I'm in love! We have a wonderful new pram/pushchair to play with, and we all love it! Tatiana is a sociable little thing and loves to get involved with everyone and everything around her so, although she enjoys being in a sling, we had been thinking about getting a pushchair for her. Luckily, the lovely people at Obaby got in touch and asked us if we would like to review the Chase Pramette.The Chase 3 Wheeler from Obaby, a market leader in the pramette concept, is a dynamic all in one pram and seat unit, which changes quickly and smoothly from a suitable from birth pram to a modern, sleek, forward or rear facing stroller. The pramette is compatible with the optional addition of an Obaby 0+ car seat and adaptors, providing the versatility and convenience of a travel system. Have a look at the video to see how it works:
With an up-to-the-minute lightweight aluminium frame, this pramette is so lightweight to lift in and out of the car. It weighs just over 10kg. It also has a pneumatic unfolding system which makes it so easy to unfold and put together, a real boon on a rainy day! You can see here how small it folds up and fits easily into my little Fiesta's boot:
For newborns, the seat goes into a lie flat carrycot position which is comfortable for baby, and it has an extra padded lining insert for baby when in pram mode. I'm not sure why, but Tatiana wasn't happy with the lining, maybe because she was already at the point of trying to sit up when we started playing with the new pram, but we do have a photo of it in lie flat mode here:
In stroller mode, the seat can be either parent or outward-facing. With recent research finding that there are enormous benefits to infants being in parent-facing seats, including both better interaction and brain development, this is most welcome. Wee have had Tatiana facing us in the buggy, and the lovely, well-positioned thick straps, shoulder pads and 5 point safety harness, mean that we know she is safe on all terrains, even when being pushed by a 2 year old! The pramette also features a detachable hood, matching apron and raincover. We went for the pink, naturally, but it is available in a total of six colours.
The leg rest is fully adjustable, and the pramette is suitable from birth, up to a maximum weight of 15kg. Sophia has also had a few turns in the stroller, and it is perfectly comfortable for her at 2.5 years, although she is a little small for her age (just in 18-24 months clothes size). The back of the stroller is also fully adjustable to allow the baby or child to lie right back, or indeed to be more upright. This is perfect for using with different aged children, or for adjusting as baby grows. It enables Tatiana, not yet sitting up independently, to be lying back in a suitable and comfortable anatomical position, but Sophia to be more upright.
One of the things we love most about the Obaby Chase Pramette is the fully height adjustable handle, which makes it easy for the girls to push their little sister along, as well as suiting both Steve and I. It also has a lockable front swivel wheel, which has proved useful on the pebble beach, and a reasonably sized shopping basket, perfect for a quick trip into town. With its removable hood, apron and rain cover, the Chase package is suitable whatever the weather and we know it will keep Tatiana safe and snug in sun, wind or rain.
The Chase is a dream to 'drive', and so easy to get up and down pavements and steps with only very minimal effort. We have tried it in all sorts of places, including on pebbles, sand, grass, cobbles, unmade muddy roads and paths, and a gravel driveway, as well as around town and in and out of the shops, and it has tackled them all with ease. The only thing that has taken some getting used to is that, being a 3-wheeler, the back wheels are wider than the seat unit, something I am wont to forget when trying to get round small shops - oops! But I think that's a driver failing, rather than a vehicle one!
Here are some photos of the Chase Pramette in action, with various different drivers and in different places, on a variety of terrain:
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The Obaby Chase Pramette is perfect for us as it is so adaptable, and has dealt admirably with everything we have thrown at it so far! To go from beach to countryside, back to town, and even keep Tatiana comfortable over the cobbles of Lymington and Covent Garden is extremely impressive. Even my mum commented on how easy it is to push and to get up and down pavements etc, praise indeed. But the last word should go to Tatiana herself, our chief tester, and what better praise from a baby than that they are happy to fall asleep in it? A definite 10 out of 10 from us.
You can read more about the Chase Pramette on the Obaby website, but here are its main features:
* Suitable from birth to a maximum weight of 15kg
* All in one pram and seat unit, changes easily from pram to stroller
* Multi position front and rear facing seat unit
* Optional Obaby 0+ car seat with adaptors, and Isofix base
* Lightweight aluminium chassis
* Easy and compact fold with pneumatic system
* Lockable front swivel wheel
* Height adjustable ergonomic foam handle
* Adjustable 5 point harness
* Adjustable leg rest
* Large coordinating shopping basket
* Detachable hood
* Matching apron and shoulder pads
* Pram liner
* Removable bumper bar
* Compact PVC raincover with matching trim
* Wipe clean fabric
* Available in Black/Red, Black/Grey, Black/Pink, Black/Turquoise, Black/Purple and Black/Lime
Weight: 10.6kg
Unfolded dimensions: 104 x 61 x 90cm
Folded dimensions: 81 x 48 x 40cm
The Obaby Chase 3 Wheeler Pramette retails at £249.99 and is available from Boots, Mothercare and other retailers. We were gifted this pram for the purposes of review.