Review

Phil and Teds Vibe 3 Wheeler Baby Stroller with Double Kit (Black)

Phil & Teds Vibe is a good-looking all-terrain buggy suitable for those who require a pushchair sturdy enough to give a comfortable ride even on bumpy and rough grounds. If bought with the “double kit”, it can also function as a tandem pushchair that can accommodate a toddler and a baby at the same time. The trade off is that it can be a heavy and bulky pushchair for some.

Phil & Teds Vibe: The Pros

There are many thing to praise about the Vibe. It looks smart, it’s ergonomic, functional, and practical. It’s sturdy and feels solid. It’s got an easily removable bumper bar with padded cover, is comfortable to push, and easy to clean. Many users expressed that the unique hand-controlled brakes are quite simple and easy to use, too.

One of the things easily noticeable about the Vibe is that Phil & Ted seemed to have designed it to give the maximum comfort for your child. Many parents reported that their kids love the soft, padded seat and find it really comfortable. The seats are also considerably roomier than the average pushchair.

Perhaps one of the best thing about it is that it’s suitable from birth to 25 kg (5 yrs old), so you can potentially get so much out of it. Imagine the savings you would have made if it lasted you for 5 years!

As mentioned before, one of the coolest thing about it is you can convert it from a single buggy to a tandem buggy if you buy it with the “double kit”. This is very handy when you need a Twin Pushchair but don’t want the hassles that come with owning a twin pushchair! So for those of you who have a toddler and expecting another baby soon, the Vibe may just be THE one. And no, you don’t have to remove the second seat when you wan to fold it.

The back support is adjustable via a strap so you can have it on a wider variety of angles.

The handle is padded, ergonomic, and adjustable to 3 positions, so it can easily accommodate pushers of varying heights.

The fabric is washable and waterproof, and the hood is fully adjustable too, and as you can easily see in the pictures here, it provides ample shade.

The 5 point harness is fully padded and is designed to be tight enough to support small babies, and also adjustable enough to support growing toddlers.

The swivel wheel at the front is lockable, and all are fully removable, in case you want to adapt it to fit your storage space. The back wheels are pneumatic tyres you can fill with air using a compatible tyre pump, and they even have mud guards.

Now, about the storage basket. A common problem with many single pushchairs is that it’s difficult to access the storage basket when the back is reclined at its lowest position – not so with Vibe! Of course, you can see why the story is different when you fit the double seat above the shopping basket though, but if you check out the Accessories section, you will see that Phil & Teds have a lot of ingenious storage solutions available.

Phil & Teds Vibe: The Cons

If you are likely to be going up and down stairs a lot with this pushchair, you may find it quite heavy to do on your own.

Even though it’s NOT difficult to fold and unfold, it’s definitely not a job you can do with just one hand. It require both hands and you can’t do it with a single motion – there are a few steps required in the process. As such some parents find it a bit fiddly. We agree that it can be fiddly – if you compare it with folding a lightweight buggy that weighs less than half The Vibe.

Some parents in forums we’ve lurked into complained about how it can’t be folded with the double seat attached on the front side. This is probably because the double seat must be attached on the top setting (not the lower) for the pushchair to fold properly (see video).

The manoevrability is getting a mixed reaction from parents. Some think it’s a dream to push, some says it’s difficult. We personally think it’s easy to push and steer, but it can be tricky when you try to steer it in a such a confined space like a tight corridor or inside a packed bus or train – which is understandable, really.

Another feature that’s getting a mixed reaction is the brakes. Some users have complained about the brakes being awkward as the control for it is right on the middle of the handlebar so one can unintentionally set it off, while other users have reported that it’s so convenient and easy to control. We guess it boils down to preference.

One thing some parents didn’t like is the manner in which you have to adjust the back support (see video). As you can see this requires both hands, but the advantage is that you can set the backrest at several positions and varying angles.

The most obvious disadvantages of the Vibe is that it’s quite bulky and heavy, but you can take off the wheels when folding it and actually it can still fit in the boot of a medium sized car although there won’t leave much room for anything else.

And finally, it is pricey but you can potentially get 5 years out of it, so if you think of it this way it can work out as a huge saving.

Conclusion

The Phil & Teds Vibe is a very versatile buggy with a good sized shopping basket and is designed to be used on rough terrains. It’s suitable from birth to 5 years so you can potentially save a lot of money with this one. However be warned that it is rather bulky and heavy, so go buy it if you have the storage space (and the strength) for it. It’s not suitable for trips abroad or weekends away, but it’s probably one of the most flexible models and best value pushchair available these days.

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Specifications

Phil & Teds Vibe: Specifications

Phil & Teds Vibe is Available in Colours

• Red
• Black

Next: Scroll back up and click on the next Tab, ‘Gallery’ to see product images

Gallery

Next: Scroll back up and click on the next Tab, ‘Video’

Video

Next: Scroll back up and click on the next Tab, ‘Buy Now’ to see Merchants and prices

Accessories

Accessories Included in Price (please check before buying):

• Raincover
• Hood

Optional Pushchair Accessories

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Alternatives

These are pushchair models that are strong in the areas where The Vibe is weak…

Alternative Pushchairs to this Model:

Maclaren Techno XT Pushchair