I love a new pushchair. There’s something about the whole unpacking, setting up and trying out of a new set of wheels that makes me go a bit weak at the knees. So you can imagine how excited I was when the brand new Casualplay Livi stroller arrived at my front door, and we couldn’t wait to give it a road test.
The Livi is not designed in the same way as most compact strollers. It’s not an umbrella fold, and is wider than most lightweight options. It has a deep seat, a good recline range and a large basket – things you don’t always associate with a lightweight pushchair. The hood is a decent size too, and has a structured frame that makes it easy to position at the correct angle.
The only thing I am not so keen on is the leg support. Although this is adjustable, it doesn’t pull out as far as I would like it too for Max’s little legs. It means that his feet do dangle slightly, but this will only be a short term issue until his legs grow a bit more and are able to rest on the footplate.
The handle isn’t adjustable, but to be honest I wouldn’t expect that from a stroller. It’s a sensible height, and comfortable for me, my husband and even Jacob to push without a problem. The wheels are standard ‘stroller’ wheels – fairly small, plastic and ideal for nipping around town, doing the school run and going to nursery and back. It doesn’t rattle too much, the wheels handle most pavements, kerbs and surfaces with ease – it’s never going to be an off road option, but again, you wouldn’t expect that. For everyday use, it ticks all the boxes for me.
The large basket was a pleasant surprise – I have often found that strollers have no storage space whatsoever, or have baskets that are hard to access. The Livi basket is big and deep – even with the raincover in there, there is more than enough space for a changing bag. lunchboxes or a bit of shopping. It is easy to access from the rear too, which is so important.
The brake is easy to operate – a simple red lever which you flick up to set off, and flick down to secure the pushchair in place. It’s pretty firm once applied, and you can be confident that there will be no movement.
One of the biggest selling points of the Casualplay Livi is the fold. As mentioned before, it’s not an umbrella fold, but is still super compact. Folding is a multi stage process – push the hood down over the seat, press the release button on the handlebar and fold the handlebar back towards you, which collapses the pushchair in the middle. Then push down, grab the release button under the seat and pull – this folds the whole thing in on top of itself, into a small, compact package. It sounds a bit complicated, but it’s really not – if you want to see the fold in action, then check out this video I made for you.
As you can see, it really is small – it takes up less than a quarter of our car boot, and is so lightweight that it is ideal for the days when you are in and out of the car. It would also make an ideal holiday pushchair too.
The Casualplay Livi comes with adaptors as standard – these can be used to attach the Sono and BabyO care seats or the new Livi Cot, making it suitable from birth.
So are we loving the Livi? Overall, yes. The only real issue for me is the leg rest – yes I am being a bit picky, but it’s worth a mention. It would be much less of an issue for smaller or larger babies – Max is simply in that awkward in between stage at the moment. I love the fold, the deep seat, the lightweight frame and the big basket, and it is the ideal pushchair for running round town with.
The Livi will be available soon, from Amazon, Argos and selected retailers (check out the Casualplay websire for further information), and it’s definitely one to consider if you need a compact, lightweight and versatile set of wheels.
That looks fab…..Pushchairs are so much better now then when my eldest was a baby…..We had one that was the size of a tank. lol x
Kim Carberry recently posted…EcoHydra Hand Sanitiser – Review!!
We have just bought a new pushchair. I don’t know why but we always go for cosatto so very rarely look at anything else but this looks great. Don’t you have lots of space in your boot? Ours is tiny!! #triedtested
Michelle Murray recently posted…Disney and Me
Ooh I really like the way this folds, good if you have a smaller boot! Xx #triedtested
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) recently posted…Looking forward to being me again
Great review! It does look better than a standard umbrella, but I would worry about the leg support as well. #TriedTested
The Mad Mommy recently posted…Kids and Kumon!
We’re well past the buggy stage, but that looks good, especially how little space it takes in the boot #Triedtested
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! recently posted…Jungle Dogs pasta
Ooh I like the look of this. We recently got rid of our big Phil & Teds but are now looking for something light and compact that we can use for the occasional time when Eli’s little legs are not keeping up. Love the big basket, I find that’s a real problem with pushchairs too and not all helpful when you are out shopping or doing the school run and you’ve got a million and ones bits to carry! #TriedTested
Jess @ Catch A Single Thought recently posted…Pocket Money
I do like the width of this. It’s quite similar to the baby jogger city mini in width althouh more complex fold and lighter.
Looks great – I like that it’s compact but not umbrella fold. And looks like a really big seat too – Toby is so big already that I think we’re going to struggle to find a pushchair to fit when he’s a bit older!
tobygoesbananas recently posted…Living Arrows 40/52
I love how compact it is when folded. I loved our old pushchair but it’s only downfall was it’s size when in the boot. #triedandtested
I do love that this folds down really small, when you have shopping etc in the boot of your car is is sometimes difficult to squeeze in your pushchair too
Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…Fireman Sam Ocean Rescue Playset {Review}
It seems like a lifetime ago that my two were small enough to fit in a buggy! I have a baby niece now and her parents are in the process of looking for a lightweight stroller for their upcoming holiday. The size of this buggy looks perfect, so I will point them in the direction of your blog and they can check out your review!
Thank you for hosting Tried and Tested, this is my first time linking up 🙂
That looks like a great ‘nipping to the shops’ or school run stroller. Love how small it folds. Great review, I’ll be looking out for them on the street now!
Lauren recently posted…Admitting I have a problem
This look fab! I love how small it folds down. How perfect! I am obsessed with pushchairs 🙂 Great review! #triedtested
Sarah Knott (@KnottBumpAndUs) recently posted…Ben’s Beginners – A Kids Food Revolution!*
Love the look of this and it sounds really practical too. I’m out of my pushchair days now but wish this had been around a few years ago!
Jen @mymummyspennies recently posted…Turtles the Movie Donatello Combat Warrior Review
Really like the look of this, the fold and the large space in the basket especially!
I always end up looking like the bag lady as the basket on my current stroller just isn’t big enough. Very interesting!
Baby Chaos recently posted…Wicked Wednesdays – 08/10/14
Love the look of this. We need to find a lightweight stroller now Baby M is a little bigger and I only have a tiny car. I love the fact that it folds up small and still has a deep seat and basket #TriedTested
Rachel Melton recently posted…Nonabox September – Review
This would be a fantastic stroller to take on flights. I travel to the states with the kids and I think this would be so much nicer than my current stroller! #triedtested
Erin recently posted…Relaxed Baby – Baby massage, baby & toddler yoga in Ossett, Batley, Dewsbury and Wakefield
This looks a fab stroller! I can’t believe how small it folds. Great review hun – thank you 😀
#TriedTested
Chrissy recently posted…Dear L – 5 months old
Crikey! That looks like a brilliant pushchair. I love how small it folds and it also looks really comfy 🙂 #TriedTested
Victoria Visits recently posted…Memories of The Canary Islands; Tenerife and Lanzarote.
What a great little stroller – I’ve not heard of it before so thanks for the comprehensive review. I love the compact fold – perfect for when we go away with lots of stuff in the boot.
Lina recently posted…Date Night – Romeo and Juliet at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff