Many of you will know Silver Cross as the makers of the traditional carriage style prams, but in actual fact they are now so much more than that. They now make a huge range of modern car seats and pushchairs, including the very eye catching Pioneer. Designed to be the whole package, from newborn to toddler, the Pioneer comes with a carrycot and a multi recline seat unit which can be used in rear or forward facing modes.
We have been using the Pioneer for the last 5 weeks, and have found it to be a versatile, practical option with some really lovely features.
Carrycot mode
The pioneer carrycot is large, deep and spacious. I love how high the sides are – Eliza seems cocooned from the world. The hood is big too, and offers plenty of shade. The mattress provided is soft, and the carrycot is suitable for occasional overnight sleeping – perfect for holidays or nights away.
Removing the carrycot from the frame is a really easy job, much easier than some other brands I have come across. You simply lift the catches on either side of the carrycot – this can be done with 2 hands at the same time, and by leaning over the handlebar – you don’t need to swap from side to side to release the mechanism. Once the catches are undone, simply lift with the bumper bar. It is surprisingly lightweight for a carrycot too, and so is easy to move from one place to another.
Eliza seems to be very comfortable in here. She sleeps in it happily, and doesn’t roll or move around when you push the pram. The ride itself is smooth, and it’s a pleasure to push, due to the 4 way suspension and large puncture proof tyres which seem to handle most surfaces with ease – grass, tarmac, stones and mud prove no problem at all. The handlebar can be adjusted to suit people of different heights, and the faux leather covering makes it comfortable for your hands to hold, even after a long period of time.
The shopping basket is HUGE – one of the biggest I have seen. We managed to pack everything we needed for a day out with 4 kids, and there was still room to spare. School bags, picnics and park toys will all fit, and it makes it much less stressful if you don’t have huge bags to drag around after you.
Seat mode
I have often found that these types of ‘all in one’ travel systems have fantastic carrycots but very small seat units. That’s not the case with the Pioneer. Although Eliza isn’t big enough to use the seat unit yet, we have done a couple of school runs with Max in there and Eliza in a sling. Again, it is comfortable to push, even with a heavy toddler on board. At almost 27 months, Max still has room to spare in the seat, and I think it would probably easily accommodate him for another few months. His head is near the top of the seat, but with the hood up he still has a few inches of growing room.
The leg rest can be up as in my picture, or you can lower it down so your toddler can rest their feet on the non slip footrest. The basket is easily accessible with the seat in both forward and rear facing positions as there is a decent space between seat and basket. You have the option to use with or without a bumper bar, and the harness is comfortable and easy to adjust, even with Max in the seat.
You may notice that the hood and apron in the above pictures are the same as those on the carrycot – you use the same set for each mode. This means you don’t have to have more than one colour pack – you simply buy your Pioneer, choose your colour and have everything you need for both newborn and toddler use. The apron is a perfect carrycot cover, and works well on the seat too, although it may be too small for longer legged tots, and you might need something a bit warmer in winter.
Folding and unfolding
Couldn’t be simpler. You just push in the fold button on the handlebar and pull up the 2 trigger loops on the chassis – the frame will collapse down into a relatively small package. It can be folded with the seat unit in place if it is forward facing, or you can remove the seat for a smaller fold. There is also an autolock feature, so the chassis will remain closed. To unfold, you simply undo the lock and pull the handlebar upwards until the frame clicks into place.
Overall?
I like it. I like the spacious carrycot and seat unit, the massive hood and basket and the easy fold. I like the fact that it comes with extras such as a cup holder, car seat adaptors to attach a Simplicity car seat and the multi functional apron. I like that you can choose your colour, and even change the colour really easily if you fancy a change. There really isn’t much I don’t like – although I do have to mention the yellow colour pack. It’s stunning, and makes such a nice change from the usual blacks, blues and reds. It’s so pretty, very unisex and especially great at this time of year – except for the fact that this shade of yellow attracts bugs. Heaps of them. If you go outside on a sunny day with the yellow Pioneer, be prepared to be swarmed with nasty little insects! It’s such a shame as the yellow is utterly gorgeous, but if I was buying this pushchair I would definitely go for one of the other fabulous colours – the lime is just as bright and eye catching!
I think the lime would attract bugs too like one of our pushchairs. Anything bright seems to have them swarming!! Beautiful pushchair though, I love it! x
Donna recently posted…Wildlife Jack Review and Giveaway!
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Hmm didn’t think of it like that, was assuming it was just the yellow! It’s a gorgeous pushchair – I love the purple too!
Silver Cross have certainly moved with times, this looks really stylish. The picture of Eliza sleeping is adorable 🙂
#triedtested
Catherine recently posted…Fun with picture books – storysacks
This looks lovely. I love the colour, we have a pushchair the same colour and it is so cheerful x
the seat unit looks a bit small to me but the overall design looks good, silver cross that we know and love with a modern twist #triedtested
Chantelle Hazelden recently posted…Changing Things Up
It looks lovely and sounds really good, apart from the attracting bugs part.
#Tried/Tested
fashion-mommy recently posted…A few tips for updating your bedroom on a budget
That’s one seriously snazzy pushchair, although when mine were of an age to be in such a thing I would have preferred a sturdier wheel system for off-roading. This looks perfect for pavements though!
Elizabeth recently posted…Raspberry Vinaigrette {Zyliss Easy Pull Food Processor Review & Giveaway}
That is such a shame about the bugs as the pram is stunning. I only wish I could prams had been so nice when my boys were little x
Cathy Glynn recently posted…Apricot Online Dress
The yellow does it for me all the way, it’s not allowed to rain if you are out with that sunshine yellow pram!
What a beautiful pushchair! We love the colour too! Shame about the bugs liking it too! SiliverCross make such smart products don’t they! 🙂 Great, thorough review!
Baby ISABELLA recently posted…Silent Sunday 12.07.15
What a beautiful looking pram, absolutely love the colour, what a shame about the bugs 🙁 Eliza is gorgoeus too!
Lisa H recently posted…Family Holidays to Corsica With Mark Warner (Part One)
That is a lovely pram! I bet you get comments on it all the time. It looks like it really grows with them too! #TriedTested
Erin – Yorkshire Tots recently posted…A Day Out at Oakwell Music Festival 2015
Love the bright colour of the pram – although for me I would have to go for blue because its my favourite colour! I love the fact that the shopping basket is huge too – always a plus for me. If we ever do decide to have baby number 3 I would love to buy a new pram!
Love this pushchair! I’ve just review the iCandy Raspberry Pushchair and chose a yellow colour too! So summery and vibrant! #triedtested
Emily aka Twin Mummy recently posted…Growing Strawberries Indoors and Outdoors
That is a fantastic pushchair, I love that Silver Cross are keeping modern as well as their traditional style.
Stephanie recently posted…Best4Frames – Win £50 to spend competition
Looks very comfortable for both Eliza and Max and I love the yellow although didn’t think about the potential for attracting bugs. Gorgeous colour though and sounds like a great travel system #triedtested
Louise recently posted…Review: Charles Clinkard Gabor Grove ankle boots
I really love the look of the Pioneer, it’s such a shame about the yellow attracting bugs as it’s such a sunny colour.
Pippa Ainsworth recently posted…My Stinky New School – Review and Giveaway
That looks and sounds fantastic! The big basket underneath is great and I love the colour x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Encona Marinades – Review!!
I really like the colour of this. Good size basket too #triedtested
What a gorgeous buggy! Love the colour! #TriedTested xx
Wow this is beautiful, I love the colour, it’s fab! I’m on the hunt for a double at the moment but this could be an option next year. Great review and thanks for hosting.