First-time mum Renée Lapino road-tests the Mamas & Papas Ocarro with her new baby Ophelia.
[words by Renée Lapino]
Living in the capital, I was on the hunt for a practical, comfortable, and easy-to-assemble pushchair suitable for our everyday urban adventures. The Ocarro came highly recommended by a few friends, and – I have to say – it was pretty much love at first sight.
Mamas & Papas Ocarro Pushchair Review
The Look
With its soft, brushed flannel fabrics, quilted chambray hood lining and teak faux-leather details, the Ocarro is definitely easy on the eye.
It looks durable but stylish, and smart details like the removable cup holder and mesh panels for the rain cover complete the look. Mamas & Papas offers a wide choice of colours, but I picked out the Walnut colourway with matching carrycot, and it was a winner.
I’d always wanted something neutral and light – but that wouldn’t show dirt or dust (or potential spilled-coffee stains!) – and this colour felt like the perfect middle ground. There was something about it, too, that felt calming, and it is surprisingly easy to keep clean.
The basket underneath is tucked away but spacious, which is great because so many other compact strollers I looked at didn’t offer as much capacity as this one.
Usability
You get the best of both worlds with the Ocarro wheels – they look nice, yet they’re puncture-proof and can pretty much handle any kind of terrain. I’d take Ophelia for numerous walks over the bumpy ground in Kensington Gardens in those early days and she barely batted an eyelid.
This is a pushchair that can handle pretty much anything – it navigates just as well along a busy high street as it does over gravelly footpaths and long grass in the park, and the dual suspension makes for a quiet ride.
It’s certainly easy to set up, but the folding down definitely took some time to master, and I found it stiff at first. It helps that the chassis is freestanding when folded as it makes it super easy to store and it sits nicely in a car boot. It’s easier, too, when you no longer need the carrycot because you’re not juggling the two components anymore.
Weighing in at 13.7kg (an extra 5.2kg with the carrycot) the weight of my buggy wasn’t something I’d considered before having Ophelia – but since I live in a first-floor flat with stairs, I wish I had.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the lightest when it comes to carrying it up and down the steps to my house, so keep that in mind if you live in an apartment. But perhaps that’s the cost for such a robust product!
Comfort
Ophelia is a happy little camper every single time she rides out in the Ocarro, especially now she’s older and wants to see more of the world. This pushchair has grown with her.
The seat is spacious and padded, and I was thrilled with the little head-hugging pillow because it keeps her fully supported, even when she takes a nap.
There’s also a window in the extendable hood which allows me to see her through the sunshade without disturbing her.
I personally loved the cosiness of the carrycot, but you can also use the seat from birth as it reclines fully flat. Plus, it’s deep enough for baby to sit back cosily, rather than being perched on the edge.
Mamas & Papas Ocarro: The Verdict
For the most part the Ocarro had everything we could want in a buggy. It’s durable, rides easy over any kind of terrain and it even cleans up well. Ophelia was comfortable, safe, and happy whenever we went out in it, and we couldn’t have been more delighted about that.
It’s probably not the best option for anyone living in a first-floor apartment like me, but if you have little need to fold and carry it, I couldn’t recommend it more. Petition for Mamas & Papas to create a lightweight version, please!
