Suitable from 6 months up to 15kg or approximately when your little one is 3-years-old, it’s a lightweight stroller with a 5-point harness and now, it's travel system compatible - meaning you can attach a car seat or carrycot to the chassis.
Click here to buy the ABC Design Take Off on Amazon
The Take Off is sold as a lightweight buggy, but how light is it?
Extremely light! At 7.8kg the buggy is perfect for travelling with, and more compact than my previous buggy and that of my friends.
How does it fold?
The fold system is simple but takes a bit of getting used to. First time I tried to open and close the buggy my hand got stuck in the space that I thought was where I should lift it up to carry.
So - although none of us ever do it – you should read and remember what the instructions say.
To fold the buggy you press a lever on the handlebars and slide another lever for it to collapse.
Is it compact when it’s folded?
It certainly is! If you’re a parent with a small car, whose boots space is as valuable as gold dust, then get ready to smile. When folded the Takeoff is like a little cube.
In fact it’s perfect for taking on holiday, which is exactly what I’ve been looking for ahead of taking my son on his first holiday abroad.
But the best thing about it, is I could probably fit two of these in the boot of my MINI Clubman, which is brilliant as my previous buggy took up all the space!
How does it ride on different surfaces?
Surprisingly for being such a light buggy it feels strong and when we bump along grass in the park it doesn’t wobble or threaten to capsize.
Pushing it along the road to nursery and up and down the hill to our house doesn’t phase it either. I’m impressed with its ease of navigation.
Pushing this buggy on flat smooth surfaces is a nice, easy glide. Both wheels should lock, but only one actually does on my model. Saying that, this isn’t an issue for me as don’t ever want to lock them anyway.
Material-wise they are hard plastic so shouldn’t wear down as quickly as those made of rubber but things get slippery and may be a bit more of a struggle when going over gravelly surfaces.
The only negative thing about pushing this buggy is that the handles are not adjustable.
So if you have short arms it might be a strain on your back and means your feet sometimes kick the brake bar.
How comfortable is it for your little one?
My 16-month-old son looks really comfortable in this buggy especially now he’s getting older and his legs are getting longer.
It feels wider than our previous buggy so while good for toddlers might seem too spacious for a small baby.
Tell us about the hood?
The hood is nifty because it has two zip pockets on either side and folds up in the middle.
While it offers UV50 protection I’d never rely on that alone and would always put sun protection on my son.
It doesn’t reach further than the front of his head so the rest of his body is exposed. However it does mean that he didn’t need his sun hat on while sat in it.
What are the basket and storage pockets like?
The storage pockets are handy for little items you might need frequently like tissues or wipes. The top of the hood is a secret pocket in which you could fit small items such as a purse or a mobile phone.
The basket however is too small and the seat doesn’t lift up so it’s hard to get things in it.
You couldn’t rely on it if you were taking your child to the supermarket for a lot of groceries or if you wanted to stash a nappy bag. It’s half the size of the basket on my previous buggy which is my main gripe.
Is it value for money?
For £200 you get the buggy, travel system adapter, bumper bar and rain cover making it a bit pricey for what it is. However it’ll work through various age stages, especially if you have the correct car seat for newborns.
My son is 16 months and it feels a better buggy for a toddler. I wouldn’t have been as keen on it when he was a lot younger but now it suits our lifestyle perfectly.
Does it require assembling?
No, the buggy comes fully assembled, so it takes seconds to put up in a couple of clicks.
There are plenty of pictures at the front of the instructions to guide you through the process.
What’s in the box?
- Buggy
- Rain cover
- Bumper bar
- Travel system adaptors - £24.99
- OBaby ZeZu Baby Car Seat - £69.99
As a secondary buggy for day trips in the car, public transport or going on holiday, I really like this.
However on a day-to-day basis this buggy lets itself down with simple things like a small basket and nowhere to attach a drinks holder or toys.
The handles are not adjustable, so if you have short arms it might be a strain on your back, and means your feet sometimes kick the brake bar. You’d have to buy a bag clip to attach on if you wanted to carry a nappy bag.
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