Stokke has a superb reputation in the world of baby gear. Its pushchair designs are unique and the epitome of individual style and functionality. The Stokke BEAT chassis, while not eye-catchingly different like the Xplory, is no exception. The simple, classic chassis looks fantastic and oozes quality without even trying.  

Working from the bottom up, the wheels are made of quality hard-wearing, puncture-proof material and are clearly designed to withstand the lifestyle of parents who cover many, many miles strolling streets and paths with their little ones. We were always able to manoeuvre around the tightest of corners and squeeze through the smallest gaps using just one hand. The kerb pop on the BEAT is effortless, making hopping on and off buses, tubes and trams that touch easier. 

The brake is another example of how simplicity reigns over all on this pushchair. One clearly accessible brake pedal is operated with just the hint of a flick from your toes. Nothing fancy, and it worked perfectly on all occasions. 

The basket takes a really useful 10kg. It is more than adequate in size and never left us short of storage space, even on days out when we were carrying picnics. 

The handlebar is covered in leatherette, is comfortable in the palm and can be altered to a few different positions using the buttons each side. We found one of the most useful features to be the way you can fold it right down and tuck it away when in cafes or riding on public transport so it isn't protruding. 

The BEAT has a reversible seat unit that can parent and world face which, coupled with the seat's ability to lie completely flat, means there is no necessity to buy the additional carrycot to use the BEAT from birth if you would prefer to save that expense.

The design of the seat means that when the backrest is reclined, the sides are deep and we loved how this provided a really cosy and sheltered space for new babies and those who like to sleep in their pushchairs. 

Strap recline systems are not always to everyone's liking but we can honestly say that we came across no issues whilst using the recline on the BEAT. It was simple and meant we could choose the angle that suited our passenger the best. 

The seat fabrics look great but they perform well too, are easily cleaned with a quick wipe, and feel and look as though they can really withstand the test of time.

The shape of the hood is unusual in that it is contoured. We wondered if this was simply a style feature at first but when using the pushchair with a 2-year-old we soon realised that where the hood is cut back at an angle, it means your toddler can peek sideways at any goings-on rather than the hood blocking their view! 

The harness is height adjustable and the webbing is thick and of the quality we expect from the Stokke brand. The large round buckle is always easy to access and performs brilliantly, even when you're in a rush. 

One thing that did strike us with the seat is that the depth from the crotch strap to the front edge of the seat seems quite shallow, meaning our toddler testers appeared to be somewhat perched rather than nestled in the seat. The footrest (which is also adjustable) was a lovely touch for babies. It can be flicked upwards and used as a calf rest for them, but as soon as a toddler jumped into the seat we found that the footrest was an awkward length and quite uncomfortable, resting on the back of her thighs. A deeper seat depth and longer footrest would have been more desirable.

The convenience of the fold on the BEAT is sure to be a selling point to most parents. The all-in-one fold can be operated no matter which way the pushchair seat is facing. The fold package is not only simple to operate but the end package is neat and very solid, making the BEAT all the easier to store. For parents who are short on space or those who are required to fold their pushchair whilst using public transport, the BEAT has a lot to offer that they will find really useful. 

Stokke has really tried to please the stylish city-living, simplicity-loving parents out there with this latest release. The BEAT has been aimed at the parents out there who require a straightforward, practical but premium set of wheels. Building on the successes of its predecessor, the Stokke Scoot, the BEAT has had several design alterations to improve function and performance. The excellent quality of the design and the build is evident and we were really impressed with the way this stroller handled around corners and up and down kerbs.

The reversible seat is unique in its features. The contoured hood gave excellent coverage and the strap recline worked brilliantly, allowing children from birth upwards to find a position that was perfect for them. Although we found the overall seat depth a little shallow for children of 2 years up, the harness and its buckle were easy to use and of the same excellent quality as the rest of the build.

The footrest is height adjustable in the sense that it can be placed upwards for smaller children to rest their legs but when down was not always long enough for toddlers - just something to look out for if you are planning on using the BEAT with older toddlers. 

By far the crowning glory for us has to be the exceptional fold. The BEAT folds in one into a very compact package and all in the most fuss-free manner too.