We’d been using a Bugaboo Bee, which was perfect for our small house, travelling on the tube and parks in the city. But being out in the countryside, we found the Bee was getting stuck in mud and felt unstable, particularly going up and down kerbs or on uneven surfaces.
What is in the box?
- Chassis frame
- Wheels
- Rain cover
- Storage basket
- Bumper bar
- Harness
- Hood
- In-built parent tray
- Instructions
No
Was it easy to build out of the box?
The buggy wasn’t easy to build and I had to enlist the help of my husband. It also initially felt quite large and heavy, but the instructions were very comprehensive and it took less than an hour to put together.
How did the buggy fold?
There is a bit of a knack to putting it up and collapsing by pushing the grey button with your thumb and twisting the handle, but once we got the hang of it, it was easy. Ergonomically, the buggy is excellent.
Any standout features?
As well as being able to open and close it with one hand, the handlebar is one of the tallest on the market, adjusting from 39 to 45 inches from ground to handle, meaning that my husband and I – who are 5ft 7’’ and 5ft 11’’ – don’t slouch, while walking or jogging.
Is it travel system compatible?
Yes, there’s a removable baby bumper that doubles as a car set adapter for any Chicco KeyFit and Keyfit30 car seat. So no extra costs for adaptors – a very nice touch. We didn’t use this, but it is very easy to take off and store.
How comfortable is the Activ 3?
Our 20-month-old daughter loves using it. The seat is quite wide and there is a padded 5-point harness, and a footrest, so she appears to be very comfy and secure, which is important when daddy takes her out at speed! We tried out the four reclining positions, but preferred the upright one because she is a bit older and loved looking out.
How was the Activ 3 on a day out?
It was ideal to use in all weathers and the tyres are rubber and puncture-proof. So thankfully, I won’t have to take a pump out with me, as well as everything else a mum needs from day to day.
The rain cover is simple to use and the large, spacious basket can be accessed from the back or sides. There is also an inbuilt parent tray on the handlebars, which is a great accessory and perfect for that cup of coffee, toddler snacks, phone, wet wipes or keys. I particularly liked the hood, because it is adjustable, so can extend right over to the handlebar, which I imagine is ideal for sleeping newborns. There is a small peekaboo window, so you can see what your little one is doing, although not when the hood is fully extended.
Does it work well as a jogging buggy?
Yes, it is very light to push, so excellent for jogging and feels sturdy and safe. It mounted kerbs very easily and without bother and you can lock the front wheel if you are going across particularly tricky terrain, using a lever on the handlebar.
Also, the brake is engaged with a lever on the handlebar. This is excellent, because when running it is easy to accidentally knock the parking brake when it is located at the foot of the buggy.
MadeForMums verdict
This buggy is great for people who live outside the city and are often using it on uneven surfaces. The Flexcore Suspension means that even if you are going over lots of stones, mud, or uneven terrain, your little one is being thrown around and it can be adjusted with just the flick of the toe.
I wouldn’t recommend it particularly for someone who doesn’t have much space or lives in the city. The extra features would probably be redundant and although it folds flat and is fairly compact, the large front wheel makes it quite cumbersome to store in a small place. I struggled to fit it easily in the boot of my five-door Golf GTI, without taking the front wheel off. I don’t think it’s the most aesthetically pleasing buggy either, in my opinion, but it is ideal for the sort of practical parent who values comfort over style.
