Phil & Teds Sport

Click to enlarge

Aspects of the Phil & Teds Sport Covered:
 

• Child's Comfort
• Ease of Use & Maneuverability
• Quality & Durability
• Safety Features
• Optional Extras
• Looks and Popularity
• Price Tag
• Customer Service & Warranty
• Available Colours
  
• Conclusion
• Quick Overview
   

There are a number of great pushchairs and buggies out there, but the Phil & Teds Sport pushchair is one stand out product which certainly deserves your closer look. It's unique design has impressed onlookers ever since it was released in 2007, and will continue to impress as more parents continue to buy this buggy for their expanding families. The Sport was created for parents with an active lifestyle, and one of it's favorite features is it's ability to convert from a single- to a double-pushchair in only a matter of seconds! This brings some real benefits to many parents who find it too difficult to have multiple pushchairs in the home, as well as the need to change pushchairs as their child and family grows.

The Phil and Teds Sport pushchair has frequently been considered as one of the better pushchairs/buggies available on the market for a few good reasons. Some of these at a glance are it's versatility, ease of use and assembly, frame quality, off-road capabilities and classy selection of extras. By looking at several of these main aspects you will soon become much more familiar with whether this pushchair will suit your family or not.

Here below we have tried to cover as many useful aspects as possible. We hope that after reading this comprehensive review you will have the information necessary for making a wise buying decision.

Child's Comfort

The Phil & Teds Sport has a number of additional comfort features for both baby and toddler, with the back of the main seat being adjustable to four separate positions. This allows the child to lay flat from birth, and then raised towards the sitting position as your baby grows into a toddler. This is also handy for when you have an older child who would like to lay back and rest.

The main seat pad seems to be very cosy and comfortable, and is fully removable for those times you wish to be able to wash it clean of mud or spills. As your child grows, the grab bar will be a useful addition for your child to hang onto, and this is also completely removable for easier access and cleaning.

Also, the wheels on this model are designed to provide a very soft ride, being made of fully inflatable tires and tread which are quite durable. They use a tube much like that of a bicycle. Given this added comfort feature, you will occasionally need to check the inflation level of each wheel- although this shouldn't be necessary any more than once a fortnight or so for optimal results.

As the images of this model suggest, the buggy comes with a decent sized UV and sun shade which should protect your child from excess heat or sunburn during the day, and it will also keep much of the wind out of the seat area. An nice feature about the Sport's sun-hood is it's clear window which is built-in, also called a peek-a-boo flap, as it allows you to have a peek inside to check up on your child when necessary.

Ease of Use & Maneuverability

This pushchair is adaptable to a number of situations which is no-doubt a large reason why it's seen a rising popularity since it's release. Being able to convert into an inline twin pushchair the way it does makes it a very impressive design, and it's also quite light for a twin buggy at only around 11 kilograms. This makes it very light and easy to maneuver, especially when driving over an off-road environment. Additionally, the Sport is able to accept a travel system setup easily if necessary.

There are a number of unique things about this buggy, with one of the more outstanding features being it's capacity to hold up to 40 kilograms of weight. Additionally this model is specified to be suitable for both newborn babies and children up to the age of five, which is about a year better than your average buggy can do. After some deliberating over this however, we feel that most children will only be able to remain in it up until about the age of four (The manufacturer's age recommendations are unfortunately many-times inflated by about 6-months to a year.)

The inline twin adaptability of this pushchair makes it an attractive choice for parents who are not easily taken by the more conventional and bulky styles of double buggy. Having a width of only 58cm or 23 inches makes the Sport much more suitable for fast access through doorways, shopping center aisles and checkouts, and even on trains.

There are two ways for the double kit to be applied: Either added on the back and behind the main seat, or up on top and slightly forward of the main seat, with the main seat laying flat. These options allow for flexibility when you have two young ones at slightly different ages and sizes, which is handy. The extra infant seat (double kit) can also be clicked on or off quite easily which will make the conversion between a single and a double quite easy even when you're in a hurry.

	Left: Shown here is the single seat version of the Sport in both fully-reclined (newborn baby) mode, and fully-upright mode (toddler) respectively.
	Left: Here is an example of how the double kit can be used to accommodate two children. It can either be used for two toddlers when the extra seat is placed at the back, or for a baby and a toddler when the extra seat is positioned up the front.

It is recommended by Phil & Teds that you use the seat up front for an older child and have the baby in the lay-flat position on the main seat. Otherwise when arranging it for two slightly older children, they recommend your older child be placed in the front, whilst your younger toddler be positioned at the back.

Having said this, it is noticeably easier for the older child to be positioned in the back (if they are still suitable for it), and for the younger one to be placed in the main seat up front. This is because it is easier for an older child to get themselves out of the back section themselves rather than you having to lift the child out.

When transporting your Phil & Teds Sport over long distances, it can be folded down reasonably small to about 91 x 58 x 27cm or 36 x 23 x 11 inches, which is quite small for a double buggy. This is due to it's already compact design and use of lightweight materials wherever possible. Having said this, the Sport isn't exactly the smallest pushchair out there, and if you are determined to get a very compact folding buggy whilst only expecting one child for a while then this is not the smallest available. The buggy is also quite easy to fold and unfold- which is a blessing when moving on and off' buses or out of cars each day.

When folded, the package is held together with plastic locking straps, and although this feature makes it easier to handle in transit, some will still probably find it a tad bulky, being an awkward shape for lifting and placing into storage. Although to be fair this is a fairly compact twin-buggy design, this model is not going to easily fit into smaller city vehicles like a VW Golf in a hurry, as you will find that the front wheel will need to be removed to condense the pushchair further. Also it is worth mentioning that when using a double kit on the Sport model, you will not be able to properly collapse the frame until this second chair has been removed. We do not particularly see this as a positive or a negative as this could potentially suit each persons needs differently.

The wheels are quite user friendly, and will see you through most harsh terrains such as boggy beach sand, soft snow, grass or pebbles quite easily, which can be a big plus for certain new parents. Each wheel is easy enough to be removed and can be washed free of dust or mud when necessary without a problem. The front swivel wheel is well balanced as far as we could determine, and can be locked off (in a straight position) quite easily for better navigation over rough and uneven surfaces. The turning circle is also very good when compared with all other double pushchairs, as it virtually has the same wheel base as any other 3-wheeler single seat pushchair out there.

Having talked about the great aspects which have gone into this design, there are some potential draw-backs to consider as well. These include the fact that the double kit can make it hard to use the underneath basket when you want fast access to it; and that when attached, the protruding rear seat could become a bit of a problem for those users who are taller. The handle bar system is very comfortable, strong and easy to adjust, with it's height being set at about 110cm or 43 inches from the ground. However when the handlebar is adjusted to be higher, it will not provide much room between a tall person's legs and the low back area of the pushchair. This could result in some users needing to lean forward more to avoid kicking the pram or rear seat whilst walking, possibly causing some back aches and pains after extended use.

The buggy has got a deep parcel tray underneath, along with side pockets, although these do not look to be constructed of the most durable of materials available, which may lead to tears after heavy use. You may also need to purchase additional bag attachments for this if you are big on shopping with your pushchair as the tray underneath will not suffice for that. There is a pouch in the canopy however which is handy for parents who take their pushchair everywhere, and you can fit things like your phone and shopping list in here smartly.

The rain cover for this pushchair model is quite large, and can be a bit tricky to erect and then pull down in a hurry, although it is made from a durable plastic which should last a long time. There is a storm cover available for use with the double kit which is a great addition when it comes to keeping all your little ones warm and dry at once!

Quality & Durability

With a powder coated frame made of strong welded steel, the Phil & Teds Sport is built upon very good foundations. It's wheels are constructed with durability in mind and the tubes, being inflatable, are set for some very rugged riding conditions. The short axles are made from very solid steel too, so there shouldn't be any problems with durability here.

While the weight of this pushchair is kept drastically down with the use of tough, waterproof and washable fabrics, it is still at risk of significant wear and tear around some of it's more high-friction areas. Even with their use of coated, double sided polyester in heavy wearing areas, I still feel that Phil & Teds have some room for improvement in this aspect of the Sport design.

Additionally, it would seem that the zippers used for this model's seat angle-adjustment feature are not designed to take much force or repetitive abuse- this is one further area that Phil & Teds should certainly improve on. If these seemingly small flaws were to be tended to by the manufacturer, then there would be little else I could fault about the construction and durability of this pushchair.

Safety Features

When it comes to buying a three wheeled buggy, it's important to be aware that there are many brands which do tend to want to tip over once set off-balance. This is fortunately not an issue with the Phil & Teds Sport as it has a good spreading of it's load between the wheels and keeps much of the load lower down and closer to the ground. Although these are excellent benefits for it to have, the fact that it is very low to the ground also means that when using a double kit with the extra seat at the back, your child rides very close to the ground- especially when negotiating rocks and curbs. This point will probably not impress ever parent who uses it “off-road”, especially when their baby is very young.

Another potential safety downside which comes along with this low profile design is the possibility of little fingers venturing out from the rear seat to touch the rear wheels as you're moving along. This is only a concern when the double kit is attached and in the rear position. To help prevent the child's exposure to this hazard, Phil & Teds have begun including a set of wheel protectors/ mud guards which attach to the pushchair over each of the back wheels. This should theoretically prevent small and curious fingers venturing where they don't belong, but we still think that there is some risk there worth mentioning.

The adjustable crotch restraints (padded) on both seats of the Sport are excellent, and all seats come with a five point safety harness to ensure your children aren't off exploring when your back is turned! The harness may take some getting used to, but it is very well made and should also provide all the protection you're babies will need.

The braking system used on this three-wheeled buggy is very smooth and responsive to use, although until you've really worn it in with some use it can tend to feel like it's a bit stiff. The dual rear brakes are located on both sides, near each of the back wheels, and can be activated using the touch of just one foot (which is quite simple and safe to use.) It should be noted though that while you have the child seat attached at the back as part of the double kit setup, it is slightly more difficult to jump on the brakes when you need to. This would probably be something a user can get used to though.

Finally, the Phil & Teds Sport comes with a safety wrist strap connected to the handle bar, allowing you to always keep the pushchair close at hand and within arm's reach. This particularly comes in handy when traveling down hills, or when jogging on uneven terrain, as it alleviates the risk of losing the pram in front of you or sideways to a bump. As a further note, a simple strap like this can also useful for rolling your baby back and forward in front of you when putting them to sleep.

Optional Extras

Double Kit	Storm/Rain Cover	Mesh Sun Cover	Sleeping Bag
Baby Cocoon	Hang Bag	Pannier Bags	Travel Bag

As with many popular pushchair models, the Phil & Teds Sport has a number of additional items that can be purchased. Some of these things may be more essential than others, but they can all add to the versatility and usability of your pushchair.

One of the more popular extras that can be bought for the Sport is the matching double kit. This a logical add-on for parents who are expecting baby number two in the not too distant future. The kit allows for you to adapt to your family's needs, providing a toddler and baby, or a toddler and slightly-older-toddler configuration.

Some of the weather protection 'optional extras' include a rain/storm cover for use with a single seat configuration, and also a double rain/storm cover- both for protection from heavy wind and rain at once. These double kit storm cover is designed to wrap right around the pushchair from under the front footrest, all the way to the back and under the extra baby seat in the back. The single storm cover does not seem to quite protect the baby when in the full lay-flat position, so this may be something to be aware of when buying one of these rain covers.

Another weather extra which may be worth considering is the mesh cover, available in both double and single sizes. This will be sure to keep your young ones safe from the sun whilst also keeping the cabin area nice and breezy in the heat.

There are also the nice options for matching baby cocoons and sleeping bags to keep you baby or toddler extra warm during the winter months.

A further popular option includes the trendy hang-bag which is suspended from the handle bars at the back, and facing the pusher. This has many great little pockets and storage compartments in it, and should last quite well when taken care of. Also available are sets of two pannier bags for adding more storage facilities to your pushchair- these would be a recommendation if you are a frequent shopper with your children, or simply think most underneath storage baskets are too small! These are quite a good addition as they should last a decent length of time.

Looks and Popularity

The Phil & Teds Sport has been redesigned to look even more sleek with a smooth, aerodynamic looking canopy. Ever since it's release, it has been a firm favourite with various celebrity parents such as Russell Crowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Jeniffer Garner, Andrew Flintoff, Kristy Gallagher, Jenny Frost and Keisha Castle-Hughes. One thing's for sure- this pushchair certainly does have a trendy new look that many people find very appealing.

Price Tag

The Phil & Teds Sport is admittedly not sold at a price which everyone will be able to afford. It is considered to be a higher end pushchair with a classy look and a respected name to go with it- and to some extent, you will be paying for these benefits.

This may be a more expensive option if you are buying for a second child. It will most likely be the most practical when bought for a first baby with a view to having another child within the next couple of years. When done this way you can get full use out of it with the addition of the double kit option.

Customer Service & Warranty

The basic manufacturer's warranty for the Phil & Teds Sport is for a duration of 1 year, however it is worth checking with individual stores as some will offer their own extended warranties.

Phil & Teds do not currently issue refunds for defective parts, but instead will send replacements parts or issue repairs to owners of one of their pushchairs- provided it still falls within their warranty period. It is claimed that if you require replacements fabrics for any areas on the pushchair, Phil & Teds will do so free of charge, and then guarantee the replacements for one more year after that.

The manufacturer of the Sport buggy do not at this stage actually technically handle the warranty for this pushchair themselves, but require the customer to make arrangements with the individual retailer that sells them the pushchair. This can be a bit of a problem at times, and so we recommend that you buy from a retailer who can be trusted even when things don't go so well!

Available Colours

Apple	Red	Black	Camo Blue
Navy	Charcoal	Camo Pink	Orange

Summary & Conclusion

The Phil and Teds Sport pushchair is a great pushchair to use with both infants and toddlers, especially if you have two of them to care for at once. This is great for families that are planning on having two or more babies within a shorter space of time. If buying for these purposes the pushchair shouldn't need to be replaced at a later date, and will be largely adaptable to the growth of your young family.

Quick Overview for the Phil & Teds Sport Pushchair - (Manufacturer Spec)

-