Review and comparison: Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle vs Bumbleride Indie

Mountain Buggy  is not a new stroller brand for me. Last winter in Tallinn, I used Mountain Buggy Swift, quite successfully. I hope to get around to doing a small review on that too soon. Anyways, today I had a good opportunity to compare side by side Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle (UJ from here on) and Bumbleride Indie (Indie from here on).




Both are three-wheelers, sporty, not not quite meant for running or rollerblading because they don't have the appropriate hand-break. They are mainly built for forward-facing use. UJ has the possibility of converting the carrycot into a parent facing seat (up to 15 kg), but in my opinion the solution isn't ideal due to very open seat and short canopy. But overall this review is from the viewpoint of using it with a toddler.

I did a review on Bumbleride Indie before, you can read it here.

Some technical data on UJ:

• Carrying capacity 25 kg (officially only 9 kg is allowed in full recline, though in my experience nothing has happened if a little bit heavier child was slept in that position. There is a chance of popping the front wheel of the ground more easily like this. So one should pay attention not to combine e.g a heavy organizer or diaper bag with this position.
• Seat length 84 cm (just based on the seat liner), but there is more space under the canopy + there is plenty of room until reaching the metal footrest.
• Weight: 11.2 kg
• Handle bar height: 86 - 117.5 cm
• Folded dimension: 90 x 63 x 33 cm
• Width: 63 cm
• Carrying capacity of the shopping basket: 10 kg
• Standing/Open dimensions: 119 x 88 x 63 cm

UJ is a bit higher stroller, and has more room for a tall child. The carrying capacity is more or less the same, UJ's shopping basket can hold a bit more weight (up to 10 kg) while Indie's is meant for 5 kg.

UJ has slightly better curb-pop but that also comes with some precautions when hanging things from the handle or having the child in full recline as described above. I personally appreciate that I don't have to worry about these aspects with Indie even though I never had a bad experience with UJ tipping over.

The footrest (calf support) on UJ is meant for much smaller kids as it is very short. From there it is meant that the child uses the metal footrest located much lower. So to me there seems to be a age gap there after the child's feet go over the footrest and reach the metal foot-support. Indie has a lot longer footrest, ideal for a child in the young to intermediate stroller using age, in my opinion. Now it is a matter of personal opinion which is more important -  higher seat back and more room under the canopy or longer footrest.

UJ has a hand-break on the side of the handlebar which is convenient to use in the bus for example. Indie has a foot-break, which to me seems a bit sturdier (more mechanical, so less things that could break in my opinion).

The UJ has a little better accessibility to the shopping basket, as it is open from all sides. Indie's is closed off from the three sides (thought it is possible to slip in something small from the sides as well). Also the shape of the shopping basket is different - UJ's is more triangle shaped while Indie's is rectangular. Even though UJ has many pockets in the shopping basket making it very convenient to put all items, overall I think you can put more items in volume into Indie.

On the UJ you can lock the front wheel with your foot, with Indie you need to use your hand. Not a huge difference, but in the winter with slush using your foot would be more convenient.

They fold quite differently. You can fold UJ with one hand and it fold seat upwards. For Indie you need both hands (and you need to fold the bumper bar down first) and the seat folds inward. The seat is protected on both, but UJ's version is more convenient when using a foot-muff as you don't need to remove it. But indie is almost 15 cm more compact when folded, so this is a big difference when you have a smaller car. 

The seat recline can be regulated by a rope system on both, both are easy to use though for UJ you need to make sure you regulate them evenly from both sides. Indie has one regulator in the middle. I liked UJ's system for lifting the seat back up though. 

The push is easy for both, they practically stroll themselves, capable on all-terrain conditions. Both have good suspension and air-tires. 

One thing I dislike about both is the fact that the harness cushions tend to fall down a lot, especially on UJ. For me it is easier to remove them and not use them than keep picking them up. Both should learn from Thule or Easywalker which have done this small aspect better.

 Above: Full recline with full canopy opened

 From the front, canopy folded back

 Viewpoint of the parent when pushing it

 From the back

 From the back downwards

 From the side, foot rest at maximum

 UJ's shopping basket

Indie's shopping basket (sorry for some dirt in there) 

 Indie's peek-in window, UJ's peek-in window

 Folded from the side

Folded and downwards

Points where Indie wins:

• Longer canopy and the canopy is sturdier in my opinion
• Longer footrest
• The bumper bar cannot be opened by the child
• The seat and canopy make a cosy nest for a young child for sleeping
• Fabrics are more water resistant and in my eyes prettier.
• More compact (76 x 62 x 30 cm)
• Bit lighter (400 g difference)
• Environmentally conscious production process
• More closed shopping basket that despite the smaller carrying capacity can hold more open items in my opinion.

Points where UJ wins:

• Longer seat, more room under the canopy
• Shopping basket has higher carrying capacity and a lot of extra pockets.
• Slightly better curb-pop
• Hand-break (convenient in the bus)
• The child has a better view from under the canopy, it does not restrict the view in any way.
• The bumper bar opens more easily, so for the parent it may be convenient for placing a toddler in the seat.
• Front wheel lock can be put on with your foot
• One-handed fold
• Footprint when open is a bit smaller (good in public transport)
• Easier to use when the kid has dirty feet.

As you can see they are quite equal when you just count the points. But of-course the points are not equal. One must choose which points are most important, as this can vary a lot.

In my opinion UJ is a really good off-road stroller, that can be easily used in the city as well. I don't think the designers thought that napping in the stroller is its main function though, I can that for Indie it is.

For those...

• who have less room in the car I recommend you take Indie,
• who have a smaller child, take Indie,
• who have a little older child who is curious about the world, take UJ,
• who need the stroller mainly for napping, take Indie,
• who want to use it from birth, I would take Indie,
• who need good protection from the sun, take Indie,
• who shop heavy items a lot, take UJ (though Indie will work well for shopping too)
• who carry around a lot of free-standing items (toys, clothes etc), take Indie,
• who want to hang something from the handle, take Indie (though this is not encouraged, but I would rather hang something from Indie than UJ),
• who need a bumper bar that is very easy to open, take UJ.

Both can handle rough terrain and winter perfectly. If you are choosing between these two, I would also take into consideration Thule Urban Glide 2 (review coming soon) and Baby Jogger City Elite (not to my taste in appearance but some like it).