What’s the iCandy Peach 6 like to purchase and assemble?
Since 2005, iCandy has become a well-known, award-winning brand that caters to families looking for style and functionality. The four-wheeled Peach is one of their most popular products, now in its sixth generation. It can be adapted from a single to a double buggy and is great for both twins and siblings of different ages.
Launched in 2020, the iCandy Peach 6 can be purchased from a variety of stores, including the iCandy website, Amazon, John Lewis & Partners and Boots. iCandy offers a range of accessories including extra seats, carrycots, adaptors, footmuffs and a parasol, which can be bought from their online store but are available from other retailers too.
What’s in the box?
The iCandy box contains all the essentials you need to get going. The Peach 6 can be purchased as a single, double or twin to suit your needs.
The double includes a chassis, two seat units, two seat fabrics, carrycot fabric and apron, two canopies, one mattress, two bumper bars, a converter base, seat elevators and two rain covers. It also comes with car seat adapters. A twin includes the same but with an extra carrycot fabric and apron, mattress and set of car seat adapters. For testing, we also received the iCandy footmuff – a Duopod – and changing bag.
If you purchase the Peach 6 as a single and have another baby on the way, you can buy the converter base (£240), seat fabric (£139.95) and lower car seat adapters (£30) to turn it into a double. The carrycot converts into a seat so you don’t have to pay for extra seats or find space to store a bulky carrycot when it’s not in use.
When it comes to assembling the Peach, we found it slower and more complex than other prams we tested – namely the Chicco Echo Twin Stroller – but this is, in part, down to the number of parts in the box.
It took our tester, mum of two Liz, 30 minutes to put the Peach together, attaching the wheels, assembling both the seat and bassinet for her four-month-old baby and four-year-old preschooler, tackling multiple zips and securing the hoods. No tools were needed and, once set up, it was fairly simple for Liz to change the seat set-up as and when she needed to.
What about the instructions?
The box comes with a manual that provides step-by-step instructions (in multiple languages) with photos showing you how to set up the Peach, use the pram’s features and switch between the different configurations.
Liz had to keep referring back to the instructions during assembly and again when working out how to fold and unfold the pram as it's a manoeuvre that can be tricky to get the hang of.
Unfortunately, there are no care instructions included so you may need to contact iCandy via their website to check anything you’re unsure of, but some of the care information can be found on the pram’s labels. iCandy offers a £200 valet service when your pram needs a really good clean, though this is currently suspended due to COVID-19 and may be too pricey for many families.
For warranty information (five years) and any problems with the pram, the manual directs you to the iCandy website for help and assistance. The website has a good product support section where you can find a copy of the instruction manual and videos showing how to use and convert the different parts of the Peach 6. There’s also contact details if you encounter any issues.
How safe is the iCandy Peach 6?
While the frame looks small and lightweight, the iCandy Peach 6 is very well made. Built to meet European safety standards, the solid metal chassis and spacious seats offer a sturdy, comfortable ride for two children up to the age of four (seven in single mode).
The seats can be used from the age of six months and click securely to the chassis (you'll need two hands to remove), with padding for extra comfort and support. For newborns, the carrycot lies completely flat and is very spacious, with high sides that allow for plenty of room to grow.
With a ventilated mattress, the carrycot is suitable for overnight sleeping and can be used when away from home or as a crib in the early months.
What about the harness?
The iCandy Peach 6's five-point harness has a fuss-free design and one-handed release. The padded straps are easy to adjust for all sizes, which is great considering the pram can seat a child up to the age of seven (in single mode).
How stable is the iCandy Peach 6?
As it's only as wide as a single pram, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Peach 6's the lightweight frame lacks the robustness of larger double buggies like the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double. But the good news is that it performed really well in this area.
We tested it in all configurations with a seat and carrycot, using a bag of potatoes to match the weight of a newborn. The Peach 6 Double can take up to 15kg in each seat (or 25kg as a single) and, although Liz’s eldest (four) was just over the weight limit, the pram still felt really solid with both children in their seats – even with the handlebar loaded with the iCandy changing bag.
We didn’t receive a car seat for testing but, as the frame coped really well with the carrycot and regular seat alongside additional weight, we feel confident that its stability wouldn't be compromised.
What about the brakes?
The iCandy Peach 6 has a footbrake that’s easy to click on and off – you simply press the lever located next to the rear right wheel with the bottom of your foot and release it with the top. It's a quick movement that requires very little pressure and can be accomplished in all footwear including open-toe shoes.
Tandem buggies carrying two children can sometimes feel top-heavy, especially when laden with bags, but the Peach 6's brake felt very secure on both hills and flat ground.