iCandy Peach 7 pushchair review

Boasting a fancy built-in ride-on board – a dream come true to parents of a toddler or pre-schooler plus a newborn – as well as improved suspension, a longer seat, adjustable head hugger and easy-fastening harness, it ticks a lot of boxes for parents looking for quality, safety and style. However, pricewise, it definitely sits at the premium end of the pushchair market. In its single mode, it's similar in price to the Bugaboo Fox 5, £1,115, and the Egg2, £1,108, and is certainly a considered purchase, but it packs a lot into the bundle to justify the price.

Tested by

Cher Whelan is a journalist and lives in Kent with her husband and two children. She tested the iCandy Peach 7 with her 2-year-old son, and 4-month-old daughter, using the carrycot and seat in single mode, and 2 seats in double mode.

What were your first impressions?

Very good! Immediately I was really impressed with how the iCandy Peach 7 looked – the material felt soft and luxurious. I also instantly loved how spacious the basket underneath was – it looked like there would be plenty of room for shopping bags, which is always a bonus.

The iCandy Peach 7 includes lots of matching accessories that come as part of the Complete Bundle (including a changing bag, cup holder, parasol, footmuff, canopy and raincover). It also comes with car seat adaptors and seat extenders. With all the accessories, I felt it was really good value for such an impressive looking pram.

How easy is the iCandy Peach 7 to build?

Pretty straightforward. My iCandy Peach 7 Complete Bundle arrived in two large boxes; the chassis was really simple to put together and I just needed to attach the rear wheels. The instructions were very easy to follow, and I was able to put the carrycot and seat unit together within about 10 minutes each. The instructions made it clear how to change the configurations of baby and toddler seat with the adaptors, and they also explained how to fold and unfold the pushchair.

How does the iCandy Peach 7 differ to the Peach 6?

The Peach 7 is essentially still the same pushchair as the Peach 6, just with a few additional tweaks which make it more functional for parents.

• In-built ride-on board – in my opinion, this is a gamechanger for parents with a toddler. My 2-year-old son prefers to walk alongside the buggy instead of being strapped into a seat, but he often gets tired. I currently use a buggy board with a seat that attaches to my pram, but I find it bulky, awkward to walk with and difficult to manoeuvre the pram. The in-built standing board on the Peach 7 imeans I can still manoeuvre the pram without tripping over anything.

• Removable rear seat pocket on the seat unit – this is perfect for storing your purse, phone and keys when you don’t want to take a handbag out with you. And the new and improved seat harness enables you to adjust the straps on the seat unit and buckle up your child more easily.
• Updated carrycot approved for overnight sleeping – this makes the Peach 7 a convenient choice for overnight stays.

What do you think of the iCandy Peach 7 carrycot?

Measuring 88cm in length, the carrycot is suitable from birth to 6 months, so there is plenty of growing room for baby. My 4-month-old daughter seems to find the carrycot really comfortable, and she has plenty of space too, so I expect it to last the full 6 months.

The carrycot is fleece lined, which makes it cosy, and the mattress (which also feels really soft) comes with a breathable cover. I did the breathability test on the mattress and the sides of the carrycot by placing my mouth against the material and taking a few breaths, and I found I could still breathe, which obviously is reassuring.

One thing I did notice is that it’s quite difficult to put your baby into the carrycot with the bumper bar and cover still attached, and I found removing both singlehandedly while carrying my daughter a bit of a challenge. The zip on the cover is a little bit fiddly and can be tricky to access as it sits below the frame. I also found that when the bumper bar is in place, it does obscure my view of my daughter. Not a deal-breaker, but something to be aware of.

Having said that, the carrycot lifts off the chassis really easily – you simply unclick each side in turn – and the bumper bar enables you to lift it off single handedly, too. There are elevators included which you can clip onto the chassis so that the carrycot is raised, and your baby is closer to you, which is a thoughtful touch.

Is the iCandy Peach 7 carrycot safe for overnight sleeping?

Yes. I love that the carrycot has been approved for overnight sleeping, as it gives peace of mind that my baby is sleeping in a safe place. Usually, when my daughter falls asleep in her pram, I move her into her cot as soon as we get home, but with the Peach 7, I felt confident leaving her to sleep in the carrycot without any worries.

What do you think of the seat unit on the Peach 7?

My toddler son seems really comfortable in the seat unit – it’s cushioned for extra comfort and the material is soft, so I’m not surprised! The footmuff that comes as part of the complete bundle is fleece lined too, which makes it nice and cosy when the temperature is cooler.

I found the harness easy to adjust – you simply pull and slide the head support pillow, behind the seat, to adjust it to one of three height options. The seat unit can also be reclined to four different positions, which is great if your child wants to nap on the go, and it can also be reclined while in double mode.

The seat can also be used with the elevators to raise you baby or child closer to you, which is great for interaction or when you’re eating out and want your baby high up at the table with you.

The only downside is that the seat cover isn’t machine washable. iCandy advises cleaning the seat unit and the carrycot with a damp cloth, however my son can make quite a lot of mess when eating in the pram, so this isn’t ideal. I think stains are likely to occur with long term use, without a machine wash.

What age is the iCandy Peach 7 suitable for?

With the addition of the carrycot, you can use this pushchair from birth, and the seat unit has a recommended maximum weight usage of 25kg in single use (though worth noting it's 15kg when used as a double). My son is 2 and fits comfortably in the seat. Having said that, he is not particularly tall for his age, and I definitely can’t see him still fitting in this seat when he is 5 – although he probably wouldn't want to still be in a buggy at that age.

How easy is it to convert the carrycot to the seat unit?

I was very surprised by just how simple it is to convert the carrycot to a seat unit. The process took me under 10 minutes, and I didn’t even need to refer to the instructions as it was so straightforward.

Start by removing the bumper bar and hood (unclick the hood from each side and then unzip it from the frame), then – after unzipping and unpopping the carrycot material from the frame – just collapse the supports down and unhook them to remove everything. Then, you simply just zip the seat unit to the frame and pop the poppers up, reattach the bumper bar and pop the hood back on and zip it to the frame. And that’s it! So simple and stress free.

How do you convert the Peach 7 from single to double or twin mode?

I found the Peach 7 so simple and quick to convert and it was pretty self explanatory:

• You need to first attach the adaptors to the chassis. There are 4 adaptors and they are clearly labelled FR, FL (front right and front left), and RR, RL (fear right and rear left)
• Click the carrycot into the rear adaptors
• Attach the seat unit to the additional frame
• Fit the seat to the chassis using the elevator adaptors

To convert the Peach 7 to twin mode with two seat units:

• Unzip the carrycot material from the frame and zip the additional seat unit to it instead
• Use the front and rear adaptors, the elevators and the original central plugs on the chassis to choose a configuration that suits you

How effective is the hood on the Peach 7?

I found the hood really sturdy and – bonus points – it can be collapsed with one hand. It is SPF50+ and water repellent too. I particularly like the breathable mesh panel that can be accessed by lifting part of the hood up – often, breathable panels on prams can look untidy, but iCandy have done it really well as the material folds up neatly to expose the panel. The hood also extends further simply by unzipping it, which creates extra shade for baby.

Does the Peach 7 fold with the seat on?

No, the Peach 7, like its previous versions, can only be folded in two parts – you remove the seat or carrycot first and then fold the chassis. A two-part fold is great when picking up a pushchair to put in a car boot, as it's lighter to pick up in two pieces. However, the downside is that it can be bulkier to store than pushchairs that fold with the seat on and there are two big parts to store at home rather than one.

How easy is the iCandy Peach 7 pushchair to fold?

The Peach is famous for its one-handed fold and the Peach 7 doesn’t disappoint.

• As a two-part fold you have to remove the carrycot or seat unit first
• You also need to remove any adaptors or elevators from the chassis
• Then simply press the trigger button on the handle and push down to collapse the chassis in one smooth move. It can take a little practise, but once you've got the knack, it's simple

To unfold:

• Press a grey release button in the centre of the chassis and flick the frame open by the handle

I found it a breeze to fold and unfold and definitely one of my favourite things about the Peach 7.

How compact is the Peach 7 when folded?

The Peach 7 doesn't have a compact fold (L:70 x W:61 x H:29cm) but the chassis folds fairly neatly. You then have the seat or carrycot to add on top. It's similar to the Mamas & Papas Ocarro at L:76 x W:58 x H:37cm and the Cybex e-Priam at L:84.5 x W:51 x H:29cm, though both of these buggies fold with the seat on. You can make the fold slightly more compact (L:70 x W:54 x H:21cm) if you remove the wheel, but that's bit of a faff.

How do you fold it in double mode?

The Peach 7 can’t be folded with any of the units attached. So it is folded in the same way as it is in single mode. First, remove each seat unit by pressing the release buttons on either side and lifting off using the bumper bar. Then you need to remove the elevators, but you can leave all of the other adaptors in place. Then fold the chassis by pushing the handlebar down and lifting it with the strap in the storage basket.

Is the iCandy Peach 7 easy to carry and store?

The chassis self stands, which is useful for easy storage, and, although the chassis alone weighs 7.1kg, the shoulder strap makes it much easier to lift and carry.

How well does it fit in a car boot?

The Peach 7 does take up quite a lot of boot space as the chassis is fairly wide and you have to fit the carrycot, and/or seat unit in separately too. I found the Peach 7 fit in the boot of my car (Jaguar F-Pace) well, without much difficulty.

In double mode, I managed to fit both seat units and the chassis into the boot by placing everything onto its side. The boot of my car is quite spacious (650l) but I imagine it will be difficult to fit everything into a smaller boot space.

What’s the iCandy Peach 7 like to push and steer in single mode?

I found the Peach 7 easy to push on all types of terrain – I tested it on grass, bumpy and uneven pavements and pebbled pathways and it didn’t struggle at all. The PU tyres are puncture proof and really make light work of tricky terrain. The pram is quite heavy though, especially when my son is standing on the ride-on board too, so on tougher terrains, and up and down steep kerbs, I wasn’t able to push it single-handedly and needed a firm grip in order to manoeuvre it.

On smoother terrains, I found I could push it with just one hand. I did find that the cupholder got in the way though, especially when walking through doorways, as it does stick out quite a bit, but this is easily removable if it causes any bother.

How does it feel to push and steer on different terrains in double mode?

The Peach 7 is quite heavy in double mode, but I like how sturdy it feels. I tested it with my son and daughter (each in a seat unit) and was impressed that I could still manoeuvre the pram without any difficulty up and down curbs, and across bumpy terrains such as grass and uneven pavements.

However, when I tested it in a busy shopping centre, it was a little awkward to steer around stores and to weave in and out of clothing racks and stands. It was also difficult to fit into small lifts as the pram is quite long in double mode.

Which double mode configurations did you test?

I tested the Peach 7 in several different configurations with the two seat units, some with the seats rear facing and some world facing.

My toddler prefers to be world facing, but I found that with both seats facing forward, it was difficult to interact with my children, particularly my toddler who was sat at the front as he felt so far away!

I also found that unless you are using the elevators, the seats sit too closely together and it doesn’t leave a lot of legroom for the child sitting in the back seat. It wasn’t a problem for my daughter who is 6 months old, as she only has short legs, but I imagine as she gets bigger, it won’t be very comfortable for her.

Without the elevators, there is a very limited view from the back seat too. Again, this isn’t such a big problem for my daughter at the moment, but as she gets older the restricted view might be an issue so I’ll have to make sure we always have the elevators with us.

It’s also worth noting that in double mode, access to the storage basket underneath is very limited and awkward which is such a shame as it’s such a spacious basket.

What is the chassis like?

The aluminium frame is strong and durable, and I really like the shiny finish which suits the pram’s chic style – although it does look like it could scratch easily. However, when folding the chassis, the frame doesn’t need to touch the ground as it self-stands and can be lifted with the strap, so this should save the frame from most unwanted marks.

Is the handle on the iCandy Peach 7 adjustable?

Yes. The handle height can be adjusted easily, simply by pressing the release button, and covers a range from 95cm to 105cm to cater for partners of different heights. The leatherette pushbar is comfortable to use and looks sophisticated, too – as you’d expect from the stylish Peach 7.

Do the iCandy Peach 7 brakes feel effective?

The brakes are easy to access, sitting to the right of the chassis, so I never found I ended up kicking them by accident.

However, to release the brake, you need to use the top of your foot to lift it up, which did cause a few dirty marks on my trainers, and definitely made them far from flip flop friendly.

How big is the iCandy Peach 7’s basket?

I’m really impressed with how spacious the basket is – it’s a 44-litre basket and can hold up to 10kg. It’s easily accessible too, but only when the extension adaptors are being used to raise the carrycot or seat unit.

Without the extension adaptors, the space between the carrycot or seat unit and the basket is very small, which makes it quite difficult to make full use of the space in the basket.

With the extension adaptors though, I found I could fit several shopping bags in the basket, plus my son’s scooter! The basket also has a drainage hole which I’ve never seen on a pram before, but I think it’s a really clever idea. It means that water can drain off the raincover, or if you put a wet umbrella in the basket, water won’t gather and collect.

Can the Peach 7 be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

Yes; the car seat adapters are included in the bundle, or you can buy them separately for £33. The adaptors are compatible with most popular brands of car seat including Maxi Cosi, Cybex and Joie. I currently use a Venicci car seat, which isn't compatible with this travel system, but iCandy has a full list of compatible car seats on their website, here, so you can check before you buy.

What’s in the box?

I tested out the iCandy Peach 7 Complete Bundle, £1,199, which included:

• Chassis
• Carrycot fabric
• Seat unit fabric
• Carrycot/seat unit frame
• Canopy
• Mattress liner
• Basket
• Raincover
• Elevators
• Car seat adaptors
• Bumper bar
• Rucksack/changing bag
• Footmuff
• Screen (mesh fabric SPF 50+ pushchair cover)
• Cup holder
• Parasol
• Clamp (to attach the parasol or cup holder to the chassis)

What are the additional accessories you can buy?

I tried out the iCandy Peach 7 as part of a bundle, so didn’t need to buy any extras, however you can by the Peach 7 as a simple pushchair and carrycot set for £1,099 and buy all the accessories mentioned above, separately. This will work out a lot more expensive though.

What would you have liked to know before buying the iCandy Peach 7?

That it can easily be converted into a double or twin pushchair. That’s such a great feature which many parents with children close in age can take full advantage of and shows just how versatile the Peach 7 is.

Is the iCandy Peach 7 worth the money?

Although at £1,199 for the complete bundle or £1,099 for the carrycot and pushchair set, the Peach 7 is on the pricey side, I think it is worth every penny! Not only is it stylish, it has been built to last and make every outing with your child as easy and smooth as possible. Considering the carrycot can be used for permanent overnight sleeping too, the price is justified as it can double up as a travel cot or Moses basket for the first 6 months.

How does it compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the iCandy Peach 7 pushchair?

Available from iCandy, John Lewis and Mamas & Papas

MadeForMums verdict:

Quite honestly, it’s difficult for me to find much that I really dislike about the iCandy Peach 7, because, in my opinion, it really does tick most boxes. I love how easy the pram can be converted into double or twin mode, and how easy it is to fold and unfold. However, it's not a light pushchair and only offers a two-part fold, which isn't compact, so not so good if you don't have much storage or boot space, or have to carry it up and down stairs.

The integrated ride-on board is a gamechanger for me, and I don't think I could go back to using a separate, detachable buggy board again.

Ultimately, it's a sturdy stylish and smooth-to-push buggy that's particularly good for parents with more than one child, and for those looking for a pram that will grow with their family.