Mountain Buggy Nano v’s Babyzen YoYo

This photoset shows the Mountain Buggy Nano (red) side by side with the Babyzen YoYo.

These two pushchairs have extremely tiny folds. The comparison measurements are here.

Both pushchairs are marketed as suitable to go into an overhead locker of an aeroplane. However, as discussed in our Mountain Buggy Nano review here, only the Babyzen YoYo actually fits within IATA guidelines for carry on board hand luggage.
Anyone who has a non walking child, or who has returned late at night with a sleepy child, will appreciate what an advantage it is to have a pushchair to hand as you step off the plane.

Seats

Both the Mountain Buggy Nano and the Babyzen YoYo have generous seats. The YoYo seat is a little deeper and wider, but the Nano has a longer leg length (seat depth and leg length are the most important for an older toddler). The seat heights are very similar – the Nano is 1.5cms taller. Both are very suitable for an older toddler.

The Mountain Buggy Nano has been certified for use for a child up to 20kgs. The Babyzen YoYo is certified up to 15kgs. Both pushchairs have accommodated our 3 and 5 year olds well (see photos under each pushchair’s individual page).

Both pushchairs have a toggle recline. The Babyzen YoYo recline is more basic than the Nano recline. One issue with the YoYo is that the child can sit themselves up, if they do not wish to be laid down. In the Nano the child will stay laid flat. The advantage of this seat movement in the YoYo, is that a child can sit very upright if they wish. However the Nano seat can be pulled upright too.
The Nano has a very useful lift up calf rest which is great for a younger sleeping child or baby.

The Nano harness and buckle (although not easy, as it takes 2 hands to release) are definitely more robust than the YoYo ones (although the latter does the job well).

Hoods

Both pushchairs have good sized hoods, and both hoods are high above the child. The Nano has a flick out sun visor. The new 2014 YoYo also has a flick out visor (see our 2014 Babyzen YoYo photoset). The YoYo hood is solid at the rear. The Nano has a large panel of open mesh with no cover, which is not ideal for a sleeping child in a cold, windy or sunny environment. The sun was clearly on our son’s face when he was reclined. We have concerns about the Nano being recommended for a holiday in sunny climes.

Handlebar, Handling, Brake and Wheels.

The Mountain Buggy Nano has a very low handle – just 96cms high. The Babyzen YoYo has a high handle at 106cms high. We believe this difference in handle height really affects the handling of both pushchairs. The Babyzen YoYo is highly manoeuverable, and it feels light, narrow and nippy. The Mountain Buggy Nano feels heavy to push.
The low handle on the Nano causes an issue – the hood sticks up very high when folded, thus, you naturally grab the hood because it obscures the handlebar. We can see the hood getting damaged at some point. With the hood folded back, the hood fabric and rods are rubbing on your hands. We found this extremely irritating, Unfortunately, the Nano hood is fixed, because we probably would have removed it.
The Nano brake is far easier to use than the brake on the YoYo. It is much more decisive and easier to apply and remove. The YoYo brake is hard to push on and off, however it does the job fine.
The wheels of the Nano feel more substantial. However the YoYo’s wheels are silent and smooth. The front wheels on the Nano will lock or swivel. The wheels on the YoYo just swivel.
Both felt heavy up kerbs, but we do have a 3 and a half year old on board.

Quality and Basket

The Babyzen YoYo pushchair overall is beautiful and the chassis and fold are very well designed – simple but effective. The basket is small, but accessible.
The finish on the Mountain Buggy Nano is more refined with smart fabrics, and the typical Mountain Buggy harness buckle. The Nano basket is a reasonable size – it easily held my large handbag and a cool bag inside, with room to put some coats on top. However access is via the front.

Fold / Unfold

There is no doubt that both of these pushchairs have amazing folding mechanisms. Both pushchairs have a two stage fold. These require the top half – the handle – folding down before doing the second stage of the fold. This can be done on both pushchairs, before the child needs to be removed to complete the fold.
The second stage of the YoYo fold takes a bit of practice, and initially feels quite unnatural. However it soon becomes second nature to flick the pushchair closed one handed. The fold does require bending down low underneath the seat but can be done with a baby tucked under the other arm which is useful for public transport.
The second stage of the Nano takes two hands. We love how the top part of the Nano simply needs squeezing together and then the mechanism releases and the Nano folds down into a neat package. This really is a very innovative way to fold, and it is very easy.
Both pushchairs have a storage lock. However the Nano has an additional velcro strap to prevent the handle / hood from flapping open.
Both pushchairs will freestand when folded.

Both pushchairs are easy to flick open once the storage locks / strap have been released.

Weight and storage bag

The Mountain Buggy Nano is lighter than the YoYo, by just 0.8kgs. The Nano fold is a little more bulky than the very slim folding Babyzen YoYo. The neatest Nano fold is achieved by removing two wheels, which although easy, is another step. These need storing inside the storage bag. Both pushchairs come with a storage bag, although the Nano bag is better quality.
Both pushchairs have a shoulder strap for carrying the pushchair with.

Newborn Options

The Mountain Buggy Nano can have a car seat fitted to the seat, whereas there is no travel system option for the Babyzen YoYo. However there is a beautiful newborn nest for the new 2014 Babyzen YoYo’s which makes the YoYo suitable from birth. This is an extra cost.
We like that the Nano has a in-built car seat belt, with the neat pocket under the seat which contains the two elastic cords to secure the car seat. Be aware that the car seat can only be used until the baby reaches 9kgs, which is usually before the child has outgrown the infant carrier.

Conclusion

Having used these two pushchairs, there is probably one absolutely fundamental reason why you would choose one buggy over the other. This is the handle height. If you like a low handle, then the Mountain Buggy Nano is the pushchair for you. If you are taller and like a more typical or taller handle, then go for the Babyzen YoYo. We have been pushing the Mountain Buggy Nano in our tests, and it has taken a toll on my back, especially given the Nano is quite heavy to push. The YoYo is fairly effortless to push.

The other big consideration when choosing between these two pushchairs, would be the mesh behind the head of a reclined child in the Nano. Why Mountain Buggy did not add on a protective cover, we will never know, but it is a massive flaw on what would otherwise be a great holiday pushchair for many people.
Here in the UK, we have bitter autumn and winter winds, and we prefer a snuggly warm child, to a child who has icy winds blasting past their ears and head. However if your child does not nap, then this will be less of an issue, although there is still mesh behind the head of an upright child.

We prefer the overall finish of the Mountain Buggy Nano – the fabrics are beautiful. At £199 (no storm cover included) it is definitely better value for money than the £319 RRP of the YoYo (raincover – although flimsy – is included). However there is just something totally amazing about the Babyzen YoYo, which to be honest is worth the extra.

Please note: Our Babyzen YoYo is a 2012 EU import. Thus the seat fabrics are the older style which have issues with the velcro sticking at the front. All UK ones have a different system and thus do not have this issues. The 2014 YoYo colour packs include a hood with a visor.

There is more detailed information on both these pushchairs on the individual pages for each pushchair.