Familidoo Air Review

This compact stroller, that’s easy to use, is also much cheaper (with an RRP of £169) than some of its more well-known competitors, such as the Babyzen Yoyo (from £369).

Admittedly, it won’t allow for any extras, such as a carrycot or car seat compatibility, and you might argue that the stroller’s fabrics and frame don’t feel as good quality as some competitors, but at nearly half the price it performs surprisingly well. In handling and fold, it really holds its own.

You can buy the Familidoo Air from PramCentre.co.uk, Cheeky Rascals or Yummy Kids

Tested by:

Mum of 2 Anna tested the Familidoo Air with her 2-year-old son, on dashes to nursery and fun family days out.

What were your first impressions of the Familidoo Air?

The Air seemed like a simple, yet well designed compact stroller. It arrives packed in its handy travel bag, which it fits in very snugly – so you’re all ready to go. I thought the Panda Black version that I tested was a bit boring, but it seemed sturdy enough, and I was pleased by how easy it was to figure out how to use it.

How does it compare to other lightweight buggies you have tried out?

The Air is at the cheaper end of other lightweight buggies that I have tried, but it actually compared very favourably. It felt surprisingly sturdy and secure, and focuses on doing a few simple things well.

I preferred the way it handled to many of the more high-end compacts, such as the Silver Cross Jet (£245), and it was miles better than the similarly priced Phil and Teds Go (£149).

What age the Familidoo Air suitable for?

The brand says it can be used from birth, due to its near-flat recline, however we recommend a firm, flat carrycot for newborn babies. It is great that it has the recline function though so older babies can nap.

How easy is the Familidoo Air to fold/unfold?

The Air is very simple to fold and unfold. There’s a small lever with a large button in the middle of the handlebar. You slide the lever with your thumb and then press the big button with the rest of your hand. Then, by pushing the handlebar forward to start the collapse, the buggy easily folds in on itself. The belly bar – which is a trike-style T-bar, also collapses automatically and the buggy locks in a free-standing fold. It’s all very easy.

To unfold, you do the same mechanism and pull the handlebar upwards until it clicks into place. You then unfold the T-bar.

How compact is the Familidoo Air when folded and unfolded?

This is a very compact stroller that’s comparable to the UPPABaby Minu or Phil and Teds Go.

It’s very flat when folded and fits nicely in its travel bag, making it super-easy to store.

With fold dimensions of 43x24x60 cm, it’s not quite as compact as the Babyzen Yoyo (52x44x18 cm), but it is still very handy. The best function of all is the one-handed fold action.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

Yes. It easily fits into the boot of our car and it’s likely to fit in most car boots.

How lightweight is the Familidoo Air?

At 6.3 kg all in, the Familidoo Air is fantastically lightweight as its name suggests! It really is super-easy to lift and take along on days out or on holiday. It would be nice though if it had a carry strap attached.

How easy is the Familidoo Air to push?

For a lightweight stroller, I found the Air really good to push and out of the cheaper, lightweight pushchairs I have tried, this definitely performed as one of the best. The all-round suspension meant that it coped surprisingly well with different terrain. The wheels are sturdy and the frame feels robust too. There is no rattling or give – I could tackle kerbs and felt properly in control of it, so I was very pleased.

How did you find it on public transport?

The Air fits nicely in different spaces and because it’s so easy to fold, I wouldn’t mind collapsing it at short notice to squeeze on a crowded bus. I also appreciated the T-bar when on public transport as it adds that extra bit of security when tipping the buggy up and down steps.

Are the wheels sturdy?

The suspension does its job and it feels like the wheels are sturdy enough to last. They’re no-fuss and sturdy, which is what you want.

Is the Familidoo Air's frame strong and durable?

The frame feels nice and strong. It doesn’t bend or creak, and it clicks into place well. The plastic accents of the folding mechanism and the footbrake do seem a bit flimsy, however. In my opinion they show the cheapness of this stroller.

What do you think of the handlebar?

The handlebar isn’t adjustable on the Air, but it is comfortable. It’s quite a simple design and it has the folding mechanism in the middle, which I don’t like but isn’t particularly unusual. This does mean that the fold is easy and one-handed, so there’s no need to bend over. That’s the trade-off.

Is the Familidoo Air's seat unit comfortable for a toddler?

The seat unit is very similar to lots of these lightweight strollers. For some reason a compact fold often means quite a reclined seat, even in the most upright position. Unfortunately, this meant it was tricky to strap my child in correctly, as he’d complain about not being able to lean forward to an upright position.

Also the seat is not very deep. It does recline very well though, which is great for toddlers who still need a rest.

I don’t really like the seat fabric. It seems hard-wearing but is a bit rough and plasticky unfortunately.

My child liked his ride in the Air. He really enjoyed the T-bar handle, which he clasped with glee. He also slept well in the stroller and the hood provided good coverage.

How many recline positions does the Familidoo Air's seat have?

The Familidoo Air has a gradual recline that is easily adjusted with a toggle. As mentioned, the most upright position isn’t great, but it’s good to have a near-flat recline for naps on-the-go.

How is interacting with your little one when in the buggy?

As with all forward-only-facing buggies, interacting isn’t that straight-forward and mostly involves a bit of shouting over the top or stopping and crouching. But luckily, this buggy has a peekaboo window that allows you to check in on your child as you walk.

What do you think of the Familidoo Air's hood?

The coverage of the hood is good although it doesn’t extend that neatly and leaves the fabric a bit crumpled. There is a toggle but I’m not entirely sure what it’s for. It seems like it’s in the wrong position.

Are the brakes effective?

Yes. It’s great that the brake allows you to push it on and off with your whole foot – in flip-flop weather, this saves your toes. It is quite small, but it works well.

How easily can you access the basket and is it big enough to store everything you need?

The basket is an OK size and is relatively easy to access from the back and the front of the pushchair. The back lip is a bit high, so it’s a squeeze to get bags in and out, but it’s still much better than some of the baskets I’ve seen on other compact strollers.

Is it car seat compatible?

No, you can’t attach an infant car seat onto the Air.

How did you like the look of the Familidoo Air?

I got the plain back version and although it is understated and functional, it was also a little underwhelming. It would be nice to check out the other two patterned designs in the range (Rabbit Pink or Panda Black), although I’m not the biggest fan of the animal character prints on those either. More colour choices for the stroller would be good.

What’s in the box?

• Stroller
• Carrybag
• Raincover

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy?

There aren’t any extras available for the Air

Is it easy/hard to build the Familidoo Air?

It’s super easy. The stroller arrives assembled and there’s no need to look at instructions. Even the fold is easy so you can figure it all out without any help.

Who would the Familidoo Air be most useful for?

This is a great-value option for parents wanting a compact and easy-to-use stroller, that’s a doddle to fold, for trips and travels. It’s a good option for those who want the benefits of buggies such as the YoYo, but for much less money. I do think it’s probably better as a secondary buggy, rather than an all-rounder to be used from birth. A newborn might be a bit exposed in this.

What was your favourite feature of the Air?

The easy folding mechanism and sturdiness of the stroller combined with a very reasonable price tag.

How much is the Familidoo Air, and is it good value for money?

With a price-tag of £169, the Familidoo Air is definitely good value and I would urge everyone looking for a compact travel stroller to consider it.

MadeForMums verdict:

For parents wanting a sturdy, but lightweight stroller, the Familidoo Air is a great option. It’s no-frills and very user-friendly so I’d really recommend it for quick nursery runs or as a second buggy to sling in the car boot for a weekend away.

Read More...

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