In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Mountain Buggy Terrain Review

While there are some aspect to like about this option, we don't recommend it for avid runners
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Mountain Buggy Terrain Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $660 List
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Manufacturer:   Mountain Buggy
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Carrie Vickers  ⋅  Dec 4, 2021
63
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Run-ability - 35% 5.4
  • Ease of Use - 25% 6.6
  • Maneuverability - 20% 6.7
  • Quality - 10% 7.7
  • Weight/Folded Size - 10% 6.7

Our Verdict

The Mountain Buggy Terrain earned a below-average rank in this best jogging stroller review, making it an average competitor with a higher-than-average price. This stroller earned impressive results for quality, maneuverability, and ease of use. It is a nice-looking stroller with quality parts and is easy enough to push and turn that most parents will be happy using it for everyday adventures. However, it only scored a 5 of 10 for run-ability, which stings when you want a good jogging stroller. The adjustable tracking is challenging to use and doesn't stay true when the stroller hits the ground after being tipped back to turn; this makes it a poor choice for dedicated runners. The Thule Urban Glide 2 costs less and has higher or equal scores in every metric, making it a better choice depending.
REASONS TO BUY
Hand brake
Lots of storage
Good for napping
REASONS TO AVOID
Tracks poorly when running
Heavy
Editor's Note: This individual gear review updated on December 5, 2021 includes more information to help readers make informed decisions when comparing one option to another.

Our Analysis and Test Results

In 1992, the Mountain Buggy brand was born to fill one dad's need to take baby off-road, which required an all-terrain stroller he couldn't find. He created the Mountain Buggy all-terrain platform to enjoy the New Zealand countryside and fulfill an empty niche in the market. Mountain Buggy continues to alter and improve their style and designs to develop strollers for newborns to toddlers.

Performance Comparison



mountain buggy terrain - with hard to use adjustable tracking, the terrain continues to veer...
With hard to use adjustable tracking, the Terrain continues to veer to the side when running.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Run-ability


The Swift is below-average for run-ability, which is disappointing for a stroller designed with running in mind.

mountain buggy terrain - the swivel front wheel of the terrain can be locked in place for...
The swivel front wheel of the Terrain can be locked in place for running or uneven terrain.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Terrain has adjustable tracking, but the adjustment isn't effective, and ours needed realignment every time the front wheel hit the ground after being tipped for turning. The tracking is unlike any other we've seen, with a side of the wheel adjustment that took extra time. Adjustment happens by loosening the wheel nut connection and then retightening the nut. If the alignment isn't correct, you have to start over. After adjusting the tracking, we had trouble getting the Terrain to track straight when running, and no amount of continued effort would help. The play in the locked front wheel limits what the tracking can accomplish, and running with this stroller is a chore as it continues to veer slightly no matter what we tried. The Terrain has a handbrake that works well, but the center placement close to the bar gets in the way of one-handed pushing and impacts running ergonomics.

Ease of Use


The Terrain is easier to use than about half of the competition, but it isn't as straightforward as the top-ranking competition.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain folds with its wheels on the bottom and ready to roll.
The Terrain folds with its wheels on the bottom and ready to roll.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Fold and Unfold


The Terrain has an easy one-handed fold with two steps. The fold completes with you and the stroller in a standing position, and the carry strap makes it easier to lift. This stroller auto-locks and self-stands, making it easier to manage and store. Unfolding is a two-handed process that is straightforward.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain has a nice hand brake that works well to decelerate the...
The Terrain has a nice hand brake that works well to decelerate the stroller on the downhill run.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Brakes


The Mountain Buggy has single-action parking brakes and a deceleration handbrake. The deceleration brake is useful and easy to use. The parking brake is easy to set and release and is sandal foot-friendly.

mountain buggy terrain - the storage bin on the terrain has a maximum allowable weight of 22...
The storage bin on the Terrain has a maximum allowable weight of 22 pounds, the highest in the group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Storage


The Terrain's storage bin is large and holds an impressive 22 lbs, which is larger than the covered storage on both the BOB Alterrain Pro and the Thule Urban Glide 2. This bin held our Extra-large diaper bag and is accessible from the back and sides. It has a zippered mesh cover to keep items contained, though it isn't weatherproof like the cover on the two options above. The Terrain also has two mesh stow pockets for the passenger and two water bottle sleeves for parents (these are pretty cool).

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain canopy has a mesh pop out visor and small pockets on the...
The Terrain canopy has a mesh pop out visor and small pockets on the sides.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sunshade


The Terrain canopy is nice looking but is only average in size, making it hard to compete with giant canopies like that on the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0. This canopy sits high on the stroller and has a flip-out visor, which leaves smaller babies relatively exposed. The peek-a-boo window has a magnetic cover and is too far forward on the canopy to see the baby without leaning over. The shade has small zippered pockets on the sides, with one designed for an MP3 player with a hole for threading earbuds.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain has a 5-point harness that requires a lot of work to use...
The Terrain has a 5-point harness that requires a lot of work to use both in closing and opening the buckle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Harness


The Terrain has a 5-point harness that is difficult to put on, take off, and adjust. It has separate pieces to snap into the buckle one at a time, and when you press the button to unbuckle the harness, you have to pull them all out one at a time.

mountain buggy terrain - the recline adjustment on the terrain requires two hands and isn't...
The recline adjustment on the Terrain requires two hands and isn't as easy as the one handed options.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Seat


The Terrain offers the easiest two-handed recline in the group, though one-handed versions are still easier. The seatback lays almost flat for cozy napping, and it has an adjustable leg rest by way of a metal bar that slides out to prop the leg rest up. It works well for smaller babies, but larger kids may bend the bar. The footrest is aluminum and hard plastic; it is likely cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Car Seat Compatibility


The Terrain can be compatible with a variety of seats, including the best infant car seats with the purchase of an infant seat adapter. The adapters work with some models of the following brands: Mountain Buggy, Phil and Teds, Chicco (not the Chicco Keyfit 30), Graco Click Connect, Graco Classic Connect, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex.

Ease of Setup





The Terrain is relatively easy to set up, taking us just under 9 minutes to unpack and assemble. The manual is good, and it does not require any tools.

Maneuverability


The Terrain offers adequate maneuverability but struggles to keep up with the strollers in its price range.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain is fairly easy to push over terrain transitions and...
The Terrain is fairly easy to push over terrain transitions and uneven surfaces.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This stroller has a lot of flex in the frame, and the softer suspension makes it less responsive when trying to navigate tight turns or crowded locations. It requires a little more work to push over grass and gravel, and off-road trail navigation is only okay as the front wheel has difficulty moving over larger rocks. The Terrain is not the best at negotiating curbs with flex in the handlebar and soft suspension, causing some control issues.

The Terrain handlebar is adjustable with the largest range in the group. It is comfortable to hold thanks to a smooth foam cover and has a nice shape for running. The seat has adequate padding, and the rear wheels have soft suspension. We think passengers and pushers will be relatively comfortable using the Terrain over longer distances.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain is heavier than most of the competition, but it is...
The Terrain is heavier than most of the competition, but it is smaller than most.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight and Folded Size


The Terrain weighs 27.8 lbs, which is more than half the competition. It measures about 17,000 cubic inches when folded, with the smallest strollers measuring closer to 13,000 (like the Baby Trend Expedition. These measurements make the Terrain heavy and somewhat large, translating to challenging to lift and carry for some parents.

mountain buggy terrain - the terrain scored well for quality.
The Terrain scored well for quality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Terrain design and construction are better than much of the competition. This stroller has soft canvas material that is heavy and feels durable. The storage bin is durable and feels like it will withstand a heavy load without sagging. It has a clean design with nice attention to detail, like rolling the edge of the fabric where it attaches to the frame. However, it has a lot of flex at the handlebar and the fold joint. The wheels on the Terrain are heavy-duty plastic with pneumatic tires, with too much play and flex, which likely impacted its run-ability score.

Should You Buy the Mountain Buggy Terrain?


The Terrain sports a higher price tag and a smaller open footprint. Unfortunately, it is one of the most expensive options in our tests and it didn't perform well enough to justify the price or keep up with the competition. While we want to love this brightly colored option with the best water bottle holder in the business, the sleeve holder really is the only thing we love about this jogger. This jogger did not perform well in our tests for running and the adjustable tracking is so convoluted and hard to use we never did get a straight tracking stroller that lasted very long. If you have the budget for the Terrain, there are better options for run-ability and ease of use in this lineup, making the Terrain one we don't recommend.

What Other Jogging Stroller Should You Consider?


If the Terrain was one of your top options, then your budget is likely less of a concern. Luckily, in our lineup, almost all of the true joggers are less expensive as long as you steer clear of the top-ranked bike trailers for kids. The Thule Urban Glide 2 is one of our favorite options for jogging and for running errands. It has great performance for run-ability and includes covered storage with a 10 lb capacity so you can grab groceries if you need to. The Urban Glide 2 is easy to use and was a favorite with our professional runner. If you want something a little more rugged for moving off the beaten trail and into the woods, the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 might be the one for you.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & Carrie Vickers