REVIEW
THE REVIEW
Jack Freud AN D HIS N EWBOR N , WILLOW, PUT TH E EVER-ADAP TABLE BABY ZEN YOYO+ TH ROUGH ITS PACE S
A
s a family we seem to be constantly on the move, so alongside our everyday buggy we’ve always had a lightweight travel stroller to join us on our travels. But with our trusty Maclaren on its last legs after five years of service, and with the arrival of baby Willow, my wife Kate and I decided it was finally time to invest in a new one.
Jack and baby Willow take the Yoyo+ for a spin
The Babyzen Yoyo+ features a multi-position reclining seat and machine-washable materials
THE LOWDOWN The thing that sets the Yoyo+ apart from a run-of-the-mill buggy is its instant one-handed fold mechanism and its compactness when collapsed. Once you get the hang of it, you can collapse it with very little trouble and it’s easy to sling over your shoulder with an adaptable strap. One of my favourite features is that you can also fit it in the overhead storage of an aeroplane – and anyone who has ever walked miles through an airport with young children sans buggy will agree it’s worth the money for this fact alone!
GOOD LOOKING? Yes, very much so. It features a streamlined, slick black frame and the hood, seat and footmuff are available in a variety of colours. In addition to the traditional shades of red, black and grey, you can also choose from ‘Peppermint’, ‘Taupe’ and ‘Ginger’. The newest option, ‘Air France Blue’, was our favourite of the shades available, so we went for that. So far, we’ve had lots of compliments on the fashionable blue and white print, and it’s perfect for a boy or a girl.
PRACTICALITY AND DRIVABILITY I think it’s fair to say that all dads will love pushing the Babyzen Yoyo+ around. In techyterms, the four-wheel suspension combined with the lightweight frame means it can be steered one-handed. Manoeuvring through shop doors or on and off buses is a breeze. Having said that, I would feel a little uneasy using it in windy weather for fear of it blowing over. I know many parents who use the Yoyo+ all year round, and I can see the attraction, but personally I find it too light for that. Willow is only two months old so we’re currently using the Newborn Pack, which adapts the pushchair to a lie-flat, parent-facing position usable from birth. When she’s older we’ll move onto the front-facing pushchair, suitable for babies aged six months and upwards.
COMFORT The sheepskin-lined footmuff makes for the cosiest winter excursions, and the stroller comes with a raincover for soggy days. The
‘Air France Blue’ is one of many stylish colour schem es
five-point harness is easy to use and has padded shoulder straps for extra comfort, and everything is easy to remove and wash, too. The only downside is that it doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar. My wife and I are both 5ft 10in and we do find it comfortable to push, but I imagine a few inches taller and it would be a little on the short side.
THE VERDICT I can completely see what all the fuss is about with the Babyzen Yoyo+. It really is unlike anything else on the market, a pleasure to use day to day and a joy to travel with. We can’t wait to try it out on our first family flight! £389, naturalbabyshower.co.uk
babylondon.co.uk | JUL/AUG 2018 | 59