Babystyle Oyster 2 vs UPPAbaby Vista: Which is best for you?

The Oyster 2 has the standard age range of most travel systems on the market, which is from birth to 15kg (approx 3 years).

Clearly the winner of this round, the Vista offers an impressive upper age limit of 20kg (approx 5 years), meaning it can be used for two more years than the Oyster 2. The extended age range is complemented by the extendable seat unit, which makes the Vista suitable for taller children as well.

But accommodating for larger/older children means that when standing the Vista is wider (63.5cm) and taller (111.75cm) than the Oyster 2 (55cmx106cm) and not great for tight spaces.

Which is more suitable for babies?

Both pushchairs come complete with a carrycot that can be used from birth to roughly six months.

But a welcome feature on the Vista for parents weary of moving a snoozing baby is the fact that their little one can sleep in the UPPAbaby carrycot overnight.

And while out and about the Vista can also double as a highchair due to the high position of the seating unit on the frame, which thrilled our reviewer when she was eating out.

Is the Babystyle Oyster 2 better than the Bugaboo Cameleon3?

What can the Bugaboo Cameleon3 do that the UPPAbaby Vista can't?

Which is more likely to grow with a family?

With a robust aluminum frame, comfortable leatherette handle and well-made seat unit and carrycot colour packs, there is no reason why the Oyster 2 pushchair could not last for the recommend 3 years. And if cared for, you may even be able to use it with a second child.

Saying that, there is only one victor in this round and it is the Vista, which has been built to last from birth to school age (approx. 5 years).

And for an extra £99.99 you can make the UPPAbaby an inline double pushchair with the addition of the Rumble Seat (pictured above). However, it works better as single buggy because space with two seat units can be quite tight.

*See full specs for the Babystyle Oyster

*See full specs for UPPAbaby Vista

Which is the better shopping companion?

Once you are a parent the days of going out with no bags are over. So for many of us it is important to have a buggy that can accommodate our mountains of luggage.

And it seems that both buggies were designed with that parental concern in mind. The spacious basket of the Oyster 2 can hold up to 20 litres and easily handled the multitude of bags our MFM tester threw in it. It is also very easy to put bags in and pull them out of the basket when with the seat unit on the chassis. But and here’s the downside, when using the carrycot the basket is not so easy to reach, because the cot is lower on the frame and reduces the access.

The basket on the Vista, on the other hand, remains accessible no matter the position of the seat unit or carrycot on the chassis.

In fact, our MFM reviewer was not only impressed with the access to the basket but also the size of the underseat container, which she describes as ‘the hugest shopping basket ever on a pushchair.’ A sentiment shared by many of parents who have expressed their own reviews on the pram.

Which buggy is best to push?

From the best aspect of the buggies to the worst, both the Oyster 2 and the Vista fail to impress when off road, with the suspension on each pram being the problem here.

Because of its lack of suspension, Oyster 2 users tend to feel the heaviness of the buggy when pushing on bumpy surfaces or uphill, even with an empty basket. Our MFM reviewer “felt fatigued” when she tackled a hill and cobbled roads.

Not faring any better, our Vista reviewer was jolted by potholed surfaces and had to give the pram a “good shove” when going over bumps or up on kerbs.

Other parents say the suspension on the buggy is far too firm and the hard no-puncture tire makes for a very jarring ride on rough terrains.

On a brighter note, the UPPAbaby and Babystyle pushchairs do manoeuvre well on flat surfaces and are ideal for urban areas, as they are comfortable and easy to push through shops and on flat pavements.

Which is easier to fold?

The BabyStyle Oyster 2 folds with the seat in place in both forward-facing and rear-facing positions. But it’s fiddly at first and takes a fair amount of practice before it became easier. The main difficulty with folding the Oyster is that you have to remove the bumper bar and apron to fold it when in the forward-facing position, which can be a major inconvenience. It’s also possible to remove the seat from the chassis and fold them both separately.

The UPPAbaby comes out on top in this category. Out of the two buggies it comes the closest to a one-touch fold system. But when folded the handlebar is positioned on the floor, this is good for standing the buggy upright, but not good if the floor is wet or sticky, because your handle will get wet or sticky.

Which has the most compact fold?

Oyster 2 52cm x 55cm x 70cm (when folded with seat forward facing) Vista 30.5cm x 63.5cm x 81.3cm (without seat attached)

The Oyster 2 folds into different sizes, depending on which way the seat is facing. Forward facing gives a smaller, but bulky fold. Parent facing gives a slimmer but taller fold.

The Vista can fold with the seat unit attached or not. And while it folds into a standing position, which is great for storage, the fact that the handlebar is positioned on the floor to keep it upright (as mentioned above) means that the handlebar is susceptible to any messy substance on the floor.

How much do they weigh?

Oyster 2 11kg Vista11.5kg

Virtually identical in weight when comparing the chassis and seat unit, both buggies are about average when it comes to heaviness. But because of its larger size, many parents say that the Vista feels quite heavy.

What about looks?

Each buggy has become an instant trendsetter in the market, which is in no small part down to the pushchair’s striking style.

Offering a choice of 3 chic chassis variations: satin black, mirror finish (shiny silver) and anodised (matt) silver, the seating unit and hood of the Oyster 2 is currently available in 5 eye-catching colours.

While the Vista chassis comes in either the black matte or silver aluminum finish, and the seat and hood is currently available in range of 8 dazzling colours.

Which pushchair is most expensive?

Babystyle Oyster 2 £488 UPPAbaby Vista £629

While both buggies sit in the middle of the market, price-wise, the UPPAbaby is likely to cost you around £150 more.

The Oyster 2 costs a reasonable £488 for a chassis, seat and carrycot. However, any additional frills you may want will cost you extra. So if you want to colour-coordinate your carrycot it will cost you a further £20.

The Vista, seen sported by US celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Kourtney Kardashian and Sarah Jessica Parker, offers a chassis, seat and carrycot in its package, but also a few added accessories such as 2 raincovers, 2 SPF 50 sunshades, 2 insect nets and car seat adaptors all for the price of £629.

Any accessories?

The Oyster 2 has fewer frills than most buggies in its price range, but it does offer a nice coordinating changing bag and footmuff. A nice but unexpected extra from BabyStyle is the integral mosquito net, which comes free.

The Vista already comes packed with an assortment of non-essential accompaniments. But if you wanted more gadgets for your daily stroll, like a parent organiser, snack tray, travel bag, cup holder or babyGanoosh they are available.

Parents with an older child can purchase an attachable buggy board for both pushchairs. At £40 the Babystyle Oyster 2 rider is much more pocket-friendly, when compared with the UPPAbaby buggy board which costs a whopping £75.99.

Are they travel system compatible?

Yes, both buggies are travel system compatible, allowing you to add a Group 0+ car seat for your baby.

The Oyster 2 fits a wide variety of car seats; the Maxi-Cosi Pebble, Cabriofix and Citi, a Britax Baby-Safe and SHR II, a Be Safe iZi Go, a Cybex Aton 2 and 3 and an Oyster own brand seat.

But the Vista is limited to the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix, Pebble and BeSafe Infant car seats.

A difference worth noting is that the Vista car seat adaptors are included with the buggy, but Oyster 2 customers will have to fork out an additional £15 for their car seat adaptors.

Which is better – the Babystyle Oyster or UPPAbaby Vista?

If you're after a practical, en vogue, urban travel system that can accommodate a wide variety of car seats, then you can't go wrong with the Babystyle Oyster 2.

If you want a gadget-clad, adaptable buggy with a massive shopping basket, that can be used for up to five years, then the UPPAbaby Vista is a great choice.

Read the full UPPAbaby Vista review

Read the full Babystyle Oyster 2 review

However, if you do not live in a city and want an all terrain pushchair check these out:

Bugaboo Buffalo

Phil & Teds Verve

Silver Cross Surf Elevation