Hauck Twister Trio review

Well, it seems Hauck had all of this in mind when developing its latest buggy the Twister Trio. The travel system features a 360° twisting seat unit (hence the name) meaning you can change the position of the seat quickly and easily.

Known in the UK for making reliable but affordable childcare goods, Hauck has been manufacturing products for over 90 years and has one of the biggest and wide-ranging childcare goods collections in the market.

The brand makes pushchairs, car seats, travel cots, rockers, highchairs, carriers, safety gear and play centers to mention only a few of its products.

It also licenses products with designs from Disney, Lief! & I’Coo.

And the new Twister Trio the 360° turn, which turns with one hand – sees the brand rival the likes of Quinny, Nuna and Jane in regards to innovation and versatility.

But the big question is, does the Twister's turning seat stand up to the test or is it just spin?

What's in the box?

• Chassis
• Bassinet
• Toddler seat
• Toddler seat apron
• Toddler seat pad
• Car seat
• Car seat adaptors
• Instructions

Any optional extras?

I don't think you'd need any, but it does come in three colours: chocolate, lime and sand

Is it easy to build?

It’s really simple. The instructions (which were diagram only) were easy to follow, and the whole thing took about 5-10 minutes to put together.

How does the 360 degrees seat unit work?

You simply pull a lever (which looks a bit like a bicycle break) on the handle, slide the handle up so it's directly above the seat and twist.

And when your little one's facing the other way, you lower the handle down back in to pushing position. The seat's quite high, so it feels a bit like a turning podium.

It's a great feature, and my little ones' loved it. The lever takes a little getting used to (my partner struggled to pull it at first), but once you get the technique it's really easy to do.

It really is a good idea, and a fun way to keep your bubba occupied if they're getting bored in the supermarket queue! The same applies to the bassinet and car seat.

How comfortable does if feel for your little one?

The bassinet looks really padded and comfy. The toddler seat comes with a pad to put in too, and the seat is spacious and there's an adjustable footrest.

All-in-all, with the seat raised up like a podium, your little one will look like the boss of everything. Which of course, they are!

The car seat is also padded, but not as comfy looking as some of the higher end offerings.

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

It’s great, because of the 360 degree seat. If they're bored looking at you, you can stop and spin them round to face the world in seconds.

If they're just bored full stop, you can give them a few twirls and get them laughing.

Is the buggy itself lightweight?

Yes. It’s really light. I hardly felt like I was pushing anything.

That’s partly because the frame is light and sturdy but doesn't feel flimsy at all, in fact it took on many kerbs and bumps, and felt strong.

How is it when out and about?

It glides really well and is very light to push. The buggy turns with ease, and can handle any sudden changes in direction smoothly.

It mounts kerbs well, but the weight distribution with the child slightly forward in the buggy seat means it takes a bit of a push down on the handle to get the front wheels up.

On the pavement and road it runs really smoothly. It struggles just a little with my pebbly drive but still feels strong and sturdy.

There are two pedals on one block attached to the back right wheel. One is the brake, and the other releases the brake. They're both easy to reach and to press.

Tell us about the hood?

It's big, and comes down a long way, but the movement is quite jerky. This is not only frustrating but also might wake your youngster up with the clicking noise and jerky movements.

Saying that, it does have a little window when down, so you can peep in to see what they're up to.

What do you think of the fold system?

It's very simple but sadly not great as there are two parts to it. You have to remove the seat/bassinet and then fold the chassis. It's very simple to remove, with the click of a button on each side, but it'd be better to have a buggy that can fold with the seat. The chassis folds with the pressing of a few buttons and can be done with one hand.

How compact is it when folded?

As you have to remove the buggy seat and then fold it down, you have to store both, so it’s not a great space saving product. And the chassis doesn't fold down to be that compact either.

How does the buggy seat recline?

There's a strange two-pronged squeezy handle on the back of the seat that needs to be squashed together (like those hand grips that people used to build their forearm muscles with in the '80s).

The seat goes completely flat with an additional tug on a toggle. It could all be a bit more simple, but it's not too complex.

Would you recommend it for use from birth?

Yes. You get a comfy looking bassinet with it, so you could use this pram for years.

What’s the basket like?

There's quite a gap between the basket and seat, but the actual canvas sides to it aren't very deep. You can't store many unwieldy things in it, like a big shopping bag.

Who would find this product most useful?

Someone who needs to save money on buying the seats and bassinet individually - you get all three in one package (hence the Trio in the name) - and wants to have a bit of fun at the same time.

Is the product value for money?

Yes. Just under £500 for a buggy with a bassinet, buggy seat and car seat is good value. And there doesn't seem to be a false economy, as the product is good quality and works well.

MadeForMums verdict;

I really like this pram. It has a few features that niggle, but you get a lot for your money and the 360 degree seat is a really good selling point. It's a sturdy, light buggy and also a lot of fun!