Go Anywhere with a Crossbuggy – Yippie Yo Review

Do you have young children and a desire to adventure more with them in the outdoors? Are you tired of conventional prams holding you back from exploring fells, forests or beaches? We’ve discovered the perfect solution – an all terrain crossbuggy that frees you up to explore. In this advertising feature, we review the unique YippieYo two wheeled adventure buggy. If you dream of going anywhere and everywhere on family adventures with  young kids you are going to love this… 

Freedom to go anywhere

In my experience, ‘freedom’ and ‘exercise’ aren’t often used in the same sentence as ‘babies’ and ‘toddlers.’ I yearned for both of the above when my boys were young but often struggled with the demands of an active toddler and a snoozing baby, a hilly village and a hand-me-down stroller with only one seat! I wish I’d been a new Mum today. Pram technology has moved on so much and I now see parents in charge of off-road buggies, strollers and trailers much more suited to an active life in the Lake District.

A stroller with a difference

Even so, I’ve never seen anything quite like the YippieYo. For a start it’s not a four wheeler. It’s not even a three wheeler. It looks more like a bike trailer than a pram; in fact ‘hand drawn chariot’ might best describe it. This crossbuggy has a tubular frame, with two easily detached wheels and a long handle. The handle is curved at the end and has a hand brake that works strong disc brakes. The buggy is designed to tackle tough terrain and the rough and tumble of different environments.  It has two 5-point safety harnesses, solid disc wheels with “solight ecco” tyres for shock absorption and dirt and water-resistant padded seat covers. It comes pretty much ready to use, you just have to slot on the wheels. You can fit two kids in, and still leave room for some jelly babies and a favorite toy.

Swiss and German born

The YippieYo Cross buggy is a mix of German and Swiss technology. It was designed by a German engineering company, with the 100% aluminium chassis manufactured in Switzerland and was developed by YippeYoAG in Schwyz on the shores of Lake Zurich. Components offer mountain bike quality and have been rigorously tested. But in real life how does the cross buggy handle, where will it go and can it withstand a battering in the Lake District by a family who really love the outdoors?

We want to give it a try but our kids are too old for prams of any kind so we can’t genuinely test of its capabilities. Instead I recruit the most outdoor family I know to give it a go for us. Laura Keeler has five boys and a passion for adventure. Billy and Teddy are up for an adventure in Arnside, so off we go on a big day out to the beach. (When I say beach I mean wet sand, forest path and field. There are few easy off road rides round here.)

How does it handle?

Here, Laura gives her opinion of how it handled….

“We are an active family, an adventurous family and a family with five boys so from the outset, the Yippie Yo Cross buggy had a lot to deliver! We met Stuart and Kirstie on a pretty typical Cumbrian day, with promised blue skies in the distance and the threat of rain imminent so we set to it pretty quickly and were soon acquainted with the YippieYo near the coast with a varied choice of terrain at our feet.

Departures

“On first appearances the Yippie Yo Crossbuggy seemed smaller than I had imagined, but when buckling the boys in, I quickly realised it was the perfect fit for their ages (Billy, 3 and Teddy, 18 months). The frame was sturdy and shaped with little bodies in mind. Their arms rested nicely either inside or on top of the frame and the leg room was great for excited little legs that kick around.

The buckles were really chunky and very easy to adjust – which to me is a big tick. I have used so many buckles during the last nine an a half years and it’s rare to find one that you can adjust quickly without faffing (a technical description I know!) and the five point harness itself eased my mind about their safety.

Short Haul

“We set off over a flat grassy field with plenty of puddles. The boys love racing cars so we sped over the fields racing through puddles and up and down little hills. They bounced around, but not into each other and they loved the fact that they were close to the ground.

We neatly fitted through small gates, (stiles would have been a team weight lifting effort,) and we easily negotiated trees and ridges. I was unsure about grassy banks but the YippieYo handled them easily and the arm felt strong and safely in control of the carriage.

Long Haul

“Crossing the fields we came to the beach and the YippieYo shone the brightest here for me. We have had many pram systems over the years and although I had found a favourite pram system before, the YippieYo outmatched it and was so much easier here. It maneuvered easily with one hand even with both of them in, even in the quicksand, which we rapidly left.

Through wet sand, dry sand and even on leaving up the rockier embankment the YippieYo didn’t once fail us. It was at this point I realised that I could also use the cross buggy forwards as well as pulling it.

The YippieYo has a strong disc brake system that came in useful when bringing the boys back down the embankment. it held firmly whilst I negotiated the path and found a way down. Over a longer distance they were still comfy and the space they had meant that they could add to their collection with sticks, and stones. The padded seats were comfortable for them and they didn’t notice little bumps in the ground. No moans or groans.

I too, was comfortable – which is something you can sometimes overlook when choosing outdoor products. We look carefully at how comfortable the children will be, which is paramount but I realised at the end that there was no awkwardness so I didn’t have to change hands or use both hands due to it rubbing. It really is well designed with handles that are padded enough to sustain longer journeys.

On Board Refreshments

“There is a netted compartment at the rear which is big enough to hold a few snacks, a wallet or a phone (although not ideal when splashing through puddles!) There is also a lower shelf which the boys used for wellies, shells. sticks but is also a great place for the YippieYo bag accessory. The branded bag has plenty of space for all the essentials and comes with a long strap if you prefer to carry it. There is an elastic fitting to hold the bag securely on which could be used to hold other items on too. We used it for beach rugs and spades.

We honestly loved the YippieYo, so much so it came on holiday with us and when we returned my husband was ‘googling’ – always a good sign. It was great along roads, beaches and fields and got so many positive comments from passers by.”

“We’ve never had anything that is as easy off road.” Chris Keeler

A buggy that delivers

“If I had to niggle and pick I’d suggest a higher head rest or at least one that could be attached for comfort. I’d also place a hand guard or mud guard to protect little fingers over stretching over the side between the frame and the wheel.

We loved that it was so easy to pack away and transport. The arm folded down easily so it was more compact and the wheels were easily removed – even with the disc brake system. It fitted easily within the boot and our test – the storage section within the motorhome. The YippieYo delivered. It kept up with us, it was sturdy and easy to use and we would welcome it back for more adventures anytime.”

Disclosure note: We were compensated for this review by YippieYo but all opinion and adventuring in the great outdoors was, as ever, all our own. (With the help of Laura, Billy and Teddy, whose views were also their own.)