So the new school term has started, which means daily trips to and from the local school to drop the kids off. Plumlet is 2 years old, and would usually make the morning journeys in
So the new school term has started, which means daily trips to and from the local school to drop the kids off. Plumlet is 2 years old, and would usually make the morning journeys in the pushchair. So you can imagine his sheer delight when he clapped eyes on his new ride, the Strolly Compact from Yvolution.
Yvolution are not a particularly old company, but to say that they are well established in their field would be an understatement! Recognising the importance of physical activity for our children and embracing the wonder of the great outdoors, Yvolution have spent the last few years building a brand that grants the wishes of children everywhere. From ride-ons to balance bikes, and scooters of all shapes and sizes, they are sure to have a fun product for every child that wants to get outside, feel the wind in their hair and explore the environment in style!
First things first, the Strolly comes boxed in pieces, with each section carefully wrapped in foam and plastic, complete with an easy to follow instruction booklet.
And the instruction booklet comes with all the tools needed to put the Strolly together …
… That’s how simple it is to put the Strolly together. All that is needed is the allen key that is provided which is shaped at one end like a screwdriver. By the time the trike was put together, Plumlet was itching to go for a ride!
With a sturdy, comfortably shaped, high backed seat, Plumlet fits perfectly, and is secured with the adjustable three point harness with padded strap covers. In the photo above, Plumlet has his feet on the static foot rests. At present, his legs are slightly too short to reach the moving pedals properly, so he is quite happy for now keeping his feet here. The main pedals on the trike have a switch, so if he did want to place his feet on them, his movement will not manipulate the movement of the bike. He can learn the pedal motion without affecting the ease of parental manoeuvrability as they will turn freely. Then, at the flick of a switch, when he is big enough to control the trike himself, the pedals will function in the conventional way and he will be able to move the bike himself by pedalling.
Attached to the centre of the handle is a cup holder. Plumlet has a number of different cups, all of varying shapes and sizes, and I am yet to find one that doesn’t fit comfortably in the holder. The cup holder is easily detachable too, as it is fixed on by a clip. Therefore it is easy to take off for cleaning.
The handlebar is adjustable too, which allows it to go from parental controlled to sibling controlled! The girls couldn’t resist taking Plumlet for a spin in his new wheels! Even they found the Strolly really easy to push!
The handlebar twists with ease which controls the angle of the front wheel, making it extremely smooth and comfortable to steer. I have quite small hands, yet I find it very easy to manoeuvre the trike with one hand.
We have put the Strolly through its paces on different terrain too. I was really quite surprised at how simple it was to move the trike on grass. Knowing how tough it can be to move some pushchairs on grass, I decided to take a walk across the grass in the park, and found it very comfortable. It travelled in a straight line with no issues and minimum effort, and steering was no problem at all.
And the ultimate terrain test …
… Sand!
And, once again, although not quite as easy as on concrete or grass, I was able to move the Strolly across the sand much more freely that I can the pushchair!
With the shape of the Strolly seat and with how open it is, one of the sweetest things I have found when out and about with the girls is the interaction between them and Plumlet. They will walk along next to him, hold his hand or rest their hand on the handlebar, and engage in conversation with him. When he is in his pushchair, they don’t do this as much with it being parent facing, so this is a lovely change for them all.
When out and about, I don’t tend to carry a handbag, so some sort of storage for my purse, keys, phone etc is essential. The bag on the Strolly is perfect, and surprisingly roomy! It only looks small, but it has been able to accommodate all that I mentioned above, as well as comforters, a spare change of clothes and the odd toy! And the best thing is, the bag is secures to the Strolly by velcro straps, meaning that it is easy to detach when necessary.This means that, when on the school run, I can park the Strolly in the designated area outside the classroom, unfasten the velcro, and take the bag inside with me, saving me having to empty it of anything I would need to take with me.
One final feature I feel deserves a mention is the hood. I love the hood because it has the appearance and the function similar to that of a pushchair hood.
It can extend completely, providing ample protection from the sunshine on Plumlet’s head, extend just halfway or be closed altogether. And the hood unit itself is completely detachable too.
So all in all, in summary, we absolutely love the Strolly from Yvolution. We feel it does everything that it was designed to do, and more, because it makes our school runs smoother, more hassle-free and a lot more fun for Plumlet!
