damson, raspberry, sky blue or sand). Tested up to a weight of 25kg and weighing in at an impressive 8.5kg itself, it’s certainly a lightweight alternative to a traditional travel system, and will fit in the majority of car boots. I’ve fallen a little bit in love with it so am already planning on getting one for an upcoming trip to Paris in April.
It’s out in March with an RRP of £250 (including adapters, apron and raincover) so you’re good to go from day 1, and will be available from John Lewis or www.silvercrossbaby.com. If you need the newborn pack, it’s an extra £75 on top. A fab price for what essentially has all the components you need for a travel system.
DISCLAIMER: I have not been compensated for this post. I simply got an enviable sneak peek and thought it only fair I share my impressions with you.
