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Adventure Buggy Everest Review

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• Introduction
  
• Seat design and function
  
• Child Safety Harness
  
• Hood or Canopy
  
• Handle design and function
  
• Storage
  
• Wheel brakes
  
• Fold mechanism
  
• Wheels
  
• Manoeuvrability
  
• Size
  
• Accessories
  
• Conclusion
  

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Review by: Annabel

Introduction

The Everest by the New Zealand based Adventure Buggy Company is a rugged and feature packed all terrain stroller. Whilst it performs well as a single stroller, its real versatility rests in an optional toddler seat that sits up over the canopy, out of the way of the child in the main seat. This setup has many advantages, and a few disadvantages, as this review will reveal.

Handle design and function

The handle extends telescopically by first loosening screw knobs on either side of the frame. It extends to a good height, and can be removed and turned upside for extra height. Small push knobs prevent the handle from accidentally pulling out of the frame, and these need to be undone to get the handle off in order to turn it upside down and also to slide the toddler seat on.

My handle is very stiff to pull in and out although I tend not to do it very often, so this may improve with use.

The handle at its lowest point is 92cm or 36 inches, and it reaches 113cm or 44.5 inches with the handle flipped over and fully extended.

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Storage

The Everest has a great basket with plenty of room and some handy features. The bag itself has a zip lid that fully encloses the contents keeping them dry and secure. The entire basket unclips easily from the frame and shoulder straps enable it to be used as a backpack. The basket has a good sized pocket on either side that is handy for easy access to small items and these clip closed to keep the contents secure.

A storage pocket is also positioned on the back of the seat. This is very handy when the seat is in the upright position, but as is evident in the photos, it is not quite as easy to get to when the seat is reclined.

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Wheel brakes

The brake bar above the rear wheels easily kicks down and holds the buggy firmly by pushing on the tyres. A reasonable amount of force is required to release the brake, which I sometimes find easier to do by reaching down with my hand.

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Fold mechanism

The Adventure Buggy is easy to fold, although it requires quite a different motion to most other strollers and so takes a little getting used to.

To unlock the frame, pull and turn the black knobs on either side of the frame. The knobs do not need to be released simultaneously, so this stroller can be folded with one hand. I found that one of the knobs on my buggy tends to stick in the unlocked position even after it has been unfolded, although this does not appear to affect its performance in any way.

Unlike other strollers, the seat itself does not fold in half at all (this is apparently necessary for maximum frame strength which enables this buggy to have such a high weight capacity). Instead, after unlocking the frame, the back wheels slide forward and end up either side of the front swivel wheel.

This results in a very long and flat fold. Having the 3 wheels (and most of the weight) concentrated together at one end makes the stroller quite awkward to lift. This is compounded by the fact that the frame does not lock closed.

Removing the front wheel reduces the length of the fold considerably, and by removing all three wheels the buggy becomes much more compact (although still quite long compared to other buggies).



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Wheels

The Everest has three 12 inch, air filled wheels with large tread that handle rough terrain well. The front wheel can be fixed for greater stability over really rough terrain and all three wheels can be quickly removed for a more compact fold.
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Manoeuvrability

The Everest manoeuvres very well on and off road. It handles rough terrain well, although without any rear suspension the ride can be a little rough when going down steps etc. This is particularly noticeable when a child is sitting over the rear wheels in the toddler seat.

The Everest handles heavy loads particularly well -I have pushed a 20kg child in the main seat with a 15kg child in the toddler seat on top and it handled remarkably well. I can steer the stroller with one hand, although when fully loaded outside it really requires two.

Inside the Everest also handles well. It is short and narrow for a 3 wheeler and therefore handles tight spaces well. The large tread on the tyres make a soft humming noise as you push on smooth floors which is a little strange at first, but of course makes no impact on the actual performance of the buggy.

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Size

The Everest is a compact 3 wheeler. It is both narrow and short in length, which makes it very easy to manoevure inside.

The width across the rear wheels is 61cm or 24 inches. The length of the pram when in use is 94cm or 37 inches(handle at lowest position).

When folded the stroller measures 124cm or 48.8 inches in length with the front wheel attached, and 108cm or 42.5 inches long with the front wheel removed. These measurements increase by about 15cm or 6 inches when the handle is partly extended and the toddler seat attached.

The Everest weighs 12kg or 26.4 lbs. The toddler seat adds another 2.6kg or 5.7lbs to the weight, and if in use the stability kit and extra wheel weigh 2.4kg or 5.3lbs.



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Accessories

The Everest comes with some brilliant accessories included in the price of the buggy. A shade cover zips onto the edge of the hood, and a rain cover covers the entire buggy, hood and all. The best accessory however is the boot cover which buttons on to the sides of the buggy.. If needed a clear plastic window can then be zipped between the hood and the boot so that a child is completely enclosed from the elements. The covers do not touch the child and there is plenty of room underneath to add a blanket or foot muff. When going inside the zip is easily undone to provide air for the child. This system provides great protection from wind, rain, sun and cold, and all the accessories fold down compactly and can be easily carried in the basket under the seat.

Toddler Seat

The Everest has an ingenious toddler seat that sits up on the canopy of the stroller. This provides a place for a toddler to sit that is out of the way of the child in the main seat, and out of a parent's way when not in use. An added advantage of this top mounted seat is that the child in it is up at the height of the person pushing the stroller, which provides a fantastic opportunity for conversation.

Like the main seat the toddler seat has a hinged bumper that can be lifted up to more easily place a child in it. The toddler seat also a has a full five point harness.

When the toddler seat is attached the hood must remain half down, and a parent's view of their child in the main seat is somewhat restricted (as a fairly short person I am unable to see over the top to the main seat below).

The stroller can be folded with the seat on top, although it does add to the bulk of the folded stroller. The handle also needs to be extended a little to allow room for the top rider's legs, and this can also add length to the fold. I personally find it quicker to leave the seat on top and remove the front wheel when putting it into the car. Some people may have to remove both the seat and the front wheel to fit it in.

The toddler seat is threaded through either side of the handle, and to remove the seat the handle needs to be removed from the frame. In order to do this the seat fabric needs to be unbuttoned at two points, the black knobs loosened and the handle bar fully extended. The small push knobs on either side of the frame then need to be depressed whilst pulling the handle out. This is fiddly and at times awkward, although I have no doubt it would become very quick after a few goes.

The toddler seat will carry children up to 18kg. A child should first be put in the main seat as a counter balance before placing a child in the top seat to make sure the stroller does not tip backwards. While not recommended I have pushed my 15kg son in the stroller with no child underneath without the pram tipping backwards. You do need to be careful going up steps as the weight does tip back on you when the front wheel is lifted off the ground.

Whilst there are many advantages to the top mounted toddler seat, a major concern to many parents is the issue of stability and the safety of the child in the top seat. After using the stroller without issue for several months I actually had it tip sideways on me when going down a ramp on the footpath to cross the road. This gave me a terrible fright and I have since attached the stability kit sent to me from the manufacturer so that there are now two wheels at the front. I have used the stroller like this for several months and am confident of its stability. I am still aware however that pushing the stroller with a child on top requires a certain amount of attention on my part.

The top mounted toddler seat allows the (generally younger) child in the main seat to be completely sheltered from the weather by sun, rain or wind covers. The Adventure Buggy Company have just released a sun and rain cover for the toddler seat which they hope will be in production later this year.

As with most other toddler seats a child is unable to sleep in this seat and so its use is somewhat limited for young children close in age.



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Summary and Rating

Pros

• Large weight capacity in main seat
• Robust frame and fabric that will last through several children
• Ingenious toddler seat option on hood with 18kg weight capacity
• Fantastic accessories included
• Large storage basket that unclips from the frame and turns into a backpack
• Bumper lifts up and down on a hinge for easy access to the seat/toddler seat
• Hood provides good protection from the sun
• Handle extends easily for taller users
• Four wheel option available for added stability

Cons

• Stroller has a very large fold that is awkward to lift
• Seat is not suited to very tall children, particularly when toddler seat is fitted on the hood
• This stroller has the potential to tip when used in 3 wheel mode with toddler seat on top
• A child is unable to sleep in the toddler seat
• The fold/adjust mechanisms do not work as smoothly as they could

Conclusion

The Everest is a quality stroller that is particularly well suited for rugged outdoor use. It handles as well inside as it does out, although the large fold restricts its versatility as a stroller that needs to go in and out of the car every day. The outstanding feature of this stroller is definitely the top mounted toddler seat. When used in conjunction with an optional fourth wheel this setup provides a means of carrying 2 children which is at once convenient and easy to push.

Rating

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