Phil and Teds Smart review
B Loves: Narrow width and ease of fold
Updated over the years, this is one of the best go-anywhere pushchairs – and as it’s lightweight and narrow, it’s a great choice for those of us who love to jump on a bus or nip on a train.
Seat: The more generous than usual seat is suitable right to around four years, which is more life than you’d get with most pushchairs. The seat is, for the size of the chassis, quite wide and tall, so that benefit of being able to use the pushchair up to four years is no empty promise. It is also soft to the touch and well padded, so comfortable for longer rides. There’s a five-point harness that can be adjusted to fit your child as they grow – there are three height positions on the back of the seat, which you adjust in stages, moving them out of their slots and up to the next one as your baby gets bigger, Then you can also adjust the shoulder and waist straps for security. The straps come together into a buckle at the front and there are shoulder pads and a crotch pad too. The bumper bar can be opened using a small button from either side to make getting your child in and out easier, and it opens right out of the way and twists in any direction. It can also be removed completely.
For newborns, add a soft-shelled carrycot (£59) that keeps your newborn safe and cosy, facing you for that all-important eye to eye contact. It fits onto the seat with minimal fuss and can be used to around four to six months.
The seat can be reclined using a set of two straps at the back, so you get a complete variety of positions from lie-flat to sitting up. Just squeeze on a clip at the back to recline as far down as you want to go. Sitting up can be a little more problematic, as you have to support the weight of the child in the seat whilst pulling the straps to sit the seat back up again.
The footrest has the padding of the seats continuing down onto it and it can be adjusted into four positions, including one that allows the whole seat to be lie-flat for newborns.
The hood is large enough in its normal mode; wind and rain? No problem, unzip the panel in the hood and it unfolds right down to the bumper bar. There’s a clear plastic peek-a-boo window and the interior of the hood is lined with silver reflective fabric, giving your child SPF50+ protection from UVA and UVB rays.
It comes in four colours – Graphite, a nice near-black for those who want to keep it simple, or Cyan, Raspberry and Cherry for those who prefer a bright colour.
Chassis: The chassis on the Smart is quite chunky but that does mean that it will be durable – important in a pushchair that is designed to last you for around four years. It’s great for newborns and you can still be using it even when you have an older child who can walk well but perhaps gets tired on very long walks. It’s also great for when they start school and get soooo tired! It weighs 10.7kg, which is not the lightest you’ll find but still makes it light enough to be carried with ease.
The handlebar is large and curved, with an easy-grip covering that means your hands won’t slip. It can be adjusted by pivoting into one of two positions using the buttons on the sides of the handle but doesn’t get longer – it might be an issue for very tall pushers as your foot might catch the basket. Best of all, the brake is operated from the handle – the red button is easy to use to push forwards to engage and backwards to release the brakes, so no more searching for the brake when the seat’s reclined, or scuffed shoes and scratched toes.
The mesh and fabric basket is fairly generous and can take 10kg of luggage, shopping or baby gear.
The fold is ingenious; just push down on a button on the back of the shopping basket and the lock is released. Drop the handle down and the pushchair folds in on itself. Push the chassis together to engage the lock and it is free standing.
Wheels: The rear wheels, which are a generous 10 inches, have a reflective band around them which gives them the look of a white wall tyre and improves safety when you’re crossing roads on dark evenings. The front ones, at 8 inches, are only just a little bit smaller, so the whole will give a great ride over even quite rough ground. The front wheels swivel or can be locked into place. There’s suspension all round and the tyres are puncture-proof.
Extras: You can remove the bumper bar, add adaptors and click a car seat into place to form a travel system. There are other accessories to choose from too; car seat adaptors (£39), a sun cover (£25), storm/rain cover (£20) and a travel bag to store or transport it (£79).
The Small Print
- Weight: 10.7 kg
- Suitable: birth to 20 kg
- Seat reclines?: Yes, multiple positions
- Folded size: H57 x W30 x D68 cm
- Car seat: phil&teds alpha, others with adaptors