Our consumer editor Heidi Scrimgeour outlines the subtle but important differences between each iCandy pram.
Before I had kids, I wanted a pair of Manolo Blahnik silk stilettos just like the ones Carrie Bradshaw wore when she married Mr. Big. But the minute I found out I was pregnant, I wanted an iCandy pram. I can't prove it, but if Carrie Bradshaw had a pram, I'm pretty sure she'd pick an iCandy.
Why? There's no mistaking the style credentials of an iCandy pram. From sleek, stylish details and luxe, premium fabrics to clever functionality — iCandy manages to make pram-pushing feel stylish. That might sound ridiculous. But when you're sleep-deprived and recovering from birth, there's something rather wonderful about not feeling frumpy when you finally leave the house as a new mum.
As a consumer editor and mum of three, I’ve known loads of parents invest in a pram for their newborn that they end up hating before their baby is out of nappies. That's because the features you look for in a pram for a newborn can quickly become annoying aspects of a pushchair for a growing toddler. A carrycot is great for the first six months - but where do you store it once you've blinked and your baby has outgrown it?
And a robust, heavy pushchair frame will protect your precious cargo from feeling every bump beneath the wheels, but it’s a nightmare to lug up a flight of steps with a heavy toddler on board. A travel system is indispensable for the year that your baby needs an infant car seat, but once they've outgrown it, the frame can feel way too bulky for weaving in and out of shops and cafes.
Genuinely, no one I know has had any of these issues with an iCandy. When the rest of us are trading in our gigantic travel systems for nippier pushchairs once our toddlers weigh a ton, iCandy parents are smiling quietly and congratulating themselves on their clever buying decision.
Is iCandy a good brand?
A British family-run business that has been around since 1933, iCandy is a trustworthy, premium brand with a reputation for pioneering product development and stylish design. The business began with brothers Bradley and Warren Appel, whose grandfather Charles started a fashion company in the 1930s. Eventually, the firm diversified into making cycling helmets and car seats for kids. From there, they delved into nursery gear and eventually into luxurious designer prams.
Overall, iCandy prams are a clever marriage of style and substance. Featuring on-trend colours and premium fabrics that wouldn't seem out of place on the catwalk, they're also super functional. You'd like to choose which way your baby faces? Check. You'd like to add an extra seat if your family grows instead of needing a new pram? Check. Do you want to be able to fold it with one hand? Check. In addition, every iCandy pram comes with a market-leading 5 year warranty.
It's no surprise that iCandy prams are also a popular pushchair choice for the Royal Family. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank shared pictures on Instagram of their son August in his pram - the iCandy Peach. And Zara Tindall, the late Queen's eldest granddaughter, has the Special Edition iCandy for Land Rover All-Terrain pushchair.
iCandy was also the first brand to dream up the 'convertible' pushchair, which starts as a single but converts to a double when your family grows - then back to a single when the oldest child no longer needs a ride. (If only everything in parenthood was as easy as going from one to two kids when you own an iCandy pram or pushchair.)
Design features: Which iCandy pram is the best
First, let's cover the key differences between each iCandy pram.
Why do people love iCandy prams so much? What iCandy does especially well is multifunctional design. Multifunctionality - a product's ability to do more than one thing or be used in more than one way - seems baked into their designs. The carrycots are suitable for overnight sleeping, with the Peach 7 travel system approved by the Lullaby Trust. The seat risers - which don’t cost extra - mean you can bring your baby closer to the conversation when you’re out with friends and stop for coffee - or even use the pushchair as a highchair when you’re out for lunch. And a weight limit of 25kg means your child won't outgrow an iCandy pram or pushchair - they can keep hopping aboard all the way up to age four, or thereabouts. Another bonus of an iCandy pram is that they're compatible with several reputable car seat brands, including Maxi Cosi, Cybex, and Nuna.
Which is the best iCandy pram?
There's an iCandy to suit everyone. Go for the showstopping iCandy Peach 7- which made our roundup of the best prams - if you need a luxe all-rounder for 1-2 children. Pick the iCandy Orange if it's for a baby but you already have a little one. Choose the iCandy Lime if it's for one child and/or you're short on storage space in your hallway or car boot. And choose the Core if you're based in the city and want something great for negotiating busy streets and public transport.
All iCandy prams come with a 5-year manufacturer’s guarantee. That means your child will have outgrown it by the time the guarantee ends, so an iCandy pushchair is highly likely to be the only set of wheels your little one will ever need.
Here's how to work out which is the best iCandy pram for you.
iCandy Peach
Weighs: 12.48kg | Suitable: Birth to 25kg
If you’re expecting your first baby, go for the iCandy Peach 7. It comes with the carrycot included, which is suitable for overnight sleeping. That makes overnight trips and holidays with your baby a dream. It’s compact and free-standing when folded - a godsend if you park your pram by your front door and you don’t live in a mansion. And if your brood grows, you can easily convert it to a double pushchair. The iCandy Peach comes with adaptors so you can attach an infant car seat to the frame. That makes life easy when you’re moving back and forth between the pram and the car with your baby. It also has puncture-proof tyres for muddy off-road walks and lockable swivel front wheels for whizzing over shiny shop floors. It has a reclining seat that you can adjust with one hand. (Lots of brands say that but it's true with the iCandy Peach - we've tested it.)
Everyone knows the iCandy Peach. You can spot one at twenty paces. (You probably admired the dress sense of the parent pushing it too.) Billed as the ‘definitive luxury single to double pushchair’, the iCandy Peach is a design classic. No wonder Mollie-Mae Hague has been spotted pushing the iCandy Peach 7 in Biscotti.
iCandy Lime
Weighs: 10.2kg | Suitable: Birth to 25kg
The iCandy Lime doesn't convert to a double pushchair. But it's lighter than the Peach and its big appeal lies in how quickly and easily you can fold it - handy for storage or travel purposes. It even has a handy strap for carrying. Other than that, it has many of the features of the iCandy Peach, including the integrated ride-on board, a roomy 10kg basket, and a carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping. Like the Peach, the seats can be positioned in either parent-facing or world-facing modes so you can choose whether to chat to your little one or let them take in the world around them. It also has an integrated ride-on board and can be used until your not-so-little one weighs 25kg.
Overall, the iCandy Lime has all the functionality of a larger pushchair but with the nippy, lighter appeal of a compact urban stroller.
iCandy Core
Weighs: 11.5kg | Suitable: Birth to 25kg
Live in a city but enjoy the occasional muddy country walk? The iCandy Core has been designed so that it glides as easily along a bumpy track as it does on a busy city pavement. Its pioneering Multi-Mode Wheelbase consists of two pairs of interchangeable wheels which can easily be swapped depending on the terrain the Core is negotiating. The ‘Rural’ set of wheels are longer and more substantial, giving the performance and feel of a larger, heavier pushchair; the ‘Urban’ wheels are shorter and lighter, and feel more like a compact city stroller. Basically, you’re getting two prams in one.
The innovation doesn’t stop there; the Core also comes with a first-of-its-kind LED Visibility Hub Light. This rechargeable USB light sits on the side of the pram and lights up in dark or low light conditions. As well as these standout features, the Core comes with all the innovations that come as standard with an iCandy pram (see below), making it a versatile, stylish and practical choice.
iCandy Orange
Note: The latest version of the iCandy Orange 4 has been recalled to a potential safety issue.
Weighs: 12.1kg | Suitable: Birth to 25kg
This is the iCandy pram to go for if you want a pushchair for more than one child. Like the Peach, you can convert the iCandy Orange from a single to a double pushchair, and back again, once the oldest child prefers to walk everywhere. Both kiddos can be parent-facing at the same time, which is a nice touch for encouraging those all-important communication skills. It also has an integrated ride-on board.
The iCandy Orange has softer suspension and optimised tyre tread to boost your baby's comfort factor, but in the sleek, premium package you’d expect from an iCandy pram. The chassis is light and streamlined, and it comes with a change bag and DuoPod footmuff. The options are endless with the iCandy Orange - it offers cinema-style seating (on-board movies not provided...) and 30 different possible seat configurations. It also has an integrated ride-on board and it converts to a travel system with adaptors, which are included in the price. And the 64-litre capacity basket can hold a lot of milk and nappies.
What features do iCandy prams share?
All iCandy prams have these features in common:
- Carrycot suitable for permanent overnight sleeping
- Car seat compatible
- Reversible parent and world facing seat unit (in single mode)
- Chassis is freestanding when folded
- Height adjustable handle
- All-round suspension
- Front swivel wheels
- Spacious basket
- Weight limit (single mode): 25kg
While you're deciding between the best iCandy prams for you and your baby, you might also be interested in our guide to choosing the best prams and the best pushchair toys. We've also got guides on choosing the best baby monitor, the best bedside crib, the best baby sleeping bags and the best baby sleep aids.
