6 best all-terrain strollers for making off-road adventures a walk in the park

Looking for a buggy that can handle rough rides and look good while doing so? Mamas and Papas has it covered with this stylish specimen.

The hood is huge, easily sheltering your little one from the elements, and the seat fully reclines for snoozing on the go. It also has puncture-proof tires and lockable front wheels for greater stability. But what we loved most of all was that it can be folded with the seat attached, whether front or rear facing – which is one of those things you don’t realise is important, until you have kids yourself.

It’s undoubtedly well-made – we felt proud when pushing it around – and it folds down nice and small for an all-terrain model. In short, we were impressed, finding everything intuitive, from the initial set-up, to the adjustable handlebar. Also included in the price is a bear and blanket for baby, which we thought was a super cute touch.

We love this smart limited-edition colourway, which is a collaboration between Mamas & Papas and British tweed manufacturer Abraham Moon. However if that’s not your jam, there’s nine stylish colours to choose from.

The latest release from Joolz feels like the Rolls Royce of buggies. Designed to grow with your family, it can easily be turned into a twin model, and folds with the seat attached.

There’s so much to love, including an enormous basket (the largest on the market), bouncy four wheel suspension, a built-in LED light for dark mornings, and a generous water repellent/sun-proof hood. It’s the perfect height to wheel straight up to the table, and the smooth, single-motion fold couldn’t be easier. Even the set-up is made fun, with a dedicated playlist that kicks off with Black Eyed Peas “Let’s get it started” — and we don’t want to brag but we’d completed it before track four ended.

Our mini tester was equally impressed, looking cosy as a bug in her padded, deep seat and appreciating the toy hanger loops on the bumper. The large ventilation areas were also a relief during the hot weather we’ve experienced. It’s also an ethical choice, with a tree planted on your behalf with every purchase. And for the ultimate peace of mind — it comes with a lifetime guarantee (ideal if you plan on having more children). Impressive stuff.

Luxurious and sturdy, at just 9.9kg Bugaboo’s fox 3 is a well-made pushchair, offering solid all-terrain functionality, without unnecessary weight.

The brand describes this model as having a “fingertip push”, and we can confirm the four-wheel suspension did make the fox 3 a notably smooth ride (and easy on our arms). Tires are puncture proof and our tester didn’t seem phased by any bumps when out and about. Like all models in the range, the bits you need to manoeuvre — handlebars, levers to fold, etc — are highlighted in white, making locating the relevant bits dead easy (even for the sleep-deprived parent). There are also twelve shades to choose from – so you’re sure to find one to suit your colour scheme.

If you have stairs to contend with or know you’ll be lifting it in and out of the car, yet still want something that can tackle rough terrain, this lightweight model is unbeatable.

If you can’t decide between a three or four wheel buggy, the iCandy peach all-terrain offers both options, allowing you to switch between the two. It’s a very handsome model, made with well-considered high-spec materials to withstand the elements, and comes with a five-year warranty.

However we couldn’t give this heavy model top marks as it does take up a lot of space and can’t be folded with the seat attached. We also found it the most complicated (and time-consuming) to assemble.

That said, there’s lots of clever, thoughtful touches, such as an SPF50+ canopy with multi-position mesh ventilation, a large basket for stashing all their gear, and car seat adaptors. The deep, comfy seat is also fairly high, so we’d be happy wheeling this one up to the table and feeding our little one lunch in it. It’s also available as a double or twin model for larger families. If space allows, it’s a beautiful buggy that is sure to last.

Active, outdoorsy parents need look no further, as this three-wheel model is made with jogging in mind. It’s reassuringly well-made, and thanks to large 16in back wheels (and a lockable front swivel wheel), we felt confident running over rough terrain, with our little one in tow. The adjustable handlebar brake makes it easy to switch between parents of differing heights while out and about, or slow down when going downhill.

It is possible to use from birth if you purchase the additional bassinet (however jogging isn’t recommended until your child is at least six months old). Otherwise the front-facing seat is reclinable for snoozing, and it comes with ample storage space. The fold was easy and intuitive (even with one hand), but to save space you’ll want to remove those chunky back tires.

Practical, stylish and ready for adventures, the Thule is a great option if space is less of a concern, and you don’t plan to use around the city too much.

For those with budget at the forefront of their mind, Ickle Bubba offers excellent value for money, with various bundles offering every extra you’ll ever need. You wouldn’t know it was a cost-effective solution to look at it though, with a choice of stylish silver or bronze chassis and various fabric colours.

It was easy to assemble and smooth to manoeuvre – that said, it doesn’t feel quite as well-made as more expensive models on test, and can be a little rattly at times, particularly over the roughest terrain. It was easy enough to fold, however, for it to take up the least space, the seat does need removing first, which would be tricky with your little one in tow. All in all, we thought this was a solid choice given the price.