Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair review

While the Reef 2's seat can fully lie flat, you can also buy a newborn carrycot, £250, if you prefer for those early months. It is suitable for overnight sleeping and, when not in use, folds flat for easy storage.

With an RRP of £695, the Reef 2 is an excellent quality travel system, that's versatile, stylish and feels premium.

How easy is it to build the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

Very! The pushchair arrived partly assembled and all we needed to do was unfold the base and seat unit, click on the wheels, and attach the hood and bumper bar. This meant it could be built in minutes. The trickiest bit was lining up and clipping the hood on.

How easy is it to fold and unfold the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

The pushchair is straightforward to fold and unfold. We didn’t have to spend time looking through the manual the first time we used it either, as handily there was a label attached explaining how to fold the pushchair in 5 easy-to-follow steps:

• Apply the brake and unlock the swivel wheels.
• Fold the seat.
• Slide the handle to its lowest position.
• Slide the catch on the handle, raise the handle slightly and press the trigger.
• Lower the handle.

To unfold the pushchair you:

• Move the lever on the lower right-hand side of the frame.
• Lift the handle.
• Lift up the seat unit using the catch on the back of the seat, underneath the hood.

How compact and portable is the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

The Silver Cross Reef 2 is a well-built and sturdy pushchair; the downside of that is it’s pretty heavy at 13.2kg. Depending on the height of your car boot it can be a struggle to load as it's also a fairly wide pushchair (61cm) so swallows up a lot of room in the boot. However, you can remove the seat to lighten the load and for flexibility about how you arrange it in the boot. It measures L71cm x W61cm x H30.5cm when folded, a little smaller than the Bugaboo Dragonfly.

During our family holiday, we were able to fit the pushchair, carrycot and plenty of luggage into the boot of our 7-seater SUV, with the back row of seats in the car folded flat. I am not sure we would have managed that if the carrycot didn’t collapse (a really nifty feature).

Given the weight of the pushchair with the seat attached, I couldn’t carry it and hold my baby at the same time, and there is no shoulder strap or carry case. However, it does self-stand well and never once toppled over.

How comfortable is the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair for your baby?

The first thing I noticed about the Silver Cross Reef 2 was the high quality materials. The carrycot (bought separately) comes with a soft bamboo mattress and my daughter slept soundly on it. She did look a little lost when the carrycot cover was attached, so I am not sure I would use the cover with a newborn baby.

Alternatively, you can use the seat unit from birth as it can lie completely flat. It also has a built-in footrest with plenty of room for a growing toddler. The harness is secure but my daughter had a habit of chewing on the adjustable straps, which I wasn’t able to tuck in.

I tested the Silver Cross Reef 2 in the spring, but for the warmer summer months there is plenty of ventilation in the hood and it offers UPF50+ protection for added comfort.

Is it easy to attach and detach the Reef 2 carrycot?

It’s very easy and can be done one-handed by holding the handle of the hood and clicking the carrycot in place. Once attached it feels secure, although there is a degree of movement if you wiggle the base.

How easy is it to switch between carrycot and seat unit on the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

Switching between the carrycot and seat unit can be done in a matter of minutes, without needing any tools. You simply press the buttons on either side of the seat unit to lift it off and, as mentioned, the carrycot can be fitted one-handed.

How smooth is the ride?

The Silver Cross Reef 2 is an all-terrain pushchair and I found it coped well with grass, gravel and cobbles. It wasn’t perfect, however. The wheels got stuck if the gravel was too deep or if the pavement or cobbles were too uneven.

My daughter was perfectly happy though, even on the bumpiest terrain, and on smooth tarmac it was super easy to push, and I could steer it comfortably with one hand. I also appreciated the fact that it was very quiet with no intrusive rattles, making it a pleasant experience for long walks.

How easy is it to manoeuvre the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

Generally, the Silver Cross Reef 2 is great to manoeuvre and feels solid. My only grumble is that kerbs are not effortless. You need the handle at the right height to put quite a bit of weight down on it in order to bump it up the kerb. It also struggled with some small ridges on a footbridge.

How good are the brakes?

The Reef 2's brake is positioned centrally on the footbar, so it’s ideal whether you are left or right-handed. It has step-on, step-off functionality and is clearly marked by a red sticker, making it easy to use. I tested the brakes on several steep inclines and it held the pushchair comfortably.

What do you think of the basket on the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

The Reef 2 has a generous basket; during our holiday we were able to load it up with a sports holdall and 3 large drinks bottles, with room for a few more small items. The basket is shaped so that nothing falls out, but that does mean it can only be loaded from the widest part at the front.

What's the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair's handlebar like?

The handlebar is comfortable and stylish with soft vegan leather. There’s a metal plate with an embossed Silver Cross logo which looks discretely premium. I’m 5ft 2in, but the handlebar can easily be extended to suit much taller parents by squeezing the button on the underside of the bar.

What do you think of the hood on the Silver Cross Reef 2?

The hood is thicker than on other pushchairs I’ve used and provides good shade when the pushchair is upright or reclined thanks to a pop-out sun peak. In a lie-flat position though a sun shade would be needed.

What did you think of the harness on the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

One practical feature which I found a little frustrating was the magnetic Genius™ buckle and multi-height rucksack-style harness. The idea of putting magnets together sounds brilliant, but with a wriggly baby it could be a real challenge at times. As soon as I had fitted some of the magnets together she arched her back and they all came apart again before I had secured them. I found it best to secure 2 of the magnets at a time rather than trying to hold all 4 parts. I know some parents really like magnetic buckles, but I found them a little tricky with such a young baby.

What’s in the box?

I tested the travel system and carrycot bundle which included:

• Reef 2 chassis and seat
• Carrycot
• Universal car seat adapters
• Rain covers

Is the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair worth the money?

With a £945 price tag, the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair and carrycot bundle is at the premium end of the market but is not as expensive as some rivals. It comes with a 3-year warranty and feels sturdy enough to not only take a baby from birth to toddler age, but potentially be used for another child if your family grows. In that respect it’s a good investment. If you're happy to use the pushchair seat unit in the lie-flat position, you can save the extra spend on a carrycot, making the Reef 2 a more affordable £695.

How sustainable is the Reef 2?

Silver Cross are taking positive steps, and I was pleased to see the Reef 2’s premium jersey fabric is sustainable, being made from recycled plastic bottles.

The life of the pushchair can be extended through Silver Cross’s premium valet and service, which includes a 6-point safety check and replacement of parts such as the wheels, brakes and harness, if necessary, as well as steam cleaning the chassis and fabrics. Also, rather than selling the Reef 2 after your child has outgrown it, you can donate it to a family in need through Silver Cross’s partnership with charity Baby Basics UK.

Where can I buy the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair?

It's available at Silver Cross, Amazon and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict

If you’re looking for a premium all-terrain pushchair that’s stylish, robust, easy to fold/unfold and has quality materials then you should definitely consider the Silver Cross Reef 2 pushchair. It feels made to last, although it's worth factoring in the extra cost of the carrycot (if you want to use it in this configuration) as well as the space you'll need to fit everything in your boot. Perfect for using around town and on country walks, it's a great all-rounder.