iCandy Core review

The iCandy Core is an adaptable travel system that features two sets of wheels; Rural and Urban modes so that you can tailor your pram to suit your journey from the moment you bring your little one home. According to iCandy, "You’ll only ever need one pushchair."

This system can be bought as a complete set with a pushchair, carrycot, car seat adapters, changing bag, footmuff and liner plus sun parasol and cup holder.

iCandy Core overview

Key features

Multi-mode wheelbase

The interchangeable and removable wheels enable the pushchair can be used on all terrains. The ‘Rural’ set has a longer, more substantial wheelbase, offering the functionality and performance of a larger pushchair, whilst the ‘Urban’ set is a shorter and lighter wheelbase, creating a lightweight, compact city stroller.

LED Hub Lights

Consider these the parking lights of prams. Great for evening walks or when the nights draw in over the winter months to give you extra visibility while out and about. Easy to clip in and out for charging, it's a simple push to turn them on and off.

Ride-on board

Built with an integrated ride-on board, perfect for families with a newborn and toddler. The set includes elevator adaptors for use with the Carrycot specifically for this.

Testing the iCandy Core

We used this as our everyday pram everything from the weekly shop to long walks in the countryside. At the time of the review, our child was one year old and we have previously used the Mamas & Papas Orraco which we have had since her birth.

In comparison, it’s the standard weight and size of other travel systems. The iCandy Core is not targeted to be compact and it certainly fills up the boot. You could squeeze it in behind the driver's seat and being able to take the wheels off does help with a bit of space-saving, but it’s a common issue.

We used the carrycot with Arthur, four months old, during a park walk to keep the wind at bay and it provided a cosy place for him to sleep. Swapping between the seat and cot was a doddle and made no difference to the handling of the pram. The cot collapses down as well to help save space in the car boot.

The ultra-padded knitted jersey seat and cot feel lush and the hexagon design is gorgeous. I can’t vouch for how easy it will be to clean the seat as of yet but the liner in the carrycot meant any baby reflux was caught and easily washed.

It's easy to change the wheels suitable for different terrains. The Rural set is larger for longer and bumper tracks while the Urban ser for a shorter, light wheel suited for city adventures. The set also includes a wheel bag for those not in use.

The Rural wheels mean I can trust that my baby won’t be bounced around while walking through our local woodland walk. They have good ground clearance and it’s a smooth ride. Plus, I like that I can take the wheels off in the car to prevent mud from getting everywhere.

While testing, I found that I personally rarely swapped the wheels out for the Urban mode but they do have benefits for those smaller supermarket aisles and easier manoeuvrability. While they are lighter, it still proved a workout lifting the pushchair into the car.

The LED hub lights instantly made us “oooo” as an innovative addition to a pram and even our little one enjoys turning them on and off with a simple push. As country-dwellers, it is not often we make evening trips out but I can appreciate the added detail for safety, especially for those looking to do the winter school runs when the nights draw in.

With the iCandy Core bundle, I instantly loved the matching changing bag which is actually very spacious (even for an overcautious first-time mum who once experience multiple nappy blow-outs in one day and now never leaves the house without 3 outfits).

The added sun parasol and cup holder are a bonus to have. The sun parasol has been beneficial for those low-sun adventures, no more using my body as a sun blocker. Once the weather turns a bit colder, I can’t wait to see how the footmuff works out. It’s lovely and soft to the touch so I’m sure it’ll be the perfect place for a winter snooze.

The main concern when using the iCandy Core is how it collapses. The first few times left me scratching my head but I’ve started to get the swing of it. However, while it’s advertised as capable of a one-handed fold, I don’t think it’ll be plausible although my partner is much more adept at collapsing the pram than me.

Final thoughts

The iCandy Core is a robust system that was easy to assemble (though I would advise using the online guide rather than the mini booklet). It’s a smooth drive that looks and feels luscious. This pram is on the more expensive side however, you get so much more innovation with the hub lights and comfortable seat for your little one. Our previous travel system is marketed around the same price but just didn’t have the finishing detail or additional accessories as the iCandy Core.

Clare Bradley is the Affiliate Insight Analyst at Bauer Media, where she pulls insights for multiple brands but dabbles in the written word for Mother&Baby, Empire and the up-and-coming site WhatsTheBest. She has previously worked on local newspapers such as The Scotsman and The Yorkshire Post. As an avid upcycler, Clare has a keen eye for deals and a soft spot for film memorabilia.