Hugely popular and highly rated Australian pushchair brand Redsbaby has arrived in the UK, bringing two functional and effortlessly stylish models to our side of the globe. We've been getting to grips with the JIVE² single-to-tandem and its extra-luxurious Platinum version. Read on to find out why this might just be our favourite Australian import since Kylie!
Quick Summary: For such a good price, especially for a pushchair that can expand to a tandem when your family grows too, we are really impressed with the Redsbaby JIVE².
Whats good?
- Compact all-in-one fold
- Storage pockets on back of seat unit
- Quality features
- Extendable hood
- Luxury but good value
Whats not so good?
- No raincover included
- Fixed position tandem seat
- Limited storage in tandem mode
Chassis
It’s always an exciting affair getting your hands on a brand-new (at least to the UK) pushchair brand, and putting together the JIVE² was done with relative ease. Depending on the option you choose, you will receive one, two or three boxes (plus any accessories you ordered along the way!). Redsbaby products are exclusively available on the company’s own website and if you attend one of its Demonstration Days you will receive a great offer so your new pushchair will arrive with a certain number of accessories included free of charge. The buggy itself popped together in just a few minutes and we were really struck by the quality of what we were seeing.
The chassis is elegant to look at and, even though it is nice and light as travel systems go, is still super-strong and feels sleek but substantial. The unique shape definitely stands out from the crowd too.
The handlebar is one of the areas where a real touch of luxury has been added to the design. The quilted leather-style bar is beautifully finished and is adjustable with triggers on each side. The height variation was great when alternating between different drivers.
The wheels are made of a brilliant tough-wearing, puncture-proof material that is more rubbery than plastic in feel. They roll smoothly and are most certainly built to last but also look good, with elegant gunmetal-coloured spokes on the Platinum version giving them that extra flare. The two front wheels can lock into place or swivel at the push of a button which is really handy if you are looking for a multi-use pushchair that will have to tackle park walks as well as city streets and shopping trips.
Although the axle isn’t by any means long – in fact, I’d go as far as describing this pushchair as having a compact chassis – it can also convert into a tandem. This wasn’t a complicated process either. The adapters came in the box with the tandem seat and clip securely onto the back of the pushchair frame just above the rear wheels – easy!
The brake is foot-operated and engaging the pedal is easy. Releasing it needs a bit more concentration to hit the right spot as it is tucked so closely to the right rear wheel and shopping basket. Perhaps a broader or bigger pedal would have made this easier?
Although the JIVE² does not feature the largest basket we have seen, it has been really cleverly thought out and can hold more than meets the eye. The back of the basket stands up and there are some handy bottle holders in here too. We were surprised at the amount of luggage we were able to carry, including a child’s backpack, drinks bottles, coats and a change of clothes. You do, of course, lose your main basket space in tandem mode but there is still a little compartment to the front of the basket that you can fit a small amount of luggage into, and if you are clever you can balance your changing bag here too.
Seat and Carrycot
The luxurious nature of the JIVE² is evident in the seat and carrycot. The fabrics are deep (and richly textured on the Platinum models) and even the tiny details such as the logos and zips add that extra touch of style and substance. The height and width of the seat are brilliant, leaving plenty of room for the tallest of toddlers.
The hood is large and gives great coverage – when fully extended using the zip-open panel it almost touches the bumper bar. We tested this pushchair in a heatwave and the ventilation panels in the hood of both the seat unit and the carrycot were absolutely brilliant at keeping air flowing through baby’s space and keeping it cool.
The harness is wonderfully padded and has a fabulous rubbery chunky buckle, which again has been finished beautifully. Each strap of the harness clips into the central buckle individually with a reassuring click.
Just like the handlebar, the bumper bar has debossed branding and a quilt-effect leather-style covering. It pivots easily to let baby in and out of the seat without fuss and also has a bit of give in it, which makes it that bit easier to operate.
The seat can be clipped into place in either forward or parent-facing modes by squeezing the clasps on each side of the pushchair chassis and lifting the seat off the frame. If we are going to be super fussy, we would say that the clasps you press in to release the seat from the frame are a little on the small side so can be trickier to grip if you are rushing.
You can also get a carrycot to fit the frame, which just pops on as the seat unit does. It is spacious as carrycots go but still cosy thanks to its quilted lining. The details on the carrycot are just as refined as on the seat unit and one very cool feature that we love is the mesh panel at the head of the carrycot, which can be opened on warmer days and indoors to allow optimum airflow to your baby’s space!
You can use the JIVE² as a pushchair for two with either two seats (main seat and second seat) or with a seat and carrycot. The second seat sits in a fixed position on the adapters at the bottom of the pushchair frame and because it is placed right over the top of the rear wheels, the extra weight is hardly noticeable when pushing. The second seat can also hold up to 17kg, which is a great weight limit for an additional seat unit. We happily pushed a 2-and-a-half year old in the second seat and hardly noticed at all! There isn’t bags of room in the lower seat for your toddler, but there is enough, especially if it is to be used as an occasional seat for tired legs.
On the back of the seat you will notice two really handy storage compartments. One a mesh bottle holder and the other a velcro pouch – both of which we found invaluable when using the pushchair. We have to say that particularly on hectic mornings, this felt like the crowning glory of the Redsbaby pushchair range! It was so great to have somewhere safe and secure to keep water bottles and keys whilst we were out and about.
One thing that is worth bearing in mind is that this pushchair does not come with a raincover for the seat or carrycot and you will have to buy one separately (unless you purchase at a Demo Day). Perhaps they don’t need them in the Australian climate quite as much as we do!
Fold
The fold really surprised us. It’s great! It is unexpectedly compact for such a robust travel system, as well as being very easy to operate. Pull the levers up and push the handlebar forwards and the pushchair transforms into the neatest shape, easy to lift into the car or up the stairs.
The whole fold is held together with a locking lever on the side of the chassis. Once this is released, we just grabbed the handlebar and flicked the pushchair into place. Even better, there’s no need to remove the seat from the frame and the fold with the seat attached is just as compact as if you were to remove it. In tandem mode, you will have to remove the second seat but this only took seconds to do.
Conclusion
The JIVE² is a quality pushchair. The design and finish rival those of the luxury pushchair brands we are already familiar with here in the UK. The extra-large extendable hood, roomy carrycot and attention to detail in the seat unit ensure that this buggy will serve both parent and child for years to come and offer a perfect mix between looking great and performing brilliantly too.
If we were to be super-critical, the fact there is no raincover included is slightly disappointing but it isn’t the end of the world. For such a good price, especially for a pushchair that can expand to a tandem when your family grows too, we are really impressed with the Redsbaby JIVE².
