Skip to main content Skip to accessibility help The fashionable Oyster 2 has all the DNA of the original multi-award winning Oyster. The new model features a unique canopy design along with a lie-flat, forward or parent facing seat unit that is suitable for use from birth. How to buy a fully functional Babystyle Oyster 2: Step 1 - The base unit. Step 2 - The colour pack. 1 base + 1 colour pack Compatible with car seat H80-94 x W93-106 x D55cm H52 x W70 x D55cm Pushchairs, Prams & Buggies 11kg (with wheels and seat) Prams and Pushchairs Buying Guide Find out what you'll need to get out and about with baby More than 10 in stock Standard delivery within 5 working days International delivery not available How we may still help you Returns are free -The updated version of the best-selling buggy from British Brand Babystyle - the Oyster 2 offers a high-end look without the expensive price tag Have to buy hood separately, some parts feel flimsy/poorly finished, bulky and difficult to carry when folded, heavy for size
UK company BabyStyle launched its affordable colour-customisable Oyster travel system back in 2009 to a raft of rave reviews (including us) and awards. Its successor, the Oyster 2 is said to boast improvements to the original design, such as a lie flat seat that's suitable from birth and a more robust canopy. I tested the BabyStyle Oyster 2 with my 4 month-old son Evan. Click here to buy the BabyStyle Oyster 2 on AmazonIt took me 40 minutes from start to finish to build the pram (albeit with a crying baby in the room). Have a look at the brand new Babystyle Hybrid buggy coming in 2017 BabyStyle Oyster 2 vs UPPAbaby Vista: Which is best for you? The only thing that is entirely unique about the BabyStyle Oyster 2 is the integral sunshade/mosquito net. The sunshade is certainly useful when the sun is strong yet low enough to shine under the hood. The chassis, seat, rain cover and bumper bar cost £299, but the essential colour pack retails at £70 and brings the real price to £369.
However, if you want to buy a car seat and carrycot, the total figure will rise to around £650. While that’s a fairly standard mid-price for a travel system, in my hands, it didn’t always feel that sturdy. I’m not sure about how well it would last over several years with rigorous use. It's a doddle, with a quick click and I loved using it in rear-facing mode. It’s simple once you’ve rehearsed it, but I found it awkward at first. It took time to get the knack of the sliding button mechanism on the handles, and I trapped my fingers a couple of times when clicking the frame down! It also requires two hands to operate, so not good for public transport if you’re travelling on your own. You have to remove the bumper bar and apron to fold the seat properly, so it's not something you can do speedily. Shame there's no clever place to store these bits. It does fold with the seat in both positions, but when it’s facing forward, you have to extend the handle to fold it properly.
Unfolding is much easier. It's a two-step but simple process. I found the tab for unfolding the seat to be stiff and noisy and a bit flimsy.Depending on which way the seat is facing, the folds are different in size and shape. When front-facing, the pram folds smaller in height but is very bulky (I measured it at 62cm at the thickest part). If rear-facing, it becomes thinner but much taller (I measured it at 106cm in height), and not easy to carry around with both hands, let alone one. The slimmest option is to remove the seat from the chassis and fold both separately. It is freestanding when folded, which is great. But it becomes quite difficult to manoeuvre as the handle is what it rests on at the bottom when it’s freestanding. The downside is that the plastic fitting on the handle gets scratched as it’s on the floor. At 11kg, it's a fairly standard weight for a solid pushchair. But it’s not easy to carry around when folded, particularly when seat has been rear-facing.
I wouldn't want to carry it up and down the stairs every day. The basket is fantastically roomy and the seat is situated high enough on the chassis to give you ample access to it. We piled it full of shopping and the buggy didn't feel heavy or laborious to push. It also has a nifty storage pocket which was handy for keeping the rain cover tucked away neatly. It's very comfortable and easy to push. The handle has a lovely soft grip and you can adjust the height of the handlebar to three different positions, which my 6'4” husband (and his lower back) really appreciated. We were impressed with the way the buggy handled on the pavement. When you're pushing it around on a flat surface it doesn't feel heavy, it handles responsively and turns quickly and smoothly with its swivel wheels. But, for our baby, the suspension didn’t feel great over bumpy pavements – a bit bone-rattling at times. And when pushing it uphill, even without anything extra in the basket, I started to feel its weight and felt tired after the climb – something I don't find with my current buggy.
And it felt weighty bumping up and down stairs. I got on and off a London bus by myself with no dramas. The pram was slim enough to slip down the narrow aisle, though I did find when I parked it and put the brakes on, the front wheels moved a little, so the pram slid a couple of inches when the bus turned corners. My biggest concern about the Oyster 2 is its construction. Despite its weight and seemingly solid appearance, the chassis feels a bit flimsy and flexes from side-to-side if you give it a shake, especially when the handle is extended. Regularly using this buggy on a challenging terrain would age it quickly. The mirror finish looks great at first but scratches easily and you can see the moulding marks on some of the plastic components, which makes it feel cheap. The back wheels didn't feel securely attached and jiggled a bit, even though they were installed properly. Although the footbrake is big and easy to operate, when applied, I noticed that there was still a couple of inches of movement in the wheels if you gave it a nudge on smooth surfaces.
As you need to unfasten the apron every time your baby goes in or out of the pram, the plastic doesn't seem solid enough to withstand repeated use. BabyStyle Oyster 2 vs Bugaboo Cameleon 3: Which is best? In the boot of my brother’s estate car (see the pics above), it took up a lot of room. Folded in the rear-facing mode, it was very long, if front-facing it was high. If you have a saloon or hatchback, it would almost fill the entire space. If you don’t want it occupying the entire boot, you’re best off removing the seat from the chassis. The first time I put Evan in the pram, he fell straight asleep. On another trip, I managed to get him in to the harness asleep without waking him, which was good going. Fully reclined in the lie-flat position, he seemed comfortable enough, though for a newborn I’d recommend the plushness of the carrycot. The raincover worked excellently and everything underneath stayed dry. The 'silent hood' is exactly that: our baby didn't wake up when we extended it or folded it.
There is a zip that extends the canopy out further and a little peep-through window on the hood that’s fastened by velcro, neither of which are quiet. Most mums I’ve spoken to have said that the hoods on their buggies aren’t particularly noisy though. I would have liked to be made aware of how bulky the fold is when the seat is attached – it's advertised as being compact, but that's only if you remove the seat before folding. This buggy is best for town-dwellers who want the option of a rear facing pram and the ability to change the colour (no doubt more colour packs with exciting patterns will eventually emerge). If you’re a fan of rear-facing prams, live somewhere with even, flat roads and you're looking for a neat, mid-priced travel system for strolls and shopping trips, then consider the Oyster 2. But it’s not suitable if you face stairs or rough terrain on a daily basis, are short on space or need to be carrying your buggy around a lot. We've got more buggies right here...