Jane Pushchair

The Jane Pushchair Past and Present

Firstly I would like to welcome you to our site where we look forward to bringing you all the news and reviews of the iconic and highly popular Jane pushchair. Many of us here in the UK are more familiar with our home grown pushchair hero Owen Maclaren who’s foldable pushchair innovation has been with us since the mid 1960’s, but when it comes to pushchair innovation Maclaren was late to the party compared with his Spanish counterpart Manuel Jané Vidal who built a pram for his son Ramon back in 1932.

From such humble beginnings in Barcelona was the Jane brand of pushchair born and the reputation of these highly popular pushchairs has now spread from mainland Europe and established itself firmly here in the UK, receiving many awards and positive reviews from the most respected of UK institutions over the last few years.

On this site we will be focusing on the many Jane pushchairs available in the UK, looking to bring you pushchair reviews and also information on Jane pushchair stockists offering the best deals. While pushchairs may be the mainstay of their production, like any strong brand, Jane has expanded their product list to offer baby and toddler car seats as well as an extensive range of other baby equipment from highchairs to travel cots.

Jane does not yet produce a triple pushchair but apart from that they manufacture a pushchair to suit most needs and their growing popularity ensures that you will not be short of places to buy. Online shopping has made buying baby products very easy and price competitive, but please do take the time to visit a store and play around with perspective pushchairs or at the very least get a personal recommendation before buying online. Online stores should offer a good returns policy if you aren’t happy, but of course the timing of a child related products can be crucial so really you want to avoid the fuss of sending things back.

On this site we will review both Jane travel systems and Jane lightweight pushchairs. Our aim is to bring you a factual overview of each pushchair rather than a personal buyer’s opinion. By giving you a clear idea of the features and specifications of each model we trust that you will be able to distinguish which model is right for your personal needs. We will look at Jane double pushchairs, for those of you with twins or two young children, and also the Jane single pushchairs available.

When it comes to lightweight buggies Jane currently offers three outstanding models, the Energy, the Sonic and the Unique. When it comes to their excellent travel systems the choice is even wider with the Slalom Pro and Nomad amongst the favorites. And of course the Jane double pushchairs also have a fantastic reputation, the Powertwin Pro and Twin Two tandem pushchairs are also featured here.

Each model comes in different colours and styles to bring a bit of personal individuality to your choice and there are plenty of Jane accessories for you to choose from if you want to “pimp” your ride. Jane isn’t the cheapest of brands but you do tend to get what you pay for when it comes to pushchairs. If you want the peace of mind that comes with a respected brand and if you need a pushchair with the versatility to serve your child from infancy through to becoming a toddler then a Jane pushchair could be the one for you.

We welcome your comments and thoughts so if you have personal experience of Jane pushchairs, or any of their other baby related products, we would love to hear from you. Either contact us direct or leave a comment on any of our articles.

Jane Solo Reverse Pushchair

My current personal favorite, of all the Jane pushchairs to date, is the Jane Solo . I like the design, its adaptability and above all its functionality. This is two pushchairs in one, no in fact this is several pushchairs in one, once you’ve taken into account the infant carseat and carry cot options, and with four great colour combinations… well I can’t do the math.

As the name suggests the key feature of the Jane Solo Reverse is that the child seat can be set to face the front or the rear allowing you, unlike most other pushchairs, to have your child facing you as you push them along; and this can be done quickly and easily should you wish to change your child’s viewpoint. I personally think that for very young children, say from new born to around two years, this is a fantastic option. If your child is the adventurous and inquisitive type who likes lots of stimulation and gets bored easily then fine, they will probably be happier facing forward where they can get the front row experience of the world.

However this is not the case with all children especially when they are very young. All the hectic chaos of the outdoor world can be very overwhelming for a small child that was recently laying calmly in its bed or cot at home. To suddenly thrust the great outdoors at them, especially when they can’t see you behind them, can be unnerving for some children. Until such a time that they become bored and restless staring at your familiar old face how much better will it be to push them around while maintain face to face contact?

So that is the main attribute of the Jane Solo, but of course there are plenty more positive features that you will have started to take for granted if you have researched other Jane pushchairs.

For a start this is another lightweight pushchair that can be folded away into a very compact state for easy transportation or storage. As with other Jane models it is made from 100% aluminum and weighs in at just 8.6kg. It can be folded away to the following dimensions 90 x 36 x 39 cm making it suitable for the smallest of car boots. This pushchair when folded will also stand upright unaided and can be folded regardless of which way the chair is facing.

Finally, while the Jane Solo looks like a very basic pushchair it is in fact an adaptable travel system and allows parents to buy the Jane Matrix fully flat infant car seat, the Jane Capazo carry cot or the Strata standard infant car seat which can all be quickly and easily attached using their Pro-Fix system.

There has been a small but significant renewed interest in the traditional four wheel pram over the last little while and, while this may be a bit of a retro fad, it seems that Jane has cleverly tapped into this need. Here you have a modern and stylish travel system that offers all the positives of a pram experience. I love it.

Jane Energy Pushchair

When it comes to lightweight pushchairs the UK’s favorite brand is probably Maclaren and this is understandable as this home grown company is one of the best with great innovation in design and styling. However with some models costing up to £250 it is worth looking elsewhere for a funky and practical pushchair. The Jane Energy pushchair is certainly stylish and for around £120 great value for money. So let’s take a look at this model and the different options available.

There are several reasons to buy this great Jane Pushchair and don’t just take my word for it. The Energy pushchair has already won recommendations from some highly respected sources including Which Magazine, Mumsnet and a silver award at the 2006 BabyGear awards.

First up let’s look at why these types of pushchairs are such an asset. If you lead a busy life, and who doesn’t these days, every second counts and that’s even more true once you have a child. Whether you’re heading down to the playground or whizzing round the shops you want a reliable, and most importantly, light and practical pushchair that isn’t going to slow you down.

Constructed with aluminum the Energy weighs in at just 5.6kg which competes strongly with any other lightweight pushchair on the market. Furthermore opening and closing the Energy is simplicity itself making it highly practical when out and about on public transport. These features are the very least you would expect so let’s look at some of the other benefits.

Comfort – Your comfort and the comfort of your child are what really matters when it comes to choosing the right pushchair and Jane have included some excellent design features to insure both. For your child they have designed a bigger deeper seat for more wiggle room and raised the seat further off the ground which is a real plus for those of you pushing your children around our dirty city streets. As well as built in padding for the head and chest of your child what they, and you, will really appreciate is the five different seat positions that this pushchair can be set at. From upright to laying flat there really is a position for every occasion and this versatility makes the chair suitable for babies from birth, excellent. For further comfort there’s an adjustable footrest for your child and ergonomically designed soft pushchair handle for you.

Finally let’s talk about looks. The Jane Energy pushchair comes in three very funky colour combinations including bright red and black (Active) a darker red and green (Cherry), which looks great, and a cool light blue and black (Utopia). The Jane Energy has a lot going for it.

Jane Slalom Pro Pushchair

It’s fair to say that many parents are more familiar with Jane double tandem pushchairs than they are with their single lightweight or travel system pushchairs but this is changing thanks to the cool styling and versatility of these other models. High on the list of Jane single pushchairs you should consider is the Jane Slalom Pro pushchair.

There’s plenty to say about this great model so let’s push on and look at some of its features.

Maneuverability – Essentially the Slalom Pro is the single version of the Powertwin Pro tandem pushchair and therefore comes with the same great handling capabilities. The single front wheel swivels through 360° but is also lockable and all wheels are lightweight, shock absorbing and fitted with ball bearings for a smoother ride. The powerful disc breaking system, operated at the handlebars is much like the system you would find on a bicycle and provides complete control and peace of mind on challenging terrains.

Ease of transport – The Pro-Fix clipping system allows car seats or carry cots to be simply fastened or unfastened and the wheels too have a quick release mechanism for folding up and transportation of your pushchair. Once folded the Slalom Pro can also be stood upright, which is a real plus when it’s not in use.

Childs comfort – The Slalom pushchair has been well designed with a broader and larger seat offering you child more wriggle room which is especially helpful on colder days when they are wearing lots of layers. There is a large hood for protection during bad weather but with a removable rear section allowing it to be transformed into a sun canopy during the summer months. There is a detachable bumper bar, if your child prefers something to hold on to, and extra seat padding that can be added or detached depending on your child’s age and size. The seat can be set in different positions including a fully reclined position making it suitable for newborns.

Parental comfort – On a practical note for parents, the handle bars are adjustable for different heights, a rain cover and pump for the tyres are included and the chassis is 100% aluminum with a weight of 9.3kg. The reflective strips for night time travels will also give you further peace of mind.

Strata, Capazo & Matrix?

The Jane Slalom Pro pushchair is a highly adaptable pushchair allowing you to change out the seats for a horizontal car seat, carry cot or infant car seat. All these extra carriers can be bought separately OR you can buy your Slalom Pro already fitted with these other elements. So don’t be confused by the difference between the Slalom Capazo travel system and the Slalom Matrix travel system, they are not different pushchairs but the same chassis but with different attachments. This, in brief is what you get with each.

The Slalom Pro Matrix pushchair – comes fitted with the Jane Matrix infant car seat for newborns to lay flat.

The Slalom Pro Capazo pushchair – comes fitted with the Jane Capazo carry cot

The Slalom Pro Strata pushchair – comes fitted with the Jane Strata infant car seat

Jane Twin Two Vs Powertwin Pro

To get straight to the point, both the Jane Twin Two and Powertwin Pro are excellent tandem pushchairs that share a number of great features. The differences between the two are found in the styling and versatility of these different travel systems.

Let’s start by taking a look at some of the great features that both these pushchairs offer.

Pro-Fix System – With more than one child to cope with you will be grateful for the Jane Pro-fix system that allows easy release and attachment of accessories like car seats and carry cots with just one hand.

Ease of movement – Most double pushchairs use the conventional twin side by side set up. Both these Jane pushchairs are tandem with one seat in front of the other which will come in very handy when tackling busy shopping centres or rough terrain.

Adaptable – Both these pushchairs have the added feature of an attachable “surfboard”, at the back on the Twin Two and the front of the Powertwin, where an older toddler can perch, very handy for the larger family.

Swivel wheels – The Twin two is a four wheel pushchair while the Powertwin Pro is a three wheeler giving it a bit of an edge when it comes to maneuverability. Nevertheless the wheels on both models are lightweight, quick release, inflatable and detachable, allowing the pushchairs to be folded up and packed away in your boot.

Suspension – both models have adjustable suspensions to improve the smoothness of the ride for your kids and the maneuverability of the pushchairs for you. Adjust the suspension to hard or soft depending on the age and weight of your children.

The differences

Style

The Twin Two, as mentionedabove, is a four wheel pushchair and comes in tow colour combinations – red & black (Pigment) and light blue and black (Utopia).

The Powertwin is a three wheeled pushchair in three colours, red &black (Pigment) like the Twin Two, black & beige (Noir) and black & grey (NeoClassical)

Versatility

The Twin Two is a more versatile pushchair than the Powertwin as it can take both car seats and travel cots giving you a much greater range of child carrying possibilities from newborns to three year olds. The Powertwin is still a great travel system but can only take car seats.

The Powertwin Pro does though have the advantages of its single front wheel and disc breaking system. This is probably the choice for you if you want to be a bit more active and in control on all terrains.

Weight

Both these pushchairs are mad from 100% aluminum and are fairly light compared to other double pushchairs, although of course a lot heavier than a single. However despite its extra wheel the Twin Two is, in fact, lighter (9kgs) than the Powertwin Pro (11.6kgs) which might be a consideration.