If I had a tenner for every time I’ve been asked “what’s the best buggy?” I would never need to work again. I wish it were that easy, but no single buggy is going to work for every family. Before I recommend anything, I always gather intel on a family’s lifestyle, the size of their home, the cars they drive and the places they go (and plan to go in future). All of these have a big impact on the recommendations I make, and that’s before I’ve even considered budget. The pram and pushchair market is huge and one size does not fit all, but there are so many great ones out there depending on what you’re looking for.
This said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my favourites. There are definitely some go-to models I recommend regularly, and in some cases, I know immediately which pushchair is going to be a hit with the parents-to-be I’m talking to. The products in this list are my failsafe recommendations in a number of categories, but as I’m limiting the list to 10, they only scratch the surface of the market. If you’d like more tailored recommendations I’ll be compiling more specific lists in future, or you can always reach out to me for some personalised recommendations.
For my top recommendations on a tight budget, please take a look at my budget baby guide. Although this list contains products across a range of prices, the real bargain ones are found on that list.
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Bugaboo Fox 5, from around £800
Bugaboo is the brand I’m asked about the most. Parents will often come to me saying “my friend/parent/in-law/cousin told me to get a Bugaboo as they’re the best”. Once they’re in that mindset, I can show them 100 other pushchairs and they’ll probably still end up with a Bugaboo. Most of the time I don’t fight it, because Bugaboo makes great prams (if you have the budget for them). If parents-to-be don’t know which model they want, this is the one I’m most likely to recommend.
Bugaboo markets the Fox as its “all terrain” pushchair, but it benefits from being less bulky than most others in that category. It’s a really sturdy day-to-day buggy for adventurous families that won’t let you down on uneven surfaces thanks to its advanced suspension. The carrycot is luxurious, the bucket seat is comfy, and all the fabrics and details have a premium feel with smart design details. The fold isn’t small, but that’s the nature of all-terrain models with bigger wheels.
UPPAbaby Vista V3, from £1,099.99
UPPAbaby’s Vista has never been my favourite when it comes to aesthetics, but it is one of the most practical, comfortable buggies I’ve ever tested. Despite being a bit of a behemoth in terms of size, the bouncy suspension and clever frame design mean it always feels lovely to push.
There are plenty of other reasons to consider investing in this, too. Firstly, it can convert to a tandem double, so it has longevity. The luxurious, deep carrycot is one of the finest on the market and can be used for overnight sleep. Then there’s the ginormous shopping basket, which holds up to 13kg. The frame even folds in a way that allows you to leave stuff in the basket.
These are the kind of little details that make my heart sing when I think about day-to-day practicality. It’s not cheap and the fold is big so this will only work if you have space in your home and car – but if you do, it’ll be a joy to use.
Joie Signature Finiti, £350
When asked to recommend a great buggy under £500, this is one I come back to over and over again. The Finiti is a really great all-rounder that ticks a lot of boxes without being too big and bulky. It also has a lovely fold with a carry strap to help you get it up the stairs or out the car.
For families that want a competitively-priced pushchair with some great features I don’t think you can go far wrong with this. As it’s part of Joie’s more premium ‘Signature’ range it boasts plenty of nice details like a magnetic harness, a really generous canopy, quality fabrics and a good storage basket.
The pushchair comes with a lie-flat seat that can be used from birth, but I’d recommend investing in a carrycot to use for the first 6 months. It’s compatible with the Ramble XL (£150) or with Joie’s hybrid carrycot-car seat, the Calmi (£390 including the base) for a does-it-all newborn package.
Joolz Aer+, from £429
I can wax lyrical about compact / lightweight / travel buggies for hours, and this is a market that’s changed massively since I first started in the industry. You can get a decent one for around £100 now (see below) but if you want a smooth ride, more features, and a guarantee that you can take it in the cabin of a plane, the Joolz Aer+ is my recommendation.
This stroller weighs just 6kg and has a genuinely tiny fold, measuring 53.5 x 45 x 21.5cm, small enough to use as hand luggage on most major airlines (not budget ones, although it counts as a “large cabin bag” on Easyjet). To keep it light some things do have to be sacrificed, most notably wheel size, a bumper bar, and an extendable handlebar. Small wheels do have their limits, but the ride is pretty smooth all things considered.
Aside from its travel-friendly size, there are some other great features I rate. First up, it has a full recline for naps. Second, it has good storage in a well-designed basket. And finally, you can buy a really nifty folding carrycot for it, so if you live in a city and have limited space at home, you may want to use this from birth and never buy a full-sized pram.
Kinderkraft Apino, from £109
I mentioned above that you can get a decent compact fold stroller for around £100 now, and here’s the proof. I’ve tested dozens of similar models at all kinds of price tags, and if you just want something nippy for the nursery run, or to use as your “second” buggy for short trips and errands, I really don’t think it’s worth spending more than this. Yes, you can tell the difference between a £100 buggy and a £400 one, but as they’re all lightweight buggies with tiny plastic wheels, the difference isn’t as big as you’d expect.
The Apino has a “magic” fold, meaning it should collapse down on its own with a flick of the wrist – this is pretty smooth but it can be affected by additions like cup holders, bag clips, footmuffs etc. It weighs 7.5kg, and folds to 58 x 47 x 34.5cm – that’s not small enough for cabin baggage, but you can always put it in the hold.
Maxi-Cosi Fame, from £929.99
I had a Maxi-Cosi pram (the Adorra) back in 2020, and it served me well. But it’s safe to say things have moved on since then. The Fame is the kind of pushchair that had industry friends grabbing me at a trade show to ask, “Gemma, have you seen the new Maxi-Cosi?”
This pushchair is a bit of a show-off, and it’s one I recommend to anyone who wants something “extra” in every sense of the word. It’s got built-lights and power bank (so you can charge your phone on the go), the seat and matching carrycot have ClimaCool panels for ventilation, the carrycot slides up to reduce parental back pain, and the harness has an easy-in design.
But more importantly, it also feels lovely to push. That’s down to top-tier suspension (they call it “CosiCruise”) and a flexible frame. Although fashion is at the heart of this pushchair, function hasn’t been forgotten, and I think it delivers there too.
If I was doing it all over again, would I choose another Maxi-Cosi? If it was this one, quite possibly!
Out ‘n’ About Nipper Double V5
When it comes to double buggies, nothing feels quite as nice to push as the Nipper Double, with it’s all-terrain tyres and springy suspension. It’s big but mighty, and it’s my go-to recommendation for more adventurous families with two young kids. A side-by-side double can be particularly good for twins as they get the exact same seat set-up: if you have a tandem, they may complain about being in the high or low seat. You can buy carrycots that fasten into the seat for the first 6 months, too.
The 3-wheel design of the Nipper makes it really easy to manoeuvre. I’ve never loved the look of this, but through various iterations Out ‘n’ About has done a great job of upgrading the design and details so it feels more premium. Although it may not look like it, it does fit through most standard doorways, and I’ve pushed it through busy London train stations too.
Nuna Mixx Next, from £660
If you’re looking for something that’s “mid” in all the best ways – mid-priced, mid-sized, with a medium amount of features – this modern pushchair is a really popular option. Nuna describes this as the “Goldilocks of pushchairs” and I think that’s a pretty good description. It often comes to mind when I’m making recommendations to caregivers who want something that straddles the line between a big traditional pram and a compact stroller: a stroller that’s “just right”.
Although the fold on this is not the smallest it’s incredibly smooth and straightforward to do. The buggy folds with the seat facing either way, too. The harness has a magnetic closure and is easy to adjust as your baby grows. The push is lovely thanks to the great all-wheel suspension, and that’s one of the reason this has been such a hit with parents over the last few years. The only downside for me is that the basket is quite small given the overall size of the buggy, but it is nice and deep.
Cybex Gazelle S, from £719.95
When I was working as a Parenting editor, we all had our “pet” products that we kept going back to. The Cybex Gazelle S was one such product for me, and I frequently go to bat for this underrated single-to-double.
I think it’s underrated because the elements that are marketed the most – like the fun-but-gimmicky shopping basket attachment – aren’t actually its best features. I’m far more excited about the fact it can be folded with two seats attached, and that the adapters are built into the frame, so you can never lose them (comparatively, replacement adapters for an iCandy cost £80).
The fold is very small for this type of buggy but it does have a knack (I was often summoned to do demos when we were buggy testing). I’d also say, of the 20 configurations Cybex claims you can do with the various seats and attachments, there are really only a handful you’ll ever use. Still, it’s nice to have the option!
Silver Cross Tide, £595
I’m a sucker for a British heritage brand, so I’ve always had a soft spot for Silver Cross. But even I have to admit that, until recently, their prams were very expensive and notoriously heavy to push.
That was until they retired those older models and rolled out (pun intended!) a brand new range. The Tide is one of the most recent additions, and it’s quickly become my favourite because as well as being lighter and more stylish, it’s also a lot cheaper.
This new entry-level design has a lot of the same features as its pricier sisters and benefits from all the same development know-how, with a frame designed to be lightweight while tackling multiple terrains. It has a freestanding fold that’s good for narrow spaces, and the carrycot (which is included in the price) is suitable for overnight sleep.
