Mountain Buggy Nano Travel Stroller Review

We purchased the Mountain Buggy Nano Travel Stroller so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Traveling is stressful enough already. Add a newborn and all of the essential baby gear, and you have the potential for a high-anxiety situation. The Mountain Buggy Nano Travel Stroller is here to fix that. The Mountain Buggy brand is known for maneuverability, durability, adaptability, and simplicity. My 10.5-month-old son and I tested the foldable travel stroller, which is said to be compatible with all infant car seats, to see if it ticked off all of these boxes. Read on to find out!

Setup: Minimal, self-explanatory, and quick

The Mountain Buggy Nano stroller arrived fully assembled, besides the wheels that simply needed to be clicked into place. The folded stroller was tucked neatly into a custom carrying case, which can be used with an included over-the-shoulder strap or an easily accessible handle. 

To open the stroller, I first had to unlatch the safety lock on the side. Then, I lifted the handlebar, and in one swift motion, the stroller popped up and clicked into place. 

Portability: Compact

The Nano has a very small footprint, which is important when you usually have lots of other baby gear to worry about. The stroller weighs less than 13 pounds and measures just 22 x 12.2 x 20 inches when folded, allowing it to fit easily into overhead airplane bins, luggage spaces on trains, and trunks of cars. 

To fold the stroller back up, I closed the sun canopy and pressed two buttons located near the canopy on the inner sides of the handlebar. This allowed me to fold the handlebar down toward myself and continue pushing forward until the stroller folded into itself. 

I didn’t realize at first that I needed to adjust the wheels a bit, so I was having trouble getting the lock to latch on the side. Once the wheels were turned in the right position, however, the stroller locked with no problem. I wrapped the hook-and-loop fastener straps around the handlebar for a secure hold.  

Finally, it took me a few minutes to get the stroller back into the carrying case; it is very snug, but it does fit. The wheels can be taken off and stored inside the carrying case as well. The closing process required two hands, and as most parents know, this can be difficult when you have a baby in tow. A one-handed open-close system would be ideal. 

Design: Aesthetically pleasing and practical

The sleek and simple style of this stroller is very aesthetically pleasing. It’s even earned a nod for its high-quality design in the form of a Red Dot Award. I felt so stylish pushing this stroller around. The majority is matte black, which feels really expensive, except for the large, retractable sun canopy, which provides a pop of color (ruby or nautical blue). The extendable sun canopy is three-paneled, with a “flick-out” mesh visor, providing more than enough sun protection for your little one. 

Once unfolded, the stroller features a small under-carriage storage basket which will fit the essentials or a small diaper bag. I liked that I could access the basket from the front or back of the stroller. The leg rest extends straight out or folds down, depending on the height of your child, and there is a step or footrest near the bottom of the stroller that’s perfect for older kids.

The seat of the stroller is reclinable in multiple positions—a huge plus for when my family does lots of sightseeing and my baby needs to nap while away from the hotel. I found the reclining feature very simple to engage with just a squeeze and pull of one strap behind the seat. Since this stroller reclines, you can attach most infant car seats to it using a buckle system (although I would feel much safer with a “clicking” mechanism). I loved that I could use my own car seat and didn’t need to buy unnecessary and expensive adapters, thanks to the built-in on-boarding mechanism.

The Nano stroller also features a mesh cover at the top of the seat, which can be fastened open for added ventilation or kept closed in the colder months. I was able to check in on my son through the mesh cover as well. One issue I noticed is that the Mountain Buggy Nano stroller does not have a handlebar attachment for the child to rest his or her hands on. I missed this design feature, as you can usually attach a snack tray or cup holder to it.

Safety: Fussy harness straps, but overall smooth sailing

The cushioned shoulder straps of the Nano stroller accompany a five-point harness system with sliding belt buckles. You can easily thread the harness through three different height settings, depending on your child’s size. To adjust the straps, you need to first remove the cushion and then slide the strap to the preferred length.

I felt the safety belt was a little difficult to maneuver, especially once my child was already seated. It was hard to know where the straps should be until my child was sitting in the seat, and I also struggled to get them tight enough. I can’t imagine adjusting them before my son was seated. If you have an antsy baby or one that does not like being strapped in, like most, this can make for a bit of a stressful situation. That being said, after adjusting the straps once, you should not have to do this part again until your baby grows a bit. Once strapped in and tightened, my child seemed to be secure and comfortable. 

The stroller is equipped with built-in rear wheel suspension and front wheel swivel and lock capabilities for maneuvering tight spaces and uneven surfaces safely. With the front wheels in the unlocked position, I could fully swivel and turn. When they were locked, I could travel over bumpier surfaces like grass and gravel. My guess is that you wouldn’t be taking this stroller off the beaten path too often, but when you do, the ability to lock the front wheels will help combat any bumps and grooves in the terrain. Note that this particular stroller is not certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA); I confirmed with the association directly.

To use an infant car seat with the Nano stroller, you must slightly recline the seat back and click buckles over the lower portion of the car seat, near your child’s legs. It works the same way that a seatbelt in a car is used to install a car seat without a base. Additionally, two bungee cord devices under the stroller are meant to be hooked around the side of the stroller and the handle of the car seat for added safety. 

As for the brake, the color-coded pedal (red=STOP, blue=GO) makes for no confusion in that department. 

Features: Curb-popping and infant car seat-compatibility

Speaking of bumps and grooves, the manufacturer site says the Mountain Buggy Nano stroller was designed to cleverly distribute weight for easy “curb-popping.” That means the stroller’s front wheels can be “popped” up to hop over a curb. There is also a hook-and-loop fastener strap that slides right onto the parent’s wrist to stop the stroller from rolling away if you even lose control of the handlebar. As I mentioned earlier, the same strap also does double-duty, keeping the stroller closed and in the folded position. 

Age Range: Newborn to toddler

Whether you choose to use your infant car seat or purchase the Mountain Buggy cocoon attachment, the Nano stroller can be used from birth all the way to the maximum weight of 44 pounds, or usually about 5 years old. Without the car seat (or cocoon attachment), the stroller is recommended for use from 6 months of age and up. 

The seat itself is rather large for such a compact stroller and works great for older toddlers. This wide age and weight range is a feature that many travel strollers do not offer; it makes traveling with a baby much less stressful. My nearly 11-month-old son fit comfortably in the stroller and was especially happy when lounging in the recline position.

Price: A little steep for a secondary stroller

The Mountain Buggy Nano stroller retails for around $199, which is a slightly higher price point than other travel strollers. However, considering it can be used from birth (with the proper attachments), families may find that it is worth the price. If you are just looking for a secondary stroller for on-the-go trips, you may find the Mountain Buggy Nano to be a little costly. There are other umbrella strollers that are just as compact and convenient, at a lower price, without all of the added bells and whistles. For what you are getting, though, and for the amount of time you can use this stroller, the price seems fair. 

Mountain Buggy Nano Travel Stroller vs. Besrey Airplane Capsule Lightweight Baby Stroller 

The Mountain Buggy Nano Travel Stroller has a few features that make it stand out among its competitors. Compared to the Besrey Airplane Capsule Lightweight Baby Stroller, which I also tested, the Nano will be more of an investment piece that will take your family from newborn through the older toddler stage. 

The added bonus of the reclining seat is a huge factor that many families look for when purchasing a travel stroller. The Mountain Buggy is a bit sleeker in design with bolder color choices, which help carry the higher price point. Both strollers are lightweight and compact and considered the right size for carry-on luggage. Either way, you are getting reliable, convenient travel strollers.