Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller review

What were your first impressions of the stroller?

I was really impressed with how quickly I went from having a boxed stroller to a completely ready-to-go one. The Leclercbaby Influencer Air comes packaged in a travel bag inside the box. Essentially, all you have to do is remove the stroller from the bag and the box, unfold it, attach the armbar and cup holder, adjust the straps and you’re set to go.

How easy is it to build the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

Incredibly easy – there was relatively no building involved. The wheels were already attached so all I had to do was pop the armbar and cup holder on, and adjust the straps. The instructions (which are downloadable via the included QR codes) do include a section on attaching the wheels though, so I'm not sure if they always come attached or if these instructions cover various models/replacing parts.

The instructions themselves were easy to follow and included written and illustrative guides for each part of the stroller. The only bit I struggled with was adjusting the strap heights. I couldn't work out how to access the buckles at the back directly (which are what you use to adjust the strap heights), and ended up manoeuvring them awkwardly through the fabric that was covering them. In the instructions, they appear accessible though so I might have been missing something there!

How does the Leclercbaby Influencer Air compare to the Influencer stroller?

The Influencer Air is an updated version of Leclercbaby's original Influencer stroller. At a glance, you might not notice much change, but it’s all in the details and these make all the difference. The Air has the addition of a mesh panel at the back of the seat, intended to improve ventilation while your little one is sleeping (it’s only in use while the seat is reclined), making a total of 3 optional ventilation points; the zip-out canopy extension, the peek-a-boo window at the top, and this new rear panel.

It also has an outer pocket, just above this mesh panel, offering space for smaller items such as your phone or a muslin cloth. This pocket comes in handy if you want to stash quick-to-reach items or are only popping out for a short walk and don’t need to bring half the nursery with you.

In addition to the canopy’s UPF50+ protection, the Air also includes reflective piping across the hood to make the stroller more visible on nighttime strolls. Finally, the Air version also comes in 6 new colours – Golden Mustard, Denim Blue, Violet Grey, Piano Black, Cloudy Cream, and Olive Green.

How easy is it to push and steer the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

Great! It’s quick to turn and I can completely spin it around when navigating through gates, aisles, doors etc, with just one hand. However, a bump over an inch or so is likely to catch the wheels and will require you to angle the stroller up and over to continue pushing.

As it’s so lightweight though, this isn’t really a problem. Its lighter weight also comes into play when traversing kerbs and stairs, making it a doddle to lift up or lower down over both.

You just have to watch the storage basket on some of the deeper kerbs, as it can catch a little if you don't keep the stroller completely upright. To be honest, it’s such a lightweight stroller that I had no problem just picking the whole thing up by myself and lowering it down over any particularly awkward kerbs or steps.

It’s also fairly quiet to push. I thought the smaller wheels would sound quite rattly but they only give off a subtle whirring, gentle hiss or soft click, depending on the terrain. I did have to move the zips of the extendable hood section though, as they rattle quite a bit while pushing the stroller.

How well does the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller work on different terrain?

It’s an absolute dream to push across smooth surfaces like pavements and shop floors, and it even handles shorter grass and slightly muddy ground well, too. I can push it with one hand, no problem, and walk alongside it to interact with Eir when needed (while still pushing).

However, it’s definitely not built for rougher terrains like forest floors or puddle-ridden paths – but I don’t see this as a con, as it was always intended for city life, so the fact that it can handle slight off-road is a win for me.

How lightweight is the Leclercbaby Influencer Air to carry around?

It’s incredibly lightweight at just 6.6kg. I can pick it up one-handed with no difficulty. The armbar doubles as a handle when the stroller is folded; you can either carry it in your hand, hook your arm through or pop it over your shoulder. It’s so lightweight that I can carry it and the car seat (with Eir inside) easily.

That makes getting it into the car super easy – I tend to carry it like a massive handbag over my arm, leaving my hand free to open the boot if needed. Then, I can easily manoeuvre it into the boot with that same arm.

How comfortable is your baby in the lie-flat position?

You can lie the Leclercbaby Influencer Air seat completely flat or have it slightly raised (using a lever at the top-back of the seat). Eir seemed comfortable enough in either of these positions, but the smaller nature of the seat meant that when he fell asleep, his legs would often dangle out of the stroller on either side and I’d have to tuck them back in or use a blanket to keep them on the footrest. However, even going over bumpy ground while asleep in the stroller he didn't stir.

I felt comfortable pushing him around while he napped in the stroller, as I could keep checking on him through the peek-a-boo window at the top of the canopy. The fact that this is magnetised is such a neat feature – you don’t have to worry about zipping it or securing it with a popper; just lift, check, and continue as you were.

How easy is it to fold and unfold the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

It couldn't be easier! You slide one button while pressing another (both positioned at the centre of the handlebar). Then, you gently push forward and gravity does the rest. The stroller collapses into its folded, self-standing position.

You do have to slightly catch the stroller once it's finished folding, however, as the momentum can cause it to fall over initially. Once it's folded though, it stands up with no problem. You don't have to remove the seat or make any other adjustments to fold it.

It took me a while to feel comfortable with the folding mechanism being on the handlebar, but it's very tricky to accidentally engage it as it requires 2 buttons to be pressed in different directions.

Unfolding it is just as easy. You pull up on the handlebar and essentially 'throw' or 'snap' the stroller into position. Imagine the motion of shaking out a picnic blanket – that's all you have to do, but with just one hand.

I did find this took me a little getting used to, as you do need to give it a little oomph to get it to snap into position (otherwise it won't fully unfold). However, once I got the hang of it, I found it a really handy unfolding method that kept one hand free if needed.

How compact is the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller when folded?

It's very compact when folded, measuring H56cm x W47cm x L24cm (about the size of a carry-on suitcase and almost identical to the Bugaboo Butterfly, £395), and the position of the armbar makes it really easy to carry, too.

It stands by itself and only takes up a small portion of our boot (less than half). Storing it is easy, it just tucks under our stairs – we had 2 other strollers under there at one point and the Air still tucked in out the way.

How well does the stroller work on public transport?

We took the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller on the Park and Ride with us into Bristol and had absolutely no problems with it on the bus. Its light weight makes it easy to get on and off the bus, and its compact size means it doesn't take up a lot of space either.

Since the bus wasn't busy, we didn't need to fold it to make room. If we did need to however, it would have only taken us a moment to do and then we could have stored it by our feet – it's cabin approved for aeroplanes, to give you an idea of just how compact it is folded.

I did notice it rocked backwards and forwards slightly, with the brake on, but it didn't actually budge from its position while the bus was in motion.

What’s the chassis like on the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

The chassis is very sleek looking. It has a glossy finish, which comes in various colours depending on your chosen fabric (silver, black, copper, rose gold), which is a nice touch. After a few weeks of use, I haven't noticed any scratches on the frame, but I have found that if you don't get the unfolding right it can end up a bit wonky.

I do like the look of the frame, but for our lifestyle I prefer something a little more sturdy feeling. However, if we still lived in the city, I'd have every confidence that this frame would hold its own on the pavements over time.

How do you rate the Leclercbaby Influencer Air's buggy handle?

While it's a high quality handle, finished with faux leather and plenty of comfortable padding, you can't adjust its height. This means that if you're at all on the taller side (I'm 5ft 7in), you have to walk close to the stroller and can occasionally step on the brake accidentally (something I did a few times). Its position also means that the canopy rests against your hands when folded back.

A nice touch is that the handlebar has a wrist strap attached to it. So if you are pushing the stroller one handed, you've got peace of mind that it can't slip away from you.

Does the stroller come with a cup holder?

It does, although I wasn't able to use it. The instructions for the cup holder say to simply click it down into position on the side of the frame with no further adjustments needed. This means that the cup holder is free to spin around on an axis, making it essentially unusable for me. The slightest few bumps in a row while out walking would cause my water bottle to tip and fall out (even my shorter water bottle).

What do you think of the seat unit on the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

While it has plenty of cushion and is, according to Leclercbaby, ergonomically designed to provide comfort for your little one, I found the seat to be a little on the snug side. Eir felt quite squished into it and he's only 7 months old.

Annoyingly, no matter how much I adjusted the straps, I couldn't stop Eir sliding down slightly. He'd end up in an awkward sitting position, with his bum scooted forward, or slightly leaning to one side. There could just be a knack to adjusting the straps that I didn't find though.

I will say, I was a big fan of the magnetic 5-point buckle system. Being able to 'snap' points of the buckle together while strapping Eir in was really helpful as – and I'm sure many parents are familiar with this – he often likes to wriggle free of his straps while you're trying to secure him.

What’s the hood like?

The Leclercbaby Influencer Air hood clicks into place and stays put, even across bumpy ground. You can have it resting above the stroller as a sun canopy, or extend it (via a zippable mesh panel) to further block out the sun on particularly bright days.

The mesh panel doubles as a second window to check on your little one, and creates extra air flow in the stroller. The actual peek-a-boo window sits at the top-back of the hood and is covered by a magnetised panel. I found this really handy for quickly checking on Eir without disturbing him, and I didn't have to fuss with closing the panel as it 'snapped' back into place itself.

The hood also has a UVF50+ protection and is water repellent. And it has reflective piping along the top, making it more visible at night – a feature that would come in particularly handy when crossing busy city streets.

My only issue with the canopy was that when folded back it rests against your hands on the handlebar. But this might be more to do with the handlebar height being non-adjustable than the canopy itself.

What are the wheels like on the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

The wheels are made of PU (Polyurethane), a material similar to rubber but more durable and longer lasting. Due to the compact nature of the stroller, they're on the smaller side but they make quick work of pavements and can handle short-medium grass. However, they do start to struggle when the ground gets a bit muddy or uneven. I had to keep an eye on debris building up around them and they seem to pick up mud a lot quicker than some larger wheels might.

How good are the brakes?

The Influencer Air brake pedal is large and centrally positioned between the 2 rear wheels, making it easy to locate. It's engaged by stepping on it with a downwards motion away from the stroller and disengaged with the reverse motion, or by kicking it back up if you prefer. It is a strong brake and is easy to use, but its position, paired with the non-adjustable handlebar, makes it easy to step on while walking – something I did on more than one occasion.

How do you rate the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller basket?

Leclercbaby refer to the storage basket as “large”, stating that it holds 3kg, but I found it to be on the smaller side (especially compared to the Joie Mytrax Pro). It can still hold a decent amount (2 loaves of bread with room to spare, for reference) and is easy enough to access when the seat is in the upright position.

However, when the seat is reclined you either have to crouch down or access it from the sides or front. And if the footrest is down then you'll still need to crouch to access it from the front.

It's slightly on the shallow side, so I found myself tucking items like bag straps or cardigan sleeves back in, but nothing ever fully fell out – even over the bumpier terrain.

How robust is the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

I was a little sceptical about how robust it would be, due to its lightweight frame, and was equally unsure about how open it was on the sides – having previously used a carrycot and then a more enclosed stroller (Joie Mytrax Pro). But, my son Eir seemed to appreciate being able to look around him more on walks and then 'retreat' into the stroller for reclined naps.

The frame held up well across some of the more bumpier terrains around the forest, so if you’re just taking this stroller around a city (as intended) then I really don't think you need to worry about its longevity.

Is the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller easy to clean?

I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of the cream colour at first – I envisioned it quickly getting covered with muck – but it did grow on me the more I used it and it held up surprisingly well against dropped food and muddy adventures. The material wipes fairly clean, and parts like the strap covers can be removed for a more thorough wash.

What’s in the box?

• Influencer Air stroller
• Sun canopy
• Bumper bar
• Travel bag
• Cup holder

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Luxury changing bag
• Raincover
• Footmuff
• Organiser
• Car seat adaptors
• Wheeled board
• Twin/duo adapters

What do you think of the packaging of the Influencer Air?

I felt like Leclercbaby had used a minimal amount of packaging while still protecting the stroller. They'd utilised the travel bag to protect the stroller inside the box, with just a small amount of packaging covering the armbar. It was easy to recycle the box as it broke down into a small enough size to go in our blue bag for local pick up.

Leclercbaby had also used the travel bag handles to double as the handles for the box, so there were no unnecessary plastic handles on the box – the bag ones simply poked through the top.

Does Leclercbaby offer any repair options if the stroller breaks?

The Influencer Air stroller is covered by a 2-year warranty and Leclercbaby will replace parts (at cost) if the stroller starts to break outside of this.

Can the Influencer Air be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

Yes. You can purchase Leclercbaby’s car seat adaptors to attach their Group 0+ Car Seat. You can also purchase their twin/duo adaptors to turn 2 strollers into a double buggy.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

That you can't adjust the handlebar height. It has a big impact on how comfortable the stroller is to use, affecting where the canopy rests when folded back and how far away your feet are from the brake when walking. However, I also would have wanted to know just how easy it is to fold and unfold this stroller.

It is a really amazing feature and for how much time and stress it saves, I think it makes up for some of the smaller kinks the stroller might have.

Who would the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller be most useful for?

Definitely for parents living in a city. The one-handed, one-touch folding mechanism is ideal for families who need to get going quickly. The stroller's small size and light weight make it ideal for compact storage, be that at home, out and about or on public transport.

Is the Influencer Air stroller worth the money?

This is a difficult one for me to answer. At £339, this stroller sits around mid-high range budget wise, somewhere in between the Ergobaby Metro+ stroller, £319, and the Babyzen YOYO2, £399 . You can definitely spend a lot more and get a lot less for your money, but what I look for in a stroller these days is something more robust that can handle off-road adventures.

That said, if I was still living in the city then I would absolutely consider this stroller worth it thanks to its compact, easy fold. However, it is slightly let down by the non-adjustable handlebar and the spinning cup holder, and it's a shame that you have to purchase a raincover separately. Personally, I would prefer that to be included rather than the travel bag.

Where can I buy the Leclercbaby Influencer Air stroller?

It is available from Baby and Child Store, Tots on the Move and Bambinos & Beyond.

MadeForMums verdict

The Leclercbaby Influencer Air is a stylish everyday stroller for parents living in cities, looking for stress-free transport for their little ones. It misses the mark a little on some points of practicality, but overall is a terrific buggy to use and can't be faulted for being a city stroller tested in the forest. Its one-touch folding mechanism came into its own when venturing into the city via public transport. And its easy steering was a dream when navigating busy Bristol streets and shops. If you're looking for a no-fuss, lightweight stroller that's easy on the eye then this might be for you. You just might want to invest in a new cup holder, and be prepared to purchase a raincover separately.