Silver Cross Dune pushchair review

Tested by

Journalist and new parent Amanda tested the Silver Cross Dune and Dune First Bed Folding Carrycot with her newborn daughter at home in the suburbs of London. They took the travel system on walks in their local country park and on trips to cafes and pubs. They often travel in central London in and around busy restaurants and shops.

What were your first impressions of the Silver Cross Dune travel system?

I was pleasantly surprised at the colour and style of the Dune pushchair. I wanted something subtle to stroll around with and this fit the bill. It was clear a lot of time and effort had been taken to ensure no damage occurred during delivery – it was almost too difficult to get into the product. This gave me confidence the pushchair would be good quality.

How easy is it to build the Silver Cross Dune pushchair?

I found it an intuitive piece of equipment and everything worked exactly how I thought it would. There's a QR code attached to the pram box and instruction manual that you can scan on a smartphone. This takes you to the website which gives you all the help you need. There are also QR codes attached to each piece of equipment making it even easier to access the correct videos. Step-by-step tutorials explain the main functions of the pram, how to put it together and how to collapse it. Having the QR codes meant I didn’t have to keep a booklet somewhere safe and risk losing it. It's also better for the environment. With the instructions, it didn’t take too long to put together – about half an hour in total.

What do you think of the Silver Cross Dune carrycot?

The carrycot is light, soft and a great size. It's sturdy and lies flat on the floor when removed – perfect if baby is sleeping and you didn't want to disturb her. Even though the pram was compact, there was still plenty of room for my average-sized baby to move around – any more room and I would have felt she was moving around too much. There was also a zip for easy access. The mattress provided was soft and well-cushioned yet firm enough for a newborn baby. It was also comfortable and breathable. I tested its breathability by putting it against my own mouth and it felt airy. Adjustable air vents on either end of the carrycot helped to provide plenty of ventilation, which I could adjust depending on the weather.

The sides, hood and other fabrics of the carrycot were soft to touch, as was the bamboo lining that helps babies regulate their temperature. Another nice touch is that the fabric is woven exclusively with yarn from recycled plastic bottles. The great thing about this carrycot is it is big enough to last until baby is 6 months. It’s lightweight, so in a situation where I do have to remove it, I feel comfortable knowing that even with my baby in there I won’t struggle. The weight and size make it very easy to carry around and up and down stairs. An added bonus is the carrycot is approved for overnight sleeping, meaning I won’t need to take a cot away when I travel in the first 6 months. You can also buy a stand for the carrycot to help with naps or overnight sleeping solutions.

How easy is the carrycot to add on/take off the pushchair?

The carrycot clicks into place and is very easy to remove even with baby inside. The button is located on the carrycot handle and can be operated with one hand. The carrycot also has a space saving fold, which is great for people with smaller cars and tighter spaces in which to store the pushchair. To change between the carrycot and seat, there are two buttons located on each side of the pushchair. As with other prams, I find having a 2 click mechanism to move seats makes it a little tricky as you can't do it one handed.

Is the Silvercross Dune pushchair simple to fold?

I found it a little clunky and fiddly at first. You move a lever, click to the right and then lift the handle up and push down to fold the pushchair. The black lever seemed like an unnecessary extra step to have to take. But the online video helped to explain how to fold the buggy and once I'd done it a few times I got the knack of it. The pushchair folds with the seat attached or unattached, but the carrycot always needs to be removed for it to be fully folded. The switches on the chassis and chair were a bit stiff and tricky to push down, especially the button on the back of the seat that moved the seat up and down. It was quite heavy so I had to use both thumbs to push it. However, this gave me confidence the pram was secure and safe for my baby.

How big or compact is the buggy when folded?

The buggy is compact when fully folded. It was easy to pick up using the handle provided, although it was a little heavy and slightly deep so it felt a little awkward holding it for an extended amount of time. It would be a tight squeeze fitting it into a small car (such as a Ford Fiesta) but it's compact enough for an SUV or estate car. The folded buggy was easy to store and was sturdy so it stood up on its own.

How easy is it to push and steer the Silvercross Dune pushchair?

On our first journey out with the pram, we felt manoeuvring it was a little bit stiff. In general, although pavement pushing was a breeze and felt comfortable, on grass and other terrains such as gravel and cobbled streets, it was slightly tougher – we had to give it a little extra oomph. We found the pushchair a bit awkward and heavy when trying to lift it up a curb or step. We had to tilt it onto the back wheels in an unnatural position that didn’t feel entirely comfortable (it almost felt like our baby could move around). The enhanced suspension was a little tough and the pram was heavier than I would have liked when it came to pushing and steering. That said, it did feel sturdy and secure.

How well does it work on public transport?

We took the Dune on the train and bus, and both were easy to get around on. The compact size is good for public transport, however, as it is a little heavy (12.5kg when used with the pushchair seat) it took extra effort to lift it up onto the bus and train. This did get easier the more times I did it.

What’s the chassis like?

My first impression of the matt frame of the chassis was that it was stylish, subtle and sleek. It felt durable and was simple to clean but it did scratch easily, which has shown up on some of the parts. The chassis weighs 8kg.

How do you rate the buggy handle?

The handle is wide, firm and comfortable to hold, as well as easy to adjust with 3 different levels. It has a specialist-made telescopic handle to make it more comfortable for people of different heights, great for anyone suffering from a bad back who needs to stand upright as much as possible. The design of the handle is subtle with a shiny silver area featuring the logo. The handles feel soft and durable, plus they're vegan-friendly. When the pushchair is folded, the handle will never touch the floor making it great on public transport.

What do you think of the seat unit?

Once our baby was 6 months old, we transferred her to the seat (although it is worth noting the seat is suitable from birth in the lie-flat, parent-facing position if you'd rather not purchase the separate carrycot). The seat seemed roomy enough for our baby and secure. She looked comfortable and well strapped in. The seat had 2 main positions: the upright position was at a slight angle so my baby could recline and feel comfortable looking out. The seat then pushed right back to lie flat for naps. I found it a simple mechanism to press and lift for the seat to be up or down, and very easy with my baby in the pram, too.

I could easily move the seat from world to parent-facing, which is great for interactions with your baby. I didn't initially love the magnetic Genius buckle harness system because I felt like it could become unattached too easily; however, I was happily proved wrong about this. It was very secure and made strapping my baby in easier. A bumper bar comes across for extra security and you can adjust it to the size of your baby. We added a lining to make it extra comfy. The seat alone weighs 4.5kg.

What’s the hood like?

The hood stayed in place and was sturdy. It has an extension flap, which was sufficient to keep direct sunlight off my baby and to protect against light rain and wind before I had to use the rain cover. However, it didn't come right over to create a completely dark space for my baby to nap in. I found it easy to pull the hood forward and back and to use the side buttons to push it back completely. The hood had an easy access peephole which offered extra ventilation as well the ability to easily check in on my baby.

What are the wheels like?

The wheels are small yet sturdy. They withheld being on grass, gravel and cobbles as well as the pavement. They turn easily enough when you push and turn the pram. They were simple to attach and fix on. If you need to detach them for any reason, perhaps to wash them, it is simple enough to refer to the online video. There is silver suspension above all 4 wheels as well, which is a nice design feature.

How good are the brakes?

The brake is simple to use and very intuitive. It is a simple push-and-pull mechanism at the bottom to the rear of the pram. The brakes hold well and the pram is completely stable.

How do you rate the basket?

The bottom basket is a great size and can fit everything you need from baby's changing bag to a couple of bags of shopping. We tested it with a full basket and nothing fell out, everything was well balanced, and it didn’t add any heaviness or unstableness to the pram. You have to reach around the carrycot to put something in or take something out, but this wasn’t a massive issue – I just found it a bit dodgy on the back if I didn't bend down correctly. The basket has the capacity for up to 5kg.

What’s in the box?

• Instruction manuals
• Chassis
• Seat
• Hood
• Wheels
• Bumper bar
• Basket
• Rain cover

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Newborn pod, £125
• Compact folding carrycot, £225
• First bed folding carrycot, £275
• Dream i-Size car seat with ISOFIX base, £425
• Changing bag backpack, £130
• Carrycot stand, £100
• Cup holder, £25
• Snack tray, £45
• Footmuff, £120

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

I'd have liked to have known more about how this works with different accessories: car seats and the different types of newborn carrycots available, including the newborn pod and compact folding carrycot. Knowing about the carrycot stand is also useful, as I think this is a great feature.

Is this pushchair worth the money?

At £795 for the pushchair alone, the Silver Cross Dune travel system is a premium-priced product. However, the quality shines through. The Dune is simple to use. It is secure, sturdy and stylish, with 3 different subtle colourways to choose from. And, while it's not the lightest city stroller on the market (12.5kg), it has a neat compact fold and is easy to push around on city pavements.

How does this pushchair compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the Silver Cross Dune pushchair?

It is available from Silver Cross, John Lewis, UK Baby Centre

MadeForMums verdict:

The Dune is great for parents wanting something of a high standard that looks good too. Although heavier than some pushchairs, it is easy to use and great for nipping in and out of the car (although the bigger your car, the easier that will be). It has plenty of storage, and lots of optional accessories to customise it for your family, including multiple newborn options and a carrycot stand to turn the carrycot into a crib. We'd recommend this pram for first-time parents who live in an urban location but drive a lot, who want their investment to last until their child is 4 years old.