travel system mothercare

Mothercare Journey Travel System review

• Carla Challis

In a nutshell

A one-stop, no-fuss travel system that's ideal for any first-time parents. This great-value comfy ride is easy to push one-handed and has a big basket, but it's also difficult to fold and feels a bit flimsy

What we tested

• Compact, easy to store, sleek, big basket, easy to steer, comfortable, lightweight, adjustable handle
• Wheels lack bounce, on the flimsy side, chassis easily scratched, lacks ISOFIX compatible car seat, difficult to fold

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You don’t have to be a parent-to-be or parent to know that Mothercare is the one-stop shop for all things babies and kids. They’re the trusted brand to sort you out if you’re in doubt, and while they carry many of the top baby brands their own range is well-trusted and regarded highly, too.

The Mothercare Journey is just one of the many buggies and travel systems the brand has to offer, but is one of the most reasonably priced. The Journey offers a complete travel system to see you through from newborn to toddler, with a carrycot that turns into a seat, plus a car seat as well.

Carla is a first-time mum from Hertfordshire. She tested the Mothercare Journey with her 15-week old daughter, taking it around town to baby classes, on short train journeys to nearby towns and walks with their 2-year-old whippet.

First impressions of the Mothercare Journey travel system:

On first glance, the Journey reminded me of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion (£279.99 on Amazon ); it looks the same, has the same features and it was hard to tell the difference. Like the Red Kite, it’s sleek and modern and is a minimal and compact buggy.

How does it compare to other pushchairs and travel systems you’ve tried?

For me it’s a slightly better version of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion. Our own buggy, the Graco Evo , seems extremely bulky, heavy and cumbersome compared to this nifty number.

How is the Mothercare Journey different to the Journey Edit?

It’s definitely less plush and luxe to look at, but overall the Mothercare Journey Edit is a more souped-up version. As well as looking smarter, you get a separate seat and carrycot (compared to the Journey's seat, which converts to a carrycot).

What age is it suitable for?

The Journey can be used from newborn, as it has a carrycot that converts into a seat once the baby is 6 months old.

What did you think of the carrycot?

The carrycot was great; spacious enough for my daughter not to feel too constricted but cosy enough that it wasn’t a big, cavernous space.

How do you fold the Mothercare Journey?

It’s not the easiest pushchair to fold. Firstly, you have to remove the seat (this is done by a switch either side). To collapse it, you have to press a small grey button on the right hand side to then be able to pull up a tube either side. It’s not very easy, even with two hands and I found myself having no clue at first how to collapse it. It’s not instinctive at all. To unfold it, you do the same again but I found the chassis cumbersome to pull up.

How compact is it when folded and unfolded?

I think it’s quite compact and fits snugly under our stairs when folded and unfolded. When folded, the arms stay together too, unlike others that splay open. If you are short on space it’s a great option.

Does the pushchair fit in the boot of your car?

The chassis fits into the boot of our small hatchback but the seat has to be popped into the back seat.

How lightweight is the Mothercare Journey?

The Mothercare Journey is incredibly lightweight, it almost pushes itself. I had to lift the buggy up stairs at a station and while it wasn’t the easiest thing to do, it was light enough that I could manage. It doesn’t tire me out from pushing it, which other buggies can do if you go on a long walk.

How easy is it to push?

It’s ridiculously easy to push. As I said, it almost pushes itself. Steering it one-handed around corners is easy, too, and when I go out for walks with the dog too, I’m not worried about bumping it up and down kerbs as it’s so light and easy.

How does the Journey ride on challenging surfaces?

The Mothercare Journey’s biggest downfall is that it feels slightly flimsy when you’re walking over stony paths or cobbled streets. The baby definitely feels the bigger bumps and you do get the sense that the pushchair couldn’t handle anything too rocky. On a smooth surface like a path and the park, it’s wonderful. Mounting kerbs is easy with it but it does feel a little flimsy and jerks the baby around a little, but not enough to put me off.

How did you find the Mothercare Journey on public transport?

I’ve taken my daughter on the train a few times, and the buggy was super. It slides into small spaces and manoeuvres through the aisles easily. It also felt small and compact, and as if it wasn’t taking up too much space. The best part? It is lightweight enough that I could bump it up onto the train without needing someone to help me.

Is the frame strong and durable?

I’m not entirely convinced the Mothercare Journey would go the distance throughout all the years my daughter will need a pram, but that could just be because it’s so light. It doesn’t buckle or move, and to be fair, has received a few bumps and is showing minimal signs of wear.

What do you think of the handlebar?

The handlebar is super comfy to hold, with a cushion and a plastic component in the middle. The cushioned part does seem to attract fluff and thread from muslins though, so looks a little used already. The best part? You can adjust the handle height – my boyfriend prefers it low and me high!

How comfortable does it feel for your baby?

Overall, it seems pretty comfortable. She falls asleep in it easily and we often use the carrycot as place for her to nap, as she’s so happy in the pushchair.

How is it interacting with your baby while in the Journey?

It’s nice and easy to interact with her when she’s in it. She doesn’t slide down the carrycot and stays at the top, so I can always see her without having to stop all the time to slide her back up.

Does the hood provide decent coverage?

It does the job but it does seem to scare the baby when I move it back and forth, as it shudders! But it shields her extremely well, and provides plenty of shade.

How effective do the Mothercare Journey’s brakes feel?

The brakes are adequate, the pad was a little on the stiff side at first but loosened up over time. You can easily do it with one foot.

How easily can you access the basket and is it big enough to store everything you need?

The basket is a dream. Big enough for her changing bag plus a few bits of shopping and my favourite part is the extra compartment at the front. It has a magnetic closure and I often use that little part for my water bottle, wallet and anything I need to grab quickly. The main basket is easily accessible, as the basket sits low.

Is it car seat compatible?

The pushchair has its own car seat that slots onto the chassis.

How did you like the look of the Mothercare Journey?

I thought it looked stylish, minimal and smart. The colour choices are quite vast, I prefer the black and silver but there’s options for those that want a brighter buggy.

Are there any additional extras that you can buy?

You can buy all the usual extras, including a cup holder, rain cover and UV parasol.

How easy is it to build the Mothercare Journey?

It’s ridiculously easy to build, and slots together easily. It took around 5 minutes to set up.

Who would the Mothercare Journey be most useful for?

As the puschair is quite nifty, I think it’s a great choice for anyone in a town or city who walks on pavements a lot. It’s also a great choice for anyone who needs to use it one-handed (i.e dog owners). It’s not so ideal for cobbled streets or bumpy roads.

What was your favourite feature of the Mothercare Journey?

Definitely how easy it is to steer, one-handed and two-handed. It’s a light buggy that makes it a doddle to steer around corners, up and down kerbs and generally doesn’t tire you out, even if the basket is full. The ease of steering has made me more confident to take the baby and our dog out together.

Is the travel system good value?

Priced at £299, you can’t really grumble at the quality and style of the Mothercare Journey. I’ve already recommended it to a few pregnant friends who don’t want to spend a fortune on a travel system but want something easy to use.

What’s in the box?

• Convertible seat unit and chassis
• Group 0+ car seat
• Carrycot liner

Where can I buy the Mothercare Journey travel system?

It's available from Boots

MadeForMums verdict

Do I love the Mothercare Journey? I actually do. There’s something about the sleek, minimal look that appeals to me and it’s just so easy to use – sounds daft, but it covers all the basics that I need and the fact I can easily steer it one-handed is a dream. Even though it is quite difficult to fold – and unfold – that doesn’t put me off.

Read More...

• 20 of the best travel systems for newborn babies
• 10 of the best convertible pushchairs
• 10 of the best forward and rear facing buggies

Product Specifications

• Travel Systems

Mothercare Xpedior
Travel System review

2015 – Shortlisted for ' Best Travel System ' Award!

The Mothercare Xpedior is a 4-wheel pram plus car seat travel system.

The car seat fits easily into the pushchair chassis but sorely misses the assistance of a base, which would correct the angle of the seat, when being installed in a car.

The pushchair’s extra large wheels make it great for off-road traversing and it’s both manoeuvrable and comfortable. However, the safety bar is too high and the frame is very wide. The handle feels slightly awkward but the storage basket is big and the frame folds easily (although you might struggle to fit it into the boot of a small car).

Overall, a well-priced travel system that is great for families on a budget.

2014 – Shortlisted for 'Best Travel System' Award!

Mothercare’s Xpedior is a good travel system with everything you need to transport little ones as newborns and all the way up to toddler-age. It assembles easily and the interchangeable parts are quick to put together.

The pram is spacious and comfortable, with a lovely, big hood. It manoeuvres well but is better suited to town than country, and has multiple recline positions. The big shopping basket is super convenient and the bumper bar is a nifty feature.

However, the travel system is quite big; bulky too. It’s cumbersome when folded and is a hassle to store. But it is amazing value for money – good quality and affordable!

This great value travel system includes an infant carseat in the competitive price. It comes with lots of extras, and is ideal for parents needing a budget option.

Despite the low price, the Xpedior travel system comes with lots of extras, including a car seat, raincover and footmuff. The pushchair seat also converts into a lie-flat pramette for newborn comfort.  Our testers thought the pushchair seemed comfortable, even though it’s wider and bulkier than others, so it’s not as easy to navigate around small shops. It handily changes from pram to pushchair in a couple of clicks and folds easily.

Discover the best pushchairs and carseats that won at the Mother&Baby Awards

The carseat isn’t very padded and seems small, so it might not last beyond 12 months but the plus point is that it’s very light to carry. The Xpedior lacks the quality of the more expensive options, but this is reflected in the price. It’s lovely to push, however, has a large shopping basket and comes with a co-ordinating footmuff.  The handlebar is also height adjustable and the front wheels can be locked for greater stability over uneven ground. A decent buy for parents on a tight budget.

Discover the questions you need to ask when buying a travel system .

Mothercare’s all-rounder, the Xpedior can be used from birth as a pram or with a car seat (included in the price), and later as a pushchair.

But unlike most travel systems, this three-wheeler has large pneumatic tyres that will propel you over rough terrain (the front wheel is a double, which should provide increased stability).

If you’re looking for a one-stop purchase then this model could be for you, as it comes with a footmuff, weather shield and tyre pump. We tested Mothercare’s new khaki special-edition Xpedior. It is styled with a champagne-coloured chassis, tan handles and a khaki footmuff.

Our testers said once folded, this pushchair is compact but fairly long so might struggle in a tiny car boot. Can be difficult to manoeuvre, and felt somewhat unstable, with the front wheel having a mind of its own.

Do you have the Xpedior? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

See More Travel Systems

Product Information

Mothercare Xpedior Travel System

Weight 11.2kg

• Create an account

Mothercare 4-Wheel Journey Chrome Travel System - Black

Mothercare 4-Wheel Journey Chrome Travel System - Black - NOCOL / NA is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

Pram/pushchair;Suitable from birth (to 9kg in pramette mode) to a max. child weight of 15kg (seat mode);Reversible pushchair seat unit suitable from 6 months;Lie-flat, pram mode suitable from birth and includes pram liner and apron;Height-adjustable handle;Full suspension and lockable front swivel wheels for easy manoeuvrability;Large, detachable basket with magnetic pouch;Chest pads and detachable bumper bar;Free standing compact fold with removable wheels;Dimensions: H109 x W58 x D100cm;Folded dimensions: H66 x W58 x D95cm;Pramette dimensions: 800 x 350mm;Mothercare UV parasols and cup holders are designed to fit all pushchairs, including the journey;Group 0+ infant car seat;Suitable from birth to a max. weight of 13kg/29lbs (approx 12/15 months);Seat clicks on and off chassis using included adaptors;Installed in the vehicle using a seatbelt and must always be used in a rearward facing position;Includes a wedge and liner to provide extra support for newborns;Side impact protection;All car seats sold at mothercare (including the journey) comply with the car seat regulation R44.04; some may comply to i-Size regulation R129;Coordinating change bag available separately

Please read manual for reference

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Mothercare 3-wheel Journey

In the three years creating Strollbery - for free, in our free time, we are proud to have helped thousands of parents from more than 207 countries. And helping is what we've cared about the most.

Being musicians as well, we created a special holiday song for you to share a wintery, Christmas vibe with us. We hope it brings you a bit of calm (we all need it). ♥️

HAPPY STROLLING AND MAGIC HOLIDAYS!

Mothercare 3-wheel Journey Features & Specifications

The seat unit, the canopy (hood), the bumper bar, the suspension, the handlebar, the carrycot, the car seat, the accessories & extra features, parent reviews of the mothercare 3-wheel journey, good basic pram&pushchair.

• A nice push
• Acessories: rain cover is not the best, the seat liner slides down all the time when in pushchair mode

A good basic pram&pushchair.

Good for everyday walks but not that good for traveling NOR narrow aisles

It's good for everyday walks but not that good for traveling NOR for narrow shop aisles.

• Easy assembly
• Look of the pram
• Value for money
• Wide chassis
• Car seat not the best

It's very wide, so be aware of that before buying a pram that barely fits your car boot. Also, the loading/unloading ar difficult since it's rather heavy. Otherwise, it's a nice value for money. Good for about 2 years of age.

Your questions about the Mothercare 3-wheel Journey

Is it safe to go running / jogging with this pram?

I will probably disappoint you but no, the small doubled wheels was not at all designed for jogging, and doing so with this pram may result in tipping the stroller to the side or getting stuck and tip it over. For jogging, you need to check three-wheelers with a larger single front wheel.

Is it durable?

Yes, the Journey is a very sturdy pram from the Mothercare brand . It might be its folded size and internal measurements (seat) are not top-notch, and - as every stroller, it has its pros and cons - but the durability, sturdiness is overall well rather in Mothercare Journey reviews.

This is your place to ask us a (quick) question about the Mothercare 3-wheel Journey

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