Joie Prams - What's the Catch?

[Wanderlust20]

Hope it's OK to post here, tried pushchair forum but I never seem to get any replies on there (and the other threads with replies only seem to get a few comments).

Anyway, after searching for weeks for the perfect pram and feeling like my head is going to explode... I recently came across the brand Joie and, honestly, I'm shocked at the features you seem to get for such cheap prams! And when I say cheap, I mean in terms of what I thought I was going to have to pay... Am I missing something?

For info, I'm a FTM (baby due June) and I'm looking at the MyTrax, VersaTrax and LiteTrax - I'm aware I might want to buy a separate carrycot although they do advertise as being "from birth". They seem to tick all my boxes and, previous to looking at these, my favourites were bigger brands with eye watering prices. OK, they're probably a little less stylish than some others but I'm trying to be practical. I could afford to pay more for a pram but I'm thinking why would you, if this brand appears to offer everything that fancier prams do? Also, a few friends have warned me against paying a fortune for a pram that I might toss for a cheaper/lighter buggy after 6 months.

Thinking they seem too good to be true so, experienced parents, what are your experiences with this brand of pram/pushchair or these particular models? TIA!

Most cheap brands focus on style or just build as cheap as possible. Joie have really good product designers who seem to do a really good line in prioritising the features that people want and doing those as cheaply as possible, but not compromising when it matters. Also I believe the profit margins on them are kept quite low. And they don't fleece you on things which are cheap to produce like the car seat adapters or Raincover, they just include them whereas other manufacturers tend to have these as extras that you pay loads for.

You will find that they feel cheaper than something like Uppababy or bugaboo, but they are a better bet than other cheap brands like ickle bubba or the cheaper cosatto models.

They do their own carrycot that fits into car seat adapters, it's alright, does the job. If you're getting the versatrax it's not strictly necessary as that can be parent facing and lie flat from birth. I had a pram like that with DS1 and didn't miss having a carrycot at all. I wouldn't use the other two from birth as they face outwards and the seat is quite low down so seems not great for a newborn.

I can’t comment on the quality, as we don’t have one. But the catch for us would be - quite low (I have a dodgy back) and small. Our friends’ toddler seems to have grown out of the pushchair setting very quickly.

Then again, it entirely depends what you are after in a pram. Ours is high and our 2.5 year old fits it very comfortably, but it’s a large and takes up lots of space. That would be a drawback for many.

I’ve never used one personally as my babies are grown up now, and I don’t think Joie were around when they were babies, but I work in a baby shop and we sell loads of Joie systems and strollers. Customers are really happy with them and I don’t think I’ve heard any complaints yet, nor have we had any returned with faults, as we have with some other brands.

We have a cheap joie travel system. It’s great.

The buggy is light enough to take out of the car one-handed whilst holding a baby in the other arm. It’s done some serious off-roading on sand, stones and god knows what else. And it can fit in the roof box when we go camping.

We have a lightweight travel pushchair from Joie - the Tourist, I think it might be the Pact now. We've used it from birth when we go away and need room for luggage in the car or when we go to London and need a buggy that's easy to fold and light to carry. You can even clip the car seat to it. It was only £150 and it is great for a tiny buggy.

However when I'm home walking a long distance up and down curbs round tight corners in shops, over the grass in the park etc. I love our Bugaboo Bee, it just drives better with great suspension and is so responsive when pushed. It has great (expensive!) accessories too like a cup holder and sun parasol. We got it second hand as I couldn't justify the price new.

I loved my Joie LiteTrax. It was a brilliant pushchair.
I also had a Joie i-level car seat and now have Joie i-spin 360s in both cars which I love.

I really like the Joie Versatrax and Ramble carry cot. It’s really simple to use, folds really easily with just a pull of the strap. Has a huge basket which has come in handy! I am 5’5 and my partner 5’10 and the height adjustable handlebar works well for us both.
So glad I didn’t spend upwards of £1000 on a pram as this does everything I need it to do :)