Silver Cross has been synonymous with quality baby products for generations. The days of huge, solid-bodied prams are long gone, and modern living and family travel needs call for more compact, lightweight options. The Silver Cross Jet 5 compact travel stroller ticks many of those boxes on paper, but how did it measure up in the real world?
What’s hot
+ Suitable from birth with a lie-flat seat
+ “Magnetic Genius Buckle” system makes straps easy to use
+ Comes complete with rain cover and bumper bar
What’s not
– Storage basket has limited space and access
– A little tricky to unfold
– Could be too large for many airlines to accept as cabin baggage
Usability
Silver Cross Jet 5 uses a simple z-fold mechanism, which allows it to fold down to a relatively compact size of just 25x30x60cm and weighs in at just 7.5kg. Folding the stroller is simple — the button and trigger in the handle release the mechanism, push down and forward, and once it’s in the right place, the catch clips the frame into the folded position.
Unfolding the compact travel stroller is a little more tricky and isn’t a job that can be done one-handed, but once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few seconds.
With your little passenger seated in the Jet 5, strapping them in is made super-simple by the “Magnetic Genius Buckle”. The harness’s two shoulder and two waist straps each have a magnetic section, which allows them to attach together easily, and the central buckle fasting connects over the top with one easy click. It’s quick and efficient, and getting even the most boisterous toddler safely harnessed should be reasonably easy.
Another very handy feature of Jet 5 for travel is that once it is folded, the bumper bar acts as a drag handle so that the stroller can be pulled along like a wheeled suitcase. It also comes with a cover, so everything stays contained while not being used or neat and protected if you’re taking it on a plane.
According to Silver Cross, Jet 5 is cabin-approved for air travel, although the folded dimensions exceed those for cabin baggage of the most generous carriers flying from the UK. We haven’t tried flying with Silver Cross Jet 5 yet, so we’d recommend checking with the airline before you travel.
Comfort
Jet 5 compact travel stroller is suitable from birth to around 4 years old (or 22kg). The seat uses a toggle system to adjust the position, so it can be set to whatever level of reclining your child needs, from almost vertical to virtually lie-flat. The seat is nicely padded with soft, anti-crease jersey fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles. Padded sleeves are slipped over the harness’s top section to cover the sliding buckle adjusters, ensuring maximum comfort when your pint-sized passengers are strapped in.
The sun hood is a good size and has an extra flip-out visor section at the end for added protection. There’s also a peek-a-boo mesh window in the back of the hood, which is covered by a Velcro-secured flap so you can keep an eye on sleeping babies. For extra comfort and warmth, a footmuff is available to buy separately.
Storage
Jet 5 has some great features, but storage is the one thing that lets it down. Under the seat, there is a fabric basket, which isn’t actually a bad size. However, the folding mechanism and supporting rods that give the stroller strength run through the middle of the basket area and across what should be the rear access to it.
As a result, the basket is only really accessible from the front of the stroller, and with the bar dividing the space, it would be very difficult to put anything sizable into it. While it is still a useful space, it has some severe limitations.
How does Silver Cross Jet 5 handle?
Silver Cross Jet 5 compact travel stroller is lightweight and agile, making it easy to push over a variety of terrain. The front wheels can be locked into a static position for greater stability over the rough stuff, but for general use, the swivel wheels cope well and give plenty of manoeuvrability.
Despite Jet 5’s compact nature, the wheels are a good size. The rubber tyres and slight flexibility and suspension in the chassis absorb most of the lumps and bumps with ease.
Silver Cross Jet 5 compact travel stroller: the verdict
With simple styling, easy handling and a compact fold, the Silver Cross Jet 5 is a stroller well worth considering for parents who want to travel or have limited space in the car or at home. It comes complete with a rain cover and a cover for storage, and the bumper bar, as standard, is a nice addition.
It isn’t without issues, though. The basket isn’t the most usable, with the only viable access from the front and while it is compact in comparison with most strollers
on the market, the folded size could be just a fraction too large for many airlines to accept it as hand luggage.
Silver Cross Jet 5 compact travel stroller has two standout points that make it a contender. The fully adjustable seat can comfortably accommodate your little one for their whole childhood, making it a sound and not overly expensive investment. Just add the footmuff and car seat adaptors, and you’ll have everything you could possibly need.
The second is the buckle system. It is slick and simple, and if you’ve ever tried to wrestle a squawking toddler into a stroller, you’ll agree that it really is “Genius”.
Model Tested: Silver Cross Jet 5 Travel Stroller
Price: £295
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★☆
