Tuesday 29 May 2012

The Quinny Buzz Review

Since I got my Quinny Zapp Xtra, I seem to have developed a love for all things Quinny. After the realisation hit that the Zapp Xtra was not really a 'all terrain' kind of stroller, I soon got to thinking about how I could justify yet another pushchair to my lovely other half.

I decided that I needed a Buzz after reading multiple reviews. It fit the bill in looks and specification. What I really needed was a pushchair that I could take for a spin around a field, something strong and sturdy that I could take on the train, but I could not justify spending too much money. OK what I mean is...I could not justify spending Luke's money...

I took up refuge on eBay and watched many Buzz's go before my eyes, I eventually purchased a Quinny Buzz 3 in Rebel Red.


In The Box

The Quinny Buzz Rebel Red retails on Kiddicare at £345.00

The Buzz comes complete with a sun canopy, rain cover, shopping basket, buzz bag which is great for storage, and adaptors for attaching the Maxi-Cosi infant car seats.

The Footmuff has to be purchased separately at a cost of up to £60.00. I like the option to have the Footmuff in the matching colour. 

If you decide to invest in the Footmuff, you will eventually find that it is the same one used with the Zapp Xtra. I feel this could have been communicated a little better, as when ordering the footmuff for my Zapp Xtra it took me one wrong order and more re-search to find this out!


So what do Leo and I think?

I went over to pick up my Buzz in record time, I was so excited to take it out for a test drive and see how the wheels handled off roading. As usual I struggled putting it together but a few You Tube videos later we had it up and ready to go.

In comparison to the Zapp Xtra, the Buzz is pretty heavy but with this weight comes the sturdiness that allows you to climb on and off trains and stroll around the fields. I love the wheels on the Buzz as they really do give you the freedom to go where ever you want. I tend to use the Buzz more if I am going out for the day and need to get on and off trains or go on family walks. I feel more confident using the bigger of my Two buggies to accomplish these things.

I do find the Buzz a heavy pushchair to operate and it is not something I can push with One hand. I do feel that you get used to the weight of it though and it soon becomes second nature. Having said that, I do enjoy taking the Buzz out and I genuinely find it easier to travel with this due to it being so solid and sturdy.

Luke much prefers the Buzz over the Zapp as you can adjust the handle bar to his height, when Luke is out with the Zapp he does not like that the handles are at one level (my level).

Putting the Buzz up is done with the flick of one flap with just one hand and it is then that the unique hydraulic system takes over and the frame pops up automatically.

Once put together you can attach the seat unit to either face the parent, or out into the world to see the wonders of the people and sights passing by. We are currently using the parent facing option as I do enjoy a good old chit chat with Leo while out and about and he seems to enjoy this at present. I do think that the time is fastly approaching him wanting to be facing the other way, so he can see all that is going on around him...We may have to do this in the next few weeks.

The seat fully reclines and has 3 positions when in forward-facing mode, and 2 recline positions in rearward facing mode. I am very impressed with the seat unit and Leo is very comfortable while we are out on our adventures, even if I do happen to be finding each and every bump along the way, just to see how the Buzz handles it.


To fold the Buzz back down their are Two Silver buttons on either side of the seat, by pushing and sliding these buttons the frame will collapse flat. Of course I even struggled with this, but my general knowledge with putting pushchairs up and down is not great. When putting the Buzz down you can fold the seat down too, if the seat is facing outward, but if you have the seat in parent facing mode then you do need to take the seat off to collapse it.

Even when the frame is folded down it is quite chunky, and also pretty heavy but I can get it in the boot of my 206 by taking the wheels off.

The Buzz is suitable from birth to 15kg approx. 4 years old.

Quinny Buzz Features as per The Kiddicare Website
- Unique automatically unfolding system

- New for 2012 - All black wheels, matt finish frame and new safety harness

- Forward and rearward facing reclinable seat unit 

- The backrest fully reclines; 3 recline positions in forward-facing mode, and 2 recline positions in rearward facing mode.

-  Highly manoeuvrable front swivel wheel, that can be locked

- Height adjustable handlebar

- Adjustable footrest

- Ideal travel system in combination with matching Maxi-Cosi infant car seats or Bébé Confort Pebble car seat and Quinny Foldable carrycot or Quinny Safety carrycot (all available extra)

-  Including sun canopy, shopping basket, rain cover, adaptors and parasol clip

Approved confirming EN 1888 and BS7409

Pushchair seat: until 15 kg 

My Views:
Buzz Pros:

- Attractive Design
- Comfortable Seat Unit
- Great Wheels for Off Roading
- Hydraulic unfold
- The Buzz bag is great to keep the rain cover in, and is great storage.

Buzz Cons:

- A bulky pushchair, even when folded
- The wheels at the back are wide set and can be mis-leading. This comes from running over one to many feet...
- Heavy to push
- Small shopping basket

If you are looking for a off road style pushchair that has the capability to use as a travel system then the Buzz could be for you. The Buzz comes in 4 different colours for 2012:

    Rocking Black
    Rebel Red
    Blue Scratch
    Pink Blush
Over all the Quinny Buzz meets all of my needs, and as a second pushchair is all I could ask for. I will continue to use the Buzz for any train journeys I happen to take and for any off road experiences that I decide to frequent.

I hope this review has helped some potential Quinny Buzz buyers with a full and honest review!




Laura
xx




Please note that this review is based on a second hand Quinny Buzz and not that of a new model.





8 comments:

  1. The Quinny Buzz is our main pushchair- and I adore it, it has done us well over the last 17 months. We love it and are massive Quinny fans. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a very good pushchair, part of me wishes I had this from the start with Leo. It is doing us great for journeys. Just today the Zapp proved just how tricky steps were with small wheels... xx

      Delete
  2. We have the buzz 3, we have the carrycot and maxi cosi car seat along with the main seats. It was lovely for a newborn in the carrycot, he was very comfy and as its so sturdy it felt really safe. We also had no problems using the bus with it x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Buzz looks great with the carry cot. I do really wish I had the Buzz from the start now. I can imagine the bus would be a breeze in this! We actually had to get on a bus at the NEC and it was a doddle! xx

      Delete
  3. Hello,

    Great review! We're very pleased to hear your thoughts on this product. We wanted to make contact with you because of your comments about finding the Quinny Buzz heavy to push / not being able to push one handed.

    While the Quinny Buzz weighs in at 11.4kg and would be expected to be a fair weight to lift (into the car boot for instance) it shouldn't be difficult to push with one hand and it shouldn't feel heavy to push.

    We would recommend that you ensure the air filled rear tyres are pumped to optimum PSI as this is often a cause of pushchairs feeling heavy. In addition, we would advise that the front wheel unit is thoroughly cleaned to ensure smooth movement and ease of steering. If you would like to see the front wheel unit cleaning instructions or make contact with us with any enquiries regarding your Quinny Buzz or Quinny Zapp Xtra please visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/quinny.uk or Twitter www.twitter.com/Quinny_UK

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a red Buzz But Want A Blue One Can You Get Covers To Change It As A Friend Gave It To Me I Dont Have A Bumper Bar Or Travel Bag Can These Be Purchased? Thanks x

    ReplyDelete
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