Silver Cross Wave V iCandy Peach: Which is the best pram?

We put these latest versions from classic brands head to head to see which is the best ride for babies and the most parent-friendly

When testing, we were looking for value, good design and how easy it was to put together (iStock/The Independent)

Let’s start by defining what these two market-leading baby wheelers actually are. One is billed as a pram, the other a pushchair. So are they comparable? In a word – yes.

So what is the difference between a pram and a pushchair? A pram has a carrycot bassinet which a new born baby can lie flat in and sleep safely. A pushchair allows the child to sit upright.

The word pram harks back to the old-fashioned “perambulators”, big four wheeled, fixed flat beds for nannies to wheel their lace-frilled little cherubs about in.

Lie-flat cots are only good for about six months or until necks are strong enough and babies are curious enough to sit up and have a look about while on the move.

Parents want longevity so a lot of prams and pushchairs are part of packages which include the flat pram or carrycot for new-borns and then switch or convert to a pushchair.

Both the Silver Cross wave and the iCandy Peach have carrycot (pram) and pushchair functionalities meaning that they are evenly matched for this pram-off.

We tested them both as single prams, with the option of converting to a double as families grow. We trialled both over several weeks, on different trips out in all weathers and across many terrains, looking for comfort, style, ease of use and value.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Silver Cross Wave 2020 travel system: £995, Silver Cross

Age range: Suitable from birth up to 25kg
Folded dimensions: L95cm W60cm H39.5cm
Unfolded dimensions: L111cm W60cm H95-109cm
What's in the box? Carrycot with UPF50 hood and apron, seat with UPF50 hood, polished graphite chassis, reversible bamboo seat liner, 2 x bumper bars, 2 x mosquito nets, 2 x rain covers
Available colours: Charcoal, indigo, zinc

This newly launched evolution of the successful Silver Cross Wave is 1kg lighter than its predecessor, which is always music to our ears and poor strained backs. It boasts better-than-ever handling, new fabrics and a sleek new look.

The wheels have been redesigned with high-polish details, while retaining their all-terrain performance. The pushchair seat unit is lighter and wider and the carrycot now has a zip-on apron – we love zips. Naturally anti-bacterial bamboo fabrics have been used for the carrycot and new reversible seat liner, which feels beautifully comfortable for little ones – soft but firm enough to feel safe.

There are 30 different configurations of the pram so you are bound to find the perfect one to suit you. Even with two babies in tow, the design makes it easy to access them both when needed. The patented seat elevation allows you to be closer to your baby and also makes getting them in and out even easier.

We adore the traditional design details that we have come to expect from Silver Cross. The tan leatherette handle and detailing, beautiful woven fabrics and shiny chrome made us feel as fancy as the fine “perambulating” nannies of yore.

It took us about half an hour to set it up, and comes nearly fully assembled. We just needed to attach the wheels to the frame, add the sun canopies to the carrycot and seat, and pop the seat liner in. The carrycot and pushchair seat click easily into the frame, either alone, or reconfigured to work together for siblings or twins. We loved how easy it is to reconfigure, to switch from a single to double you just clip the tandem clips at the bottom for the carrycot. It can even take a third sibling on a ride on buggy board.

We loved how easy it is to manoeuvre. This weight difference makes a difference, although nothing will make pushing two children about a complete walk in the park. The shopping basket is huge and easily accessible. We also loved the sun canopy which has four different positions, an airflow mesh and a little window on top so you can keep an eye on your baby.

Our testers puffed up with pride when they were spotted out and about with this pushchair. It looks like a designer item and put a swagger in their step. It is excellent quality and feels very safe and sturdy. The design is beautiful and we loved the luxury elements such as the leatherette handlebar and chrome details.

We especially love the price point. Although it is a big investment, it is great value because you get everything you need to take you from a single to double pushchair, with no sneaky extras to buy.

Buy now

iCandy Peach double phantom: £1,245, iCandy

Age range: Suitable from birth up to 25kg
Folded dimensions: L70cm W54cm H28cm
Unfolded dimensions: L55cm W52cm H99cm
What's in the box? Chassis, 2 x seat units, carrycot fabric, apron, mattress, bumper bars, converter base, car seat adaptors, elevators 2 x rain covers.
Available colours: Navy check, dark grey check, dark grey twill, black twill

This is the sixth generation of Peach from iCandy with updated design, material and additional padding for ultimate baby comfort. It can also come with a matching parenting bag.

Car seat adaptors are included in the Peach bundle enabling a compatible infant car seat to easily be clipped onto the wheels so that a sleeping baby can be moved seamlessly from car to pushchair. The new Peach ride-on-board is a great option for a family with a new baby and a toddler who is walking but still needs help when they’re tired.

iCandy has a fashion brand heritage and has followed the latest trends for rich woven melange fabric (which is made with two or more fabrics) in twill and check and leatherette trims to give the latest Peach a luxury feel that will impress everyone. We love the new “Peach visualiser” where you can build your own bespoke Peach by selecting your chassis colour and fabric combo.

The Peach wasn’t as easy as the Wave to set up, but we got there by following the instructions step by step. There are also video tutorials on YouTube if you get stuck. It’s also not as easy to reconfigure. The converter kit allows you to switch from single to double and we love that the double allows the seat to face both ways.

The elevators lift the seats apart, giving the child underneath more room. There is still a bit of hustle and bustle to get them in and out of the buggy.

Once we were on the move, the iCandy Peach came into its own. It feels super sturdy and smooth, it is slim and handles easily. We loved how easy it is to steer and navigate the curbs on the road. The huge shopping basket at the bottom is very useful if you have stuff for two kids. We loved that the handlebar goes up four notches, which helps out tall mums and dads.

It looks stylish and modern with lots of polished chrome details. The materials are lovely and feel luxurious. We felt certain that our little testers were safe and cosy in it. Its one-hand folding mechanism is great, but you have to remove both seats and adapters to fold it flat. The carrycots are a great sleep solution for parents who want to travel when their babies are young as it is approved for overnight sleeping. It has a luxury fleece lining, which feels so cosy that we would like to snuggle in it too.

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The verdict: Which should you buy?

While both buggies look and feel equally lovely and are at top end of the range of double buggies, the Silver Cross Wave beats the iCandy Peach both in design and in price. 

The Silver Cross Wave took the lead with its elegant looks, no nonsense assembly and versatile configurations. It is excellent value too – a fantastic designer double buggy for the price of some single buggies. The iCandy Peach is a worthy contender and we would be proud to own it. It is narrower than the Wave and slightly easier to steer which makes it an excellent choice for city parents navigating kerbs and busy pavements.