Convenience at your fingertips! The Globe is a brand-new lightweight stroller from Ickle Bubba. As a brand, Ickle Bubba sets out to make parenting easy at an affordable price so does its latest ultra-compact offering succeed? We put it to the test...
Quick Summary: During our time with the Globe, it has proved its quality and convenience. It is fuss-free to use and fits in with daily life or occasional travels with ease. It does everything you need a stroller to do and does it whilst looking stylish too.
Whats good?
- Smooth drive
- Really compact fold
- Great quality accessories included
- Extremely light
Whats not so good?
- Low seat back height
Chassis
The smallest of the Ickle Bubba pushchair collection, the Globe arrives handily packed into one neat little box. The only assembly that is required is to pop on the rear wheels and away you roll. It takes a matter of seconds and really sets the standard for how convenient this stroller is going to be. It feels featherweight to lift, but at the same time very strong. The frame is sleek with a classy rose gold finish on the model we reviewed, and our first impressions were great!
The handlebar is pretty low and isn’t adjustable but is really comfortable to hold and fits into the palm of your hand neatly. Our 5’6″ tester found the handle a comfortable height and we love how it is covered in a leather-feel material, which adds an extra little touch of luxury.
The wheels are small and nippy. Initially we were apprehensive about the wheel material but on pushing the stroller for a while we can confirm that they give a really smooth push and our reservations were unfounded. This is also helped by the fact that there is suspension on all four wheels.
There is a neat brake pedal near the right rear wheel, which is easily flicked on and off and felt secure. The basket consists of solid-sided fabric that colour coordinates with the rest of the pushchair, adding to the overall finish. The back of the basket is quite open, which allows you to pack as much as you can underneath the stroller.
Seat
The seat unit is suitable from birth as it reclines to lie completely flat for newborns. The recline lever is easy to use and our little tester was comfortable when sitting up, resting or fast asleep. Ickle Bubba is planning to introduce a soft bassinet to give you a parent-facing option in those early months. The handy (and really luxurious) footmuff that comes in the box with the stroller is great for those early days as it keeps the smallest passengers really cosy and sheltered when lying flat. The front also zips off for the warmer months and acts as a liner protecting the seat from the inevitable spills and crumbs that older babies with throw at it!
The seat fabrics are ultra-thin but again great quality. The lack of volume in the fabric helps with the really compact fold. The hood is made from the same thin but classy material as the seat fabrics, but is nicely lined in soft white material to keep baby cool and offer great protection from the sun, and indeed any weather. The hood doesn’t come as far down as some but gives ample coverage and has a great viewing window at the back, allowing you to check on baby with the usual parent stealth!
The seat back isn’t the tallest but this didn’t prove a problem for our tester. The lack of length is combated by the adjustable leg rest, which allows for all lengths of leg. The width of the seat is also great, and even toddlers will have plenty of room. There is the added bonus of a gate-opening bumper bar, covered in the same padded leather-feel material as the handlebar, which remains in place when folding the stroller.
If you want to take quick convenient trips then you might also be interested to hear that the Globe can be used with a car seat by purchasing the additional adapters which you require. Adapters are available to fit most of the major brand car seats too.
Fold
The Globe folds so neatly that it’s perfect for keeping in the corner of the boot of the car so it’s ready and waiting whenever you might need it. The first time we folded the Globe, we had a bit of a ‘wow’ moment! It was just so simple. Fold the hood backwards and grab the handle that is clearly visible above the basket of the pushchair, and it literally concertinas into the neatest of packages. There is an auto-lock lever and a really comfortable and brilliantly padded shoulder strap to carry it. We can honestly say that when on our shoulder, it felt no different to carrying our usual crammed handbag! To unfold, simply release the catch and flick up.
Our verdict
During our time with the Globe, it has proved its quality and convenience. It is fuss-free to use and fits in with daily life or occasional travels with ease. It does everything you need a stroller to do and does it whilst looking stylish too. Though the handlebars may be on the low side, we were bowled over at how easy the Globe was to use and how it slotted perfectly into our hectic lifestyle with three children.
It’s great that you have the option to use the stroller from birth and the included accessories are very useful and save you paying out for those extras. What gives the Globe an extra edge is the ability to use it with a car seat from birth. The crowning glory of this crowd-pleasing stroller is without a doubt the extra-compact fold, which is small enough to be carried right onto an aeroplane and stored in an overhead locker.
