This buy-only-what-you-need structure is both a great attraction and a downfall. By custom-building your buggy you don’t pay for items you may already have or simply don’t need. But the individual pricing also accentuates the high prices, especially when you compare it with some cheaper all-inclusive models.
What we like
First impressions do count, and the most striking aspect of the 4Rider Single Spoke buggy is Mutsy's distinctive profile with a contemporary minimalist look. Just as a well-presented plate of food usually tastes sooooo much better than a slapdash arrangement, so it is with the Mutsy 4Rider Single Spoke. Looks good, feels good, and therefore is good.
The modern single spoke wheels have pneumatic tyres for a stylish look that also offer top comfort for your baby –on ‘off-road terrain’, on cobblestones or even in sand. No chance of this buggy getting stuck in the mud even as a hard British winter sets in.
An intelligent click-mechanism enables you to transform the system from forward facing to rear facing buggy, or to simply exchange the seat for the carrycot.
Its other features are equally impressive. For starters, it folds up incredibly easily (though two hands are still needed). The lockable swivel wheels make steering kids’ play no matter what surface you’re going over. And in the folded position the quick-release wheels can be removed extremely easily, making a very compact frame if space is of the absolute essence in your car boot.
To bolster its impressive looks even more, the Mutsy 4Rider Single Spoke offers a huge range of add-ons (from car seat to dinner trays) while its upholstery comes in 15 fabulous colours.
All that said, it’s irrelevant if the parents love the buggy but the baby would rather walk, so we asked 7-month-old Edith for her impressions. She couldn’t actually find the words yet, but she did smile and fell asleep peacefully in the deluxe buggy – and that must be an excellent recommendation.
What to watch out for
Much as I loved this buggy, the costs remains an objection. Even the most basic purchase – the chassis and a seat – would not leave much change from £400. Add the car seat and adaptor for £159.00, and as a travel system its price certainly wouldn’t be for all budgets.
The one technical aspect I didn’t like was the insufficient protection offered by the pushchair seat and hood. A winner on looks but not enough shielding from the sun and wind.
In the back of my mind I just had this nagging feeling that far more effort had gone into the design of the chassis rather than into the actual pushchair.
Who is the Mutsy 4Rider Single Spoke best for?
Parents after a design-orientated buggy they can add to as their budget allows.
This is a fantastic, comfortable buggy that will turn heads. The Mutsy 4Rider Single Spoke can handle diverse terrain, convert from forward to rear facing and back again, and it folds easily and compactly. But it’s certainly not for those counting the pennies.
