It is lightweight and features a shock-absorbing design, which offers a bump-free, ‘floating’ experience even on the roughest of terrains, as well as excellent manoeuvrability with lockable balanced front wheels and a double brake.
What’s in the box?
- Chassis
- Wheels
- Seat unit
- Koos infant car seat
- Nano carrycot
- Hood (adaptable for use on the Nano carrycot)
- Raincover
- Shopping basket
- Handlebar cover
- Car seat canopy
- Padded liner
- Harness pads
- Mattress base
Any additional extras?
- Parasol -£39.99
- Footmuff for car seat -£69.99
- Footmuff for pushchair -£89.99
- Pram bag -£39.99
- Safety mattress for the Nano carrycot -£19.99
- Isofix platform for the car seat -£145.00
Was it easy to build the buggy?
Yes, it was very easy and intuitive to build; it took a matter of minutes.
How was the folding action of the Epic?
You can fold this pushchair with the seat facing forward or rearward, and without having to detach the seat first, which is a big plus. It folds extremely easily in one motion there’s no need to take your eyes off other children, apart from the split second it takes to press the buttons that collapses it. But you do need two hands to collapse it initially.
Is the Epic a true all-terrain buggy?
Yes it is. We tried it on gravelly coastal paths, on grass and even on sand, and it stood up to all of those brilliantly. I took it on a run with my daughter and was impressed by what a smooth ride she had and how comfortable and content she seemed, despite the pace and terrain.
It has really remarkable suspension thanks to two shock absorbers and puncture-proof tyres (supposedly 10 times more hardwearing than traditional tyres), making it perfect for running or for walks over rough terrain.
Does it also work as a day-to-day stroller?
Yes, it does. The balanced front wheels gives brilliant manoeuvrability for nipping in and out of shop doorways and narrow aisles. It was easy to steer and push, even with one hand, and it’s very compact and lightweight so you don’t think twice about lifting it in or out of the car boot.
How comfortable is the bassinet?
Extremely. At nine months old my daughter is too big to use the bassinet regularly but we popped her in it for naps at home and she slept really soundly. I particularly like that it comes with a mattress for maximum comfort.
It can also be folded up very easily and quickly to an extraordinarily small size - great for storage, however, it does not have straps.
Tells us about the Koos car seat.
The Infant car seat Group 0+ (up to 13kg, 18 months approx) is brilliant - noticeably lighter than other infant car seats, and the storage unit at the back of the seat is an ingenious idea - great for stashing purse or any other small item, and it means I didn’t have to precariously balance anything on the hood of the seat. I also love that it comes with a smartphone barcode for accessing an in-car fitting demonstration.
Is it travel system compatible?
Yes and it’s incredibly easy to use. The car seat is much more lightweight than our last car seat, and clicks easily into place on the chassis with just one movement - you don't need any additional fitting kit to attach it.
It’s also quick and easy to secure the baby in the car seat - our last one was considerably more fiddly, which frustrated our daughter. In this, she barely noticed she was being strapped in, so was much less grumbly about being constrained.
She’s also quite upright when sitting in this car seat in the car, allowing her to look around and watch the world go by from the car window, which she seems to like.
Compare to the best travel systems.
Measure the Epic against the award-winning lightweight buggies of 2014.
See how this stroller compares to other all-terrain pushchairs.
What about the weight of the buggy?
This is one of the lightest and most compact pushchairs / travel systems I’ve ever tried –it’s impressively lightweight. I’ve used other pushchairs, which have limited my lifestyle because they’re so heavy to load in and out of my car that I have found myself avoiding them unless absolutely necessary.
But the Epic makes light work of a quick dash to the shop, I didn’t ever think twice about whether I could be ‘bothered’ to unload the pushchair from the car, which is refreshing.
Tell us about the handlebar positions.
The handlebar is easily adjustable so we can switch between everyone from my seven-year-old to my husband (who is significantly taller than me) pushing the baby. And we can all manouevre the pushchair comfortably at the click of a button.
There are several handlebar positions too, not just two. My two older children often want to push their little sister but other pushchair handles are often too high for them to handle the pushchair safely.
What did you think of the handlebar lock?
One very unusual feature is the brake - it’s located on the handlebar, which is a bit counter-intuitive, and takes a bit of getting used to.
I like that it makes both wheels lock and that your feet don’t take a battering from operating the brake, but it’s not easy to operate the brake one-handed, which is a small drawback. When you want to unfold it you don’t have to juggle two separate bits of equipment.
How easy was it to store?
For such a versatile pushchair this is very easy to store. The clip keeps it folded up and because the seat or carrycot doesn’t have to be removed when folded, you only have to store one item.
How comfortable does it feel?
This pushchair is remarkablycomfortable. We went for a two-mile run and then sat outside watching a football a game, and my daughter was very content in the pushchair throughout.
The front wheels are also lockable which is a handy feature for greater stability on smoother terrain. The backrest adjusts to three different positions, which is ideal for naptime.
What do you think of the hood size?
The hood size is adequate; it’s perhaps not as generously sized as other pushchair models but it does the job, and there’s a separate parasol available if you need more protection.
How was interacting with your child when in the buggy?
It’s a brilliant feature of this pushchair that the seat can face either way. My daughter likes to face outward and see the world but when running I prefer her to face me so I can keep an eye on her, and know when to recline the seat if she falls asleep without having to keep stopping to check on her.
The height of this buggy means my daughter ishigher off the ground than in some other pushchairs, I used it as a highchair when we were out and about. Plus it kept my daughter up and away from overly-inquisitive dogs and other kids, and nearer to me, which I liked.
What are the basket and storage pockets like?
The basket could be larger - you can’t store very much shopping in it but you could pop a small packet of nappies and a small-ish nappy bag. It’s also easier to access the basket from in front of the buggy than from behind, which makes using the basket a little bit cumbersome.
Does it fit in the boot of your car?
Yes. We have a very small boot and it tends to be stuffed full of sports equipment at any given time but this fits neatly.
Is it value for money?
While it may not be in the lower-end price bracket, I think it represents excellent value for money because of how adaptable it is. As a travel system you can easily switch between the carrycot, car seat and pushchair seat on the chassis, plus you don’t need to use one buggy for town trips and another for holidays or walks / running - this copes with everything you can throw at it.
MadeForMums verdict
As a mother-of-three and a parenting journalist I consider myself to have detailed knowledge on the latest baby equipment, but I’ve yet to come across a pushchair quite as versatile as the Jané Epic.
It offers unparalleled functionality; ticking every box in terms of what you want from a pushchair - in a stylish, practical package. I can’t recommend it highly enough, and wish I’d known about it before I brought my first pushchair!
