How comfortable is it?
The buggy is extremely comfortable and works well in all three recline positions, which are upright, completely flat for napping babies and a slight incline in between these two.
It was effortless and really smooth to recline the buggy by pressing the buttons on either side of the chair, even with a heavy toddler in place. The recline position can't be changed though if the seat is incorrectly connected to the chassis.
While we didn't try the carrycot out ourselves, it does come with a hood and apron in your chosen colour and is snug and secure for a tiny baby. It also stands on its own on the floor so, if you need to detach it from the base and put it down while you fold the pushchair, your baby will always be comfy and safe.
How safe is it?
Overall the buggy feels very sturdy. It was fully loaded during testing and the seat was tried out in all positions.
The tyres grip well to the floor and the excellent ballpoint brake system exceeded all other foot brakes on test. It works as a single pedal that pushes down once to lock and again to release – plus, there's no chance of scuffing your shoes.
To ensure that the brake is on when intended, there are also indicators that turn red. Once on, it holds firmly.
The seat has a five-point harness and each point connect to the central clip separately which our tester really liked. Our tester preferred this hassle-free harness to all others on test, especially the Maxi-Cosi Zelia, which was tricky to use as it only connected to the central clip at two points instead of four.
The Fox's harness secures well and there is a good amount of adjustment available so you can be confident that any age child would be secure and unable to wriggle out. The well-positioned belly bar also makes the child feel more secure too.
What about the extras?
The Fox's basket is spacious and easy to access and, unlike many travel systems, there's no low bar to get in the way. Big tick from us.
Yet, our tester found the storage basket still wasn’t as large as some on test, such as the Maxi Cosi Zelia, but she could fit everything she needed for the day. The basket will comfortably take two medium-sized shopping bags along with a changing bag and rain cover.
The sunshade hood expands thanks to the additional extending zip section. Its SPF 50+ fabric keeps the sun out of the eyes and protects against harmful rays – plus, it had a useful peek-a-boo section for parents to keep an eye on their snoozing child.
How easy is it to clean?
As this was a test buggy, it had already been used but still looked brand-new, which impressed our tester from the outset.
Even though it was a light blue colour, it just needed a scrub down with a damp cloth to remove spilled food and dirty shoe marks. All fabrics can be removed and washed at 30 degrees, but the base is wipe clean only.
The hood was just as easy to clean. If you did want to take it apart to put it through the wash, you would need to spend some time disassembling it and be sure not to put any foam padding through the machine – this would need to be sponge-washed instead.
Final verdict?
Our tester really loved this buggy, especially its compact fold and high seat position. The iconic Bugaboo look is also there and design heritage clear.
While all the buggies we tested ticked the basic boxes, the Fox seemed to go that little bit further in every area. As well as the extra height of the seat, the manoeuvrability and slim design were standout features for our tester.
Bugaboo's Fox is a great all-rounder – sleek, nippy, versatile, and strong – with thoughtful touches such as the peek-a-boo flap integrated into the sunshade and accessories galore to purchase such as trays, smartphone holders, buggy boards and even their ‘mammoth bag’ which straps to frame and has its own rest stand.
However, this pushchair is really only an option if you have the right budget as every accessory is extra – even the rain cover and footmuff – which our tester hoped would be included for the £1,000 price point.
If your budget can stretch to a Bugaboo Fox (and for many it will be hard to resist), then it’s a great choice for an active family. But if you’re looking for a bargain, there are other travel systems that may suit you bank balance better.
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