If you and your family enjoy traveling or taking days out using public transport, you’ll need an umbrella stroller. Umbrella strollers don’t generally have the range of features offered by regular bulkier models, but they do have the advantage of being ultra-compact when folded and are lightweight and easy to carry.
Why Trust Us?
Because my full-time job is being mom to 2 precious daughters, and I know a thing or two about strollers. Besides personal experience, I get feedback from other moms who use these strollers every day and put all that research into our unbiased stroller buying guides
- Kyli
In this guide, we take a look at two very popular super-lightweight umbrella strollers, the Mountain Buggy Nano 2 and the Babyzen Yoyo. Both these strollers are well-made, thoughtfully designed and are universally popular among parents. So, how do you know which one to buy?
To help you make the right decision, we compare both strollers in detail.
First of all, let’s meet the manufacturers.
Table of Contents
Mountain Buggy: Engineered for the mountains, designed for the city
Mountain Buggy’s motto says it all about their strollers. The New Zealand company and its parent organization, Phil & Teds, design and build strollers for use over all kinds of terrain.
If you buy a Mountain Buggy stroller, you know that you’ll be getting a safe, reliable, superbly maneuverable child’s vehicle that’s built to last your family for many years.
Babyzen: The only one you need
Babyzen is a French company that makes strollers that are designed to allow you to go anywhere easily and conveniently with your family.
This brand is responsible for the very first umbrella stroller that is compact enough to fit into an airplane overhead luggage bin. So, if you need a stroller that’s super-compact, easy to carry, and can go anywhere with the minimum of hassle, Babyzen is where it’s at!
Mountain Buggy Nano vs. Babyzen Yoyo
So, let’s take a look at these two strollers in more detail.
The Mountain Buggy Nano
- Infant car seat ready ; no need to purchase additional adapters and now has a soft shell cocoon carrycot available (sold separately) for newborns
- New, narrower compact size at just Dimension - 12 x 22 x 20 inches (Folded) with 44 lb. weight capacity and suitable for children up to 4 years
- Easy two-step, compact fold meets regulations for airline carryon luggage. Travel bag and shoulder strap included
The Mountain Buggy Nano is built for convenient, hassle-free travel, especially by train or airplane.
The super-compact Nano collapses in a few seconds thanks to its speedy, simple two-step fold mechanism. When folded, the Nano makes such a neat package that it will fit comfortably into any car trunk and is accepted by most airlines as carry-on luggage. One big selling point of the Nano is that it will fit into an airplane overhead luggage locker.
You can see a video of the Mountain Buggy Nano in action below:
What we like
- A quick and simple folding mechanism
- Fits into most airplane and train overhead luggage bins
- Extendable sun canopy
- Generous underseat storage basket
- Compatible with many car seat brands
- Locking front wheels for better maneuverability over rough ground
What we don’t like
- When you fold the canopy back, the top catches your knuckles as you push – annoying!
The Babyzen Yoyo
- Rain Cover & Storage Bag Included!
- Removable & washable fabric
- 4 wheel suspension
The Babyzen Yoyo is the first umbrella stroller that will fit into an airplane overhead locker.
The Yoyo is perfect for you if you like to travel frequently on public transport with your child. If you have a toddler who wants to walk and ride too, the Yoyo is a perfect choice. It’s light and easy to carry, collapsing into a package that’s about the size of a large purse!
Also, unlike most umbrella strollers, you can use the Yoyo for a very young infant or newborn by placing them in the infant nest that you get with the stroller Newborn Pack. The Newborn pack is parent-facing, and you attach it to the stroller chassis in place of the toddler seat. The Newborn Pack includes a thick liner, removable fleece footmuff, small canopy, and head support.
To see a promotional video of the Babyzen Yoyo, click below.
What we like
- Easy and light to carry
- Super-compact when folded for storage and travel convenience
- Excellent maneuverability, one-handed steering
- Can be converted for use with a new baby or infant
- Stylish looks and wide color range to pick from
What we don’t like
- The shallow seat might be impractical for a big toddler
- Small storage basket
Mountain Buggy Nano vs. Babyzen Yoyo: Features that matter
So, in essence, these two compact, lightweight strollers appear to offer parents the same benefits. Let’s drill down into the finer detail and compare the two.
Fold and portability
Since both these strollers are designed for easy travel, their dimensions when folded are an essential consideration.
The Nano measures 21 inches x 21 inches x 11 inches when collapsed and weighs 13 pounds. The folding process is straightforward and quick to operate, resulting in a super-compact package that can be carried in the custom-fit bag or by a handle on the stroller’s frame. Alternatively, you can use a shoulder strap.
In comparison, the Yoyo weighs a little more than the Nano at 13.6 pounds. When folded, the Yoyo measures a tiny 20.47 inches x 17.3 inches x 7.08 inches. That’s about the size of a large purse! Most airlines will allow the Yoyo to be taken onboard as carry-on luggage, and the folded stroller will fit into most overhead luggage lockers on trains and airplanes.
The Yoyo folds one-handed via a button-operated system. Once folded, the Yoyo has an auto-lock to keep it in place. Like the Nano, the Yoyo comes with a carry bag and shoulder strap for convenient, comfortable portability.
Seat
The Nano’s seat is 12 inches wide with 27 inches from the seat back to the canopy, so it will accommodate a tall toddler and allows plenty of room for growth too. The stroller’s weight carrying capacity is 44 pounds. The seat won’t recline to a completely flat position, so you can’t use the Nano for a newborn.
The Nano’s seat recline feature operates via a strap system that’s easy to work one-handed. However, you do need to have both hands free to push the seat back into an upright position. The seat provides good air circulation via a mesh panel behind the seat back. That’s a great feature if you live in a warm or humid climate, but you’ll need to wrap your baby up when the weather’s cooler.
The Nano has a three-point safety harness that’s well-padded and easy to adjust. One feature we especially like is the buckle design. It’s easy for an adult to operate but would be beyond the capability of most toddlers.
For your child’s extra comfort you recline the seat, the Nano has an adjustable footrest. Smaller, younger kids get great support from the stroller’s leg support.
The Yoyo can be used from newborn to toddlerhood, but you do need to buy the “infant pack” to do so. The toddler seat on the Yoyo is well-padded and comfy for your passenger. The seat liner is designed to extend beyond the end of the seat to protect little legs from anything hard. If you want to ring the changes, you can buy a new color pack to update the Yoyo’s look.
The Yoyo has a pretty generous seat that’s fine for tall toddlers, allowing plenty of clearance between the seat top and the canopy. The seat is wider than that of the Nano at 13.3 inches. However, the seat’s capacity is 40 pounds, slightly less than the Nano’s 44 pounds.
In comparison to the Nano, the Yoyo’s safety harness is a five-point style that has shoulder pads and three height positions, keeping your child secure in their seat and comfy too. However, the simple one-touch button release on the harness could allow a dexterous child to escape.
Like the Nano, the Yoyo has a single strap system that adjusts the seat recline. Although you can recline the seat with one hand, you’ll need two to put the seat back upright again. For extra comfort for a napping child, there is a footrest, but it’s not adjustable like that of the Nano.
Car seat compatibility
The Nano will accommodate all the leading car seat brands thanks to the strap system that they use to hold the seat in place.
You can turn the Yoyo into a car seat too, but you need to buy separate adapters to do so. Car seats that are compatible with the Yoyo include BeSafe, Cybex, Pebble Plus, and Maxi-Cosi Pebble.
Handling and maneuverability
The Nano has a rear-wheel suspension system that helps to give a smooth ride over rough ground and uneven sidewalks. The six-inch EVA wheels are perfect for navigating flat surfaces and off-road terrain.
The Yoyo has a four-wheel suspension system and has solid rubber tires that give your child a super-smooth ride over most types of terrain. Thanks to Babyzen’s exclusive “soft-drive” suspension system, the stroller is easy to push and maneuver over rough ground, so there’s no need for locking front wheels.
Both the Nano and Yoyo are narrow enough to fit down most store aisles, and you won’t have a problem navigating crowded streets.
Handlebar
The Nano has a single handlebar that allows you to steer the stroller one-handed. As is the case with most umbrella strollers, the handlebar is not height-adjustable, but it is comfortable for most parents up to six feet tall.
Like the Nano, the Yoyo doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar. However, the handlebar is a good height, making it ideal for taller parents. And thanks to the curved shape, shorter parents will find the handlebar comfortable too.
Brakes
The Nano has a one-step, pedal brake that’s easy to engage and is flip-flop-friendly.
The Yoyo has a brake that’s a simple push-down, pull-up system and is flip-flop-friendly. However, if you have the Newborn Pack in place, the brake is slightly obscured, which could result in stubbed toes!
Canopy
The latest version of the Nano has a decent size canopy with a sun visor that provides excellent coverage for your child and keeps them shaded from the sun’s harmful rays on scorching days. One minor gripe is that the top of the canopy touches your knuckles when it’s folded and that there could be more space between the handlebar and the canopy top.
The Yoyo’s canopy also has an extendable sun visor that features a clear plastic insert, which allows you to keep an eye on your child. The canopy isn’t huge, but it does provide enough shade to keep the sun off your child’s face.
The Yoyo comes with a handy rain cover that’s cleverly shaped to protect the whole stroller, including the canopy and the footrest.
Storage
The Nano and the Yoyo both have underseat storage baskets that are a decent size for an umbrella stroller and are easy to get at from all angles. The baskets are fine for carrying your diaper bag and a few essentials, but don’t expect to fit a whole week’s shopping inside!
The Yoyo has a small mesh pocket on the seat back that will take small items such as your cell phone, wallet, and keys. Also, you’ll find a useful, small zippered pocket on the rear of the canopy.
Wrapping it up
Although the Mountain Buggy Nano and the Babyzen Yoyo are both extremely well-made, compact folding strollers, there are notable differences between them.
The Yoyo stands out thanks to its tiny folded dimensions and super-lightweight package that will fit into any car trunk, airplane overhead bin, and even a cupboard in your home for convenient storage. The Yoyo also has an option to purchase the Newborn Pack that allows you to use the stroller for a new baby and beyond. The seat is roomy enough for a growing toddler too.
In comparison, the Nano is pretty compact and lightweight, and it will fit into most car trunks. Most airlines will allow you to take the Nano onboard the planes as carry-on luggage that you can stow in the overhead bins. When it comes to storage, the Yoyo has a couple of extra pockets for small items that the Nano doesn’t offer. However, both strollers have underseat baskets of comparable size.
Although neither stroller has an adjustable handlebar, both are comfortable for tall parents to push, and the reactive suspension systems give a comfortable ride for your passenger. Agile and maneuverable, both the Nano and the Yoyo handle city sidewalks and playgrounds with ease.
So, both these high-end, compact, lightweight strollers are a good buy, especially if you travel a lot with your child.
