Red Kite Push Me Fusion Travel System review

The Push Me Fusion is its first and only travel system and it’s already making waves for its affordability and stylish look.

The travel system holds its own against some of the market’s biggest names, who offer options of their own at much higher price tags, such as the Mamas & Papas Ocarro pushchair, the Bugaboo Bee5 stroller, the Joie Mytrax and the Cosatto Wow Travel System.

A big plus point is that while other brands don’t always include all of the parts in their standard bundle, the Red Kite Push Me Fusion system includes a carrycot (that converts into a seat unit) and a car seat plus the chassis.

I’d never heard of Red Kite but was keen to try out a travel system that wasn’t going to cost the earth, especially if it could be used for quite a few years.

Tested by:

Carla is a first-time mum from Hertfordshire. She tested the Red Kit Push Me Fusion in Onyx with her 4-week old daughter Vivienne. They tested it out in their town, in the supermarket and for walks with the dog as well as on trips on the train and a few car journeys.

What were your first impressions of the travel system?

When I first got it out the box, I thought it looked really nifty and stylish. The quality looked top notch and the whole system seemed pretty sleek. It also appeared comfortable, with a plush carrycot, car seat and seat unit that I was sure my baby was going to love.

I really liked that the carrycot converted into the seat, rather than being a separate unit, which is very handy when you have limited space (something that seems to happen however big your house is when you have a baby!).

How does the Red Kite Push Me Fusion compare to other travel systems you have tried?

As a first-time mum I’ve got limited experience of other travel systems but compared to our other pushchair (the Graco Evo, bought second hand) it unfortunately felt quite clunky, despite looking a lot more sleek. It also seemed quite flimsy in comparison.

What age is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion suitable for?

The Red Kite Push Me Fusion is suitable from birth to 15kg, so around 3 years.

Does the seat unit seem comfortable for a new baby?

For me, the seat unit felt far too big for my 4-week old daughter Vivienne, who admittedly is on the smaller scale. I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable putting a newborn in it – it simply feels far too big and roomy, and unsafe. Of course, this would be fine for an older baby or toddler.

How easy is it to convert the seat to the carrycot and back again?

This process is relatively simple, despite the lack of instructions. Once you’ve done it a few times it’s super easy and it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.

To convert the seat to a carrycot and vice versa, you simply pull up a button at the head of the seat, and tilt it - it's that simple. You can also use the button to tilt it more or less, depending on the baby's preference. You can also add a foot rest for your child by pushing the two big buttons on either side of the chassis.

Does the carrycot seem comfortable for babies?

Yes, very comfortable –Vivienne looked really happy in it, as it’s super plush and cosy.

How does the Red Kite Push Me Fusion fold?

A big downside of this buggy is that you can’t fold it one-handed. You need two hands, no matter how deft you are. It feels awkward to collapse down, and when folded it isn’t the easiest thing to transport either as it’s quite heavy and cumbersome. The steps are simple though: you press a small button and then a big button and then fold. These buttons are on the handlebar, but fear not, there's no way you'll accidentally press them and collapse it! You do have to remove the seat element to collapse it, but that comes off with a slide up button on either side of the seat.

How compact is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion?

The pushchair is quite compact and it fits snugly under our stairs when both folded and unfolded. Some buggies can feel (and look) quite cumbersome but this one felt neat.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

We have a small hatchback and the buggy actually fits quite nicely into the boot, with room to spare.

How lightweight is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion?

It is beautifully lightweight and easy to bump up and down kerbs too. I get quite tired from pushing our other buggy because it’s on the heavier side but I didn’t have that problem with the Red Kite Push Me Fusion.

How easy is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion to push?

I enjoyed pushing it immensely! It’s nifty and light and that was heavenly for me! Being able to push it one-handed is also a big bonus as I have a dog that I sometimes walk with the baby.

How does it ride on different surfaces?

Give this buggy a relatively flat, smooth road and it rides like a dream. Add in a bump, a cobble or a stone and my baby seemed to feel every single impact. It mounts kerbs just fine but it felt quite stiff with little flexibility – not ideal when you’re trying not to wake a sleeping baby.

We live in an old town with very narrow paths and unfortunately this pushchair isn’t suitable for this type of place. I ended up having to walk in the road, as it was just a tad too wide for the paths.

Does it fit easily on public transport?

I took Vivienne in the carrycot on the train to the next town for baby cinema and it was great on the carriage. Despite the big gap to get up onto the train, I was able to bounce the buggy up with ease and lock into place when inside. It felt compact too so I wasn’t taking up great swathes of space.

What do you think of the wheels on the Red Kite Push Me Fusion?

The solid plastic wheels were a bit of a sticking point for me – having been spoilt with pneumatic tyres on my other buggy, these definitely felt a little less dynamic.

They did however tackle corners well and swivelled with ease.

Is the frame strong?

Strong, yes, but durable? I’m not so sure. It’s fine for the price but I don’t know if it would last you through more than one child.

Can you adjust the Red Kite Push Me Fusion's handlebar?

No, and to be honest, this annoyed me. You can’t extend or retract it, so if you’re super tall or on the shorter side, you’re a little stumped. It’s comfy as it’s padded, but I worry it would wear away over time as it doesn’t appear particularly durable.

How effective are the brakes?

I really loved the brakes on this – because there’s just one, you can pop it on and off easily. It also felt very sturdy with it on, and didn’t really move at all.

How is interacting with your child when in the Red Kite Push Me Fusion?

As I didn’t use the seat unit it’s hard to comment but when she was in the carrycot, it was easy to check in on her.

What do you think of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion's hood?

I loved how easy the hood was to pull over her. Without any buttons to press, I could move it up and down without a thought. It’s a little jerky at first but smoothed out over time. One downfall is that with the ease of pulling it, I was worried I’d break it if I was too heavy handed. The fabric felt flimsy but it shielded Vivi from the sun and a light shower.

What is the basket like on the Red Kite Push Me Fusion?

I really liked the basket on this and the best way to describe it is small but perfectly formed. It isn’t massive, granted, but it’s super easy to access and you can pop a fair few essentials in there.

How sturdy is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion's car seat?

For me, the quality just wasn’t there – the material is flimsy and it generally felt a lot less solid than our current one. Another downside is it’s very awkward to hold.

On the plus side, it fitted onto the pushchair chassis easily and made for quite a compact buggy with that on.

Is the car seat easy to install?

On the whole, the car seat was easy to put in the car, however, if you’ve been spoiled with an Isofix base I think you’d find it a faff, like me. The instructions were comprehensive but I quickly got annoyed at having to re-fit it every time we took Vivienne out and wanted to use the car seat on the buggy. It is easy once you know how but not as easy as slotting something into place like you do with the Isofix. I found I doubted myself too and would spend a lot longer than I probably needed to in order to make sure it was safe. On the whole, it never felt as secure as my current one.

Does the car seat feel safe and is it comfortable?

The car seat definitely looked more comfortable than our current one. It comes with a head hugger and harness pads and Vivi fitted into it beautifully. In fact, she fell asleep almost instantly, so that can only be a good thing! However, having to constantly fit it in the car myself made me question the safety aspect.

What do you think of the look of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion as a travel system?

Overall I loved the look of the travel system. It’s really stylish and sleek, with its black base and silver accents. It comes in a range of colours including navy with brown accessories, grey and black along with black with silver and I think the choice is great.

Is it easy to build?

The system is very simple to assemble despite the lack of instructions. I was surprised there weren’t any but when I started to put it together, I realised it was so straightforward it would almost be silly to include some. It took around 10minutes to build, including the time it took to take it out of the box. It arrived in two boxes, and one had pictures on the side so that helped.

Who would the Red Kite Push Me Fusion be most useful for?

Those on a budget or with little storage space.

What was your favourite feature of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion travel system?

I really liked the brake aspect and the ease of pushing it one-handed.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Convertible carrycot and seat unit
• Hugger and harness pads
• Bumper bar
• Raincover
• Car seat with hood
• Basket
• Apron

Is the Red Kite Push Me Fusion worth its price tag?

It’s a very reasonable price for what you get. I don’t know if I’d be quick to recommend it as it wasn’t the best quality, plus the tyres seemed fragile, but I do think it’s good value for money – no frills but functional, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

Where can I buy the Red Kite Push Me Fusion travel system?

It is available from Online4Baby and Kiddies Kingdom.

MadeForMums verdict

All in all, this is a decent travel system for those on a budget or looking for something straightforward, lightweight and fuss-free. If a car seat that’s super simple to install is a priority for you, I’d suggest a different option as I personally believe an Isofix base makes everything quicker and easier.

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