Phil and Teds’ latest buggy creation is the Promenade. Built for urban use, it is a gorgeous pushchair that is well made, as we’ve come to expect from this popular New Zealand brand.
The Phil and Teds Promenade comes complete with the catchphrase “Start as you mean to go on”, and can adapt to carry two children. This ability to convert from a single to a double and back again is a feature most Phil and Teds buggies boast.
However, the Promenade is different to its siblings - it is the company’s first ever inline double to feature a reversible seat. As well as looking good, another great feature is that the seat can convert into a lie-flat carrycot for your young baby.
The Phil and Teds Promenade can also work as a travel system, and is compatible with Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Maxi-Cosi Pebble and Phil and Teds own brand Bebe* and BebeHS car seats.
I tested the Promenade out as a single pushchair for both my girls. Esme is 3 and a half years old and her baby sister, Sofia, is 7 months old.
What we love
There’s something very on-trend about Phil and Teds. Walking the high street with its latest release, I certainly felt like I had the most enviable parental accessory going.
The Promenade has been a pleasure from the moment it arrived in its box. Reasonably easy to assemble, I was excited as it came together. Its appearance is smart. I love the smooth lines and the overall look.
It is tall, but not wide, and so is great about the town. Getting in and out of shops is not a problem. The high frame means your baby gets a great look out and I felt closer to Sofia too.
With the seat upright, Sofia enjoyed riding high, facing me, and appeared comfortable. The seat accommodates three positions, including converting to the lie-flat carrycot. It’s simple to change position using only one hand. And as mentioned, the seat direction is reversible - great for bonding with your baby or letting them face the world when that little bit older.
When Sofia was in the lie-flat carrycot, I got to see how well it worked. I was really impressed for it is so easy to convert (and I actually did so with Sofia onboard as she’d fallen asleep sitting up). Sophia slept for ages in it, clearly comfortable. (Your baby can only use this up to a weight of 9kg).
Good front wheel suspension means that the overall ride is comfy too. This is a pushchair that handles well and one that with its wheels in swivel mode behaves well.
I love the neat concertina fold mechanism - it makes the Promenade really easy to open and close.
The Promenade’s hood offers great protection, for shade or against the rain. And as with the whole of the pushchair, the hood is of a good design. It can be made even longer as it has a zip-out extension. Like the pushchair itself, the hood is made of polyester, which can be sponge-cleaned with warm water and mild natural soap.
The Promenade pushchair feels safe - the harness is ultra strong, user-friendly and its shoulder pads are adjustable. In addition to this, a bracket sits across the front of the seat. When your baby is small, this is good to hang toys off, but as they grow and sit up, it works as a bumper bar that they’ll probably like to hold on to.
The shopping basket gets a massive thumbs up from me. It works well because it is both accessible and huge. Although I have to say, it is on the tilt, so you’d need to be aware of things rolling down towards the edge and potentially tumbling out.
What to watch out for
If you plan on only using the Promenade for one child, it isn’t a cheap pushchair to go for, but the, it's not touting itself as a budget option. It's all about first class quality and versatile set-ups.
Size wise, the Promenade may collapse easily, but it is big when folded. My car is a Citroen Picasso and it filled the boot.
Public transport wouldn’t be the easiest with this because of the size. Although, it’s worth remembering that this is a design that could carry two seats.
I found there’s a height issue for Esme with the Promenade. She’s 3 and a half, so technically should be able to ride in the Promenade for six more months. However, I don’t imagine she’d have fit this at 3. That said, Esme is tall for her age. Because of Esme’s height, the footrest doesn’t work for her so well. As far as these issues go, I suppose you have to ask yourself if you truly expect your 4 year old be riding in a pushchair all the time - and your child may not be that tall.
Who is the Phil and Teds Promenade buggy best for?
Families looking ahead to baby number two, keen to get the most out of the price tag and versatility on offer.
MadeForMums verdict
The new Phil and Teds Promenade pushchair is a great product, looking the part, handling well and boasting a reversible seat. Part of its big appeal is its ability to accommodate an expanding family’s needs. It’s worth keeping in mind that if your toddler is tall, it may not be the roomiest of fit at 4 years of age.
the Phil & Teds Promenade!
