Pram help needed....(Silver Cross Surf, I think !!)

[aob1013]

Hey,

We have got a Bugaboo Cameleon for our LO. It's a dream to push, especially after my section plus so many other plus points.

 

[sharbutt]

Ok, we have tested the Silver Cross Surf now (I have tested this twice in the last 23 hours being there once last night and once today with my wife and M2B)

We love the Surf, it is absolutely brilliant in practically every way...

The only bad review I have read was someone complaining that the baby is not flat in the snug...

But this will not affect us as we will definitely be going for the carrycot as an extra...

The mothercare Spin has now been taken off our list, because you are not able to free stand the carrycot, unlike the Buzz/Surf/iCandy.

The surf's wheel-base is narrower than the Quinny and the iCandy Peach (which we also saw and test drove) making this easier to move around tight shop aisles, the surf is a lot easier to fold down (the Quinny can be tricky and you are required to bend all the way down to fold this).

The surf's wheels do not have inner tubes or a valve so these will not go flat or puncture whilst you are out (not that this should happen, but I would not like that risk)
this is the same for the Brakes, the Quinny's brake cable is not shielded so it might be possible to catch this on something. (again it should not happen but again I would not like to say this would not happen in the 2+ years of our pram life)

One of the tests I did was to see how easy it was to lift the front wheels up as if I was going up a curb (the person in the shop gave us a baby to put in the pram to wheel around - well it was a weight about the size of a 9 month to 1 year old) The surf is so light but feels like great quality and I was able to lift this up and I know my wife would be able to as well, The iCandy and Buzz were not so easy.

What else was there ;o)

Basket space is limited but there is a cute shopping basket which sits under the carrycot/pushchair - at about £30.

The chassis was very light for when you need to put this in the boot and the wheels come off making it even lighter still. (this feels about half the weight of the Quinny or iCandy), so that has to be good...

I think the best thing is if you buy the Surf as well as the carrycot the only other expense for us is -
the Maxi-cosi car seat adaptors (which are available in the next month = £25)
also the shopping basket £30.
it seems to come with the brolly/rain cover/net and a few other things?

So far, unless we find a pram that can compete with this one in looks/features/weight/ease of use/movement/cost - it looks like we have found our babies perfect chariot...

 

[Mizze]

There's more to this pram lark that you ever thought eh Sharbutt!

Mizze

 

[BabyG&Me]

Thanks for the gr8 review!

I love the Surf and am def considering it! I agree that the only downside is the basket but I can live with that!

I really hope the adaptors aren't delayed anymore!! Like you I have a maxi cosi seat so once those adaptors are out I think I'll be decided!

I never thought pram buying wud be so hard!! Lol

 

[Smudgelicious]

It's a nightmare ! When my other children were babies, prams all came in pretty much one style, the only difference was the brand and the fabric colours ! I've been umming and aahing for weeks now because I know how much time I'm going to spend lugging this thing around and hoiking it into and out of cars etc.

I went to the shop (the only shop in my area thats sells European brands) and bought a Quinny ! I really wanted to use a Maxi-Cosi seat so it was either a Quinny or an Icandy. I went in thinking it was going to be the Icandy apple, but it was so heavy and difficult to maneuvre in comparison to the Quinny. The only downside to the Quinny is definately the cruddy little basket underneath. I've always loaded up my pram with stuff when I'm out so the next challenge is to find a nappy bag that will hang safely off the Quinny handle bars !! By the way, I got it in 'Raccoon' and my Maxi-Cosi in 'Choco-mint' - for a boy.

 

[happigail]

i have the silvercross and i love it! Its light simple to use and will last for ages, plus everything seems to be able to go into the washing machine!

 

[sophbump]

We too have finally decided on the Silvercross Surf (after weeeeeeks of trying to decide) but we havn't bought it yet as I'm now struggling to choose the best colour combination... it's such a headache!! I like the gun metal frame but not too keen on either the Linen or Slate colours (they looked nice in one shop but not in another... silly or what?!!?) and am considering just going for the simple and slightly boring black version... but that only comes with the silver frame (which I'm not that keen on)!! I think they have provided some great colours but have also made it a bit too complicated!!!! Also, the new additional shopping basket only comes with the silver plastic frame so doesn't match the gunmetal. Did you find that it was hard work choosing? What combo have you gone for?
Sophie

 

[sharbutt]

@ Sophbump -

Sounds like you are having a similar dilemma to my wife and I...

I love the gun metal grey over the black (I do not like Silver frames - looks like scaffolding if you ask me - thats why I am put off from loads of prams), my wife is not keen on the linen colour and likes the black chassis and slate.

We have now looked at the iCandy Prams and the Apple specifically, and my wife likes this.

I have slight concerns over the iCandy Apple compared to the SC Surf -
- loads of issues with flat tyres = not an issue with the Surf
- the weight = heavier than the Surf
- the customer services are supposed to be shocking = not sure about Silver Cross????? (but they have decades of experience - unlike the half decade of iCandy)
- rain cover is not good quality = Surf's is supposed to be good quality
- the brakes seem cheap (like my golf trolley) = The Surf are all enclosed which looks better and will not get clogged in mud/dirt etc (if off road)
- the name sounds too much like an Apple Iphone/IPad (extremely tacky)
- I am just over 6 foot tall and worry about kicking the brake bar all the time on the iCandy as I did a few times on the test wander around the shop = The surf did not have this issue
- the silver frame (yuk) = The Surf has the gun-metal or black frame
- the cost, iCandy Apple and accessories (about £650) = Surf will be (about £500)

But my wife is starting to favour the iCandy Apple

 

[sophbump]

Sorry for the late reply sharbutt! Since my last post, we have actually paid for a Surf but still not chosen the colour!!!! Today, we've decided to go for the Slate/Black combination and my partner is ringing the shop tomorrow before I can change my mind again
I really really hope we've picked the right one! Have you decided yet??
Now we've got everything else to pick and decide on, it never ends does it?! I guess we should try and narrow the names list down first and foremost as time is ticking away so fast. Hope you and your partner are enjoying the pregnancy

 

[MommaCC]

Hey we went for the quinny buzz after looking at all the ones you have looked at iCandy peach, spin, surf but found that the buggy/ stroller Seat parts were so narrow they would only be any good upto about 18 months the buzz is good till they are 3 or4 years!! Hope that helps x

 

[sharbutt]

Sorry for the late reply sharbutt! Since my last post, we have actually paid for a Surf but still not chosen the colour!!!! Today, we've decided to go for the Slate/Black combination and my partner is ringing the shop tomorrow before I can change my mind again
I really really hope we've picked the right one! Have you decided yet??
Now we've got everything else to pick and decide on, it never ends does it?! I guess we should try and narrow the names list down first and foremost as time is ticking away so fast. Hope you and your partner are enjoying the pregnancy

Thanks Sophbump,

We have definitely decided on the Silver Cross Surf and will hopefully be putting a deposit down this weekend

We had a look at the Bugaboos and still decided on the Surf (it seems like a lot better quality (no velcro to be seen)).

We are enjoying the Pregnancy (thanks for asking), we have been feeling the baby kicking a lot and we bought a Doppler type thing and can hear the heart beat - which is awesome

Hope you are enjoying your pregnancy too...

 

[Diddeen]

We have also pretty much decided on the Silver Cross Surf. I think i've emailed about 12 companies online for quotes and they are coming back fairly varied so far! We prefer the black/slate too. Only question for those who have it and tried it can you put a newborn in the seat or is a carrycot essential so that they are flat?
Oh also when we played with the surf we put the extra basket in and although it gives you extra space (although not huge), you can't sit the seat unit totally upright as it hits the basket.

 

[laurbagss]

I had the Quinny Buzz 3 with my DD and I loved it!! I cannot fault it in anyway, its good for non drivers and driver as it folds up really small - it even fit in my partners little fiesta boot.

 

[Abi&Bump_x]

We have also pretty much decided on the Silver Cross Surf. I think i've emailed about 12 companies online for quotes and they are coming back fairly varied so far! We prefer the black/slate too. Only question for those who have it and tried it can you put a newborn in the seat or is a carrycot essential so that they are flat?
Oh also when we played with the surf we put the extra basket in and although it gives you extra space (although not huge), you can't sit the seat unit totally upright as it hits the basket.

I have this Pram. You can put a newborn in the seat using the wedge that it comes with, but to me it doesn't look 100% flat, and to me it looks like their little legs wouldn't be truely flat. So i brought the carrycot too. I paid £480 for the set inc. carrycot so its worth shopping around. It's well worth the money spent, i want to push it around now

 

[samantha.xo]

I bought the Silvercross Surf & did quick review on here for it, with loads of piccies if anyones interested - https://www.babyandbump.com/pregnan...-my-long-awaited-silvercross-surf-thread.html

 

[sharbutt]

We went to look at and order the Silver Cross Surf today but somehow got sidetracked looking at the iCandy Peach instead, so we have not ordered anything yet.

Whilst my wife and I prefer the look of the Surf, the Peach has some quite appealing features and our concern now is that my wife and I are both tall (6 foot plus) and we worry that the handle of the Surf does not come up high enough for us with the weight of a baby an bag etc in the pram, whereas the Peach handle does extend that bit further.

Can anyone who already has the Surf give any advice on whether this is a problem as we are now unsure what to do...

I would also be interested to find out more about peoples experiences of the surf and iCandy peach..? (if possible)