Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller review

There is an option to buy the same bundle without the newborn cocoon, the Venus Max Double, £349, or simply the pushchair and rain cover only, the Venus Double, £329, making the Venus Prime Double bundle excellent value for money. For parents of twins, an extra cocoon can be purchased for £69. The Venus is currently the only double buggy in the Ickle Bubba range.

Offering great value for money as well as impressive manoeuvrability, the Venus Prime Double stroller is a good option for expanding families – just make sure you check the width of your front door and that you can fit the double buggy through before you buy!

What were your first impressions of the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

That it was a surprisingly compact box considering the number of items included. This is partly because the newborn cocoon comes flat-packed, but the overall size of the Venus Prime Double stroller when folded is impressively neat.

How do you fold and unfold the Venus Prime Double stroller?

Folding the buggy is easy. There are 2 buttons on the handlebar – a sliding one at the front and a push button at the back – which have to be pressed at the same time and the handlebars folded forward simultaneously. Best to do this slowly as the weight makes it awkward to fold without dropping it. Turning the buggy sideways as you fold, keeping it upright and holding the bars beneath the pushchairs, helps with this.

Unfolding is straightforward once you get the technique, however it does require some practice, especially as the frame feels very heavy to lift (it weighs 13.4kg, which is a little heavier than other double pushchairs like the Red Kite Push Me DUBL, 11kg, or the Baby Jogger City Tour 2, 10.5kg).

There is a little bar lock on one side that needs unhooking to do this, which can be difficult to find at first, but easier once you remember which side it’s on! Then there are thin but sturdy bars under the seats which you can hold up to help push out the front of the buggy to unfold.

What is the carrycot like for the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

It's not a traditional carrycot, instead something Ickle Bubba call a "newborn cocoon". This comes flat-packed (folded in on itself and clipped together), so side, front, and back plastic panels need to be inserted into zipped pockets surrounding the cocoon before use.

You also need to attach the hood with Velcro and poppers. It can be packed away again in the same way for long-term storage, although you wouldn’t want to fiddle around with this all the time.

The newborn cocoon is a lie-flat space designed for use by babies from birth to 9kg (approx. 6 months), but the overall size – that's L76cm x W26cm x H18cm – while plenty long enough, may be a little narrow for chunkier babies (like mine) after a few months.

The sides are padded and the mattress is flat, soft, and breathable; my baby was happy to snooze in the cocoon even on short walks, however it's not recommended for overnight sleeping. The zip-on apron is a nice touch for chilly days, too, and the hood is handy for keeping the sun off your baby while they snooze.

This cocoon is also compatible with the Venus Jogger stroller – a sturdy 3-wheeler buggy for parents who run.

How easy is the carrycot to add on/take off the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

It's not the easiest to be honest. Straps on the under-side of the cocoon secure it to the front and back of the fully reclined pushchair with a clip. The back straps are threaded through holes in the side of the pushchair for extra security, so these can be a little fiddly to remove.

One feature I did think was useful was the large carry handles on the sides of the cocoon, although it's not recommended to use these with your baby inside.

What do you think of the seats on the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

My 2 year old was keen to try both seats and found them comfortable on short and longer walks; he particularly enjoyed the (removable) bumper bar which we don’t have on our single pushchair.

The seats operate independently to fully recline with easy pull-straps at the back, which can be adjusted to multiple levels and stay in place with a clip, so are a good option for naps on the go. You can also fully unzip the back of the seats to keep an eye on little ones through the mesh.

Although the padding on the seats is a little slim, it is quilted for comfort and a padded fleece seat liner, £24, can be purchased separately for extra comfort and warmth.

We’re not there yet, but I can see the pushchair lasting for another year or 2 (the specification is up to 15kgs per seat or approx. 3 years) and if we were to have a third child, it would be adaptable again. My toddler and 2 month old looked very comfortable side-by-side, with my oldest front-facing and able to see his parent-facing brother tucked up.

What are the hoods like on the Venus Prime Double stroller?

Each seat has its own extendable hood, both of which are easy to extend, coming down parallel with the chairs and staying in place. There is a little window flap at the back, secured with Velcro, in addition to the wider zip-flap described above. They both have UPF 50+ sun protection.

I'd say the only small design fault is that the hoods brush against the wheels when folded, so the may get dirty on muddy or dusty walks, and there is the possibility of wear and tear after repeated folding.

How compact is the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double buggy when folded?

Surprisingly slim! When folded, the Venus measures D76cm x W74cm x H30cm, which is similar to other double strollers like the Cosatto Woosh, D65cm x W75cm x H36cm and Bugaboo Donkey 5 Duo, D89cm x W60cm x H35cm, but a lot larger than the incredibly compact Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double at D63cm x W66.5cm x H25cm.

The Venus stands upright on its wheels when folded, so could be stored in a hallway without taking up too much room. The front wheels had to be removed to fit the folded buggy in our car boot (a Ford Focus), though, and while there was some room on top, once you added the cocoon there wasn't much space left.

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller to push and steer?

Given how heavy it feels to lift when folded, it’s surprisingly light to push and has a tight turn with good suspension. I only felt its weight when tipping to mount higher kerbs or crossing uneven ground, for example a sloped drive, but that’s the case with most prams and pushchairs.

The front wheels have a 360 degree turn which can be locked for rougher terrain, however I found they coped well over pavements, cobbles, mud, grass, and gravel even when unlocked. The larger back wheels and wider birth help with this and there’s no chance of any tipping. It has been icy here recently and the grip on the wheels was good.

As with any side-by-side buggy, it is trickier to navigate on narrower pavements, on and off public transport (particularly buses), and in and out of smaller shops or dwellings. Also, measuring D99.5cm x W74.5cm x H105cm when unfolded, it's not a given that this will fit through all doors.

In my case, the back wheels were a cm too wide to fit through our front door, so the Venus had to be at least partially folded to get through. Definitely double check the dimensions before you buy!

What’s the chassis like?

Great! I really like the style of this buggy. The slightly glossy black frame, matching matt material, and quilted seats give it a smart look, and the brown leatherette handles are a nice addition and comfortable to grip too. I would say it looks more expensive than its price tag.

Is the handlebar adjustable on the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

The handlebar height is not adjustable but both myself (5ft 3) and my partner (5ft 11) found it a comfortable height (105cm) to push, and the leatherette grip feels slightly cushioned.

What are the wheels like on the Venus Prime Double stroller?

I found all 4 wheels attached very easily with a push-and-click mechanism. Removing them, however, was more tricky: for the front wheels there is a tiny silver button that has to be pressed and the wheel pulled out at the same time; for the rear wheels a small silver lever has to be pulled up and, again, the wheel removed at the same time.

The wheels aren't massive – the Venus isn't necessarily designed as a multi-terrain pushchair – but the rotating front wheels can be locked for rougher terrain with one push-click, while the larger back wheels give a good grip.

How good are the brakes?

Just what you need. The brake is a single pedal on the back bottom bar which can be easily locked with a foot and doesn’t get in the way when walking. It holds well, even on sloped terrain.

What is the storage basket like on the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

Being a double buggy, the basket is naturally a decent size with high sides to prevent items from falling out. It was big enough to store our changing bag and some food shopping, so no complaints here.

What’s in the box?

• Venus Double stroller
• 4 x wheels
• Newborn cocoon
• 2 x quilted footwarmers
• 2 x bumper bars
• Raincover
• Instruction booklet

Are there any additional accessories that you can buy?

If you have newborn twins, purchasing an extra newborn cocoon (£69) is essential. The raincover is included in all bundles so is not sold separately, but Ickle Bubba do sell a range of non-essential winter accessories including a handmuff/mitts and padded fleece seat liner.

What did you think of the packaging of the Venus Prime Double stroller?

I'd say the box was as compact as it could be to fit the folded stroller without the wheels attached. Each wheel and the newborn cocoon were all packaged separately in plastic bags and there were foam protectors on parts of the frame with cable ties. The plastic bags and cable ties were not recyclable unfortunately.

Does Ickle Bubba offer any repair options for the Venus Prime?

Yes. Ickle Bubba offers a 4-year extended warranty on the stroller chassis and 1-year on the wheels, not including incorrect use and normal wear and tear. Depending on the damage/defect and how it has been caused, Ickle Bubba offers repairs, spare parts, or a full replacement product.

Can the Venus Double stroller be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

No, it's not car seat compatible.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

The size of the stroller and the size of my door! It is essential to measure the width of your front door/hallway/corridors as it did not fit through our front door without having to be folded down. This was awkward and difficult (not to mention cold at this time of year!) as it meant strapping the children in outside of the house.

Who would the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller be most useful for?

I'd say this stroller is ideal for parents of 2 children under 3, or parents of newborn twins (with the purchase of an extra cocoon), who want a convenient and easy-to-use stroller, without spending a fortune. The width makes it more difficult to navigate through smaller spaces and on public transport, so it may be better suited to country- or suburban- rather than inner-city living.

Is the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller worth the money?

Absolutely. I was so impressed with the quality and feel of the materials, the look, and the accessories included for the price. Compared to other double strollers from well-known brands it’s a steal.

Where can I buy the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller?

The Venus Prime is available at Ickle Bubba, Boots and Very.

MadeForMums verdict

If your front door is wide enough and you have somewhere to stand/store it in the house, I would highly recommend the Ickle Bubba Venus Prime Double stroller bundle because of the numerous ways and ease with which it can be adapted for growing families. The overall quality, style, and value for money – especially that you don’t have to fork out for essential accessories like a raincover – make the Venus Prime an excellent all-in bundle for families who need a durable double stroller for everyday use.