At a glance:
A super affordable travel system, with everything you need for life on the go with a baby, our panel of mum testers loved the Mothercare Journey. Highlights include the easy fold and one-hand recline feature, but compared to others on the market, this will only last until your tot is two.
How did this product make your life easier?
Gemma: This pushchair comes with everything you could need, including a footmuff and big basket with lots of storage space for shopping. The handlebar has an adjustable height and is padded and comfortable to push. The chair looks comfortable and appears to be made of good quality materials. I like the appearance of the pushchair and colour.
Sophie: I really liked the easy way I could adjust the recline on the seat of the buggy for my daughter with one hand. It was so easy and there are several points to stop at from her sitting fully upright to lying down. The basket underneath is huge and really useful. There is a little zip-up organiser in front of the basket which is a great idea – the only thing is when it’s full it is then tricky to put the break on or off. It’s quite a heavy pram to push up hills and things but it is very robust and it feels like it would last well. There is a really good suspension on the wheels that you are able to adjust, which was a great touch, as it made going over rough ground easier for both me and my daughter! The bassinet part is very long and would be good for people expecting a tall baby – my daughter was able to lay in it and stretch out and she is one.
Kristina: I found this pram comfortable to push and it is a nice looking pram. It has got a comfortable extendable handle which I found useful as I am a tall person. It has got amazing storage space underneath and a decent size canopy, which can be extended even further down using a zip. The top of the canopy has got a breathable mesh window so that it is easy to see the baby whilst the baby is faced away from you and the canopy is down. The seat can be faced towards you or away from you which I found helpful as my baby now wants to sit forward-facing.
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Natasha: It has a really nice finish, with that new car smell. Leather effect handles and the navy blue special edition look smart. It can reverse and it's very easy to do it. The seat section is light, and it's so easy to swap over (the weight is mainly in the frame.) The backrest doesn't tilt independently, the whole seat, bum, and back, tilt when you adjust it. This is different from our other pushchairs and we prefer this (though the baby may be less comfortable sleeping if they can't lie flat). I would suggest that parents check when buying a pushchair what the highest angle the backrest can go, to make sure that the baby will be able to sit up straight and be supported. Our current Mamas and Papas Flip XT2 feels like it's missing a last "sit up straight setting", as Oz is always lying back slightly when he's sitting back in the chair, but this is what allows it to fold up flat, which this can’t do.
Bethany: The price is very competitive yet the pushchair looks more expensive in colour and design. The buckles were easy to use and the pushchair was so easy to steer and use up and down steps/kerbs. The space for bags is very good and secure. I, in particular, liked the zip compartment. I did not need to use the rain cover so I am unable to say how easy or difficult this was to put on. Whilst it is relatively easy to fold, it is a shame the seat has to come off, as this means it requires two hands to do and takes up more space which is difficult when out which baby alone.
Elizabeth: We found the extendable handle useful, especially as my husband is over 6 feet. The pushchair was easy to unfold and assemble which meant that getting out the house was quick and easy. The storage space at the bottom of the buggy was great, meaning that I could fit my shopping in easily. The pocket was also really useful to store the waterproof and other valuables.
Would you choose this product to win?
Sophie: I think for me this product isn’t quite right. We have a dog and often take the baby for walks with her on rough tracks. The suspension can be adjusted well for this which is great but the wheels are a little too small to cope with rough and uneven terrain. We were even struggling on a slightly uneven pavement at one point. The other thing which puts me off a bit is that the basket, though really big, has to be emptied completely in order to fold the pram up to put away. This is a real hassle and got frustrating.
Helen: I personally don't think this is a winning product due to the difficulty I had in manoeuvring it. It's fine on a smooth, flat surface, but I found it difficult to control on a slope or on rougher/uneven terrain. It's tricky to control with two hands, never mind one. Having said that its design is very stylish and for the price point, this is a good product.
Lindsey: I think this product should win due to the excellent quality you receive for a very affordable price tag (when compared to others on the market). It has so many well thought out features that I didn’t realise I needed until this pushchair provided me with them (peephole, excellent suspension, easy drop recliner, locking wheels). It is also exceptional value for money with separate carrycot, cosy toes and car seat adaptors all being provided as standard. With many other prams, these often need to be bought separately and at hefty price tags. This is the complete package. The quality and style (to physically look at) is the stand-out winning feature for me. I felt proud to be pushing my son around in this pram.
What changes would you make to this product?
Natasha: There are two things we would change (as well as the plastic packaging): the hood is too small, so it doesn’t actually shield the baby in a way that helps them go to sleep. This is something that the Flip XT2 does really well. Also, there’s no safety strap to loop through your wrist. This looks more stylish but I feel more secure having one.
Gemma: The suspension/weight on the front wheels. I feel this needs to have easier manoeuvrability. If you added suspension to the front this would support the weight if the pram and offer a smoother ride. I felt when my boy was in the seat he looked super comfy and roomy but over bumps and pavement edges his bones shook.
Bethany: One thing I would change is how bulky it is to store due to the fact the seat doesn't fold and has to be taken off for it to fold. This makes it difficult on busy buses and there are two bits to store and gather together rather than one unit. However, if you have the space for the seat once off the wheels do pack away nicely for the car for example.