Nice things can come in small packages
June 17, 2020
If you want to travel in style and don't want to compromise form or function, this is the stroller for you. First and foremost, lets talk about the size. It folds small, can fit in the overhead bin (put this next to my trusty carry-on that I've taken on international flights to double check), and rolls smooth both opened and when collapsed and wheeled like luggage. I love how little trunk space it takes up. This was the biggest reason we started looking at this stroller and it did not disappoint! The second thing to highlight would be the look and materials. We loved how the Ocean color was not the typical black or gray we're so used to seeing, and the leather accents really do make this stand out. I will say that the Ocean color seems to incorporate gray tones into it so the frame and fabric are not as blue as the pictures appear. The fabric is soft and thick enough that you don't feel the underlying frame. In terms of actual use, I appreciate how both my wife and I feel comfortable pushing this stroller despite our 8 inch height difference considering this stroller does not have any adjustments to the handle bar. The recline is fairly flat and the hood coverage can make a nice cocoon of shade from the sun. It's welcomed that the stroller included a rain cover and protective cover for when its folded instead of requiring a separate purchase for either, with the latter having a thoughtful pouch to store the bumper bar and make its folded profile nice and small. The fold did take getting used to coming from umbrella-style strollers that were simple two-step processes (opening it up from being folded was straightforward), and I had to practice this a few times to be comfortable doing it one-handed. The only real negative is the lack of storage space. The basket has a support bar that runs center from the back to the front that obstructs placing things in or taking things out, so even squeezing a fairly flat, slim diaper bag in there isn't convenient if needing to access it frequently. This is also one of those strollers that feels like it will tip easily when you take your baby out if hanging things on the handle bar. These aren't any compromises we did not expect going with an ultralight stroller, but at least the baskets in other models did not have any bar blocking the top and essentially compartmentalizing the basket into two areas. We pack very light and don't mind wearing our bag since its not heavy or place things (diapers, wipes, 1-2 bottles) into 2 small pouches that can easily go underneath in the basket. If you're not a light packer, this will pose a problem for you. This stroller also has a high weight limit compared to other ultralights, so as your child grows and you don't need to pack as much, this becomes less of an issue. Besides wishing the basket design was better, I also would have loved if there was either a grab handle or latch points for a strap to carry or wear the stroller for transport.
The stroller is light enough that this would allow freeing up both hands if worn, or sometimes its just faster to grab a stroller by the handle to take it from point A to point B instead of rolling it (think carrying it in and out of a plane, bus, or even from one car trunk to the next). Overall, we love the compact size, the full features offered (large shade, recline, bumper bar, covers), quality of fabrics and frame, and the fact that we could turn this into a travel system with our Nuna Pipa carrier (in a significantly smaller form factor compared to the Nuna Mixx stroller). If you're looking for a stroller that checks off those boxes and can live with limited storage, you can feel confident that the Silver Cross Jet is the stroller for you.
Pros
- Compact fold (carry-on size)
- Fully-featured
- Nice materials
- Smooth push
- Convenient
- Travel-system ready
- High weight limit
Best Uses
- Errands and shopping
- Travel
- Small cars or public transit
Cons
- Non-traditional fold process
- Lack of storage underneath
- Wish it had a carry-handle to grab or latch points to attach a shoulder strap when folded