Tried and tested: the self-folding buggy

Harry Wallop tests the 4Moms Origami pushchair, which can be folded away at the touch of a button. Read more...
For many parents, it is one of the lowlights of their day: being forced to put down their child's buggy before being allowed to board the bus. Or having -- while cradling a toddler in one arm -- to fold up the contraption in order to fit it into the boot of a car.
The Origami pushchair promises to completely end this hassle. With the simple press of one button, the buggy will go from being folded up to be fully operational. In reverse, the collapsed buggy can rise -- almost as it were a Transformer -- into a fully formed pushchair. It is an impressive sight, and one that attracted jealous looks from parents in the park when I tested it out.
The Origami, which is made by 4Moms, an American company, folds up and unfolds thanks to a battery, which is stored in the axle of the buggy. And this is the clever bit: the battery is charged up by the power of you turning the wheels, so as you take your child for a walk it charges up. You can also charge it up from the mains.
On the morning I tested it, this aspect worked exceptionally well. It was able to fold up and collapse, swiftly and smoothly, even with some shopping in the storage compartment. The battery can also be used to charge up your mobile phone. You need to buy a separate £30 adapter, but the ability to charge up your phone while taking your child for a walk will appeal to many parents. The battery is also used to power little lights on the wheels (useful in the dark) as well as an LED screen, which can help parents see how many miles they have travelled and at what pace -- just in case they want to go jogging with their child.
When I tested it, the buggy also moved with considerable ease, with excellent suspension. It negotiated curbs, grassy parks, and potholes far better than my normal Maclaren pushchair.
There are, however, two major downsides.
The first is the weight. It comes in at 15kg, which is exactly twice the weight of a standard Maclaren buggy or a Bugaboo model.
Admittedly, the Origami does have little caster wheels, which allow you to drag the folded up buggy along the pavement. And it does fold fairly neatly, meaning it is not too bulky to manoeuvre. But there will be some people, who will just find this too heavy. After the initial shock of how heavy it was, I in fact found it fairly easy to handle and was able to get on and off a bus, while also holding my 15-month-old in my arms.
The other downside is the price. It is retailing for £929 at John Lewis, which for now is the only place in the UK selling the Origami. This makes it one of the most expensive buggies on the market. A Phil & Ted pushchair, which is very similar to the Origami -- though obviously without the electronic folding aspect -- is half this price.
Overall, I was hugely impressed. The Origami is genuinely innovative, rather than gimmicky. But it needs to shed a couple of kilos in weight before it becomes a bestseller (for those with deep pockets).
The 4Moms Origami pushchair goes on sale at John Lewis on April 1.
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