The baby stroller is a huge purchase for families. There are endless features to consider — everything from durability, folding capabilities, car seat compatibility, cost, ease of assembly and more.
I'm a mom of two kids — 7 years old and 21 months — so one might say I've strolled around the block. And I've done my fair share of complaining about finicky wheels, cramped storage space and confusing configuration options. It’s enough to make your stroller wheels spin. After researching what some of the leading stroller brands are and taking into account my own experiences buying baby gear, I set out to compare two of the most popular options out there: Uppababa Vista V3 and the Nuna MIXX next. Here’s how they compare.
How I tested
After getting my hands on both, I zeroed in on the immediate features that I'd be focusing on: assembly (how hard is it to put together?), folding capability (is it a nightmare to collapse?) and storage capacity (will it fit all my junk?). Then I thought about which type of kid and family each stroller would be best for. Here's how each stacks up.
Best stroller for car seats (and tall babies)
Assembly is huge for me. If you think I get the quiet time to read through instructions and figure out my building plan, you’re deeply confused about how things go in my house. It’s chaos, usually with the older child telling me a convoluted story that requires moderate attention and a loud toddler who stomps all over the instructions while vacuuming my legs with his toy Dyson. I need to be able to put together a stroller fast using only half of my brain.
I was thrilled to have assembled the Uppababy fairly quickly. I liked how few pieces there were inside the box. The stroller came housed inside of its own bag, and once I pulled it out, there was very little left to do. The wheels clicked into place like magic. Complete assembly took maybe 20 minutes. Probably less.
The first thing I did when I built it was toss my already-very-full diaper bag into the storage basket. I pack my diaper bags to the limit, so I’m used to negotiating for real estate underneath strollers. Both the Uppababy and Nuna held my bag with ease (this never happens for me), though the Uppababy had just a tad bit more space (more on that later).
The Uppababy Vista V3 works for infants right out of the box. You won't need any attachments. If you have an Uppababy car seat, you can just pop in an infant car seat directly into the clips. While the Uppababy works with any car seat — a huge selling point — you will need an attachment if you have a different brand car seat, but they pop on easily.
If needed, it collapses and breaks down easily. It's a bit large to carry, but it can be done.
As baby grows, this continues to be an excellent stroller. It works through 50 pounds, can accommodate up to three kids (you'll need to buy additional attachments) and you can raise the canopy clearance up to 20 inches, which is great for tall toddlers. My son is off-the-charts tall, so being able to slide the canopy up is a dream. The leg rest is also much longer than on the Nuna.
During a walk to the market in the Uppababy, it was slightly challenging to navigate on crowded streets and down off-kilter pedestrian ramps. Again, it’s just big (think of it as like a luxurious Escalade). I also found that at 5’8” I kicked the storage basket a ton. As a quick solve I just lengthened the handlebar, but for someone with long legs or a tall caregiver, they might run into a similar problem.
Best stroller for a comfortable ride
You'll need a little bit more time to assemble the Nuna. It had more pieces and more styrofoam and plastic to unfurl. It took probably 30 minutes to build, and had a faint chemical smell, so once I put it together, I set it underneath an open window before putting my son in it.
Known for being versatile and nimble enough to tackle bumps, the Nuna MIXX next is a solid choice for city walks. In my Los Angeles neighborhood, there are more cracked cement bits and gnarled tree roots poking through than there are smooth stretches, and the Nuna was easier to navigate around bumps than the Uppababy, likely due to its all-wheel suspension and smaller frame. The Uppababy is smooth, but the frame is just much longer.
I probably wouldn’t use either of these as a travel stroller, but if I were just investing in one stroller and wanted to be able to use it on the go, the Nuna folds down much smaller and more neatly. The handle never touches the ground and it can stand upright, which is super helpful.
My diaper bag fit into the storage basket nicely, but it's important to note that the max capacity weight for the Nuna’s basket is 10 pounds, where the Uppababy can hold nearly 30. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re hoping to take the Nuna on a Costco run.
Best overall: Uppababy Vista V3
Both of these strollers are extremely well-liked in the baby gear market. They assemble beautifully, the magnetic harnesses are miracles for parents, the baskets were both thoughtfully developed and they collapse down in a flash. Reflecting on the factors that are important to me — which one feels more effortless to push around? Which one is easier to get my kid in and out of? — the Uppababy Vista V3 is the best overall stroller.
How we chose
We chose the two strollers because they are both bestsellers from each brand and are similar in function. Both of the brands are parenting favorites and are popular in the baby space.
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