Dads, we’ve all been there. The missus books a holiday – you have no idea where to, how long for or what to pack. All you are told is what it’s costing you. What’s more, she’s going to expect you to do all the heavy lifting and carrying.
Pushing a buggy through the airport isn’t how you imagined your life turning out, we get it. But it’s happened. The kids are here, and brilliant as they are, they come with a lot of stress - which is amplified tenfold when travelling. You’ve got all the crap that comes with kids, that the wife says you absolutely 100% need to take on holiday; everything but the kitchen sink. Even though you know when you get to your destination she won’t use half of it and you will, quite rightly, be able to tell her that you told her she didn’t need to pack all of that shit. So with all of this in mind, the last thing you need is a heavy, bulky pram taking up space. Don’t worry lads, we’ve got you covered.
That’s where the Babyzen YOYO2 comes in (available online for c. £360). This travel buggy is not only stylish, but it can be folded with one hand and carried over your shoulder. It folds down to cabin baggage dimensions and has a carrying bag with padded shoulder strap so you can wear it like a normal bag when it’s not being used (check there’s no baby inside before folding please lads)!
Comfortable and safe
The YOYO2 has a comfortable and more importantly, safe, 5-point harness to keep your little angel cosy and secure and a 2.5cm mattress for extra comfort. The pop-up canopy doubles as both a sun and rain shade, with anti-UV (UPF 50+) water-repellent fabric. It’s suitable for use from new-born (using either the new-born pack or bassinet option) and 6 months+ and can support kids up to a weight of 22 kg (48.5 lbs). There is ample space underneath to stash any duty-free purchases - yet another chance for the missus to fleece you - which can support up to 5kg (11lbs) weight. That’s got to be room for at least a couple of bottles of JD!
The buggy itself is incredibly lightweight – between 6kg and 8kg depending on which version you go for (check online for exact spec.) and the frame itself is surprisingly sturdy. Unlike with other travel strollers, you don’t feel like this is a second-rate option. In fact, it could easily be used as a main buggy. I use mine all the time as it is quicker to assemble and easier to get in and out of the car than the usual buggy.
Even if you’re not tackling an overseas trip, its compact size makes the YOYO2 perfect if you need to take the kids into town on public transport. Lightweight and manoeuvrable, it will make dragging the kids round the shops as stress-free as possible.
This buggy fits easily in any car boot and even better, won’t take up loads of room in the hallway like some of the other kids’ stuff you no doubt have cluttering up the place at home!
Stylish and easy to use
There are no garish colours here either – the small, curved frame comes in 2 colours and the fabric elements are available in 9 muted shades. The soft faux leather handlebar give this a modern look which won’t cramp your style. The other half will love the look of the buggy, but also love what a hot, modern man you look pushing it; it’s win-win! You never know, it might even get you some brownie points or if you’re a single dad, the number of that hot blonde you’ve been eyeing up on the tube.
So how easy is the YOYO2 to use? Are you going to look like a dickhead, struggling with the buggy whilst everyone watches you look like you’ve never helped with the kids before? In a word, no. The wheel action is pretty smooth and it’s easy to push with one hand. When you reach the gate and have the pressure of folding it down whilst the rest of the check-in queue watches you, waiting for you to fuck up, you can rest assured that you’ve got this, no worries.
What else?
If you have more than one sprog, you can add the YOYO Connect pack (c. £325) which turns it into a double buggy which can also go on the plane. If you plan to hire a car, you can buy different car seat adaptors which are compatible with a number of car seats, including the Yoyo branded car seat created in conjunction with BeSafe, and a number of Maxi-Cosi and Cybex models.
So, would I recommend the YOYO2 from Babyzen? As a mid-range compact stroller, it does exactly what it needs to do. It’s not flashy, but it is reliable and that’s what you’re looking for at the end of the day. Let’s face it, if you have to help out with the kids you might as well make life as easy as possible for yourself, and look good doing it.