Silver Cross Reef vs. Wave Stroller

It’s time for an epic showdown between two titans!

Connoisseurs of high-end baby products know that strollers don’t get much better than the ones produced by the luxury UK brand, Silver Cross.

Although both strollers are quite new to the market, the Reef Stroller and Wave 2022 Stroller have already garnered so many accolades we thought it would be fun to pit them against each other in a winner-take-all contest for stroller superiority and bragging rights!

By the end of this article, you’ll know everything about these two carriages and which one will be a better fit for your family and lifestyle.

A Quick Overview

The most obvious difference between these two is that the Reef is a single stroller, while the Wave is a double. That alone can heavily influence your purchasing decision, as most parents-to-be have a good idea about how many children they plan on adding to their family.

The Wave double stroller comes with a seat and the Wave Bassinet, while the Reef only comes with a seat. If you wish to add a bassinet to the Reef, you can do so by picking up the Reef Bassinet. Also designed for use with the Reef is the Reef Newborn Pod. Both strollers are compatible with 3rd party car seats thanks to Silver Cross’ car seat adapters.

Additionally, you can purchase a second seat for the Wave to use as a tandem stroller.

Toe to Toe

Here’s how these baby rides size up against each another.

Reef Specs:

• Open Dimensions: 33” L x 24” W x 39 - 44” H 
• Folded Dimensions: 28” L x 24” W x 12” H 
• Weight: 27.5 lbs. (Chassis: 17.6 lbs. + Seat 9.9 lbs.) 
• Suitable from birth up to 55 lbs.

Wave Specs:

• Open Dimensions: 43” L x 23” W x 37 - 43” H 
• Folded Dimensions: 37” L x 23” W x 15” H 
• Chassis Weight: 22.2 lbs. 
• Bassinet Weight: 8 lbs. 
• Main Seat: 4.4 lbs.
• Tandem Seat: 5.6 lbs. 
• Bassinet: From birth to 19 lbs. 
• Main Seat: 6 months - 55 lbs. 
• Tandem Seat (Sold Separately): 6 months - 55 lbs. 

Being a single stroller, the Reef is smaller in both the open and folded positions. However, the Wave’s larger size is the reason it can hold 2 children at the same time (it can even hold 3 when used with the Silver Cross Toddler Board attachment!).

Identical Baby Vehicles

In some ways, The Reef and Wave are very much alike. Here’s a list of features they share that makes using them so darn delightful:

• Genuine Genus: The “Genius Harness System” is Silver Cross’ no-fuss harness. Generously padded for comfort, it has a magnetic buckle for easy assembly and a sliding adjustor to perfectly fit your child as they grow. 

• Similar Seat: The included seats on both strollers are very similar. They have multiple positions for sitting up or lying flat and come with an adjustable calf/footrest for comfort. Additionally, the seats can be flipped around so your baby can stare at your smiling face all day long. 

• Bumper Stumpers: Silver Cross uses a vegan leather-wrapped bumper bar on the stroller seats. The bar can also be opened like a gate, allowing you to load and unload your child with ease.

• Close at Hand: A telescoping handlebar is included, making it comfortable for parents of all heights to operate.

• Robust Wheels: The Reef and Wave have rugged, puncture-proof, all-terrain wheels that work on a full suspension system for an ultra-smooth ride. The front swivel wheels can also lock to keep the strollers on the straight and narrow. 

• Compact Size: Both strollers fold up neatly to fit in the trunk of your vehicle or in storage when not in use.

• Rainy Days: Silver Cross includes the appropriate rain covers to keep your child(ren) dry should a sudden downpour occur.

Where They Differ

Silver Cross designed the Reef and Wave to excel in specific areas, so there are more than a few ways where they differ:

As previously mentioned, the Reef is a single stroller with 24 possible configurations, while the Wave is a double stroller with 30. Configurations depend on the number of add-ons used with the stroller and the number of ways these add-ons can be positioned.

For the Reef, you can use:

• The included seat, the Reef Bassinet (sold separately)
• The Reef Newborn Pod (sold separately) 
• A compatible car seat with car seat adapters (sold separately) 
• A toddler board (sold separately)

For the Wave, you can use:

• The included seat and Wave Bassinet
• The Wave 2022 Eclipse Tandem Seat (sold separately) 
• A compatible car seat with car seat adapters (sold separately) 
• A toddler board (sold separately)
  
  

Additional differences include:

• Parents can pick up the Reef for $1,349 and the Wave hovers around the $2,200 mark.
  
  
• The Reef can hold 2 children (1 child on the stroller and one on the glider board). The Wave can fit 3 children (2 on the stroller and 1 on the glider board). 
  
  
• The Reef comes with a single seat. The Wave comes with a seat and the Wave Bassinet.
  
  
• The Wave has an elevated position option for bringing your child closer to you. 
  
  
• The Reef comes in Earth and Orbit (black) colours, while the Wave is available in Charcoal and Eclipse (black). 
  
  
• The Reef compacts vertically. The Wave compacts horizontally. 
  
  
• The storage basket on the Reef holds 11 lbs. and the Wave can hold triple the weight (33 lbs.) 
  
  
• The Wave comes with mosquito nets and a cup holder, whereas the Reef’s cup holder and snack tray are separate purchases.
  
  

And the Winner Is…

The Reef and Wave strollers are both winners, but they serve two completely different purposes.

Growing families or parents of twins should go for the Wave. It comfortably holds two children and is much easier than pushing around dual strollers. Also, the Wave’s superior flexibility offers future-proofing should you decide to expand your family down the road.

However, if you’re set on only having 1 child or have children where there’s a wide age gap, the Reef may be the way to go. Regardless of what stroller you pick, Silver Cross will ensure you and your baby cruise around in style plus have the functionality to make every outing easy and more comfortable.