Pram comparison: iCandy Peach (& Special Edition) vs. Silver Cross Surf vs. Mamas & Papas Ultima 9-in-1

One of the decisions that “parents-to be” have to make is the choice of a pram/pushchair. Although most people think initially that this is a simple and easy decision, it can take a lot of time and effort as there are dozens of different makes, each of them with different models that look slightly different, that may have slightly different features and that are or not compatible with other makes, etc…

So, something that started initially as a fun and exciting thing to do can end up becoming a stressful and long process.

It isn’t only about what aesthetically you like more (which is what most “newbies” initially think that it is what matters mostly), but also the size when open, when folded, to see if fits in your car boot or not, how heavy it is, how well it moves and turns, the different accessories that might come with it (some silly, but some very interesting/necessary) and how comfortable and big the chair/carrycot is for a baby.

There are some prams/pushchairs that are sold as “Travel Systems”, which means that it is not only a pram or a pushchair/stroller, but can fit both, depending on the size of the baby and also a car seat (a whole world in itself) and a shopping bag/basket underneath, and supposedly all easy to fold, carry around and get it in your car…

Before we start with the review of these three travel systems, I would like to emphasise the importance of trying to have, before you start adventuring yourself into this amazing world of choosing your first pram, a clear idea of what are your priorities or a tick list of the things that you most want or need from a Pram/pushchair/travel system, as this will influence your search and will make your search and decisions a lot easier (and try to stick to this list of priorities as you go along, don’t get distracted by extra bits that you might not need, or what the sales person might say, unless you deem it important for baby safety, etc…).

In this review, I am bringing three of the higher quality Travel Systems sold in the UK at present (some of them, like the iCandy Peach will be also in the USA very soon): Mamas & Papas (M&P) Ultima 9-in-1, Silver Cross Surf & iCandy Peach.

-Mamas & Papas (M&P) Ultima 9-in-1 (MPX frame):

The main difference between the three of them is size, which is going to determine some of the other differences too. While the Surf and the Peach are of a good contained size, the Ultima is a lot larger and heavier. Size is the main feature of the Ultima. It is a good 10lb heavier that the iCandy, and around 12lb heavier than the Surf, which is the lighter of the three.

As the M&P is a lot larger, it can have a larger carrycot, which can have larger babies in it with comfort and even been used for overnight sleep, removing the need, if wanted, of a Moses basket. But the main problem that its inherent size has is when the frame needs to be folded: it is huge, around 105cm long, which won’t fit in many small or medium car size boots (Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza, Opel/Vauxhall Astra,…), making this a decisive factor for most potential buyers.

Another problem that I can see with this pram is the lack of compatibility with other car seat companies (Maxi-cosi, etc…) as you can only use their own make of car seats. This might not be a problem if the car seat was good, but apart from being very heavy too, it has got very poor baby head support, which is basic for a new born.

The handle can be adjusted in height (as the other two) and although large and heavy, it feels quite easy to move and manoeuvre about.

The mechanisms for changing the chair, carrycot, and fold it are fairly straight forward, although I have found that the buttons for the carrycot get a bit sticky sometimes and as this and car seat are quite heavy, it is not as easy as with the other two prams.

One good feature on M&P carrycot is that the area where the head rests can be pushed up a bit by a lever when after a few months of age, the baby is trying to push his/her head up but the neck is not strong enough.

In summary, this is a good quality travel system, sturdy, with good features but too heavy and large when compared to many other newer designs, with a very limited number of colours to choose from and no compatibility with other makes.

As all travel systems, it is not cheap, but sometimes there are some offers when you get the carrycot and car seat included, making it a deal to consider.

-Silver Cross Surf:

This is new design of this famous Pram/Stroller maker, in response to the new iCandy range.

It is very light and the looks are definitely different and more striking when compared to most of the prams available around.

It is very easy to push and turn due to its lightness and good size wheels, with adjustable handle.

Its characteristic frame allows it to fold quite small, so it will fit most car boots (except for micro-cars, of course) but it only fits a small rigid shopping basket, which has to be removed for folding and it is a lot smaller than the other two in this comparison.

One of the special features about this travel system is that Silver Cross has patented a special triangular foam to place on top of the pushchair, creating a nearly flat surface, so it can be used as a carrycot from birth without having to have or buy a carrycot as well as the pushchair… It is quite a clever idea, but due to its dimensions this cannot be used for overnight sleep, so you will need a Moses basket.

One of the drawbacks of being so light, and probably of the actual design of the frame (with one single point of contact between the upper frame and the lower frame (wheels) is that it makes it feel a bit “flimsy” and wobbles more that when you “shake” or move the other two. This is probably just a “feel” issue and not a quality or reliability issue but it might put some people off.

It is fairly easy to swap or remove the carrycot/chair combination or car seat from the frame with a couple of buttons in either side and as the construction of these is lighter, it becomes fairly easy too.

It is compatible (with extra brackets sold separately) with other car seats, like Maxi-cosi (please check which ones exactly before you buy it)

In summary, although a bit more expensive, potentially, than the M&P Ultima, it does come with a lot of accessories (footmuff, raincover, parasol, etc…), looks modern and stylish, has got the clever chair that transforms into a carrycot and a lot of different colours to choose from, but I think its design has got some faults, like the shopping basket.

-iCandy Peach:

This fairly new British maker has brought a range of prams/strollers and travels systems pretty impressive, all with fruit names, with the Peach being their bigger and top of the range (for other options, see Cherry, Strawberry, Apple).

The Peach comes in a standard version, with two bright colour options and a dark brown, and shiny silver aluminium frame, or as a World Special Edition (only 2000 units made, most of them going to the USA), with black polished aluminium frame and matching black alloys, with a unique design of locations and buildings around the globe (each of these designs is unique, as they have each of this landmarks in different areas of the fabric).

Except for the design, the frame, features, etc… is all the same in both standard and special edition travel systems.

This is the most expensive of the systems reviewed here, mainly as the carrycot has to be bought separately and the accessories, if wanted are not cheap either, but you definitely get what you pay for…

It does look really good and from the first moment you start moving it around, it feels lighter than what it really is (still lot lighter and bit smaller than the M&P) and you can perceive the attention to detail and build quality of this pram/stroller.

The suspension works really good, it is really smooth, even on rough ground, with lockable front wheels if needed.

If I liked the folding mechanism of the Surf (except for the annoying basket design), the iCandy Peach is amazing…. You just push the handle down and pull a strap from the middle (resting on the very large shopping bag) up and that is it.. It is folded neatly and very small too. And thanks to that clever strap, you can even carry it on your shoulder…. Although probably not for a long time, as even light, it is still heavy to carry for a long while. And if you have a slightly narrow boot, you can remove the larger rear wheels extremely easily (and the same to put them back).

The carrycot is well designed and of a good size, but not as big as the Ultima, therefore not licensed for overnight sleep.

It is really easy to attach or remove the carrycot, stroller and car seat with two simple buttons and they are quite light, making it fairly easy too.

As the other three, the stroller has got 3 inclination settings, very easy to use.

It is also compatible with the Maxi-cosi Cabriofix car seat (with extra fittings, sold separately), which is quite useful as well.

The wheels are not pneumatic, but spongy and therefore comfortable and puncture free.

And if the family grows and you have a new baby while the older one still needs a pushchair, it can convert to the Peach Blossom, where you can fit a stroller/chair and a carrycot as the frame is built to support the extra weight (this gives you an idea of the quality and strength of the frame), which could be an interesting feature for some families.

-Conclusion:

In summary, although the most expensive of the three, it is an amazing top of the range Travel System with lots of features and really clever design.

Without a doubt, it is the winner of this review, unless cost is the main important factor.