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Gesslein S4 Air+
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Gesslein S4 Air+

see 9 parent reviews

The Gesslein S4 Air+ is a light four-wheeler with the chassis of the F4. The non-reversible, spacious seat is softly padded and identical with the model S3. Thanks to the higher weight capacity, it can handle even bigger children. The backrest can be reclined one-handed thanks to the simplified strap mechanism. A height-adjustable bumper bar comes with the seat. The optional reversible F4 seat compatible with the chassis of this stroller is also available.

The aluminum chassis is light yet sturdy. Three wheels with individual suspension can handle even a rougher terrain. The wheels are made of roughened rubber Air+. Thanks to the inbuilt air chambers, the tire is lighter, easily maneuvrable and sticks to the surface better. At the same time, it is quite sturdy, offering the advantages of an air-filled tire.

You can create a travel system suitable from birth by purchasing either one of two carrycots inserted in the seat (soft C1 transformable into a footmuff, or hard C2) or the classic hard carrycot C3. C3 can be added to the chassis in two different heights. There is also an option to attach the car seat to the chassis using adapters. Other accessories like a footmuff, a parasol or a summer kit are also available. If you choose your S3 Air+ with the handbrake or with a handlebar covered in leatherette, you will have to pay extra.

Gesslein S4 Air+ Features & Specifications

The Basics

Type
Pushchair (seat and chassis only), 2in1 stroller system, 3in1 stroller system
Stroller weight
9.9 kg
Unfolded dimensions (h×w×l)
113 cm x 57 cm x 94 cm
Folded dimensions (h×w×l)
65 cm x 57 cm x 24 cm
Chassis material
Aluminum
Country of origin
Germany
Stroller available as a pushchair (seat unit configuration) only; newborn accessories (like a carrycot) need to be purchased separately
Yes

The Seat unit

Maximum weight capacity - seat load
20 kg
Recommended age range (best to use with a child of)
0-36 months
Reversible seat unit
No
L-shaped, bucket-type seat unit
No
Reclining backrest
Yes, infinite recline
Full-recline backrest (a bigger-than-a-150-degree-angle to a lie-flat)
Yes
Backrest recline type
Strap-operated
One-hand backrest recline system
Yes
Extendable backrest
No
Legrest positioning
Yes, 2 positions
Extendable leg rest
No
Wipe-clean layer on the leg rest
No
Footrest
Yes
Backrest height
48 cm
Width and depth of the sitting surface
33 x 20 cm
Total length of the seat unit
86 cm
A higher seat unit's position on the chassis
No
Height-adjustable seat
No
Seat unit's proper attachment indicator
No
2in1 convertible carrycot/seat unit (pramette travel system)
No
Fabrics removable for cleaning
Yes
Seat fabrics cleaning
Machine washable
Safety harness type
5-point
Harness padding
Yes
Height-adjustable harness belts
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the seat
No
Second seat can be attached (single-to-double convertibility)
No

The Canopy (Hood)

Seat unit equipped with a canopy/hood
Yes
Extendable canopy/hood
Yes
The canopy/hood features a sun visor
No
Floating, follow-the-sun canopy
Yes
Height-adjustable canopy
No
Removable canopy
Yes
Waterproof canopy
Yes
UV protection in the (canopy) fabrics
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the canopy
Yes
A pocket integrated into the canopy
No
Peek-a-boo viewing window present on the canopy
Yes
Peek-a-boo window can be closed/covered
Yes
Quiet (magnetic/no velcro) peek-a-boo window
No
Reinforcing side clasps present on the canopy
No

The Bumper bar

Bumper bar
Yes
Bumper bar type (style)
Bar
Removable bumper bar
Yes
Gate-opening (swing-away) bumper bar
Yes
Height-adjustable bumper bar
Yes
Bumper bar features a fabric (non-wipe-clean) cover
Yes
Bumper bar features an extra crotch strap
No

The Wheels

Number of wheels
4
Front wheel(s) type
Rubber-coated wheels
Rear wheels type
Rubber-coated wheels
Front wheels diameter
17.5 cm
Rear wheels diameter
25.5 cm
Swivel wheels
Yes
Lockable wheels
Yes
Removable wheels
Yes
All wheels are double wheels
No
All-terrain version of wheels available to purchase separately
Yes
Wheels equipped with mudguards
No,
Two-wheel mode
No

The Suspension

Suspension
Yes
Wheels with suspension
All
Suspension type
Mechanical (internal spring-loaded mechanism)
Adjustable suspension softness
No
Rocking chassis
No

The Brake

Central brake system/type
One-step rocker pedal (flip-flop friendly)
Deceleration handbrake
Yes, Optional

The Fold

Folding system
Flat (compact) fold
One-hand fold
No
Plane-travel-friendly stroller with an ultra-compact fold (suitable as carry-on luggage)
No
Folds with the (forward-facing) seat attached
Yes
Folds with the rearward-facing seat attached
n/a
Self-standing fold
No
Auto-lock feature of the folded chassis
No
Folded stroller can be pulled behind like luggage
No
Stroller folds and/or unfolds by itself
No
Equipped with a carry strap/carry handle
No
Outward fold (the seat fabrics are on the outside after folding)
No

The Handlebar

Handle height adjustment
Pivoting
Handlebar material
Foam
Handlebar height
90-113 cm
Reversible handlebar (handle can be flipped to the other side)
No
Safety wrist strap
No

The Basket

Shopping basket
Yes
Large shopping basket
No
Basket's weight capacity
4 kg
Closable basket
No
An extra basket can be attached to the frame
No
A pocket integrated into the seat/elsewhere on the stroller frame
No

The Carrycot

Carrycot compatible
Yes (with adapters)
Internal dimensions of the carrycot - mattress measurement
76 x 36 cm
Carry handle on the carrycot
Yes,
Inclining carrycot mattress
No,
Foldable carrycot
No,
Rocking-base carrycot
No
Ventilatilated carrycot base (bottom ventilation system)
Yes,
Carrycot installable in the car instead of a group 0+ car seat (Auto carrycot)
No,
Carrycot positioned high on the frame
Yes

The Car seat

Car seat compatible
Yes (with adapters)
Car seat sold separately
Yes
Maxi-Cosi/Cybex car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes
Britax Römer car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes

The Accessories & Extra features

Parent tray/organizer on the handlebar (included)
No
Cup holder can be attached
No
Reflective elements
Yes
No pushchair mode/seat-unit configuration available
No
Rain cover included
No
Mosquito net included
No
Leg cover (apron) included with the seat unit
No
Seat liner/insert included
No
Changing bag included
No
Carry bag/transport cover for the folded stroller included
No
Motorized/Baterry-powered
No
LED light(s)
No
Built-in audio speakers
No
A storage/bag can be attached instead of a seat
No

Parent reviews of the Gesslein S4 Air+

4.1/5
Add YOUR review
if you own(ed) it, own it ;-)
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Practical stroller for all surfaces

4
  • Lightweight (very)
  • One-handed steering
  • Spacious
  • Almost horizontal sleeping position
  • Colour fastness
  • Easy to fold and doesn't take up much space
  • F-Series seat unit can be attached with or without adapters
  • The canopy doesn't hold, the wind blows and it is folded
  • Worse access to the basket

Practical stroller for all surfaces, foldable, variable. It certainly has more pluses than minuses. Except for the canopy, that's a problem.

  • well sprung wheels both front and rear
  • goes over any terrain
  • spacious even for bigger children
  • good access to the basket
  • complicated folding
  • footrest soft in the middle (like on a buggy)
  • short canopy (even when extended)
  • thin canopy material
  • short seat area

The biggest advantage of the stroller is the chassis. It is absolutely great. But the rest, unfortunately, did not impress very much. Too bad.

A gentle ride

4
  • Simple
  • Sometimes I'm annoyed by its size, but more often than not it's actually a convenience

Elegance. A gentle ride. Comfort for baby.

  • the most cushioning stroller of this type
  • wheels foam and filled with air, so there is no risk of puncture
  • leather handle
  • positioning handle
  • removable footrest
  • well designed safety belts, their unfastening - it is quick to change the footmuff, for example
  • a thin fabric on the hood
  • short hood
  • seat positioned lower, so slightly worse access to the basket
  • fabric bumper bar - could be in a PU leather, as children quickly get it dirty

A great stroller, but it has a few shortcomings. The biggest is the hood - it is only a layer of fabric and although it can be extended, it is still short. You can buy a sun visor, but it's pretty impractical.

The rest is individual - what bothers some people, may not bother others; e.g. a lower seat and thus a little bit more difficult access to the shopping basket, a fabric bar that gets dirty and has to be washed (a leather one would just wipe clean), back positioning would probably be better with a lever than a strap... What I praise is the handle with PU leather with unlimited positioning possibilities, the suspension is absolutely perfect, and the wheels on which you don't get a puncture.

  • \Rocking\ suspension
  • Sturdy, stable frame
  • Quality wheels
  • Rotating pushbar
  • Adjustable belly bar
  • Terrain-capable
  • Quite compact
  • Multi-step two-hand folding
  • Basket access
  • Short, soft leg rest
  • No ventilation
  • Dark colors can fade

A really sturdy and well-sprung stroller. I have not yet encountered such a "rocking" spring suspension on a mid-size pushchair - it can easily compete with Polish 3In1 combinations.

The chassis is massive, sturdy, and durable with a perfect suspension, but it is not extremely heavy and it is relatively foldable. Folding is a multi-step process and requires both hands, but you can get used to it easily. The positioning of the handle is by tilting it up or downward, which suits me, the tilting control is a bit atypical to me, however. The wheels are made of a special material, they do not get stones inside and the comfort of the ride approaches inflatable wheels. The basket is medium-sized and is placed high enough (so that it does not rub on the ground when driving off-road), thus, it is a bit less accessible.

The seat unit is quite roomy, it can accommodate a 3-year-old child. I would see the problem in the footrest, which is very short and not sturdy enough (similar to an umbrella stroller), so it is possible that very soon the baby's legs will start to protrude - BUT when put down, the baby can comfortably place his feet on the footrest and use the seat without positioning the legrest. Personally, it didn't bother us, it even seemed better to me than the older Britaxes, whichof the leg rest didn't have positioning at all.

The seat upholstery is pleasantly soft. The positioning of the seatback is easy, the adjustment system is simple. The seat is not perfectly upright, but it never bothered my children, and a bonus is the adjustable belly bar.

The canopy is extendable – it could be a bit more, but it was enough for us, or it can be solved with a shade of some sort. However, I missed the possibility of ventilation in the summer.

This buggy was my favorite mainly because of the suspension and because it can easily cope with any terrain, but when folded it does not take up the whole trunk. I recommend it to an active-lifestyle mother – it will definitely be able to withstand more than one child 😊 The only thing that might show the age is the color on the upholstery (especially darker colors may fade over time).

This is how you design a stroller

4
  • Perfect chassis
  • Easy manipulation even with a heavier child
  • Comfortable ride
  • Suitable for tall parents
  • Easy getting it up a curb
  • Very good suspension
  • No rattling, no stones in the wheel foam
  • Passes through everything, even snow
  • Extendable hood
  • The quality of the fabrics (very thin) if not very high
  • Bad reclining system (strap)
  • Complicated folding (without the bumper bar in the front, it's fine)
  • Very thin canopy

Gesslein S4 Air + 2018 with leather handle. This is how you design a stroller - really nice, with very good suspension and all-terrain capability. And you can even buy an optional carrycot.

I minded the hood the most because the fabric was thin like that of a T-shirt, no double/weatherproof layer, or inside lining. I also disliked strap recline. The folding was a bit complicated, but you can get used to that. Even though not that lightweight (10kg), the handlebar was very well designed, and the overall manipulation was reasonably easy.

It certainly has more pros than cons

4
  • Lightweight (very)
  • One-hand push
  • Spacious
  • Almost a completely flat recline
  • The colors stay (no fading)
  • Easy and compact (space-saving) fold
  • You can click on the F series seat unit with or without the adapters
  • The canopy doesn't hold well - stronger wind can get it to fall down
  • Basket access (difficult)

It's a practical stroller for all kinds of terrain. Compact, versatile. It certainly has more pros than cons. Except for the canopy, it may cause problems.

  • High backrest
  • Spacious
  • The folding system is a bit complicated

Excellent for trips (even for those to a forest or any kind of nature) as well as for long walks thanks to those robust, no-maintenance wheels.

  • High-quality wheels
  • No apron

Those maintenance-free wheels are awesome. I can fit a two-year-old easily - there is enough space for a footmuff plus a blanket. Spacious shopping basket. The fold is not one-handed, but it's easy enough.

Your questions about the Gesslein S4 Air+

1)

Can Gesslein S4 be taken as cabin luggage?

Hi, Vip,

No, this is a mid-size stroller and won't fit the cabin luggage size / requirements. You will have to check it in, or explore the "baby luggage" options of your airline of choice (some allow the stroller to be taken to the plane and then handed over to the cabin crew, but this varies from airline to airline)

.eli - 28 Mar 2024

This is your place to ask us a (quick) question about the Gesslein S4 Air+