Red Kite Push Me Kwik pushchair review

Tested by:

Sybilla Hart is a mum of 5 who lives on the Essex/Suffolk borders. Sybilla tested the buggy on the school run, out and about, and at home on a variety of different terrains such as gravel, grass and concrete with her 3-month-old son Benjamin.

What were your first impressions of the Red Kite Push Me Kwik?

My first impressions were very good. It has a lovely black matte chassis and although the fabric is not to my personal taste (it’s mottled grey and 100% polyester), I can see that it will not show the dirt.

How does it compare to other lightweight buggies you have tried out?

Very well. It reminds me of the GB Qbit+ All Terrain pushchair (£229.95 on Amazon) with its cube-like fold (minus the all-terrain aspect because the wheels are much smaller on the Red Kite and it does not handle all surfaces). The Push Me Kwik features a bumper bar for added safety, comes with a rain cover and a free 12-month guarantee.

What are the differences between the Push Me 2U and the Push Me Kwik?

The Push Me 2U is an umbrella-fold stroller suitable for babies from approximately 6 months of age. The Push Me Kwik is a compact folding stroller that can be used from birth.

What age is the Red Kite Push Me Kwik pushchair suitable for?

I used this buggy for my 3-month-old son. Although he did sometimes look a bit lopsided as the harness is not padded, he seemed really quite comfortable and enjoyed being able to place his feet on the adjustable foot rest.

The brand says it caters for a child from birth up to 15kg – the average weight of a 3-year-old.

How does it fold?

The Red Kite Push Me Kwik has a one-handed fold. At first I couldn’t figure out how to collapse it entirely flat, but after a bit of experimenting, I soon realised that I had to apply a little bit more pressure on the cube-like fold to flatten it.

Once I had worked this out, it was plain sailing.

• Like the GB Qbit+ All Terrain, in order to fold this buggy, you press the black button on the top of the handlebar and the longer button underneath the handlebar simultaneously am
• Press down to collapse it
• You need to give it a bit of a flick to unfold and click into place.

And when opening the buggy, don’t forget to undo the black plastic hinge that holds the fold in place at the side of the buggy – I keep forgetting to do this!

How compact is the Push Me Kwik when folded and unfolded?

Unfolded, it measures 102cm x 50cm x 84cm, and folded it measures 57cm x 50cm x 25cm. It is easy to store and can be kept upright so that the fabric remains clean.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

Yes, it fits inside a Toyota RAV 4 and a Mini.

Does it fit into an aeroplane overhead locker?

No.

How lightweight is it?

At 6.9kg it is competitively lightweight.

How easy is the Push Me Kwik to push?

It is really easy to push and rides extremely well on smooth surfaces.

How does it feel on more challenging ground?

The Push Me Kwik handles uneven surfaces such as grass and irregular paving stones pretty well, but test it on something more challenging like gravel and you’ve got a problem.

How did you find it on public transport?

Given our rural location, we don’t use public transport, but thanks to the easy fold and small storage solution, I imagine it would be a great success on public transport.

What do you think of the wheels on the Push Me Kwik?

The wheels are fairly unremarkable and small – something I would expect given the reasonable price tag of this buggy. Mind you, they are lockable swivel wheels so they work well on smooth surfaces.

Is the frame strong and durable?

It’s aluminium, so it should be!

What do you think of the handlebar?

I thought it was OK. It isn’t nice and matte like the chassis and feels a bit plastic with no grip, but we haven’t had any issues with it so far.

Tell us about the seat unit on the Push Me Kwik.

It is reasonably spacious. I wouldn’t imagine it would suit a child much older than about three, though. The Velcro fastening underneath the seat is slightly coming apart, but with a bit of effort I think I will be able to re-fasten it in place.

Does it recline?

It has a fully reclining seat, operated through a simple clip on a strap.

How comfortable does it feel for your little one?

It seems pretty comfortable for the baby.

How is interacting with your baby when in the buggy?

I found the interactive opportunities minimal, as it is forward-facing and there is no peekaboo window in the hood.

What do you think of the hood?

The hood is extremely generous and I liked it a lot. It was easily as good as those on more expensive buggies.

Tell us about the brakes on the Push Me Kwik?

The brakes work well but are a bit stiff and you need to be wearing shoes to work them. I wouldn’t fancy trying to operate them in flip-flops!

What do you think of the basket?

The basket is excellent and an ample size. It has a mesh over part of the front, which is great as you feel that your items are safe and unlikely to spill out.

Is it car seat compatible?

No, it isn’t.

How did you like the look of the Push Me Kwik?

On the whole, I like the general look of the Push Me Kwik. It only comes in one colour (grey), which is disappointing, but it did receive lots of compliments, nonetheless! I think people thought it was more expensive than it was.

What’s in the box?

1 x stroller

1 x bumper bar

1 x rain cover

1 x instructions

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy?

Yes, you can buy a foot muff, changing bag and parasol to go with the buggy. Precious Little One is currently offering a bundle, including the stroller, costing around £110.

Is it easy to build the Push Me Kwik?

We just pulled it out of the box. There was no build involved!

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the pushchair?

I would have wanted to know that the harness was not padded.

Who would the product be most useful for?

Someone who is looking for an affordable pushchair who lives in an urban/semi-urban area.

What was your favourite feature of the Push Me Kwik?

The compact, cube-like fold.

Is it worth its price tag?

The Push Me Kwik retails at £85, although we found it cheaper on other websites. I would absolutely recommend it to someone who didn’t need an all-terrain buggy and say it was definitely worth the price tag.

Where can I buy the Red Kite Push Me Kwik?

It's available at Amazon, Red Kite Baby, Precious Little One and Asda.

MadeForMums verdict

This is an affordable, smart-looking buggy that's perfect for parents on a budget who live in a rural or semi-rural area. I would wholly recommend it and now have it permanently stowed in the boot of my car as it is so easy and lightweight to use.

Read more...

• GB Qbit+ All-Terrain review
• Babyzen Yoyo+ Stroller review
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