With its simple, streamlined look, the Silver Cross Dazzle is a lightweight buggy with attitude. It’s compact, gorgeous and sure to appeal to urban mums on the go.
The Dazzle’s contoured handles and filled-in wheels give this an almost toytown look, but rest assured that this buggy is as functional as it is playful. The lie-flat position is plenty flat enough for a newborn, but if you’d rather your little one was facing you and that he was a little more cocooned, you would do well to invest in the carrycot insert, £75, which can also be used independently of the buggy itself and gives a well-padded, protective nest for your newborn. Once you’ve slotted everything together, fixing it to the chassis is easy.
The Dazzle is aimed squarely at urban parents who may be short on space but still want good looks and great performance. It offers minimalist modern styling and some useful features: at just 7kg, it’s one of the lightest from-birth buggies around, but it still feels safe and secure for your baby. The folding mechanism is simple to use one-handed, and it locks shut and has a carry handle for optimum convenience. For a superbly streamlined look, all the fittings are neatly concealed and the shopping basket underneath is made using the same fabric as the seat. Rather than using sometimes awkward clips, many fixings are magnetic, so they fit into place really easily – and without pinched fingers or broken nails.
The seat fabric is well padded for comfort and the four-wheeled suspension makes for a supremely comfortable ride by lightweight buggy standards. Steering is a breeze thanks to the self-centring front wheels, and the handles, though unconventional in design, are comfy to grip but are not height-adjustable. The leg rest extends to accommodate your sleeping baby, and the seat can be raised and reclined one-handed. The hood offers a viewing window and ventilation for those warms summer days.
What we love
The streamlined look and luxurious feel of this buggy – and the fabulous choice of colours. Functionality hasn’t fallen by the wayside either – it’s a great pushchair to use and perfect for city dwellers. Although an optional extra, the carrycot insert gives this the edge over other lightweights as it gives you a parent-facing option for the first few months at least.
What to watch out for
The lack of height-adjustable handle may be a problem, as well as the fact that it’s more difficult to get carrier bags to hang over them (I know you’re not supposed to do this, but we all have to shop sometime). The shopping basket is near-impossible to access with the seat in lie-flat position, though this is often the case with umbrella-fold buggies. It’s also not terribly cheap for a lightweight. The accessory pack (footmuff, parasol, changing bag) costs an extra £75, as does the carrycot insert.
Who is the Silver Cross Dazzle best for?
Style- and space-conscious urban mums
One of the best-looking umbrella-fold buggies around, and a comfy ride for your baby, but not the cheapest around.
