Phil & Teds Mod review

Priced at £349, its much cheaper than the luxurious Bugaboo Bee5, which is extremely popular with city-living parents and costs £549.99. While the Bee5 weighs less (9.4kg with carrycot), it is only suitable up to 15kg (roughly 3 years old).

The nippy Jane Minnum has a similar target market as the Mod but is a bit more costly at £399 and only offers a lie flat seat. If you want a carrycot, you need to buy one or invest in the brand’s convertible iMatrix car seat – bumping the price way past the £500 mark. The three-wheeled Cosatto Busy is a budget option at £239.99 but has a lie-flat seat that is only forward-facing.

You can buy the Phil & Teds Mod from Phil & Teds, Amazon, Pramworld and John Lewis.

How we tested the product

Zoe Earnshaw is a mum of 1 and tested the stroller with her son Jack, 20 months. They used it for daily nursery runs, walks with the dogs and trips to the shops.

First impressions?

My first impressions of the Phil & Teds Mod pram stroller that it was very compact and very colourful. The bright colours and the slim black frame make it look really trendy and well designed. I liked the multicoloured fabric design (known as abstract), which felt quite gender neutral, but you can also choose from a plainer pattern in noir (black), capri (turquoise) or zest (yellow).

What’s in the box?

• Stroller frame
• Four-in-one seat unit and carry cot
• Footmuff
• Four wheels

How easy is it to assemble?

It took me about 15 minutes and was very easy. You just had to attach the wheels and seat to the frame. The instructions were a bit vague about how to change the seat to a carry cot and back however, so I had to look online.

How compact is it when folded and unfolded?

It’s a very narrow pram at 57cm wide, so gets through tight spaces quite nicely - perfect when you’re having a browse round the shops! I would definitely say it manages well in a busy city environment.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

I have quite a small car with a very tiny boot and the Mod fits nicely in the back with room left over. It is also compact enough to fit on the back seat if necessary, measuring 71 x 57 x 32cm when folded.

Is it lightweight?

It’s fine for its style, weighing 12kg. I live in a flat and I manage easily to carry it up and down the stairs. You would struggle if you need to do it carrying a child as well though. I think this weight would make it perfect for holidays. I also find when a pram is too heavy it’s harder to manoeuvre off curbs and this stroller was easy to use over curbs.

Can the Mod be used from newborn?

Yes, you can use the carry cot setting from newborn up to 9kg and the seat settings from 6 months. The carry cot can be tilted slightly if your baby has colic or a cold.

Tell us about the modular seat unit – how does it work and is it reversible?

I think the four-in-one seat and carry cot is one of the smartest things I have seen in pram design. The seat can be used in four modes – as a carry cot on or off the frame, and as a parent or forward-facing seat. The seat can be reclined in both modes.

Normally you have to buy a separate seat and carry cot, with different attachments, which can be quite costly and takes up storage space. With it being one piece that converts, the only additional cost would be a car seat and adaptors, if you need it. I also like the fact that you can use the carry cot off the frame as well, which is perfect for travelling.

Why your newborn needs a lie-flat buggy

How many recline positions are there?

Multiple. There is a handle at the back of the seat to move it up and down to your chosen position, from upright to reclined.

How comfortable is it for your child?

It is quite cushioned so it is nice and comfy. The fabric feels nice and there is a five-point harness to keep him in place, plus a bumper bar.

What are the fabrics like?

They are good quality and you can spot clean any spillages.

How easy is it to push and how smooth is the ride?

The wheels are narrow but air-filled so the pram feels like its gliding. It’s so smooth and goes over the curbs with ease, without jostling the baby about too much. We go walking a lot as a family along the farm fields and found that the pram handled the uneven surface brilliantly.

What do you think of the wheels and suspension?

The suspension of the pram is good and it is really nice to push around. My only concern would be that I’ve had problems with puncture on air-filled tyres in the past and the Phil & Teds website doesn’t have any information about getting replacements. They say that the Aeromaxx tyres are immune to punctures however.

How easy is it to take on public transport?

This pram is perfect for using on a bus. Our buses can only manage to fit two prams on them usually but I managed to squeeze on as a third with the Mod.

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How easy is it to store?

It’s compact when folded so stores really well. The wheels tuck in nicely to the frame. With other brands I’ve tried, you find the wheels stick out.

What do you think of the fold system?

I found folding the Mod down quite difficult at first, because the process of folding the seat down wasn’t obvious and there aren’t many instructions in the box. I had to find a video online and watch it a few times, which was frustrating. It should be easier to find out what to do!

But once I’d done that, it was pretty easy and I could do it one-handed while holding my toddler. You fold the seat and then the frame folds by pressing your foot on a button on the basket and using one hand to fold it up. I thought this feature was good as you can do it all upright rather than having to bend and stretch, pulling levers and pressing buttons.

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What do you think of the handle?

I like that you can adjust the handle height as me and my partner are very opposite in height. It means we can both be comfortable using it. It’s very easy to adjust – you just press a button on either side and change the angle to one of the three options. It stands at 107cm high at its tallest. The brake is also on the handle and easy to use.

What age child is it best for?

I think the size of the seat unit is very small – it is 30cm wide and 50cm high at the back. It’s designed for urban living so this is a good thing, but my son is on the higher centiles and when we got the stroller, he was 14 months and his legs were already hanging over the end. It says it can be used until 4 years old or 20kg but I don’t think I will get that long, which is disappointing. Having a big baby, this sizing is something I would take into consideration when choosing what to buy.

Does the hood give good coverage?

Phil & Teds say the hood is XL and offers SPF50+ protection. But I felt it was quite small and quite stiff to fold out, so it didn’t do much for sun protection. I have a Mamas & Papas Armadillo Flip XT and the hood on that is definitely extra large – the Mod doesn’t come close.

You can buy a fitted sun cover on the Phil & Teds website but you don’t receive it with the stroller. You also need to buy the fitted rain cover. A set of both costs £45 and they are also available separately.

What do you think about the brakes?

The brakes feel really secure, which is reassuring when you are in the city stopping to cross roads or travelling on buses. They are on the handle rather than foot operated, which I found handy and really easy to put on.

Is it travel system compatible?

Yes, you can buy adaptors to convert it to use with a car seat. The car seat must also be bought separately. The Phil & Teds website say it will work with its own brand car seats as well as Mountain Buggy, Graco, Chicco, Maxi Cosi, Cybex and Peg Perego.

How easily can you access the basket and is it big enough?

The basket can hold up to 10kg and is big enough to fit a few bags in. With the design of the stroller being quite compact though, it is not overly big. It holds things well when going over curbs and rougher terrain.

What do you think of the matching footmuff that comes with the Mod?

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a footmuff – it is more like a piece of fabric you attach to the frame. It’s quite flimsy and thin so wouldn’t do much for keeping your child warm, but I think if you were to add your own blanket, the footmuff wouldn’t fit as well.

Who is this pram best suited to?

It’s perfect for families living in the city with small spaces at home and first-time parents who want everything to get started.

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Is the Mod good value for money?

I think so, as it is all-in-one, with no need to buy attachments and different seats. And the price overall compared to other brands is really good for how stylish it is. Your only additional cost would be the car seat and adaptors if you wanted that, as well as rain and sun covers.

MadeForMums verdict:

This is a stylish, versatile and good value all-in-one stroller that is great for using in urban areas but holds it own on rougher terrain. It’s perfect for travelling, nice to use and the adaptability is very clever. But it could do with better instructions and might not suit a family with a bigger baby.

Still trying to choose? We’ve got more advice and reviews for you…

• 10 of the best buggies for less than £350
• Buyers guide to buggies
• 10 of the best buggies suitable for a newborn

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