Jané: Trider Review

Quick Summary: The Jané Trider is a gorgeous looking three wheeler that is highly manoeuvrable and highly desirable. It has been manufactured to an extremely high quality with the anodized aluminium frame, well finished plastics and soft-touch durable fabrics.

Jané have been at the cutting edge of contemporary pushchair design and combined with their fantastic quality and good looks, they are the understated ‘designer' option in pushchairs.

Another feature Jané incorporates into their range is the menu of choices they deliver with each model. Buying a combination of pushchair/carseat/carrycot etc can save you money and time instead of mixing and matching which car seat adaptors or carrycot connectors you may require.

The Jané Trider is available in Tangerine, Vermelion, Chiffon and Indigo.

Striking is the first descriptive word that springs to mind when you first encounter the Trider. I do think our test victim's colourway helps, not because we haven't seen red used with black before, but because the lightweight anodized aluminium frame comes in a fantastic silk red finish.

The colour and contemporary design combine to make it a jaw-dropper at first sight. It's hardly surprising that BBC Newsreader, Kate Silverton chose the Trider for her baby daughter, Clemency.

Seat

The seat unit is beautifully padded and topped off with a moleskinesque padded liner, providing cosy but smooth comfort for your mini-me. The five point harness threads through the liner but sadly is not adjustable in shoulder height. The seat itself is not huge, the width is only 25cms and the depth is 20cms. The back reaches 46cms so would not be entirely suitable for a large toddler.

The canopy is made from a thick, good quality polyester and is comprised of two segments, the rear of which has triangular meshed windows to allow some light in under the dense hood. It doesn't have a convenient peephole for parents to spy on their passenger but you can just about see through the side windows if you need a quick check.

A flip-out, padded visor gives that little bit of extra protection on sunnier days, but if the sun is at an awkward angle, the zips around the rear of the canopy can be undone to allow it to be angled against the sun.

The seat reclines using the handle at the back of the seat, the perfect position for great control, however the handle on our test model is very stiff but I'm sure it would ease with use. The long calf rest is also adjustable. Using the buttons on the interior of the hinge, it can be positioned to support the legs horizontally or bent at the knee. There is a knack to access these buttons – attack the pushchair from the front pressing the buttons with your thumbs to alter the angle – easy when you know how.

I love the mechanism to release the chair from the frame, Jané joins the ranks of Britax and Graco in simple, functional genius! Simply pull-up the levers on either side of the seat which disconnect it from the frame as you lift.

Chassis

Our test Trider is in red and black as I have already mentioned and the complimenting chassis looks fantastic. It adds and extra element of 'delicious' to a structurally attractive pushchair.

From the top... The handle spans a height of 83cms to 108cms, adjusted using the buttons on the outside of the handle it can be angled to a height that suits you. The brake control is mounted on the right of the handle, flicking forward to apply and back to release. When the brake is applied it leaves the lever floppy but there is no mistaking that the brake is definitely ‘ON'.

The brackets mount the seat forward or parent facing, high on the chassis, this only adds to the appeal of this pushchair. I like a high seat as it gives you a greater connection with your child when in the parent facing position and them a better view when facing forward.

Centrally located on the rear axle is the adjustable suspension and shock absorber. The highly technical looking lever controls the application or relaxation of the suspension to cushion your child dependent upon your terrain.

The front axle extends forward like a nose and supports the 360 degree swivel wheel that can be locked using the switch at the front to constrain it. Being quite long and narrow, the basket that hangs from the chassis is also long and narrow. This makes it quite small and hard to access if the seat is in place with the calf rest down.

At 26cms, the wheels are large enough to make you feel like you could tackle anything but small enough so as not to feel like a bulky off-roader. The tyres are puncture proof giving you one less thing to concern you when you are out-and-about.At 26cms, the wheels are large enough to make you feel like you could tackle anything but small enough so as not to feel like a bulky off-roader. The tyres are puncture proof giving you one less thing to concern you when you are out-and-about.

Fold

You can fold the Trider with the seat facing in either direction, however it reduces to slightly more compact footprint when in the forward facing position. To establish some clarity on the mechanics, the fold is easier to perform without the seat in place until you get the hang of it. Simply pull the triggers on the right and left shafts of the frame and the handle folds forward to rest on the wheel base. A latch automatically locks the frame shut to make it easier to transport. It can be stood vertically giving it a smaller footprint. It's a doddle to remove the wheels to compact the fold even further.

The chassis is actually easier to open from the vertical position. Grab the handle and step on the lock and it will spring out in front of you resulting in a very healthy ‘click' to alert you to the fact that it is ready for action. Drop the seat into the sockets and off you go.

Conclusion

The Jané Trider is a gorgeous looking three wheeler that is highly manoeuvrable and highly desirable. It has been manufactured to an extremely high quality with the anodized aluminium frame, well finished plastics and soft-touch durable fabrics. The fold/open procedure is uncomplicated and is very compact if the wheels are also removed. I love the variable suspension switch, but how often it would really get used is debatable in the same way that it has become standard to include a lockable front wheel when I doubt many people journey around the front of their pushchair and lock the wheel/s off unless they are crossing a vast expanse of bumpy ground.

The steering wheel of your pushchair is the handle, and in my opinion, most of the ‘doings' should be controlled from this dashboard. Having the brake located on the handle is ideal because your feet are busy walking and supporting you.

The chinks in the armour of this beauty are the stiffness of the recline, (although that could be confined to the period that it's brand new) and the size of the seat and basket. This is not a pushchair that would comfortably accommodate a chubby 3 year old that's reluctant to walk. Plus if you do all your shopping on foot, this basket is not going to take much more than a four pint carton of milk.

So with a score to match it's stablemate....