UPPAbaby Minu Review

Over a decade ago, an American family started the UPPAbaby company with the dream of making family life easier with innovative products that didn't sacrifice convenience or features for the sake of style or budget. UPPAbaby produces several different strollers from full-size options to the UPPAbaby Vista designed for growing families. They also make the award-winning UPPAbaby Mesa infant car seat.

Performance Comparison

The Minu folds in thirds so it is compact and squat, but thick compared to a traditional umbrella fold.

Weight and Folded Size

For an umbrella stroller, the Minu is somewhat hefty with a weight of 14.9 lbs. This weight is slightly higher than the average.

The Minu measures 6,610 cubic inches when folded which is compact and fairs well compared to the competition. More importantly, it folds in thirds making a package small enough to fit in an overhead compartment. It also comes with a storage bag to keep everything protected and together.

The carry strap on the Minu can aid in carrying this somewhat heavy lightweight stroller.

Ease of Use

This stroller is one of the easiest in the review to use with useful features and thoughtful design.

Fold and Unfold

The Minu has a unique fold that is squat and almost square. The fold can be done with one hand (above left) and it has an automatic lock (above right) and self-stands. The stroller folds down easily on itself into thirds. It does require two hands to unfold, but it isn't difficult.

The single action brakes on the Minu are color-coded and very straightforward with no challenges for proper use.

Brakes

The single-action brakes of the Minu are color-coded with two different pedals for set and release. The pedals align by each rear wheel and are easy to press.

Storage

The storage bin is accessible from the back (above left) and front (above right) which is useful when the seatback is reclined. The bin is medium in size but we fit our large diaper bag inside. It has a 20 lb weight allowance which is huge for this style of the stroller, but the shallow design means you likely won't reach this limit. There is also a medium-sized pocket on the back of the stroller with a 1 lb limit.

Sunshade

The canopy is large for an umbrella stroller covering over the knees with a pull out visor (above left) for additional coverage. It has a mesh peek-a-boo window (above right) that is very large and has a cover with magnetic closure.

The Minu has one of the easiest harness and buckle combinations in the group with simple adjustments and easy rethread height adjustments.

Harness

The 5-point harness on the Minu is one of the easiest to use with a user-friendly rethread design. The straps slide easily for a good fit and the shoulder height adjustment slips easily into the seatback without a struggle. It also has an adjustable crotch strap and a buckle that only requires one thumb to open.

The seatback adjustment toggle on the Minu can be operated with one hand to recline but requires two hands to pull the straps to raise it.

Seat

The seatback on the Minu is adjustable and easy enough to operate but it doesn't recline far and is likely not the best for napping. The plastic toggle is operable with one hand to lower but will require two hands to pull the straps to raise the back. It has a padded leg rest that is not adjustable and a narrow, hard plastic footrest. The front of the leg rest has piping that could chafe bare legs.

Car Seat Compatibility

With the purchase of adapters, the Minu is compatible with the UPPAbaby Mesa and some car seats from Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex, including the Cybex Aton 2. The adapters for the Mesa are significantly cheaper than the adapters for the other brands, but you have to take the adapters off when you fold the stroller which is annoying at best and could result in lost adapters. Alternatively, the MINU Adapter for Maxi-Cosi®, Nuna® & Cybex adapters can stay on when you fold the stroller and are compatible with the award-winning Cybex Aton 2. For this reason, we recommend pairing the Minu with the Cybex as opposed to the Mesa.

Ease of Setup

The Minu is easy to assemble with a time of just under 4:30 minutes.

It comes with a nice quick start guide and doesn't require any tools for the two steps process of wheel and canopy attachment.

The Minu has single plastic wheels on each front leg but they lack the ability to lock in place for easier movement over rough terrain.

Maneuverability

The Minu has better maneuverability than many lightweight strollers. On flat surfaces, this stroller is easier to push than the competing UPPAbaby options we tested allowing room for a longer stride. With a short footprint, it negotiates small spaces and crowded streets with ease and no difficulties. Moving off-road is more challenging and you won't want to cross grass and gravel for long as the plastic wheels struggle.

The Minu is a high-quality stroller with durable materials and attention to detail.

Quality

This UPPAbaby stroller is as nice as they come with a stylish appearance and thoughtful design. It has a sturdy frame and limited visual connectors for a product that folds in thirds. The plastic foam-filled wheels are firm and not as likely to deform or dent as cheaper wheels. The fabric feels durable and we didn't see any errant stitching on our stroller. Overall, it has a better fit and finish than the other UPPAbaby options in this review.

Manufacturer Video