Easywalker Harvey2 stroller review: a -big- beauty in a lightweight package
Easywalker Harvey2 (we tested it in the Premium Sapphire Blue edition) is a very special pushchair/stroller system. Beautiful, but quite different from all the other strollers, functional and particularly lightweight for a full-size type, while offering a tandem possibility - the Harvey2 is currently quite a pioneer in its category.
The Harvey 2 pushchair feels special since it addresses both fashion-conscious moms as well as those practical-oriented.
In short:
+ design
+ weight
+ high-quality materials
+ excellent center of gravity
+ easy to push
+ metal joints = longevity of use
+ larger wheels, nice for uneven surfaces
+ soft suspension
+ comfortable seat unit
+ robust hood
+ folds with the seat attached
+ wide range of handlebar adjustment heights
+ tandem configuration - two children option
+ practical optional accessories
- not the largest seat unit (should be ok up to 2-2,5y)
- price (not the cheapest)
- mesh part of the hood that, if needing the hood extended, you have no way of covering
- folding - pretty much impossible with the seat rearward-facing, and a bit cumbersome with it facing forward (hard to find the button)
- zipper for closing the basket (in the Premium edition only) is not the smoothest to use
- going down a curb can be uncomfortable at times since the two front wheels can get jammed (I find this to be the fault of their distance - I would put them further apart to make the stroller more stable)
- the padding of the lower part of the harness (between the baby's legs) rolls upwards a lot, so you have to adjust it often to be able to close the buckle
And in long 😉
The Dutch Easywalker Harvey2 is a premium, design-specific, and quite a luxurious pram that, thanks to how it's made, can be used in many ways, and is, therefore, very versatile. It is a "big" (I mean it as an opposite of small) stroller - full-sized, featuring a reversible seat as well as a full-featured hard-base carrycot - plus all those extra features you expect from a real (often in the context of 'bulky') stroller system.
Premium is not only its look but also its price - although compared to the ultra-luxury strollers, it is still very very affordable, price-wise. In addition, the weight of less than 11 kg - is unprecedented on such a full-featured model, with such a soft suspension system and all those extras!
Unlike its smaller 'brother' Charley, Harvey and Harvey2 are an option for those who want to have "all in one" - one proper pram&pushchair&travel system from birth up.
And so is this flagship model built - to withstand as much as possible (including two children), a lot of cargo (weight capacity 20 kg in the seat + basket + the possible second seat = another 15 kg) while satisfying the fashion-oriented moms (check its look, design and seat unit type). It will also tend to the needs of those that need a stroller not just for shopping centers.
Configurability of the Easywalker Harvey2 - sets & accessories
The Easywalker Harvey2 is usually available as a stroller-only (the All-Terrain version, All-Terrain Peak winter edition, and the Premium edition being a bit more expensive). To the pushchair, you purchase and combine the add-ons and accessories that you need.
It can be a disadvantage for someone - besides the price, which of course increases with every part you buy extra, it can be challenging for those who don't know exactly what they want and need at the beginning. On the contrary, I see an advantage in the fact that you personalize the set exactly as you need it, and nothing will be unnecessarily put in the closet, because "it was included with the stroller system"...
Of course, some shops may be offering pre-made sets - that would be the best option to search for those who prefer it like that, all in one package. I recommend considering all the things included in relation to the overall price - and making a decision based upon that consideration. Some, however, may be preferring even to mix and match different colors of the carrycot and seat unit(s)... 😉
Accessories-wise - to our two-in-one set, only rain covers were included (for the seat as well as the bassinet part - and each rain cover was actually packed in a practical, stylish zippered pouch), along with height adapters. This feels like a great idea to me, because the stroller seat/carrycot is not that high from the ground, and some parents certainly prefer the bassinet being closer to them. And the height adapters are a straightforward solution to this problem, while still leaving the option of having the parts lower for those shorter mommies...
Optionally, you decide whether you also need a mosquito net, Maxi-Cosi-type car seat adapters, or an optional board for an older sibling - the Easyboard.
To use the Harvey2 as a double in the tandem mode, you will need to buy an extension set consisting of a rear axle extension, wheel caps, and a larger shopping basket.
The extension set is the same for both Harvey and Harvey2, so you can use an older one for the new model (and vice versa).
You will then add a second (full-sized) seat unit or a second bassinet if you are getting ready for twins.
The twin carrycot features a smaller canopy but is otherwise the same in size, don't worry. We haven't tested the tandem configuration, but I'd say Harvey2 is tandem-wise the lightest model on the market today - and that's a big thing, though it maybe doesn't seem like it. The second carrycot placed in the rear bottom part is not a win by far, because you don't have a clear view and reach of your newborn, but, on the other hand, this setup is extremely space-saving.
The stroller is so much shorter in length compared to a usual tandem, and this also helps a lot in terms of driving characteristics. City-based parents with twins or children close in age, who really need something handy and as small and lightweight as possible will simply love this system's push. The small disadvantages of the tandem configuration are outweighed by the advantages of the driveability, low weight, and compact overall size (for a double).
The carrycot
The carrycot features a 74 x 32,5 cm that is much more than just acceptable. Internal measurements and dimensions-wise, it's completely ok even for a winter baby.
The height adapters are, as I mentioned earlier, a big plus not only in the tandem mode, making the bonding easier in case you're a taller person.
The Harvey2 bassinet is also beautifully padded. I was also happy about the materials used as well as the breathable, 3cm thick, comfy mattress. In short, it's a high-quality carrycot with well-thought-of details like the fabric cover of the end of the zipper (the baby won't scratch his legs) or a simplified removing of the carrycot thanks to the one lever in the bottom middle part (no side buttons to hold, while needing a third hand to pick up a carrycot).
The carrycot hood is pretty much a basic/conventional one, plus the sun visor.
I would, however, make the sun visor even longer. With these - and the canopies overall - I feel like the longer, the better - every time. With carrycots, where the sun can be shining directly on the laying baby in the earlier, or the later hours of the day, is this even more important for me - that's why I would also prolong the carrycot apron.
The wide, not too thick mesh/ventilation part in the rear of the carrycot hood is also an advantage. The thin design is very practical, in my opinion - no sun reaching the baby like that, while the airflow is there.
We tried the carrycot out in the winter months and all-terrain conditions with our baby tester, three-month-old Richard. He was in a thick winter footmuff, fitting in the Harvey carrycot just fine. He was happy in the stroller and, in fact, thanks to the pretty much rocking suspension of the chassis, he slept all the way. I would, therefore, sum up the pram mode as a comfortable and well-protected one. I also liked that the removing button in the middle also secures the apron in place, so the thick footmuff or a lively baby kicking with its feet won't make the apron fall down.
Stroller features
I'd start with the overall look of the pram - "it looks awesome!" The Sapphire Blue is quite dark in reality and luxurious with it - even though, in different lights, it seems to be different, making it quite hard to be caught in photographs in its whole beauty. A blue chameleon color by all means and it is certainly not boring. We checked out different colors of the Harvey2 in the shop before, and I must say, the pastel pink is gorgeous for a girl, giving the classic a little twist with its special shade.
The style represents the whole Easywalker's Premium edition catchphrase, which is 'The elegant ride'. The brown leatherette, the navy blue, the stripes inside, the quilted seat - all harmonizes into one whole. The perfect weight of a stroller of this type that you'll notice from the very beginning of using this stroller is a big motivation to get it, and the stroller is also differentiated by the typical, bold hood. A big pro is also the quality of materials and joints.
I must say, I appreciate the metal in the supporting parts and joints probably the most. Such a chassis should be long-lasting and also better accepting all the vibrations from an everyday ride - let's not lie, the everyday ride is not that smooth!
I can't help myself and not underline the comfortable use and simple but exceptional feel of the pushchair. No real issues with it (except maybe the before/and later on mentioned front wheels habit), low overall weight, and very satisfying performance of the Harvey2 will make things easy for you. Easywalker's presenting it as 'The smoothest ride' - and it is really so.
The handlebar
The handlebar is quite thick, round, and pleasant to hold as well as push the stroller with it. The PU leather is easy to clean, and we didn't manage to scratch it, so I can say I rate it rather high 😉
The heights to choose from are numerous, which is great for the taller dads as well as shorter mums. My own measurements say it's 76 cm tall in the lowest and 107.5 cm tall in the highest position (producer's measurements are 81-110 cm, so circa in the same range). You'll need to get used to the handlebar adjustment, however - it has to slightly click in the right places for you to be able to secure it with the side clasps.
The first (and the second) handle adjustment try won't necessarily be a perfect one, but you'll get used to it, and it will be smooth(er). It's not difficult, just a force of habit to get it to the right place.
Every mom used to a changing bag hanging from the handle of her pushchair will love the side hangers holding the nappy bag (or pretty much any bag) in place - no sliding down! The integrated points to put a cup holder onto are also practically positioned on the inside of the handlebar, so you won't crash with it the door frames (not destroying your cup holders, as I often do 😉).
The canopy
The hood, even if not immediately recognizable as such, is really rather large - I found it absolutely acceptable in all conditions.
You can extend it with a whole third of extendable (zip-open) panel, and, of course, there's a ventilation mesh as well (no cover available in the extended mode, however). The mesh is quite dense, though, so I don't think your child would get wet even in the case of rain. The wind might, however, be another story.
The only reproach to the canopy length could maybe be said in the lying - fully reclined position of the seat - but it's quite normal that when a sun canopy moves with the backrest won't cover the entire seat in the napping position, the seat will be a bit open. I find the hood well-made, and we were happy with how it worked for us. The fact that the seat unit is in the bucket - ergonomic form makes the hood a bit restrictive since it's immediately above the backrest. You won't be able to use the seat with a four-year-old.
The smaller Harvey's brother - the Charley pushchair - has a height-adjustable canopy, which would maybe be nice to have on the Harvey as well... but I was not really missing it anyhow. If wanting to know more about the Charley, read our [[article:woresayu|full Easywalker Charley stroller review]].
A 2.5yo was ok in the seat, even though don't expect loads of space in all the directions. A bigger toddler would probably be too much for the seat, but of course, we tried with Ferdinand's (2.5yo) brothers (Felix is 4yo, and Florian is 6yo).
The materials of the hood feel high-quality, and the hood itself is thick, lined with a patterned fabric (I appreciate the stimulation of a smaller child there), and equipped with a sun visor. Again, I would prolong the visor, or put in some extra zip-open shade - there's nothing that could go wrong by doing that, I swear 😉
The seat unit
The seat is fully reversible - removing it means picking up the seat while holding the side levers. It's quite a simple process, and I don't really have anything to complain about there. For sure, this is so much easier than the Charley's seat removing system when the seat has to be at a certain angle. The bucket-type seat unit style can be adjusted in 4 positions with a lever in the back.
The leg rest can be adjusted individually, and there are 7 (!) positions to choose from. I would only change that there is no eco-leather wipe-clean layer for not getting dirty from the child's feet, but the cleaning proved itself easy enough for me not to mind this too much.
My 14kg 'little' boy fit inside the Harvey2 seat well enough, but, as I already said, it was just so. Don't expect a crazy amount of space inside. Internal seat measurements of the Easywalker Harvey2 are: 49 cm - backrest height, sitting surface - 32 x 26 cm, and the whole laying surface length is 95 cm __(a very nice seat length, actually!)––.
The security harness system is safe and logically made. I appreciate the fact that it's not a puzzle system (I am not a fan of the clicking in and then together in the buckle, where a child in a tantrum will destroy most of your efforts to harness him or her in place rather easily). Being strongly put together, it will hold; however, you can click it apart easy enough if you'll need that.
I would only change the (un)secured lower in-between-legs padding, which slid up a lot for me, making it hard to get to the buckle; I had to push it downward often. The upper padding is very nicely made, though - it is secured properly with studs, so you won't move it or throw it on the floor when putting your baby out of the seat. It is also soft and washable.
Harvey's bumper bar is included (as opposed to the Charley's, which is sold separately), and it's in the right height as well as distance in our experience. You can gate-open it or put it aside completely, and the process is easy-peasy. Nothing to reproach there either; my DS was happy to hold on to it.
The fabrics/upholstery of the seat could be summed up as luxurious: beautifully looking, breathable-enough, easy to maintain (soapy water was always enough).
They are also washable, but I admit, I am a bit lazy to put all the upholstery off the seat (because of the later putting it on, which scares me usually - I feel afraid of not being able to put it back right).
It is, however, completely possible, which you'll appreciate if there's a nappy or puking accident, for example. I was satisfied with the fabrics, even though we managed somehow to rip the fabric a bit with a stronger bump into a wall. Nothing terrible, and you probably know these situations with wild boys running around and pushing the pushchair quicker than they should, into a place they shouldn't... 🙂 Maybe a plastic bottom would be better (and easier to wipe-clean), however.
The chassis
The aluminum chassis is, as we already know, lightweight - but at the same time, it feels robust and sturdy at the same time. That's also because of the metal joints, matte finish, and the suspension as well (that in particular made me happy). The maximum weight capacity of 20 kg in the seat + 5 kg in the basket is already high, even though I am not sure you could ever fit a 20kg child in the seat unit.
But the basket you can, therefore, overload quite a bit 😉 And I must admit, we even put one of my sons in the basket from time to time, when he could not go on anymore on a long walk. The stroller made it out well; it's just you who'll need to adjust (your step).
This pushchair's chassis truly rocks in a way - the individual wheel suspension, along with the chassis feel, made it happen. I was not even expecting how soft it would feel.
On the other hand, even though the chassis can tackle grass and uneven surfaces, I would be aware of really large potholes and curbs. That is probably the biggest weakness, driveability-wise.
My taller partner complained when the front wheels got jammed getting down a curb - and of course, everybody has to be holding on the stroller firmly so that it doesn't tip over forwards, but still - I would change the front wheel width, making the chassis even more stable a secure by widening the front axle, if I could.
Except for this, I would rate the driving characteristics of the Harvey2 very high - it is, pushing-wise, very comfortable, and pleasant to drive.
The wheels' size is 18 cm in the front, 25 cm in the rear - a nice size for most types of use, mainly urban plus some more. Some mountains or very deep snow would be for sure a problem, but that it would be for most pushchairs.
There were no small stones stuck in the EVA foam even after getting through worse conditions, so thumbs up for that.
If you have truly bad roads around, I would certainly opt for the All-terrain wheels of some versions of Harvey2 - they are thicker and with rugged tread, even material-wise being similar. They will boost the driving characteristics of this versatile stroller on harsher surfaces.
I was already complimenting the suspension system - it's very good, especially for this type of stroller. The locking mechanism is also ok; it works just fine - average levers to be pulled up in the front part, no bother. We didn't use this function much, I must say - there was no real need for that.
Overall, I would rate this pushchair as a mainly urban one, practical for good as well as worse terrain situations - and the wheels are just like that as well.
You will brake the wheels with a conventional central brake in the rear part. I like that it's placed on the side, so you don't kick it, and also the fact that you activate as well as deactivate it from the top (so-called "cradle" style of a brake). No damaging your shoes there 🙂
I found the brake a bit stiff at times (mainly when releasing it), but I would say it's because of the stroller being new. Another minus point would be that you do kick the basket fabric while using the brake. A braked stroller was nicely in place, and the brake functioned well overall.
The folding (and unfolding)
Even though theoretically possible, the folding system was not a single-handed one for me. Still, it's a larger, full-sized pram, so it is a bit bulky after folding anyhow. For that reason as well, the folding system was not as quick as with smaller types of pushchairs and buggies (like, e.g., with the Charley).
Having said that, the folding system does feel similar to the Charley's in a way. __You lift a lever in the bottom middle part, with a previous reclining of the seat unit one position lower from the sitting position, and lifting the leg rest as well.
If you're folding the Harvey with the seat attached, the space to find the lever is restricted a bit, making me use two hands - one for the lever, second for the safety latch (I couldn't really manage it smoothly with one hand only, but there are probably those, who can).
For a more compact fold, it's good to pull the handlebar in, which is also more of a two-handed job (BUT possible one-handedly). You can only fold the chassis with the seat unit facing forward - I tried and managed to do it with it rearward facing, but it was sticking out too much for anyone to be doing that, really.
Folding only the chassis alone, after detaching the seat, is the better way, in my opinion. I feel it's much more compact to put the minimalist folded chassis into the car boot and to fit the seat somewhere, anywhere; you will have spare space. The chassis alone also feels easier to fold.
Overall, I would sum the folding system up as a bit cumbersome - but the more you do it, the easier it will get. Not really simple, but not super-difficult, and the folded stroller is not absolutely compact, but also not too bulky. Again, considering the type - all good, and combined with the weight - even better.
The shopping basket
The basket of the Premium edition is closable and clean design-wise.
An advantage of the zipper closing is a kind of privacy - nobody will stare and see what you're carrying with your tribe 🙂
On the other hand, it means the space of the basket will be restricted a bit, and if you want to keep it open (like for better accessibility), the cover will have to be left in it just so, which is not so clean in design anymore.
One small objection to the basket still - I didn't find the zipper smooth nor practical enough to like it, I felt like closing the basket, I was 'fighting a bit' with it. I'd say I prefer an open basket, so maybe I am just not as much used to always opening and closing it. Size-wise, I felt it's enough space for our bits and pieces. Not the biggest, but certainly not a small basket.
SUMMARY
In its price range above average, while design-wise a competition to much more expensive models - the Easywalker Harvey is a special one. A great advantage over its competitors would be in the metal, longevity boosting joints, and weight-supporting parts. It's a lot of performance for, well, not as little money - but for the city/countryside based parents needing something not heavy, but fully functional and high-quality, this versatile beauty will make a lot of it come true.
The biggest rivals of this model would be the Emmaljunga's NXT line - which is a considerably more expensive and often also a heavier situation (but also more all-terrain); then, the Bugaboo Fox (so much more expensive!) or the Stokke Beat (even lighter, weight-wise, but much more urban, push- and suspension-wise).
And then there's the smaller Easywalker Charley, which has a lot of the things that the larger Harvey doesn't, but lacks in many features typical for the full-sized all-terrain models.
Then again, it's all about the priorities.
Easywalker Harvey2 would get a percentual rating of 80 % from me - it lost points in things like compactness, cumbersome folding, hood directly over the seat, making it a bit smaller than it could be, and lastly, the jamming front wheels (when getting down a curb or with a large hole). They're not bad at all, but they could be better. Overall, this is, however, one awesome stroller/travel system that I am grateful to have tried out (because I would maybe not think of it in the first place). For those searching for something within this stroller type, I can heartily recommend it.
SUMMARY IN NUMBERS:
Dimensions - unfolded: 113x59x98 cm
Dimensions - folded: 90x59x40 cm
Handlebar height: 83-105 / 76-107,5 cm
Seat unit dimensions: 49 cm (backrest), 32 x 26 cm (sitting surface), 96 cm (laying surface length)
Internal carrycot dimensions - mattress: 74x32,5
Front wheel diameter: 17,8 cm ~ 7 inch
Rear wheel diameter: 25,4 cm ~ 10 inch
Shopping basket dimensions: 40,5x42x16 cm
Main seat weight capacity: 20 kg
Second seat weight capacity (when in tandem configuration): 20 kg
Basket weight capacity: 5 kg
This was an unpaid review describing the advantages as well as the disadvantages of the Easywalker Harvey2 stroller system, and it is based solely on our own experience. The aim was to provide honest information for moms thinking about purchasing this or any other stroller.
...and don't forget to recycle 😉