With so many models now available, finding the right pushchair, buggy or stroller can feel like a bit of a daunting – not to mention expensive – task.
Do you want one that is forward- or world-facing, or both? Do you need something that’s sturdy or light? Compact or compatible with a travel system? There are so many decisions to make but they usually come down to two things: your lifestyle and your budget. While some pushchairs cost the same as a second-hand car, there are great affordable options too and, in this guide, we’ve including a range of strollers to suit all budgets and lifestyles, whether you live in a flat in the city or a farm in the country.
Making an informed choice on the pushchair you buy will make those first couple of years much easier, so we’ve included buggies with a range of features, including reversible seats, off-road wheels, adjustable handles and even LED lights. Read on to decide what features you'd consider essentials or just extras, and to find the best pushchair for you and your baby.
You can also find out how we test and review products to learn more about how we selected the best strollers to feature in this guide.
Best pushchairs - our top pick
We think the Nuna Triv is the best overall pushchair, buggy or stroller you can buy. It's robust yet impressively light and compact, so it's a practical option if you use public transport frequently or expect to be lifting it in and out of your car boot. It's also a good travel option.
Beyond that, the Nuna Triv is a clever combination of a sturdy, versatile travel system with all the perks of a lightweight buggy. We love that it has a reversible seat unit, so you can choose whether your baby faces you or the direction of travel. It's also super easy to fold and has great suspension to cope with all sorts of terrain from muddy parks to uneven pavements.
The best pushchairs 2023 as reviewed by our testers
Many of the pushchairs in this line-up have a compatible carrycot attachment or a reclinable, lie-flat seat, so they’re suitable for use from birth right through to toddlerhood.
Our panel of mums tested these pushchairs over a period of several weeks with their babies aged between two months and two years old.
Tested by: Katie Archer and her son Rory, aged seven months.
With a reversible seat unit and a compact, lightweight frame, this pushchair converts easily to a travel system with the addition of the carrycot or one of the compatible car seats. It has a leatherette height-adjustable handlebar – handy for parents of different heights – plus all-wheel suspension and front swivel wheel locks for a smooth ride on all types of terrain.
"We both loved the Nuna Triv, which offers the best of a traditional travel system and a compact city stroller," says our tester Katie. "You can tell it's a premium pushchair from the quality of the materials and the design details but it doesn't just look good – it's also incredibly easy to use. It really delivers on its promise of being compact and easy to fold one-handed. It's light to lift and feels much sturdier than other compact strollers. It's marketed as a city stroller, but it feels much more capable of taking on bumpy parks or countryside walks than other products in this category. It has great suspension and tough wheels, so it tackled potholes and uneven curbs with ease. Rory loved being able to face me and seemed very comfortable in the padded merino wool insert."
Our tester's favourite features are the sturdy, extendable sun canopy and the huge shopping basket. She also rates the rain cover, calling it the best she's seen because of a cleverly-designed pocket which folds over the pushchair frame to protect it from splashes.
Although pricey, we feel the Nuna Triv is worth the investment for such a robustly-designed travel system that ticks every box in what we look for in a buggy, and is one which can carry you through many years of use.
- Read our full review of the Nuna Triv pushchair