Casualplay Avant review

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Seat with memory foam insert
• Wheels
• Raincover
• Bumper bar
• Casual bag (changing bag)
• Sun canopy

Any additional extras?

• Metropol carrycot - £129.99
• Footmuff - £39.99
• Parasol - £30.00
• Rain ball - £39.99

Is it easy to build?

Not really, the stroller comes with a very detailed instruction booklet but despite that, I did have some difficulty putting it together because often the pictures didn’t correlate with the parts. However, once I got in my stride, it was reasonably easy to assemble.

Was it easy to fold?

Yes, its compact folding mechanism allows you to easily collapse it with one hand. I like the fact it stands up when folded, so it didn’t take up a great deal of room in our hallway. But it was a different story when it came to fitting in the boot of our Ford Focus. It took up half the space, thereby making it difficult to get anything else in the boot, such as the weekly shop.

What did you think of the frame?

The Avant has a taller than usual frame, which is ideal for my 6ft 3in husband who has often complained that standard strollers cause him to hunch over as the handles are simply not long enough.

The tall frame also means it can used as a highchair when out and about, which was certainly helpful when I took my 18-month-old daughter, Martha to our usual café for a morning cup of tea. Normally, I have to bend down to feed her, but with the Avant she was on the same level as me, which was brilliant in terms of interacting and ensuring she was part of our morning activities.

How did the stroller manoeuvre?

The front double swivel wheels are lockable for added security and both the rear and front wheels were easy to fit and remove. The Avant is also light enough to be carried up several flights of stairs, which is particularly handy if you live in a flat or for travelling out and about in busy urban areas.

A minor gripe is the Avant’s parking brake, which is located beneath the handle on the right hand side. To release the brake, you simply depress the red button in front of it and it rapidly flicks off. To me, it felt a little flimsy but I will readily admit that it makes a change to have the brake lever higher up, especially during the summer when wearing flip-flops or open toe shoes.

Tell us about the basket?

I particularly liked the basket, which at 50cm long, 38cm wide and 25cm deep and is huge in comparison to other strollers. It is easily accessible whether Martha was front or rear facing. I could get six medium sized carrier bags filled with shopping in the basket, which can carry a maximum weight of 2.5kg, so it was brilliant!

What did you think of the memory foam seat unit?

As with most from birth strollers, the seat can be rear or forward facing and has been designed to be changed easily. The seat insert, which comes in a range of colours, is made from memory foam making the ride much more comfortable for Martha, who very rarely dozes in her usual stroller but actually fell asleep several times in the Avant.

It also helps that the seat reclines from totally upright to flat, which is operated by lifting a lever at the back of the seat. It also has an adjustable footrest, operated by two buttons at the side, which Martha particularly liked resting her feet on.

Was it a secure stroller?

Really secure,I really liked the five-point adjustable harness, which was a breeze to secure even when Martha was having a toddler tantrum. Usually it’s a battle to simultaneously hold her in the stroller, while ensuring she doesn’t wriggle out and snap the harness together but the Avant made it very easy during what is usually a bit of a trying situation.

In a nutshell

It’s pretty to hard to fault the Casualplay Avant. It’s robust, stylish, and lightweight, is easy-to-fold and more importantly ensures your child is secure, safe and protected whether you’re out in a busy urban environment or just popping to the park to feed the ducks.

It’s easy to manoeuvre and the large basket is an added bonus. In my mind, the Avant may be a little more expensive than similar strollers but is worth every penny.