Mountain Buggy Swift review

With its lightweight frame, spacious, comfortable seat, and 25cm air filled tyres, the Mountain Buggy Swift turns rough fields and beaches into a smooth and gentle ride. We also found the Swift great in the city, with its short footprint and an easy fold that our tester loved. And for the journey between the two, this pushchair folds down small and has the option of detaching all three wheels, so you can rest assured that it will fit into any car boot.

A stand-out feature of the Swift is its longevity. The pushchair can be used from birth with the carrycot, but the seat is also big enough to easily accommodate an older child (and it lasts until 25kg – to at least age four). Beyond this, there's a buggy board which attaches to the back and – excitingly – turns into a scooter, making this a standout option for those with children of different ages (though it's an extra £99). These factors give the Swift an impressive longevity, especially given its small size and the ease of manoeuvrability.

The Swift's three wheels work brilliantly; all are air-filled with suspension, making it a smooth ride wherever you are. We also appreciated the adjustable handlebar; it's easy to change the height and position to suit your needs with a flick of a switch. Our tester initially had to look at the brake and rearrange a few wires, which isn't ideal, but after that the brake was easy to use and very reliable.

As always, it's the details which push the Swift above its competitors. One small feature that stood out was the viewing panel in the hood, which is held open with a magnet – so there's no faffing with toggles or velcro. The hood is spot clean only, but this worked well.

We loved all the accessories, especially the storm cover (£26 at time of review); it's a perfect fit and sturdy enough to stand up to strong weather. It also fits easily in a pocket at the back of the pushchair, meaning you don't waste space in the basket underneath or risk soaking the shopping after a downpour. Also available are a variety of inside liners (starting at £39), a food tray (£10), a parasol (£25), and even (somewhat optimistically) a ski wheel attachment for snowy days (£19). The downside is they all cost extra; even the carry cot will set you back £139. For this reason, it's worth tallying up how much you'll need to spend before you commit to buying any of it; initial prices can be deceptive.

Overall, the Mountain Buggy’s Swift pushchair is capable of keeping up with even the most active of lifestyles. With the basics like the wheels perfected, it's the extra features which push the Swift out into the lead.

The Specs

• Suitable from: Birth – 25kg

• Weight: 9.1kg

• Folded dimensions (HxWxL): 72 × 58 × 31 cm

• RRP: £349 at time of review. Carry cot (£139) and car seat (£129) sold separately.

• Average resale value: £175

• Compatible with (baby car seats): Mountain Buggy protect, phil&teds alpha, Maxi-Cosi Pebble, Maxi-Cosi Mico, Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Maxi-Cosi Mico AP, Cybex Aton

• Available in Black, Gold, Berry, Silver, and Marine

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