When I was loaned the Phil and Teds Explorer to trial they also sent me a brand new Smart to test drive. Designed to be the ultimate lightweight birth to pre-school stroller which will see you glide through city life effortlessly.
The Smart is a lightweight (8kg) pushchair which, with a couple of accessories, can take you from birth to 20kg. The frame is made from sturdy aluminium and it has an easy use clip folding system. The seat is a cushioned bucket seat which can either face forwards or towards you (using the verso adapters). The seat is wipe clean and features a unique design which cushions, supports is hypo-allergenic and UV resistant. The five point harness is easy to use and adjust. The chassis will take a Maxi Cosi car seat or a Phil and Teds Peanut Carrycot to be used from birth. It has a small storage basket and an adjustable UV 50+ sun hood. When folded it takes up minimal space making it one of the easiest pushchairs to store.
Out in the City:
As a city stroller the Smart excels. Its large solid wheels make easy work of pavements while the rear mudguards protect you from being splashed on rainy days. The smaller pair of front wheels makes for nipping crowd weaving and stress free negotiation of narrow shops. The seat is set higher than most pushchairs getting your child above the hustle and pollution. The added bonus of being able to turn the seat towards you means that you can interact with your child while out and face them away from the crowds.
The last time I tried to go on a bus was with a three week old Milla in the pouring Summer rain of 2007. The bus wasn’t easy access and with no way to hold my baby and fold the pram I had to concede defeat and head home. With the Smart getting on and off public transport is a breeze. You can either unclip the peanut and set it down while you stow the frame or even half fold the pushchair (so the rear wheels are in line with the front) and lift the pushchair with a child still in the seat. Not only does this make for easy bus navigation but makes getting up and down stairs to platforms far easier.
My only reservation on this pushchair is that although advertised as going up to age four the seat weight limit is 20kg and a snug fit. Monty, who is nearly two, finds it a little close on the sides.
Accessories:
There are several accessories which you can add to the basic Smart pushchair. You will need to buy rain and suncovers separately. To use from birth you will need the Peanut carrycot. To use the seat facing you, you’ll need to buy a verso adaptor set. You can add a little extra comfort to the seat with a liner which comes in four colours. Even when adding these extras the Smart still comes out as competitively priced compared to the 3in1 travel systems.
RRP is from £140 – £160 for the basic pushchair and it is worth shopping around for deals on bundles which will add the peanut bassinet, sun cover, rain cover and verso adaptor. As always, we recommend you check out the store’s reputation before making a large purchase like this. You can find your nearest retailer by using the retailer locator tool at the bottom of the Phil and Teds home page.
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