Nuna Mixx Next Review

Ease of Use

The Nuna Mixx Next design is above average for ease of use, but there are options that are easier.

Fold and Unfold

The Nuna fold is polarizing, with one tester accomplishing it with one hand and another struggling even with two hands to get things where they need to be to fold, stand, and lock. You can choose to fold it down onto its wheels, or you can fold it into a self-standing position that is very stable. While the lock is supposed to be automatic, we had to do it manually more often than not.

UNfolding is also a hit or miss with some of us loving it and others struggling with the weight of the stroller while holding a toddler. It gets easier with practice, but we recommend practicing at home without distractions before trying it in public with a baby in tow.

Storage

The storage compartment is massive and has a built-in divider that folds up or down to organize supplies. Sadly, the weight limit is only 10 lbs, which means it might not work if your plans include groceries or other errands. However, access is easy even with the seatback reclined.

Inside the basket, there is a small zippered compartment for valuables. The pocket is right in front of the brake, so we sometimes kicked it with our foot when setting the brake. Feels like a design flaw and maybe not the best space for smartphones.

Harness

The harness is impressive with a smooth operating system that relies on pull buckles for the shoulder and lap belt adjustment (no rethread) and an easy-to-use slide buckle for the crotch strap.

The buckle itself is magnetic, so the pieces on each side of the straps line up automatically and pop right in! The harness/buckle system on the Mixx Next is one of the better ones we've seen. The belly bar does not rotate out of the way, which is slightly inconvenient when adjusting the harness, especially if you have a squirmy toddler.

Brakes

The single-action, center brake pedal is simple to engage and disengage with one foot. The convenient color coding on the pedals takes the guesswork out of knowing when it's locked. It could benefit from a little more tread on top, but that doesn't impact performance.

Car Seat Compatibility

With the included car seat adapter ring, the Nuna Mixx Next is compatible with any Nuna Pipa series car seat.

Ease of Setup

Setup is about average compared to other strollers; the instruction manual has writing on one side of each page and illustrations on the other. There is a good amount of packaging to remove to get to all the parts, but once that's done, it's a straightforward assembly.

Maneuverability

The Mixx Next's maneuverability leaves a little something to be desired on any terrain, with a below-average performance.

While we kind of liked this stroller out of the box, with smooth transitions on flat surfaces and carpet, things became a slog as the weight of our passenger increased. So the more weight there is in the stroller, the more difficult it is to push and turn.

It's marginally better when you move off the beaten path to grass and gravel, but again, as the passenger gets bigger, things get harder. The smaller wheelbase seems to help it maneuver more easily over asphalt, packed dirt, and larger obstacles. However, this stroller would be challenging to take to the park because it struggles on grass and medium-sized bumps.

The handlebar is adjustable and fairly wide in diameter, making it easier to find a comfortable fit for pushers of different heights and abilities. Rolling up onto curbs is easy, but coming down off them requires careful navigation due to the shorter wheelbase, which creates a possible tip-over risk if you don't take it slow.

Transporting and Storing

The 28.7 lb. Mixx Next is heavier than most of the competition, but is easier to transport and store than most thanks to the compact folded size of only 11,600 cubic inches.

Loading and unloading into a vehicle is a fluid process because it folds into a compact cube shape that doesn't take up much space and is easy to pick up with two hands. We had to bend over to pick it up when folded, which could be hard on your back, be impossible while holding a baby, or cause you to drop anything else you are carrying.

Due to its smaller folded measurement, it fits into any standard car trunk with room to spare. However, the folded stroller is thick and bulky, making it a little trickier to carry onto public transportation.

Quality

Despite its higher price point, the overall quality of the Mixx Next is pretty average, and it seems some choices were made hastily and not thoughtfully considered. While it looks great at a distance and first-blush, as you get closer it starts to wilt.

The fabric has a high stitch count, feels durable, and isn't rough against the skin. The adjustable handlebar and arm bar are covered in a smooth leatherette material with low-profile stitching. However, several areas, including the leg rest, lack a polished look due to loose fabric, and the padding is minimal.

The rubber-coated foam wheels have a good, thick tread with no evident wobble and feature front and rear reflectors. The tires have plastic spokes, roll smoothly, and will never go flat.

The top half of the frame is aluminum, but the lower half appears to be a durable plastic. The folding mechanism is strong and looks like it will hold up well over time. Overall, the frame looks solidly constructed with a nice finish, but looks can be deceiving. Things on the frame feel loose, the fabric is saggy and splits strangely, the canopy can get hung up, and the seatback doesn't really lock well.

Kid's Comfort

Happy passenger equals happy travels, but the overall comfort level on the Mixx Next is only average, which is disappointing given its higher price.

The seat on this stroller is nice and deep, but lacks adequate padding for blissful comfort. It offers several simple recline options we could set one-handed, but it lacks the fine-tuning we see on other high-end strollers in this price range.

The single-setting leg rest is functional, but the padding extends much farther than the frame. There is no foot bar at the bottom of the leg rest, and some children might find it uncomfortable with no place to rest their feet, resulting in the dreaded leg dangle. Taller children can use the lower foot rest.

The waterproof canopy is where the Mixx Next shines brightest, with complete coverage down past the belly bar thanks to a zippered extension. There is also a small window and mesh area to peek at little ones without disturbing them or stopping strolling.

Continuous Sleeping Comfort

True passenger comfort is achieved when a child can snooze peacefully without every crack, rock, and bump jostling them awake. The Nuna Mixx performed well on our potential wake-up test, triggering only four soft, rolling wake-up events. The flexibility of the frame, heavier weight, and the all-wheel suspension probably account for this ability to tackle tricky terrain without waking little ones.

Should You Buy the Nuna Mixx Next?

The Nuna Mixx Next is a premium stroller with enough features that you'll be happy with this purchase, especially if you love the Nuna brand or own a Nuna infant car seat and don't want to deal with adapters. However, it lacks impressive maneuverability, passenger comfort, and well-thought-out design compared to other similarly priced strollers. Overall, in this price range, there are far better strollers with fewer misteps than the Next.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?

If you like the look of the Mixx Next and want a similarly designed stroller with all the bells and whistles at the same price point, the UPPAbaby Cruz v3 easily outperforms the Mixx Next. It has a giant canopy, a 30 lb storage capacity, and is easier to push and turn. If you think you would be fine with the capabilities of the Mixx Next but want a lower price point, we recommend the Joie Ginger dlx that has similar features and better maneuverability. It will save you almost $500, and we suspect any potential frustration will feel acceptable given the lower price.

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