In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Mountain Buggy Nano is a bare-bones option with a compact fold from our best travel stroller review. The Nano offers impressive performance for maneuverability but generally has average results in the remaining metrics. While the Nano is a nice-looking stroller with a reasonably compact fold and easy-to-navigate wheels, it didn't have any standout features to drive its score higher. For the price, it feels like this stroller should have offered a little more, like an increased recline or a larger canopy with a spying window. With several higher-scoring alternatives with lower or similar prices, it is hard to consider the Nano the best choice, no matter what you're looking for in a best stroller.
REASONS TO BUY
Nice maneuverability
Compact fold
Easy brakes
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited napping recline
Shoulder strap safety concern
New Version
The Nano now comes in a V3 version. We currently link to this version and hope to test it sometime in the future. It appears to share much in common with its predecessor both in design and function. We will update our review when we know more.
Editor's Note: This product review was updated on December 16th, 2021, with extra notes on our test findings and product comparisons to aid you in your final decision.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Mountain Buggy began in 1992 when a dad wanted the best jogging stroller with all-terrain capabilities to enjoy the New Zealand countryside. With this desire in mind, Mountain Buggy's all-terrain platform was born. Mountain Buggy continued to improve and change the style over the years, creating strollers that work for newborns to toddlers on the city streets and over mountain trails.
Performance Comparison
The Nano carry strap is not long enough to be a shoulder straps, but is too long to be a good handle as it allows the stroller to swing awkwardly while carrying.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
In this metric, the Nano is relatively small and light. This stroller weighs 13.3 lbs and measures 4,734 cubic inches when folded. While the weight is only average, it is one of the smallest products.
Ease of Use
The Nano isn't the easiest option to use. If ease of use is a high priority, the Nano may not be as good as some of the competition, like the UPPAbaby Minu.
The nano folds into thirds creating a smaller folded package than a traditional umbrella stroller that collapses in on itself in a long folded final product.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
The Nano fold is more difficult to fold than the average option. This stroller has a two-handed fold with a manual lock and self-stand.
The Nano brake pedal is color coded for at a glance brake checks.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The Nano has easy to set and release single-action brakes with an accessible pedal color-coded to help parents know which side to press. The pedal is more akin to a pedal found on a standard stroller and is sandal foot-friendly.
The low bin back with metal bar across the top make the Nano storage bin difficult to access with larger items.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The Nano storage basket can carry up to 11 lbs, and it fits a medium size diaper bag. Bin access isn't fantastic and is further complicated by the recline of the seatback. The back of the bin is relatively shallow and has a bar across the top that limits how big an item can be and still squeeze in.
The Nano canopy is on the smaller side and lacks a peek-a-boo window.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The canopy on the Nano is on the small side and doesn't extend over the knee. The canopy doesn't have an SPF rating or a peek-a-boo window, which it may not need, given how small the shade is.
Each strap on the Nano's harness inserts in the buckle separately and the shoulder straps do not tighten small enough for smaller passengers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The Nano has a 5-point harness rethread that is relatively easy to alter with a large tab to press through the slots in the seat. Adjustment on straps is also easy and can be done by lifting the tab, pulling the strap through, and closing the tab again. The buckle is a little convoluted; you must insert all the straps into the buckle one at a time, and there are four pieces to connect.
The Nano's recline adjustment toggle is one-handed to lower, but requires two hands to raise.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
The Nano seat has an adjustable seatback that reclines midway to flat and an adjustable leg rest that extends out for additional napping space. The seat and leg rest have adequate padding, but the recline adjustment isn't far enough for truly cozy napping. The recline adjustment toggle is plastic and can be operated with one hand with the press of a button but requires two hands to sit upright. The footrest is nicely placed in front of the seat so that passengers can use it without tucking feet under the seat.
Car Seat Compatibility
This stroller is compatible with a variety of infant car seat carriers, including Mountain Buggy Protect, some Graco Snugride Classic Connect seats, Snugride Click Connect 32, 35, Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, Chicco Keyfit 30, Maxi Cosi, and Cybex Aton.
We do not recommend lightweight strollers for babies under six months old without the use of an attached approved infant car seat carrier. Lightweight products without a car seat lack the best design or features necessary for true suitability for babies under six months. Younger babies lack the head and neck control necessary to help avoid potential injury that can possibly occur while moving over uneven terrain. If you plan to use your new stroller for children under six months old, we believe you should choose a stroller that works in conjunction with an infant car seat carrier (see stroller comparison chart for possibilities). Always ensure that the baby is secured with a properly fitted harness. Adults should always keep an eye on the baby and check the harness straps regularly.
Ease of Setup
Setting up the Nano is easy, with no tools and an average manual. It took us 4:32 minutes to put it together, going from opening the box up to being ready to use.
Maneuverability
The Nano offers relatively good maneuverability for an umbrella product. This stroller moves and turns like a larger stroller with better wheels. We had no difficulty pushing and turning on flat surfaces, with a slight decrease in functionality when we hit rougher roads. However, pushing and turning on grass and gravel is still better than most of the competition. Even negotiating curbs is easy with a longer handle and less bounce in the frame.
The single front wheels on the Nano help it outperform the dual wheel competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This stroller has suspension in the rear wheels and a foam-covered handlebar. The limited seat recline and two-wheel suspension probably aren't the best for passenger comfort. However, it does have an adjustable leg rest and adequate padding, so it isn't uncomfortable either.
Quality
The Nano has middle-of-the-road components and materials that look rather nice. However, the final product had difficulty competing with some of the competition. It came out feeling rather average, with no real standout nods to quality, with the possible exception of nicer wheels that move smoothly.
Should You Buy the Mountain Buggy Nano?
The Mountain Buggy Nano is a neat product with one of the top maneuverability scores in the group, only being beaten out by the BabyZen Yoyo2. However, the rest of its scores are only average, and no outstanding features set it apart. In our opinion, there are other strollers in this price range that have more to offer.
What Other Umbrella Strollers Should You Consider?
If you like the minimal design and compact fold of the Nano, the Inglesina Quid and Zoe Traveler are both worth considering. Although neither option has the same ease of maneuvering that is found in the Nano, they have better ease-of-use features that we find more valuable when out and about with a little one. Namely, larger canopies and more straightforward harnesses. Depending on your budget, either product can be a good alternative.
