Hauck Travel N Care Plus Stroller Review

Hauck is a German brand that has recently had a bit of a ‘make over’ – it’s a make over that has wowed the team at Parenting Expert. Once rather a functional and (we have to be honest) uninspiring brand, it now has upped it’s game especially in terms of quality, looks and functionality. We love the new branding and were keen to see whether new stroller on the block, Travel N Care Plus, also reflected the new image of Hauck.

Hauck have two versions of the Travel N Care – the standard (just called Travel N Care) and the Travel N Care Plus (the one we are reviewing). Comparing to the standard version, the Travel N Care Plus offers several upgrades, generally making it ideal for exploring any terrain.

What’s the difference between the Hauck Travel N Care and the Hauck Travel N Care Plus?

The Basics *

Model

• Travel N Care Plus

Brand

• Hauck

Available Colours

• Cork (available now at Pramworld)
• Velvet Olive (available exclusively at Argos)
• Green (launching October 2024)
• Dusty Blue (launching October 2024)
• Hazelnut (launching October 2024)

RRP

• £170

What’s in the box?

• Stroller
• Raincover
• Instructions

Warranty

• 1 year

Hauck Travel N Care Plus Stroller at a glance

Suitability

• Birth to 22kg

Fold mechanism

• One handed
• Compact fold

Handle Bar

• Leatherette
• Height : 105cm

Seat Unit

• Suitable from birth – 22kg
• Forward facing
• Infinity recline
• Adjustable calf rest
• Seat dimensions : w 20cm x d 30cm x h 52cm

Harness

• 5-point harness with comfort pads
• Adjustable

Wheels

• Puncture-proof PU tyres
• Suspension

Canopy

• Extendable canopy
• UPF 50+

Basket

• Weight limit : 3kg
• Capacity – CHECK

The Hauck Travel N Care Plus Stroller Review

First Impressions

The Travel N Care Plus comes in a surprisingly small box so we were expecting a little ‘construction’. However, all we needed to do was clip the wheels in place and position the bumper bar and we were ready to go. It was super easy and no instructions were required. We had it in the ‘Cork’ design which is a vibrant burnt orange which we really liked. Hauck have a wide variety of colours (extra colours launching in October 2024) so there really is something for everyone!

What really struck us straight away, was the size of the seat unit as this is often a compromise when you are choosing a ‘travel stroller’. The larger than average wheels also caught our eye.

Chassis

The chassis on the Travel N Care Plus is made from aluminium, a strong but reasonably light weight option (7.4kg) for strollers. In all colour ways, the chassis is black. As chassis’ go, this is a nice looking chassis – all the rivets are black and it is very well finished. This may sound like a small thing but there is nothing worse than ugly silver rivets on a black chassis – it really spoils the look!

On the central hinge is the new Hauck Logo which depicts a parent and child / the letter ‘h’. We do like the new logo and we are pleased that the stroller is not covered in the word ‘Hauck’ as this generally looks far more classy.

Wheels

If you have had travel strollers in the past, you may be aware that some of them have really small wheels. This is all very well in that it makes for a slightly smaller fold BUT they do not fare well on holidays when you are traversing through cobbled streets or through a park. We were pleased to see that the wheels on the Travel N Care Plus are a substantial size. The front wheels are 13cm diameter and we pleased to see that the back wheels were considerably larger at 18cm diameter.

The front wheels are swivel wheels as you would expect. You will use them on swivel mode the majority of the time, but over rougher terrain, it would have been beneficial to lock them into position and it is a shame that this is not a feature. There is suspension across all 4 wheels which we were pleased to see.

You can remove all the wheels which is useful, especially if you need to clean them. On the back wheels, there is a small black button under the wheel housing which will release the wheels. The front wheels are also easy to remove. Find the silver buttons on each wheel housing to release these. It’s very easy and once you have located the buttons, you will never struggle to get them off. On replacing either the front or back wheels, ensure that you hear the resounding ‘click’ to make sure that they are attached correctly.

Tyres

The tyres are made from PU, which is a strong material used by a lot of pushchair manufacturers. It has a ‘dotted’ tread to aid grip. Whilst this is now ‘ground breaking’, many cheaper strollers have very little tread on them. The wheels themselves are largely black with a white trim – it’s these small details that we like and really lift the look of the stroller.

Brake

The brake is a foot brake and is situated just off centre on the back axle. It’s flip-flop friendly as you don’t need to use your toe to release the brake. You press to the rear of the axle to activate the brake and can use the ball of your foot to release the brake by pressing down on the brake just in front of the chassis. If you are wearing sturdy shoes, you can use your toes to ‘flip’ the brake off this is slightly easier.

Handlebar

The handlebar on the Hauck Travel N Care Plus sits at 105cm which is a good height for a travel stroller. You will find some with a far lower height and whilst it may result in a slightly smaller fold, the comfort of the person pushing can be compromised. The handle bar is covered in padded leatherette and like the chassis, is nicely finished. The stitching on the underside is lovely and neat.

Basket

Travel strollers are known as often having quite rudimentary baskets but the Hauck basket is not bad at all! We like the fact that it has high sides but you will need to be careful at the back of the basket as the side there is not very deep at all and shopping could fall out! It appears strong enough and has a weight limit of 3kg which is not particularly high so make sure you don’t overload it!

Seat Unit

The vast majority of travel strollers only world face, and this is the case with the Hauck Travel N Care Plus. We are really pleased to see that the seat unit is tested to 22kg as some strollers are only tested to 15kg. It is suitable from birth when the seat is fully reclined. However, at Parenting Expert, we do feel that this may not be the ideal stroller for you to use full time with your newborn. There are better options available but for holidays, you may have to make that compromise.

The first thing you notice about the seat unit is it’s size, and in particular it’s back height which is 49cm. This is a good size for a travel stroller. It also sits in a relatively good position – some travel strollers have seats that are low down! The seat on the Travel N Care Plus is well padded and the material comes up the sides to add protection from the elements for your little one. There is a small padded cushion attached to the top of the seat unit, an additional feature that you do not find on the majority of strollers. We like this! The material is wipe clean and feels durable.

Seat Recline

The recline on the Hauck Travel N Care Plus stroller is a strap recline. We call this an infinity recline meaning that you can have the seat at any angle. You are not restricted to 3 or 4 positions as you are with some pushchairs and strollers. It goes from 106° to 159°. The minimum for it to be suitable for a newborn is 150°. On the rear of the seat you will find a toggle. To recline the seat, simply press the button and pull the toggle downwards to the position you want. As your little one gets older and heavier, this does become easier. The only problem with this kind of recline design is putting the seat back in an upright position. It is cumbersome especially if your little one doesn’t or can’t sit themselves up unaided.

There is an adjustable calf rest (foot rest) which is not on all travel strollers so this was a welcome addition. There are three different positions. The calf support can be adjusted using the sliders on either side – you do need to use two hands to do this. Our niggle with the seat is the upright position as this is quite angled backwards. Old toddlers do find this annoying becasue they are not in an uprught position, and may ‘pull’ to sit up. With a younger baby, this is, of course, not an issue.

Harness

The Hauck Travel N Care Plus stroller is equipped with a 5 point harness as well as shoulder and crotch comfort pads. The comfort pads match the colour of your stroller and they are soft and padded. We like that the crotch pad is attached to the seat unit so it won’t slip around, however this will make it harder for cleaning. The harness itself is black and all the straps are fully adjustable in length. You can also alter the shoulder straps to three different heights which is useful. You do however, need to rethread the straps which is a bit of a pain. On the plus side the straps are easily accessible and this will only take you a few minutes.

The buckle on the Hauck Travel N Care Plus is easy to use. The left and right straps (shoulder and waist) clip together and you will leave them like this the majority of the time. The buckle is nice and big which allows you to take a firm hold of it. You simply click either side in place. To release, press the central button and the straps ‘pop out’. We are seeing more and more magnetic harnesses on pushchairs and strollers now and whilst this would have been a nice addition, it certainly would not be a decision-making moment!

Canopy

We were impressed with the canopy. It is made from a lycra-like material and is SPF 50+. We wish all travel strollers had an SPF hood / canopy , but sadly this is not the case, so well done Hauck! The lycra is light weight and stays looking great – it doesn’t crease. On the front is a subtle rubber Hauck logo in the same colour as the fabrics. We love this touch which adds to the premium look of this stroller.

The hood has a zip which reveals an extra panel. Once this panel is revealed, the stroller offers good protection from the sun. There is ventilation on either side which is important during those summer months. The only thing lacking in the canopy is a peep hole in order to be able to keep your eye on your little one. However, we recognise that this would be impossible due to the fabric choice of the canopy! You will just have to peep around the sides instead!

Bumper Bar

We are pleased that this stroller comes with a bumper bar as many cheaper strollers do not. It is covered in the same leatherette as the handle bar and is well padded. It is gate-opening. We would have liked to have seen it to also swivel to get it completely out of the way if you are ‘fighting’ to get a wriggly toddler into the stroller. However, this certainly would not be a deciding factor if we were looking to purchase.

Raincover

The raincover for the Hauck Travel N Care Plus is included in the price, which we are pleased to see. This is not always the case. It is a substantial rain cover which is easy to fit. You won’t need to read the instructions! Velcro is used to secure the raincover in place. There is no velcro towards the foot of the raincover, so on a windy day, the wind may get under it. This could prove draughty for your little one. There are ventilation holes on both sides.

We like that it is trimmed in grey rather than the usual black. It’s amazing how this little differences makes it perceived as better quality. The raincover covers the back of the pushchair, even when in the reclined position which is nice to see. As raincovers go, this is what we would expect to get with a stroller at this price point. It doesn’t ‘wow’ us but it does the job it needs to!

Fold

If you are travelling, it is important as you may be in a bit of a rush! The last thing you want when you are about to board public transport or pack everything in your car is a cumbersome fold or one that takes lots of time. Hauck have a very easy fold that we believe that even Grandparents could master (no offence to Grandparents of course)!

How to fold the Hauck Travel N Care Plus

Firstly, ensure that the seat is in the upright position. On the top of the handle bar you will find a white slider button. Slide that with your thumb whilst squeezing the white lever with your fingers. Push the handle forwards and down slightly, and you will feel the stroller concertina. Finally, push to the ground until you see or hear the safety lock engage. The safety lock is on the left-hand side of the chassis. There is a strap with velcro on it behind the seat and if you attach this, it will make the fold slightly more compact. Once folded, the stroller will self stand which we like and the fabrics do not touch the ground.

There is a very useful carry strap so you can pop it over your shoulder if you need to carry the stroller any distance. However the padding on the strap is quite thin so we wouldn’t want to carry it a long distance. The stroller folds reasonably compactly for a travel stroller, but it will not meet the requirements for taking it on board an aircraft (always check before you fly of course). However, once folded, it will work well on buses or trains but maybe a squeeze to get it in the overhead compartments! If you are used to a large travel system though, this stroller will be a game-changer for you!

How to unfold the Hauck Travel N Care Plus

Initially, simply release the lock mechanism on the left hand side. Then lift the handle to the upright position and finally, simply ‘flick’ the stroller out. Again you will hear (and feel) it click into position. We found that this was successful if you did it quite vigorously – a gently ‘flick was not enough! Make sure it is stable before loading your child of course. The easy and quick fold of this stroller would be a huge benefit to busy parents.

Performance

The first thing that really strikes us with this stroller is the size of the wheels for a travel stroller. This is largely because so many travel strollers have small wheels which are often not practical. For us this is a big plus point, but this naturally comes with a compromise (namely a slightly larger fold size than some). This is a compromise that we would be prepared to generally make. Let’s face it, small wheels are great through an airport but then they largely fail you when you reach your destination. On holiday you may be met with uneven pavements or even cobble stones. You may naturally spend more time in a park or even venture on the beach. The Hauck Travel N Care Plus will fair much better in these situations – except perhaps beach, where quite frankly ALL strollers are pretty rubbish!

The Hauck pushed well with either a newborn on board or a more chunky toddler. It is well balanced and steered effectively even when fully laden. The larger wheels really did make a difference and if budgets allow we would recommend the Hauck Travel N Care Plus over the standard version. This is because you will spend many hours pushing a stroller!

Warranty

The Hauck Travel N Care Plus comes with a 1 year warranty. Although relatively standard for a stroller, more and more brands are now offering longer warranty periods.

Conclusion

We were impressed with the Hauck Travel N Care Plus. The larger wheels and generally premium look of this stroller were important factors in awarding this stroller a trust-worthy 8 out of 10 stars. It’s not perfect and we would love to see a more upright seat for older toddlers although we appreciate you can’t have everything. Although very much marketed as a travel stroller, you could certainly use this everyday making it good value for money. If you have previously dismissed the Hauck brand, now is the time to give it a second look, you honestly won’t regret it. This stroller is nicely executed and at a price that really impressed us.

Pros

• Looks premium
• Excellent value for money
• Nicely finished chassis
• High handlebar for a travel stroller
• SPF 50+ canopy
• Large wheels for a travel stroller

Cons

• No option to lock front swivel wheels
• Bumper bar not swivel opening
• Seat does not sit completely upright
• No peep hole in canopy
• Too big to take as cabin luggage on a plane
• No Hauck travel bag included or available

Read more stroller and pushchair reviews here.