GB Qbit+ All-Terrain review

The gb Qbit+ All-Terrain is the multi-terrain version of the gb Qbit+ All-City stroller. The main difference between the two is that the All-Terrain has 8 wheels designed to tackle all kinds of surfaces, while the All-City (£231.70 on Amazon), with just 4 wheels, is designed for an urban lifestyle.

Tested by:

Sybilla is a mum of 5 who lives on the Essex/Suffolk borders. She tested the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain on the school run, out and about and at home on a variety of different surfaces including gravel, grass and concrete with her month-old son Benjamin and four-year-old daughter Celestia.

What were your first impressions of the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain buggy?

Everyone in the family instantly fell in love with the colour of the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain stroller, which came in Laguna Blue. Not only is it easy to manoeuvre, but it looks very smart. I had plenty of compliments while out and about with it.

How does it compare to other lightweight buggies you have tried?

Extremely well. I am a Maclaren fan, but this buggy has converted me! The gb Qbit+ All-Terrain is a fuss-free, lightweight stroller and it’s so easy to fold. Lifting it in and out of the car was a breeze (even after a long birth) and it pushes well (as it claims to) on a variety of different surfaces from gravel to grass.

What age is it suitable for?

It’s suitable from birth to 4 years. We used it for our son when he was just a few days old as well as for our four-year-old daughter. Granted, using a lie-flat stroller for a newborn is never going to be as plush an experience for baby as a bassinet in a pram, but it does the job. There were no complaints from Benjamin, who enjoyed snoozing in the stroller. My daughter Celestia was also very comfy in the buggy, which is impressive as she is very tall for her age and nearly five years old.

Is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain simple to assemble?

Yes, really simple. It took all of four minutes to build. The only thing you are required to do is click the wheels on – the chassis comes already built.

Is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain easy to fold?

Yes, very easy. You press the two white buttons at the top of the handlebar down to release the buggy and do the same to unfold it. Sometimes you have to flick it out a bit to get it to click into the unfolded position.

How compact is it when folded, and unfolded?

It’s very compact. We mostly kept it in the corner of our kitchen and appreciated its small volume, folded or unfolded. Folded, it measures H53 x W33 x 49cm, and it’s freestanding, meaning that the fabric won’t get dirty. You can also easily remove the wheels should you need to do so for travel or storage.

Does it fit into an airplane overhead locker?

No, but it can fit underneath a train seat.

Does the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain fit in the boot of your car?

Yes. As it folds up so small it fitted in the boot of both our Mini and our Toyota RAV4 – unlike the long Maclaren buggies we own.

How lightweight is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain?

It’s 7.6kg, but it feels lighter than this.

Is it easy to push?

Very easy. The lockable swivel wheels do the job well and it takes minimum effort to move it around.

How does it ride on smooth surfaces?

On an even pavement or mown grass, the suspension of the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain is good.

How does the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain handle uneven ground?

It works impressively on a multitude of challenging terrains, such as gravel and long grass, but the suspension on an uneven concrete pavement was not brilliant, particularly for a newborn baby. I suppose this is to be expected if you use a stroller with a newborn, as opposed to a pram with a carrycot. As the buggy does not face the parent, it was harder to ascertain how my baby was coping with the cobbled pavement. I had to alter my pace and slow right down when walking to my daughters’ school while using the Qbit+ with my newborn son. Having said this, it’s easy to lift and mounts kerbs with no problem.

Is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain good for travel on public transport?

Given our rural location, we don’t use public transport, but with its easy, compact fold, I imagine that the Qbit+ All-Terrain would be a great success on buses and trains.

What do you think of its wheels?

They’re a bit too plastic and flimsy and they’re not very stylish, either. But they are large at 16cm wide, which makes tackling all terrains easier. The front wheels are lockable swivel wheels.

Does the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain have a durable frame?

Yes and no. The frame is not as strong as a more expensive stroller, such as the Bugaboo Ant, which I tested recently, but we have been using the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain for nearly two months now without any issues. It has been unfolded and folded extensively and used on grass, gravel, cobbled pavements and smooth concrete and driven halfway round East Anglia in the boots of various cars and it hasn’t broken yet. Reassuringly, it comes with a two-year warranty in case there are any problems.

What do you think of the handlebar?

The handlebar worked well, allowing for easy, one-handed pushing. The fixed height is 105cm, and it’s not adjustable, which could be an issue for some. Being 5ft 5in, this wasn’t a problem for me.

What did you think of the cot?

The stroller doesn’t come with a cot, but you can buy gb’s Cot to Go, which slots onto the seat part of the buggy. The fabric is lovely and seemed great quality. You can remove the seat and wash it at 30 degrees.

Tell us about the seat unit on the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain.

It’s spacious and comfortable for both toddlers and babies alike. It comes with a head hugger for smaller babies, a padded strap and crotch area and an adjustable leg rest. I wouldn’t say it was ideal for a newborn as there’s not quite enough padding to support a tiny baby. Now that Benjamin is nearly seven weeks old, he looks much more comfortable in the buggy, and as a result I am much happier using it.

How many recline positions does the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain have?

Three – lie-flat, semi and upright. You adjust the recline with a toggle and strap system – it’s really easy to use but you need two hands to adjust it, which may not suit everyone.

How comfortable does it feel for your baby?

It is comfortable, but take care if pushing a very small baby on uneven surfaces. A combination of a lack of padding for a newborn and limited suspension over uneven surfaces makes for a bumpy ride. I had no problem using the Qbit+ All-Terrain for my four-year-old daughter. The buggy worked well in the hot weather due to its light fabric and has good all-round ventilation in the lie-flat mode.

How is interacting with your child when in the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain?

There is not too much interaction as the buggy is forward-facing, however there is a peek-a-boo window in the hood.

What do you think of the hood?

This is definitely one of the main advantages of the Qbit+ as it is easily extendable and very generously sized. It also has UPF50 sun protection, making it ideal for use on holiday and during the summer. Other users have found it a bit noisy to operate but this didn’t bother us.

Tell us about the brakes of the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain.

The brakes are not easy to distinguish from the rest of the chassis, as they are the same colour – black. I found them quite hard to flick on and off and thought they were positioned a little too close to the wheels for comfort.

Is the basket large and easy to access?

Quite a few users have said the basket is too small – a common complaint when using strollers. The basket’s official capacity is 5kg, which is more than I would have thought. I found the basket quite shallow, but I wouldn’t expect much more from a stroller. It did the job for us. On the upside, as the basket isn’t too deep, it means you can access it without too much rummaging around behind the seat unit as there is a large gap between that and the basket.

Is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain car-seat compatible?

Yes, it’s compatible with a gb or CYBEX brand infant car seat although you need to buy car seat adaptors for this. As with the Cot to Go, you can slot one of these car seats onto the top of the buggy. There’s no need to remove the seat unit, which makes the process more straightforward.

How did you like the look of the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain?

It’s really smart – I liked it very much. The colour choices are excellent, ranging from Rose Red to Laguna Blue (like ours) to Velvet Black and Night Blue (navy blue).

What’s in the box?

• The chassis
• Seat unit
• Sun canopy
• Rain cover
• Wheels
• Handlebar

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy?

Yes, you can buy a coffee cup-holder, a foot muff, a changing bag, a parasol, a car seat, car seat adaptors and a Cot to Go.

What would you have wanted to know before you bought the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain?

It would be helpful to know that the shopping basket was on the shallow side, that the recline was a toggle-and-strap system and that the buggy was forward-facing.

Who would the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain be most useful for?

It’s ideal for on-the-go parents who are constantly in and out of cars and need a smart, lightweight, easy-to-use stroller. It isn’t overly engineered, so it’s good for someone like me who doesn’t want to get to grips with a complex fold system and just wants a belt-and-braces buggy.

What was your favourite feature of the stroller?

The easy, one-handed fold.

Is the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain worth the money?

It retails at just under £230 and I would say it’s worth every penny. I would definitely buy it again and have recommended it to friends.

Where can I buy the gb Qbit+ All terrain?

It's available from Amazon, gb,Uber Kids and Boots

MadeforMums verdict:

A great buy; the gb Qbit+ All-Terrain looks good and is also supremely practical with its one-hand fold.

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