Britax are well known for making car seats and for their high safety standards. These same standards are applied to Britax pushchairs and travel systems, and Britax suggest considering the following factors when choosing one:
• Does it fit into the boot of your car as well as your lifestyle?
• Is it as comfortable for you to push as for your baby to sit in?
They are very sensible things to consider as a pushchair or travel system is a big investment and you don’t want to get it wrong and have to spend more money buying another one.
Britax make a range of products including three and four wheeler pushchairs, three and four wheeler strollers and pushchairs that easily convert into prams. Most, but not all, of their pushchairs are travel systems. A travel system means that a car seat can be added to the frame so baby can be moved from car to pushchair without being disturbed. For example the Nexus stroller is not a travel system. It’s a lightweight, compact and highly manoeuvrable pushchair, perfect for taking on holiday or nipping around town, in and out of shops, but doesn’t have the ability to clip a car seat or a carrycot on to it.
The Britax Vigour model pushchairs are all capable of becoming travel systems. They come in a three-wheeler and a four-wheeler version but you can clip a car seat or a carrycot on to both models. These are sold separately though so just because something is called a travel system it doesn’t necessarily mean you get a car seat or any other accessory with the pushchair. It’s a good idea to check thoroughly what is included in the price.
The three-wheeler and four-wheeler Britax pushchairs are very similar in features, except that of course the three-wheeler is more suitable for rougher terrain, while the four-wheeler is described as “pure style in the city”. Both can be used in the city or around town though as they are both lightweight and easily manoeuvrable. The only difference between them, apart from the possibility of off-roading with the three-wheeler, is how they look and which you prefer. Three-wheelers have a reputation for being sportier but to be honest both the Vigour models look very alike, both models are contemporary, stylish and sporty-looking.
They are both suitable from birth, travel systems with a Click and Go system for the easy addition of a car seat or carrycot, both have a seat with a multi-position backrest, both have lockable swivel front wheels, all round suspension for a comfy ride and puncture resistant tyres. Both also have a handy shopping basket and a rain cover, an adjustable soft grip handle for your comfort, a removable hood, detachable apron, footrest and detachable bumper.
The other Britax pushchairs, the Visio and the Beep, are also capable of becoming travel systems and have the same attention to detail given to their design and regard for safety as the Vigour, so the choice for you to make is which features suit your lifestyle and which style you like best. Whichever pushchair you choose remember to check the dimensions when folded as well as unfolded to see whether it will fit easily into your car or your home for storage.