The Altima travel system from Ickle Bubba is ideal for parents who want a practical yet stylish travel companion which will grow with their child, from birth to 22kg, which is around four years old.
It’s packed full of useful features, like lots of breathable air flow mesh which will keep baby cool, and the unique selling point of being able to fold the pram with the seat unit still in place, in a simple, one-handed action.
Along with a raincover, changing rucksack with mat, footwarmer, cupholder and many more accessories to make life on the go with a little one that much easier, the incredible package also includes the Stratus i-Size Car Seat, which can be installed with the ISOFIX Base or with the vehicle’s car seat belt.
Pros
- Longevity - it transitions from baby to toddler
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- Includes accessories
Cons
- Tricky to get the knack of folding one-handed
- Need to purchase some accessories like parasol, at an extra price
| Altima Pushchair & Carry Cot: | Suitable from birth: 22kg<br><br>Weight: 9kg (seat unit with chassis & wheels)<br><br>Unfolded: 117cm x D: 77cm x W: 60cm<br><br>Folded: 65cm x D: 40cm x W: 60cm<br><br>Handle height (at highest):105cm |
| Car Seat: | Suitable from: 40-87cm<br><br>Upright dimensions: W: 44cm x L: 75cm x H: 52cm<br><br>Folded dimensions: W: 44cm x L: 75cm x H: 35.5cm<br><br>Weight: 4.7kg<br><br>Complies with ECE-R129 i-Size safety standard<br><br>Tested to R129-03: suitable for both ISOFIX and seat belt installation |
| Base: | Upright dimensions: W: 36cm x L: 62.5cm x H: 69cm<br><br>Folded dimensions: W: 36cm x L: 62.5cm x H: 19.5cm<br><br>Base weight: 5.9kg<br><br>Complies with R129 I-Size safety standard<br><br>Complies with ISOFIX installation safety standard |
| Included in this bundle: | Pushchair<br><br>Carrycot<br><br>Apron<br><br>Footwarmer<br><br>Seat Liner<br><br>Cup holder<br><br>Rain cover<br><br>Changing Bag & Mat<br><br>Car Seat Adapters<br><br>Stratus Car Seat<br><br>Stratus ISOFIX Base |
- One-handed fold
- Compact
- Suitable up to 22kg
- Includes cup holder and rain cover
Let’s find out what mum-to-be Clare thought of Ickle Bubba’s latest offering…
Testing the Altima
My partner and I are expecting our first baby soon, and unsurprisingly we’ve had a long list of baby items to purchase. So we thought a travel system – which includes carrycot, pushchair, and car seat all in one purchase - would be convenient to buy.
I opted for the Altima because with so many different features, like the pushchair folding down with one hand, it felt like it had been designed to make a new parent’s life easier while on the go. And at £699, it was reasonably priced compared to similar travel systems.
It’s available in two stylish colours – sage-green with gunmetal hardware and the colour I went for – black with rose gold accents.
Assembly
The Stratus car seat and ISOFIX base were delivered in one box, while the pushchair and everything else included in the bundle was delivered in another box. Being heavily pregnant, my partner helped me to unpack the pushchair box first, and I felt excited to put it together, ready for our bambino’s arrival.
The leaflet instructions were ok but I found I needed to follow the ‘how to’ videos on Ickle Bubba YouTube channel, like the how to fold the Altima Travel System video, when figuring out how to install the seat unit and then the carrycot onto the chassis – the one I have left on so I can use first from baby’s birth up until she is six months old.
Next, was the unboxing of the car seat. We plan to secure the car seat with seat belts when we take her home from hospital. But it’s good to know we have the ISOFIX base as another option and will decide whether to install this later on.
Design and build
It’s clear that the Altima travel system is centred around functionality, comfort and style.
I love the fact that I won’t be forking out for a new model when she outgrows the new born carrycot, but instead I’ll change to the seat unit. From easily switching between parent-facing and world-facing positions to coming with a cosy, padded seat liner, the seat unit has so many great features.
Then with its side impact protection, pop-out impact panels and a supportive newborn liner, I felt happy in the knowledge that my newborn baby would be safe in the car seat while on the move.
The car seat and ISOFIX base meet all the necessary standards for car seat installation.
The key features
The main selling point is that the Altima folds with just one hand. However it took quite a few tries to master unfolding and opening it out, so I think I’ll need a few more practices at home before I’m confident that I could do it single-handily when out and about. However, his only applies to when I’ll be using the seat unit.
It’s compact and easy to store, which will be a great space saver when parked up in our front room, or while putting it in the car boot.
Usability
I pushed the pram around for a dry run and it felt light. However, the wheels are sturdy and I imagine, will be able to withstand different terrains so hopefully no bumpy pavements will wake her up while napping. Its lightweight and compact design made it easy to manoeuvre, and it folded down in a compact manner. I’m looking forward to giving it a spin with the little one inside!
Final verdict
With all its useful features at a reasonable price, it feels like the Altima is a great investment. I can’t wait to try it all out when our baby arrives, and will let Mother & Baby readers how I got on.