REVIEW Joie Pact Lightweight Pushchair / Stroller

REVIEW Joie Pact Lightweight Pushchair / Stroller

AD – Product gifted for review

Have you heard of the new Joie Pact stroller? May is finally here and with it has come the brighter nights, the sunnier days and the rising of the mercury – for me it couldn’t have come soon enough! As soon as the brighter days start to appear, my mood improves almost instantly, and I start thinking about days out, travel, and getting away on holiday with my little family!

Whilst we love our Joie Litetrax 4 Pushchair, it is a on the larger side, and as such we have been looking for a slightly smaller and more travel friendly pushchair. Neve is now a fairly confident walker, but at 20 months, she still does get tired if we cover a large distance. At times she also tends to try and make a run for it, so we like to use a pushchair if we are out and about or going somewhere where we will be walking for a significant amount of time.

Joie must have read our minds with their new recently launched a Joie compact stroller / pushchair- the Joie Pact – a small, lightweight, easy fold pushchair / stroller that is perfectly equipped for travel. We couldn’t wait to put it through it’s paces – here’s our Joie Pact review! 

Joie Pact Pushchair

About the Joie Pact Stroller / Pushchair

The Joie Pact is a lightweight stroller and it’s features include:

  • Suitable from birth to 15kg
  • Compatible with Joie iGemm or other maxi cosi car seats (using compatible adapters)
  • Super easy and compact fold
  • Carry strap and custom carry bag
  • UPF50+ sun canopy with viewing window
  • Multi position recline including lie flat option
  • Full size, easy access shopping basket
  • 5 point safety harness.

How does the Joie Pact compare to the Joie Pact Lite? 

The main differences between the Joie Pact stroller and the Joie Pact Lite is the weight and size. Whilst the Joie Pact is already incredibly lightweight at 6kg, the Joie Pact Lite weighs 0.5kg less at just 5.5kg. 

What age is the Joie Pact Stroller suitable for? 

The Joie Pact stroller is suitable from birth to 15kg (around 3 years of age depending on the size of your baby).

Can the Joie Pact be used as a travel system? 

It’s a lightweight pushchair so whilst you can use it with a compatable car seat, it’s probably not the best choice for multi terrain / off roading. That said, for city living and strolls it can be used with the Joie iGemm or other Maxi Cosi car seat using adapters.

Our Experience of the Joie Stroller

First Impressions of Joie Pact

My first impressions of the Joie Pact were very positive. I loved the look and feel of the product and the fact it folded down so small was a real positive. The material feels soft and comfortable, and although small in stature, it appeared to be a sturdy and strong chasis.

We went for the Navy Blazer colour, which although you could argue is more of a traditional ‘boy’ colour we felt was perfectly gender neutral and a practical shade for a pushchair that would be used frequently on our travels. The Pact is also available in Cranberry (a red shade) if you prefer something a little different.

The carry bag and carry handle made it clear immediately that this pushchair was very different from others we have had before.

Does the Joie Pact require assembly?

The Joie Pact Stroller comes boxed and does require some assembly, but was very easy to put together, with the wheels simply clipping into place, and a small wire connecting the two wheels simply needing to be velcro’d under the cover flap to hold it in place. I normally wait for my other half to come home before attempting assembly jobs like these, however was able to do this on my own completely unassisted in less than 15 minutes.

How easy is it to steer?

We have tested the Joie Pact Stroller on a variety of different surfaces from tarmac, to pebbles and grass. It is very easy to steer, with the front wheels swivelling to help control (they can also be locked in place). Due to its smaller size, the Joie Pact doesn’t handle corners as well as a larger travel system (such as the Joie Litrax 4), however this did not affect the usability at all. On particularly bumpy terrain, such as over tree routes or pebbles the Joie Pact can struggle a bit to lift over the bumps (as the front wheels are relatively small), but again, for a travel pushchair I expect this is a compromise to maintain its lightweight and compact nature. If you live in a particularly rural setting, you may be better opting for a larger, multi terrain pushchair.

What is the Sun Protection / Hood like on the Joie Pact?

The hood of the Joie Pact, as with our Joie Litrax provides a large amount of cover for your child from the sun when they are reclined. When sat upright however I would’ve preferred this to be a little deeper, as when it is particularly sunny the rays did still get into her eyes a little. The Joie Pact hood provides UPF50+ protection, and there is also a visor at the top so you can peak through and check on your child, which is easy to open with velcro. This would be particularly reassuring for parents using the Pact with younger babies, as being forward facing you otherwise wouldn’t be able to interact easily with your child.

Joie Pact Pushchair

Straps and five point harness

The Joie Pact is forward facing only and has a number of recline options using a strap and pull system on the back of the seat. I found this quite fiddly at times, as it was more of a guess work job than a refined art, but once the strap was pulled into place the back did stay put. It’s worth noting here that the chair doesn’t allow a child to sit completely upright, more so at a subtle incline. It does however lie completely flat, which is ideal for younger babies who may nod off when walking and want to have a proper sleep on your commute.

There is a five point harness with long shoulder pads and pads at the centre, meaning it is both secure and comfortable. The centre pad did occasionally come off (see below) so for ease we often used without, however Neve was still very comfortable in her chair.

The bumper bar across the centre of the Joie Pact is cushioned and can be unclipped on the side (or removed completely) for easier access – I found removing Neve from the pushchair much much easier if I simply unclipped the one side of the bar.

The seat size on the Joie Pact is relatively small, so depending on the height / size of your child this is something to bear in mind – Neve is quite petite so for us it wasn’t a problem but for a taller child, you may find it a little on the tight side or find their legs hang a little more over the edge!

Joie Pact Pushchair

What is the Brake like?

The brake on the Joie Pact is a simple foot operated peddle to the left of the right hand wheel, which I found very easy to operate. Despite being a lightweight pushchair, the brake was strong, and it was quite hard to move the chair without releasing the pedal beforehand.

What is the basket like on the Joie Pact?

A full size shopping basket under the Joie Pact makes it very practical and I found this a huge positive for such a compact pushchair. There is plenty of room to pop in some shopping, a changing bag or heavier items that you do not wish to carry, and unlike with the Litetrax, the storage area can be accessed from all sides, even when the chair is in lie flat position. Due to its lightweight nature, I wouldn’t recommend placing bags on the back of the handle, as this is likely to cause the Pact to tip.

Easy fold option

The Joie Pact is EXTREMELY easy to fold up and down (can be done with one hand) – simply press and unclip at the top and the entire thing pretty much folds in on itself, into a very small compact size making it very easy to store in the back of your car and saving lots of valuable space. We recently went on holiday for the first time as a family of four, and I was amazed at how much stuff we wanted to take. The smaller size of the Joie Pact meant that we were still able to take a pushchair without needing to worry about taking up valuable boot space which could be used for other essential items!

Space Saving

The Joie Pact measures just 52.5 x 24 x 56.5cm when folded meaning that during travel on public transport, you can be confident that there will be enough space to tuck the Joie Pact neatly out of the way, or even on the overhead shelves on trains.  The pushchair also stands on its own when folded.

Carry Strap

The carry strap is really really useful, ideal for when you are taking on holiday (especially abroad), but there have also been times when I have walked Neve to nursery, and then used the carry handle to carry home as opposed to walking back with an empty pushchair. When carried, the Joie Pact feels very light and does not feel uncomfortable at all – weighing just 6kg.

The Joie Pact retails at £150, making it a realtively affordable option for most families.

Pros of the Joie Pact:

  • Straight forward to assemble and easy to follow instructions.
  • Super easy one handed fold.
  • More than adequate storage space.
  • Very lightweight and easy to carry using integrated carry handle.
  • Very compact when folded, and takes up limited space in a car boot or on public transport.
  • Ideal for school / nursery commute, or those who travel frequently.
  • Despite its small stature, still has many of the benefits you would expect from a larger system.
  • UPF50+ Sun hood
  • Easy to operate break.

Cons of the Joie Pact:

  • Adjusting the back incline can be a little bit fiddly, and never quite felt like I was doing it right. Doesn’t sit totally upright, which for older babies might be something that frustrates them a little!
  • Seat size is small which for taller babies might be an issue.
  • Adjusting the height of the straps can be a little fiddly as involves repoking the straps through some small slits in the material – however once it is done it’s done!
  • Struggles a little with very bumpy terrain due to the small wheel size and doesn’t corner as well as a larger travel system may do, but this is a compromise for the other positive features above.

Overall

The Joie Pact is a lightweight, compact and super easy to fold pushchair that although small, has many features that you would expect from a larger travel system or pushchair. It is ideal for anyone who travels on public transport a lot, or to use on holiday when space is limited. The Joie Pact is also perfect for anyone who lives in a flat or home with stairs to contend with, as it is super easy to carry using the attached handle. For our family, the Joie Pact is perfect for the school or nursery run and ideal if you have limited storage space in your home and want something that wont take up too much room in your porch / hall.

Where can I buy the Joie Pact?

The Joie Pact is available to purchase at many high street stores including:

Argos – Check out the latest deals here 

*Disclosure – We were sent a Joie Pact  free of charge for the purpose of this review, however as always all thoghts and opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link* 

REVIEW – SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

REVIEW – SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

Neve is fast approaching her first birthday (sob) and as such, is getting to the point where she is wanting to explore a lot more of the world. Whilst we love going out for walks in the pushchair, for a now 11 month old, a practical pushchair is …. well…. just a little bit boring. Queue stiff arms, fighting legs and a slight annoyance at being restrained.

We were recently given the opportunity to review the SmarTrike 5-in-1 infinity trike which is suitable from 10 months until 3 years of age. Having had a trike with Erin and bought her one just before her 1st birthday (which feels like yesterday!) we were confident the trike would be an immediate hit, and I couldn’t wait to introduce Neve to the concept.

SmarTrike has matured somewhat in the four years since we last took one out for a spin – with the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity including  new features such as a compressible sun canopy and the amazing recliner option- I couldn’t wait to take her out for a spin!

SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity In box

About the Product

SmarTrike’s 5-in-1 Infinity reclining purple Tricycle is suitable for babies from 10 months to 3 years of age, adjusting and growing with your child.

With the lightest touch and smart patented Touch Steering Technology, the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity trike manoeuvres like a stroller, and is easy to steer one handed by the parent until the child is old enough to navigate themselves. Using a unique button on the mudguard. the trike can easily switch from parent Touch Steering to child ride-control.

The seat is washable and padded seat cover is stylishly coordinated with the extendable canopy, the parent bag and the large, multi- purpose storage bag.

Stage 1: Sleep mode – High back seat reclines, baby rests in comfort and security.

Stage 2: At 10 months baby safely uses foot rest & sits comfortably in padded seat.

Stage 3: At 18 months baby can sit upright independently, remove the safety bar. Parents continue to push and control the trike. Baby enjoys the ride while developing confidence, balance and motor skills.

Stage 4: At 24 months it becomes a training trike where kids learn to pedal.

Stage 5: At 30 months you can remove the parent handle, close the safety clutch and it becomes an independent trike that kids pedal by themselves.

Our Experience

The SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity comes requiring assembly, and with most DIY jobs in our house, I tend to leave them to someone else!  Thankfully, the two handy men in my life came to the rescue, and Grandad (my Dad!) kindly popped round to put it together. The whole process was very quick and easy, with the whole thing taking just 25 minutes to construct, from removing the box to us popping Neve in for her first ride!

My first impressions were that it looks fantastic! Having had a SmarTrike a number of years ago I was really impressed with the new features, whilst it had kept some of the original elements which Erin had loved.

You can see the trike in action on our video below!

Key Features

Sun Canopy – The style of the canopy has changed since our original trike, and definitely for the better. The retractable sun canopy is now consortia style. This is lower to Neve’s head than the old style twisting flat canopy and as such, created a lot more protection against the sun. It has come away from the frame a couple of times when using it, but is relatively straightforward to click back into place.

Recliner

Oh my goodness this is excellent! The amount of times I had taken Erin out in the trike for her to get tired walking back from the park and the cursed myself for not having taken the pushchair. Previously this would have resulted in a screaming baby whilst I rushed home as fast as possible – not anymore!

Using the two buttons either side of the seat, the back rest can be reclined slightly into a more relaxed seating position, meaning that Neve was able to rest back in her seat and drift off to sleep on our way home.

SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity Recline mode

She was so comfortable in fact (and napping is such a rarity in this house!) that I wheeled her into the garden and left her snoozing for a little while (in sight!) whilst I watched Neighours – happy days 🙂

Baby asleep in SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

Multi Purpose Storage Bag

The small parent bag at the top of the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity is really useful for popping in smaller items that you need to access quickly, such as your keys, purse or baby wipes. However, there are times when a small space just doesn’t cut it, and carrying a changing bag isn’t a fun option. The large multi purpose storage bag is FANTASTIC, and I was able to fit a fair amount of items inside – we popped to the shop and I was able to take my camera, my changing mat and nappies, and still had room to pop in a book from a charity shop and a few groceries in with room to spare.

Baby smiling in SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

Phone

The phone accessory on the SmarTrike 5-in-1  Infinity is lots of fun for Neve to play with and at the perfect height. It is so handy to have something at easy reach for them to play with which cannot be dropped or discarded. The phone makes subtle music and sounds – but they are not at all overbearing. Neve found the little ariel perfect for chewing on – extra handy when you have some teeth coming through!

Baby playing on toy phone in SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

Steering & Ease of Movement

From a parents point of view, the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity is really easy to steer. I was able to do so one handed with ease, and found it very easy to manoeuvre round corners or to avoid other children running past us in the park! The Trike has it’s own easy to apply break, which can be flicked on and off with one foot.

As a Mum of two, being able to steer one handed whilst still holding the hand of my eldest makes this the perfect way to get out and about in the park. Erin also loves helping push her sister along, with the adjustable handlebar just at the right height for her! 🙂

Girl pushing her sister in SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity

Overall we absolutely LOVE the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity, and I am looking forward to transitioning the trike to the other stages as Neve grows in size and confidence. The only real con of the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity has to be storing it, as it is obviously rather on the large side. We don’t have a porch, so have to pop ours into the shed at night,but I would rather not leave it outside as it could get wet / sun damaged. That said, the handlebar does slot down to a smaller size and as such, I was able to easily pop into the boot when required.

You can learn more about the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity Recliner on the SmarTrike website.

*Disclosure – we were sent the SmarTrike 5-in-1 Infinity Recliner free of charge for the purpose of this review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own*

 

Quinny Zapp Flex Plus REVIEW

Quinny Zapp Flex Plus REVIEW

#AD – Quinny Zapp Flex Plus gifted for review

Introducing our Quinny Zapp Flex Plus Review

I always love reading about new pushchair launches, and often flick through magazines looking at pushchairs in admiration in the same way that Mike does when flicking through the brochures from his favourite car manufacturer! Yes it’s a bit weird, but there are some truly beautiful pushchairs out there, and I am always amazed at what they come up with next in terms of style and portability.

When I was given the opportunity to carry out a Quinny Zapp Flex Plus review I think I actually let out a little squeal. I had seen them online and thought how gorgeous they were. I couldn’t wait to put it to the test with Neve.

About the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus

Quinny Zapp Flex Plus – Key Features:

  • Suitable from 6 months to approx 3.5 years (15kg)
  • Combine with either the Quinny Lux Carrycot, Quinny From-Birth Cocoon or a Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat for a from birth solution (all sold separately)
  • Seat unit can face both ways and reclines fully in both directions
  • 3 recline positions (2 rearward facing and 3 forward facing)
  • Highly compact 3D folding mechanism
  • Highly manoeuvrable
  • 3 compact sized wheels with a swivel front wheel
  • Easy to access shopping basket
  • Compact fold
  • Includes sun canopy, raincover, Maxi-Cosi car seat adapters and shopping basket

The Quinny Zapp Flex Plus is available in 12 different colours – TWELVE! I challenge anyone to make that decision quickly. Quinny even offer the ability to fully customise your own – choosing the frame, canopy and seat colours from a range of options. My favourite colour options were the Frost on Grey (pictured) and the Graphite on Blush.

Where to buy the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus?

The Quinny Zapp Flex Plus retails at around £335. See below for the latest Quinny Zapp Flex Plus offers:

Setting Up our Quinny Zapp Flex Plus Review

quinny zapp flex plus Assembly

The pushchair arrived in a fairly compact box, and where as I would normally divert the task of assembly straight to my DIY savvy partner, I decided to give this a go myself. I am so glad that I did! It was really really straightforward, and I got to see the slightly put out yet pleasantly surprised smirk on his face when he arrived home! 🙂

The box comes with only a few items to put together, and includes Maxi Cosi adapters if required. This allows a Maxi Cosi car seat to be attached to the chasis so that the pushchair can be used from birth. Without this, the pushchair is suitable from 6 months.

Assembly basically involved slotting the wheels into place on the chasis (super easy), and folding open the chasis, before attaching the shopping basket to the bottom fitting some simple elasticated loops to hooks. The whole process took no more than 10 minutes and then the pushchair was ready to go.

The instructions were fairly easy to follow, although I did personally find it easier to watch the quick YouTube video to see how the pushchair folding mechanism worked. The process is labelled on the chasis itself with numbers so once you become familiar with the process, it is relatively straight forward.

First Impressions

My first impressions were really positive! 🙂 I loved the colour – frost on grey, and the silvery aluminium coloured frame. The lightweight nature was immediately obvious and whilst the wheels were big and chunky, the pushchair was extremely easy to steer one handed. There is no bumper bar, however at the age of 9 months, Neve doesn’t really need one – you can purchase one as a separate accessory if you wish.

Our Quinny Zapp Flex Plus Review

quinny zapp flex plus In front of wooden door

So far I have taken Neve out and about on a number of trips with the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus, both walking to our local park and out in the car to one of our local National Trust gardens. This put the pushchair to the test on a number of different ground surfaces, as well as putting the folding mechanism into action getting it in and out of my car.

quinny zapp flex plus In use

First things first, the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus is super lightweight  and easy to manoeuvre. I was able to steer one handed whilst still holding my eldest daughter’s hand, a real positive for those with more than one child. I am 5ft 5, and the height of the handlebar is perfect for me. It isn’t adjustable but didn’t feel too high or too low, so I would imagine this would be ideal for the majority of parents.

The wheels are big and chunky, and the benefit of this was very noticeable when pushing over grass and pebbles. We have a pebble drive, and sometimes I am lucky enough to get a pushchair to move at all on such an uneven surface, whereas these wheels made it feel at least somewhat manageable!

With the weather being lovely during the weeks of our Quinny Zapp Flex plus review, the extended sun canopy was a real positive, without needing a separate parasol to keep the sun out of Neve’s eyes. The sun canopy was already attached to the frame and simply pulls open, with a zip to increase the amount of cover provided. The fabric of the canopy is very lightweight yet still has an SPF benefit of UV50+. as well as shielding from any wind. The thin fabric however did make me feel slightly uncomfortable hooking my changing bag over the handlebar for fear of damaging it.

Quinny Zapp Recline settings

There are 3 different recline settings on the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus, including an almost lie flat setting for sleeping. It is extremely easy to switch between them using the press button on the handlebar, and I was able to move between recline settings without waking Neve (i.e. once she had nodded off I could easily lower the seat to lying mode)

quinny zapp flex plus and big sister

The seat can be turned around if you prefer to have parent facing, however with Neve being almost 9 months, she prefers to be able to see where we are going (I guess she’s seen enough of my face by now!).

Quinny zapp flex plus review

Neve is happy and comfortable in the seat. Being very lightweight fabric, there is minimal visible padding to it, with only the base of the seat having additional cushioning. At first I wasn’t sure if this was going to be as cozy as she was used to, but she seems very content and comfortable in the seat.

Shopping Basket

The Shopping basket is attached by small elastic loops and is of a matching colour to the seat. Although made from lightweight fabric, the basket is pretty strong, being able to take a reasonable amount of weight. That said, for me, the storage basket is on the small side, and for me one of this pushchairs few negatives. It is not big enough for my changing bag (although most seldom are!) and I don’t think therefore I would be able to use this for a quick stroll to the supermarket, without needing to carry the majority of my purchases by hand. Again Quinny however do appear to have thought of everything, as the Quinny Xtra Shopping bag is available to purchase as an optional accessory. It doesn’t look as stylish with the additional basket attached, but does mean you could clip it on if you knew you needed some addition space for a particular trip.

Under frame storage quinny zapp flex plus

The Break

The break on the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus is a little different to what I am used to, in that instead of having one foot operated break system, it has two- using two distinct break buttons on the left and right wheels. The red, right wheel is pressed to trigger the break, and it is then released by pressing the grey button on the left. It took me a little while to get used to this, and at first I got a bit muddled as to which one I was supposed to be pressing, tapping on the grey one and wondering why nothing was happening. Eventually this sunk in, although I would probably prefer one button for both if the truth be known. That said, it does the job well, and holds the pushchair firmly in place when engaged.

The Straps

At first I found the straps a bit fiddly as I couldn’t get them to pull as tight as I would have liked. The five point harness easily clips into place, and features rubber shoulder supports which keeps them neatly in place. As your child grows, you can move the harness up and down, setting it at one of three different heights. The YouTube video implied it was very easy to simply pop the straps through the slits in the fabric – it wasn’t quite so straight forward in my experience, but this may just be whilst the fabric is new. It took me a while to move them, but once I got them to a position I was happy, with they are secure and easy to apply.

Baby asleep in quinny zapp flex plus

Raincover

The rain cover comes included with the pushchair and as with the rest of the design is extremely lightweight. The cover is VERY easy to apply, taking literally seconds to pop over the top and pull into place. I love the contrasting colour, and the access zip so you can say hello, check if they’re awake or more commonly in my case, pass them a wotsit. Neve is renowened for trying to pull off raincovers (not normally liking being covered up), but with no obvious edges to grab or bother her, Neve simply drifted  off to sleep instead!

Unlike some rain covers I have used, this one folds up extremely small which means even with the small shopping basket there is still space for other things.

Raincover quinny zapp flex plus

Compact Fold Quinny Zapp Flex Plus

One huge positive of the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus is the folding mechanism, making the pushchair a compact and portable product. It really is impressive, looking a little like a large scuttlebug when folded down.

quinny zapp flex plus folded

The up and down setting involves 3 distinct movements, which once mastered can be done very quickly and easily, and are labelled on the chasis itself incase you forget.

quinny zapp flex plus review

The steps for putting the pushchair down (pictured above) are:

  1. Pressing the button and flicking the switch on the handle, fold down the seat forwards (it hinges downwards).
  2. Slide the release locks and fold down the handlebar.
  3. Press the number 1 button and apply pressure – this causes the chasis to fold in upon itself.

Unlike some pushchairs, the folding can be done with the seat still attached, as it hinges in the centre and folds in on itself. This is a  real positive for ensuring more room in your car. The Quinny Zapp Flex Plus fits easily into the boot of my Golf with plenty of room to spare.

Pros:

  • Super lightweight and very easy to manoeuvre even one handed (great for when you have a toddler in tow!)
  • Looks super stylish
  • Large sun canopy which zips open for further coverage.
  • Available in a wide range of colours with contrasting elements
  • Raincover folds up incredibly small and is very easy to fit in literally seconds (no faffing around in the rain!
  • Small size when folded.
  • Innovative folding mechanism which is quick and easy to operate.

Cons:

  • Basket is smaller than I would like, as I do a lot of walking and completing errands with the pushchair in tow!
  • Moving straps up and down was a little on the challenging side, however once done, I did not need to move them regularly.
  • As it is so light, having a heavy changing bag hanging off back made it a little unsteady, I was worried that the lightweight fabric may also tear, so preferred to carry my bag instead.

You can learn more about the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus and check out all the different colour options (Swoon!) on the Quinny Website.

For advice on choosing the right pushchair for you – we found this Independent article helpful.

*Disclosure – We were sent this pushchair free of charge for the purpose of this Quinny Zapp Flex Plus review, however all thoughts and opinions are our own*.

Review of the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus lightweight easy fold pushchair