Summer Infant UME One Pushchair review

Both the UME One and UME Lite strollers have enjoyed great success in the States where they have won numerous awards and Summer Infant is hoping to emulate that in the UK.

With a three-year-old son (Fergus) and a nearly six-month-old baby called Rafferty, I use pushchairs interchangeably between them and use a sling if my toddler is in the stroller.

The UME One has, according to the Summer Infant website, has been designed to fit both my sons, as it’s suitable from birth up to 15kg (around 3 years).

You can buy the Summer Infant UME One stroller from Amazon, Argos, or Kiddicare.

Positioned in the market as an affordable lightweight buggy, the UME One has been sent to do battle with other light, easy fold strollers like the Silver Cross Reflex, Silver Cross Pop and Recaro EasyLife.

At 6.5kg it’s slightly lighter than the Silver Cross Pop, which weighs in at 7kg.

And while the price is the same (£129), the Pop doesn’t have the fancy extras like a cup holder and carry strap, which comes as standard with the UME One.

While the Recaro Easylife stroller folds down more easily, is lighter at 5.7kg and is more compact when stored, however it’s also pricier than the UME at £189.99 and is only suitable from six months old.

As well as coming with the additional extras mentioned above, the UME also has a peek window, one hand fold and the hood, which can extend extremely far. But what it lacks is a comfortable liner, which may make it more suitable for newborns.

It's marketed as a lightweight stroller, but how light is it?

At 6.5kg, it’s very light and very easy to carry around, particularly when using the carry strap. While it’s not as super-light like my 5.7 kg Recaro Easylife, it is comparable in weight to a Bugaboo Bee 3 (8.7kg), Cosatto Supa (8kg), Silver Cross Reflex (8.5kg).

How sturdy is the pushchair?

It actually feels very sturdy. It’s great going around corners and going up and down kerbs and on rougher ground. And the chassis looks good quality and I would be surprised it the silver scratched easily.

How does it fold?

It’s very straight forward to open and close it and you really can do it with one hand, although it’s slightly quicker with two.

What do you think of how the various parts adjusted, e.g. handle height? I’m 5ft 5 and the handle height is perfect for me. It’s slightly higher than others I have used and my husband finds it a great height for him.

How compact is it when folded?

Like many umbrella fold pushchairs, it’s long once it’s folded down but it has a clip to keep it together which makes it easy to store. Although it doesn’t stand up on its own, which makes it a bit trickier.

What age is the UME pushchair best for?

I think it would be best for when babies are at least able to sit up properly on their own; I wouldn’t personally use it with a newborn baby.

I wasn’t happy putting Rafferty in it for more than a quick trip to the shops although I am sure he will be fine in it soon for longer journeys.

The material is durable but it doesn’t have the comfort level of other pushchairs I have used with my six months old, such as the Mamas & Papas New Armadillo XT or my iCandy Peach 3.

However my three-year-old Fergus is more than happy in it.

How comfortable does it feel?

One of the main downsides is how hard the seat it. If you are looking to buy it for a newborn it’s worth considering how hard the seat is. It has slightly raised wide ridges and it has very thin padding, which may not be too comfy for a small baby without a newborn cocoon being added.

It is not well padded or soft like other buggies I have reviewed such as the Mamas & Papas New Armadillo XT.

How is interacting with your child when in the buggy?

With forward facing strollers interaction is always a bit tricky but the peek window helps me keep an eye on whichever of my boys is in it.

Tell us about the basket.

The basket is a reasonable size, it’s a shame it’s hard to access when it is reclined fully though.

What are storage pockets like?

The storage pocket is extremely handy. Often when I go out for short trips, I only need my phone, cash and keys so it’s great to have a little zipped section that I can.

How easy is it to push on all-terrain?

It’s actually pretty good on rougher ground. It doesn’t have the maneouverability of pushchairs with larger wheels such as my iCandy Peach, but for a lightweight stroller it’s excellent.

I have used it in the park, up and down kerbs and while it is harder to push on rougher ground it does feel sturdy.

It’s also very easy to use on the bus. I didn’t need to fold it down but it was reassuring to know I could do so easily if I needed to.

Who would the product be most useful for?

It’s a brilliant buggy for anyone who is on the go. It opens and folds very easily so if you hop on the bus or nip around small shops, it’s perfect. It’s easy to maneouver so it’s also good for longer journeys too.

What do you think of the raincover?

It’s excellent. I love how the top of it loops over the stroller’s handles – I have lost count of the times with other rain covers that I have been getting wet while trying to work out which way to put the rain cover on.

Does the weather have a bearing on how you use it? It wouldn’t offer lots of protection in cold weather but you could buy cosytoes.

Using public transport is essential for me so it’s great that it’s narrow enough to fit down a bus aisle and easy enough to fold down if I need to.

What’s in the box?

• Main stroller
• Hood
• Front wheels to attach
• Rain cover
• Cup holder

Was it easy is it to build?

It is very easy to build and takes minutes to assemble.

The instructions are easy to figure out the one hand fold system but it is pretty easy.

What extra accessories can you buy?

None needed.

Is the product value for money and is there any resale value?

The stroller has a lot of good features and it feels durable, so it should have a long lifespan and because it already comes with a rain cover, cup holder and carry strap, you don’t need to buy any extras, unless you choose to buy a newborn cocoon and cosytoes, so in that respect at £129.99 it definitely feels good value.

It’s difficult to judge the resale value as I have not seen any for sale second hand as it’s a new product in the UK.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Summer Infant UME One is a great all round pushchair. I was very impressed by the amount of thought that had clearly gone into the design, for example the hood extends so far it almost completely shelters your child if need be.

But while I loved the added extras – the rain cover that just slips over the buggy’s handles so you don’t have to faff around with Velcro straps and of course the cup holder for the obligatory coffee, I was very disappointed by the comfort of the seat.

Read more...

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