Mom of a 2-Month-Old Put the Nuna MIXX Next Stroller to the Test
In a nutshell:
The Nuna MIXX Next Stroller is a flexible option for growing families. Giving it a total score of 4.7 out of 5, our product tester was a fan of the fully reclining, reversible seat and liked that it can be used as a travel system with Nuna infant car seats.
When it comes to baby gear, finding a stroller is top of the list for most families. But you don’t just want any old stroller, you want one that actually works for your lifestyle. And for folks looking for a versatile mode of transportation, the Nuna MIXX Next is hard to beat. In fact, it was voted the overall best stroller in our latest Best of The Bump awards programme.
To get a clear picture of how this stroller actually works for families, we asked a mom of one to test it out and tell us what she thought. Below, find her honest review—plus pros and cons to consider, technical specs and additional input from the editorial team and members of The Bump community.
About the Nuna MIXX Next
- UPF 50+ sun canopy
- Easy to steer with one hand
- Compatible with Nuna car seats
- High price point
- Car seat sold separately
- Awkward to carry when folded
Before we get into our product tester feedback, let’s do a quick recap of the Nuna MIXX Next’s key features. It offers four modes of use including rear- and forward-facing seat options. It's good to go from day one thanks to a near-flat recline that safely accommodates a newborn. And a magnetic self-guiding harness makes it easy to buckle in your little one. It’s compatible with all Nuna infant car seats and features a unique ring adaptor, which makes it easy to attach or detach the car seat in seconds. Meanwhile, rugged rubber tires with all-wheel suspension make for smooth strolling over any type of terrain and it's incredibly easy to push and steer. We also like the fact that the stroller stands upright when folded, making it easy to store until your next journey.
Dimensions (open): 32.7" (L) x 23.6" (W) x 45.3" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 27.5" (L) x 23.6" (W) x 19" (H) | Weight: 28.3 lbs. | Weight capacity: 50 lbs. | One-handed fold: No | Car seat compatible: Yes | Number of children: 1
To find out how the Nuna MIXX Next stroller performed in a real family setting, we took the following steps:
- Enlisted the help of Sarah, an independent product tester and mom of a 2-month-old baby, to take the stroller for multiple test-drives. She used the Nuna MIXX stroller in combination with the Nuna PIPA urbn car seat as a travel system, and tested it across a number of different situations.
- We asked Sarah to rate the stroller across six categories—including ease of use, folding and unfolding, features, design, value and overall experience—on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the worst possible score and 5 being the best. Her ratings have been combined with extensive research by our in-house editorial team to inform the in-depth product review below.
- In May 2023 we surveyed over 300 new and expectant parents, gathering feedback on the baby gear they used with their own families. We asked survey respondents to rate the Nuna MIXX Next stroller and tell us what they liked and disliked about it.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
After using the Nuna MIXX Next with her 2-month-old baby, our product tester, Sarah, evaluated the stroller based on the following categories: Ease of pushing and steering, folding and unfolding, ease of use as a stroller and travel system, features, style and design and value for money. Keep reading to hear her thoughts.
Ease of pushing and steering
Our product tester awarded the Nuna MIXX Next top marks for ease of pushing and steering. “I was actually really impressed with the stroller’s ease in maneuverability. It’s easy to steer one-handed and the turn radius is fantastic,” says Sarah. “We went on walks that included turns, going over bumps and curbs, as well as uneven grassy fields and this stroller handled it all great. The suspension is really good and helped make it a pretty smooth ride for my baby even on bumpy terrain,” she continues. We’re not surprised at this assessment as the stroller has free-flex suspension and large foam-filled tires designed to absorb any jolts or shocks along your journey. Another plus point is the compact frame that weighs under 29 lbs. and is small enough to maneuver through tight spaces. “It doesn’t feel heavy to push at all. It’s nice to take shopping and doesn’t feel weighed down when items are in the basket.” An adjustable handlebar also makes it easy to steer and push, whether you are tall or on the shorter side. This is evident in our product tester’s review as she told us that “the handlebar is comfortable and a good width and length.” Overall, the pushing and steering process was a positive one: “I felt like my baby was secure at all times when we had to go down and up curbs, and again I was able to use just one hand if necessary.”
Rating: 5 out of 5
Folding and unfolding
The Nuna MIXX Next folds 6.5 inches smaller than its predecessor; however, our product tester felt that the folding process could be improved upon. “While it is pretty easy to fold and unfold the stroller, you unfortunately can’t do it with one hand,” says Sarah. “It requires both hands, as the mechanisms are at the top by the handle on both sides,” she explains. “This was one of the few features I didn’t like about this stroller, as I’ve personally used others where it’s quite easy to fold and unfold with one hand.”
The stroller is relatively compact, stands upright once folded and can be pulled behind you like a trolley. But our product tester found it difficult to pack away and store. “It was a little awkward to carry when folded. However, that could be an issue on my end as I’m short in stature, so it could be much easier for taller users.” In terms of size when folded, our tester reported that the Nuna MIXX Next was “average” for a travel system stroller. “It does take up quite a bit of space but from experience so do the others. It will stand up on its own while folded, which is a nice aspect.”
One of the claims made by Nuna is that the stroller automatically locks into place once folded, but our product tester wasn’t overly impressed with this feature. “I wish that when folding the stroller you didn’t have to use a latch to lock it in place—and honestly since there is a latch and it has to be used, I wish there were two because the single latch, on just one side of the stroller, doesn’t keep it folded very tight and adds to the cumbersomeness when trying to move it folded or lift it into a car.”
Rating: 3 out of 5
Ease of use as a stroller travel system
One of the biggest selling points of this stroller is its versatility. The stroller itself can be used from birth thanks to a reclining seat with a flat position for newborn naps on the go. And the stroller is compatible with all Nuna infant car seats, so you can easily create a travel system. Our product tester tested the Nuna MIXX Next in combination with the PIPA urbn and gave it top marks for ease of use. In terms of assembly, “the longest part of setting up this travel system was probably just getting all the straps and buckles adjusted to fit my baby, and taking out any of the inserts.” All in all it took her “an hour, or a little less, to set up both the stroller and the car seat.”
Our product tester said it was easy to attach and detach the car seat, earning this stroller major brownie points: “It comes with the adaptor piece to put the car seat in place versus the regular seat. It’s very easy to click the car seat into place and to take it off. Plus, you can do that with one hand, which is awesome.” She was also a fan of the one-touch rear-wheel braking system, telling us that “the stroller brake works well, it’s right at the bottom of the stroller near where your feet are, so it’s easy to access.”
It also has plenty of adjustable features, including a reclining seat, removable armbar and “you can adjust the stroller handle into several different lengths, which is great.” It also has an all-weather seat with removable cushioning for winter and an airy mesh back panel for summer. According to our product tester, “the stroller is also fairly easy to keep clean as the fabric seat lining and the inserts for the car seat are machine washable, which is a big plus.”
Rating: 5 out of 5
Car seat compatibility
As mentioned above, Sarah used the stroller as her primary travel system with a baseless car seat. “Initially I was a bit concerned about using the car seat since it doesn’t have a base. But after reading up on the safety features and using it multiple times, I really, really love it,” she gushed.
One thing she liked was how easy it was to install the seat into the car. “The first couple of times I needed to go on both sides to make sure it clicked in place, but after that I was able to get it clicked in on both sides all at once.” Once installed, she told us that “it does feel secure when locked into the bars, which is something I was worried about since it doesn’t have a base.”
Despite her initial concerns, Sarah is a big fan of the Nuna MIXX and PIPA urbn pairing. “I love that it has a one-handed release button—it makes it so easy to get it out of the car.” She found it lightweight and a lot easier to carry than other car seats she’s used. “Overall I’m really impressed with how easy it is to use, lift and carry this car seat.” Sounds good to us!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Stroller features
The Nuna MIXX Next has many noteworthy features, but our product tester paid particular attention to a few key aspects that set this stroller apart from the crowd. “The two features I love most about the stroller are the recline for newborns and babies under 6 months of age and the fact that you can face the seat either way (facing towards you or out).” As our tester’s child is only 2-months-old, she only used the stroller in a reclined position as per safety guidelines, but she did appreciate the multiple options: “The seat reclines and clicks into multiple different positions, which is great since every baby has a different preference.” Aside from the built-in seating arrangements, “I love that I have the option to either use the car seat in the stroller, or I can just take my baby out of the car seat and place them in the stroller with the seat in recline.” Another feature our product tester mentioned was the canopy. “It’s UPF 50+ and water resistant, but it also has ventilation panels so baby can get good air circulation.”
While Sarah loved the stroller features there was one thing that she felt was lacking. “The only thing I really wish this had was a cupholder included on the stroller,” she told us. While she noted that it is possible to buy a separate stroller organizer, she said that “I’d love to be able to put my phone somewhere, maybe my keys and a drink. I know there’s a pocket on the back of the seat to put your phone, but that’s only good for if you’re using the seat facing away from you. If you’re using it facing towards you (like for newborns) or using the car seat, you don’t have anywhere to put a phone or keys.” While this issue is definitely worth flagging, our product tester said that it was a minor bugbear that didn’t really affect her overall opinion on the features of the stroller.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Style and design
Given that you’ll use it everyday, your stroller should match your style aesthetic. And that was certainly the case with the Nuna MIXX Next and our product tester. “The stroller looks really modern and sleek in its design. I like the ‘leatherette’ handles, as it makes the stroller feel really luxe,” she told us. It comes in seven colors but our product tester handled the caviar colorway and likes the black and brown combo. “I don’t feel like the black makes the fabric hot or anything like that, so I wouldn’t put that into consideration when choosing between the black or gray colorways,” she said.
In summary: “Overall I’m really happy with the look and design of the stroller and don’t have any suggestions other than maybe offer it in more colorways for others to choose from. But black goes with everything and it looks great to me!”
Rating: 5 out of 5
Value for money
The Nuna MIXX Next stroller is priced at $800 on its own, but is also available in a bundle alongside the PIPA urbn car seat for $1,200. “This travel system definitely has a higher price point than some other travel systems. But I do think that it’s worth the price,” says our product tester. “As you can use the car seat or the newborn full recline for the stroller, and then can use the seat up to 50 pounds you’ll get a lot of use out of this—quite possibly from birth till 4 or 5 years of age,” she explains.
Another key selling point for our product tester was the fact that the car seat is baseless, as “/[it] makes it so much easier to travel with one less stroller item to carry around.” Admittedly, it is expensive but our tester says that “it really is worth the money as long as you’re looking for something with all its features, are going to get good use out of it for multiple years and plan on traveling.”
Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary
Our final question for our product tester was: would you recommend this stroller? And her answer was a resounding yes. “I would definitely recommend this travel system!” she responded. “The car seat not needing a base to use in your car … and the many different ways you can recline the stroller seat and have it face in either direction are the main reasons why I think this travel system is great and why I’d recommend it,” she told us.
Average rating: 4.7 out of 5
In May of 2023, The Bump editors conducted a survey of 300 new and expectant parents from among our community, and asked what type of stroller they used and whether or not they liked it. Below, find a selection of feedback from survey respondents who have firsthand experience with the Nuna MIXX Next stroller:
Pros:
“It's easy to fold (though not one-handed), feels sturdy, offers great sun coverage, and has great style and design. That said, it's very expensive.” - Heather*, parent of one and The Bump survey respondent
Cons:
“It's probably bigger than we (and our compact car) need; it can only accommodate one, right-hand cup holder for no obvious reason.” - Heather*, parent of one and The Bump survey respondent
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
Plus, more from The Bump:
The Bump survey of 300 parents and parents-to-be, May 2023
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