Deciding what pram to buy when you are expecting is - there’s no way of hiding it - a bit of a minefield.
There are so many great products on the market that offer very different things for very different price points. Do you want a lightweight pram that folds up small? Do you need something more robust, or that can cope with rougher terrains? And… Do you want to buy a pram that is adaptable for carrying more than one child?
Of course, if you are expecting twins then you will obviously buy a double pram from the get go - but with more and more families being blessed with multiple children with small age gaps, there is now a growing market of prams that can be adapted from single seater to double. This means when your first arrives, you have an excellent pram that doesn’t need to be updated when the second comes along.
Enter the Cybex Gazelle S - a sleek, well engineered pram that is just as good as a single buggy as it is a double decker. But what makes the Cybex Gazelle a good pick for growing families? We give it a test run.
What makes the Gazelle S different?
The Gazelle S is a highly adaptable pram, meaning it is suitable for whatever your family looks like. There are an impressive 23 possible configurations - including everything from a single pushchair seat for one child, to double cots for two newborns, to one seat and one car seat for children of differing ages. That’s right - it is compatible with all Cybex non-static car seats and various other brands with the use of adapters, meaning you can lift your baby out of the car and onto the pram with no hassle. A kid board - suitable for older standing children to use - can be bought separately, meaning in theory you can carry three children and all your shopping in one go.
Another brilliant feature is that pram seats are suitable for use from newborn as they lie totally flat - meaning in theory you can forgo the sizable (and often difficult to transport) bassinet seat, should you wish. If you want more protection for your baby without the large bassinet, then the Cybex Cocoon S is compatible, which is a soft bassinet, or any of the brand’s footmuffs.
Furthermore, the pram has a sleek and stylish design. Cybex is an award-winning brand renowned for its practical and safe car seats and prams, meaning your baby(s) will be in very safe hands.
What are the pros of the Gazelle S?
The Gazelle S transports its occupants in an up-and-over configuration, rather than side by side. Although it is personal preference, I find this makes for easier handling - especially when you have a full load.
Changing from configuration to configuration is a total doddle, thanks to simple design and a wealth of tutorial videos on the brand’s website. Changing around seats and adding on extras feels very intuitive and clearly a lot of thought has been put into making it as easy as possible.
The pram comes with a huge lower shopping basket and a detachable upper shopper basket when you have just one baby on board - meaning you can carry up to 23kg of stuff with you. This is a real plus.
The pram has a comparatively compact fold. While of course, it has nothing on travel prams and other smaller single prams on the market, the Gazelle S fits easily into an average boot. It also free stands when folded, meaning it can be tidily stored in your hallway when not in use.
What are the cons?
Maybe it was just the pram that we reviewed, but actually folding the pram took a bit of getting used to. It was quite fiddly and tricky to execute - especially when under pressure with multiple children vying for your attention.
While this is not an exclusive problem with Cybex - and is indeed the problem with various brands - it is easy to spend big when you add on all the necessary extras. Arguably, a pram that is marketed as being able to hold two children should come with two seats as standard.
How much does it cost?
- The Gazelle S - which includes wheels, a bumper bar, an XXL sun canopy, shopping basket, extra Shopper, one seat unit and a raincover comes in at £719.95
- An additional seat unit is £299.95
- Gazelle S Cot is £249.95
- Kid board is £99.95
- Car seat adapters £44.95
- Footmuff £99.95
- Newborn Cocoon £134.95
Verdict
This is a highly impressive pram that really offers excellent variety for growing families. It feels like there are endless possibilities with the Gazelle S - whether you have one child or several.
It will last the test of time. While you will have to invest early on, you won’t have to buy additional prams as your family grows or changes which is a real plus.
It is sleek, nice to look at and on the whole easy to use - though make sure you try putting it up and down before heading out with it. An excellent choice of pram.
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Cybex Gazelle S Pushchair
Buy now £719.95, John Lewis
