Jané Slalom Matrix Light review

The Slalom R buggy is continuing on from the successful Slalom Pro buggy. The most obvious difference between these 3-wheelers is that the Slalom R has a reversible seat, hence the name. As you’d expect as standard, it has a reclining seat, height adjustable handlebar, footrest, rain cover and pump. It also has a front brake controlled from the handlebar, something Jané seems particularly pleased with. I being a city mum had no use for, though my more adventurous friends have assured me this is a useful addition when descending steep hills.

The Matrix Light car seat is the next step along from Jané’s original Matrix car seat. Suitable from birth, the Matrix Light is 20% lighter than its older sibling. It can be used as a lie-flat car seat until your baby’s 10kg or as a rear-facing car seat until your baby is 13kg. The Matrix Light car seat is fitted with Jané’s patented Pro-Fix system. This means it can be easily attached to any of Jané’s buggies to create a travel system. Just as the Matrix Light works with other buggies, other Jané car seats are compatible with the Slalom R – you can choose the Slalom Formula Travel System, which teams the Slalom R buggy with Jané’s Transporter carrycot and Jané’s Strata car seat, with the slightly more expensive price tag £734.

What we love

The 3-wheeler Slalom R is light, incredibly easy to manoeuvre, and simple to fold with a bit of practice. In my opinion the best bit about this buggy is the handling - it is so smooth. I don’t run but I imagine if you did your baby would remain completely undisturbed, whatever the conditions.

The Matrix Light is lighter than its predecessor with a more spacious interior. It’s well padded and the upholstery can be removed and washed. My son Cameron is 9 months old, weighs 9kgs, and sits comfortably in the seat with room for growth.

The car seat has four reclining positions, two of which are suitable for the car, the upright and flat position. The 180° lie-flat position is a fantastic feature, particularly for newborn babies. Jané claims that by enabling your baby to lie flat whilst travelling you’re “helping his lungs to develop correctly and preventing any respiratory problems” so it’d be ideal for families that intend to frequently travel in the car with their newborn. In this lie-flat position, the Matrix Light lies crossways on the back seat, taking up two seats. It’s great for long car journeys and can be used like a Moses basket (with a mattress) outside the car. The car seat’s upright position must always be positioned rearward facing. It has six different heights for the shoulder straps, which are simple to adjust.

The Matrix Light car seat is easy to attach to the Slalom R buggy.

What to watch out for

Overall it is a strong travel system, and the only significant drawback is the weight of the Matrix Light car seat. Although it is 20% lighter than its predecessor, at 6.8kg it is still very heavy. Maxi-Cosi’s CabrioFix for example weighs just 3.25kg.

If you’re a complete novice to travel system, my advice would be to take your time getting to grips with everything. The instructions are brilliant; clear, concise and easy to follow.

Who is the Jané Slalom Matrix Light Travel System best for?

Families venturing off the beaten track and frequent car users.

MadeForMums verdict

If you’re looking for something sturdy, safe and robust with the ability to handle all conditions and cram easily into your boot, the Slalom R buggy is worth considering. Combined with the Matrix Light car seat it’s a worthy travel system, particularly for the more adventurous families. However, that car seat, while versatile, certainly isn’t featherweight.