Mamas & Papas Ocarro Pushchair review

• Pushchair only
• 4-piece Starter Kit contains carrycot, pushchair (with rain cover), adaptors and a cup holder
• 6-piece Essentials Kit has the addition of a footmuff and a changing bag
• 8-piece Complete Kit also has a CYBEX Aton M car seat and an ISOFIX base

The Ocarro is touted as a pushchair that's suitable for city, parks and rough off-roading and it has both forward-facing and parent-facing seat options, as well as a separate carrycot attachment. The pushchair is pricier than other mid-range systems like the BabyStyle Hybrid City Stroller, the UPPAbaby Cruz Pushchair, and the Cosatto Wow travel system.

Buy Mamas & Papas Ocarro Pushchair: Mamas & Papas, Boots and Very

Tested by:

Claire lives in a town just outside of Wigan with her partner Keir and their 3-month-old son Arthur. She tested the pushchair over a 6-week-period, using it to walk to shops, in the park, on cobbles and on rocky, off-road terrain by the canal.

What's in the box?

A carrycot, pushchair, rain cover, adaptors and a cup holder.

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy? Which accessories would you recommend?

Buy a sun parasol, as I found that the sun got in my baby's eyes.

Is it easy/hard to build the Mamas & Papas Ocarro?

The pushchair is really intuitive, so I hardly had to reference the instructions. It only took about ten minutes to put the pushchair together.

What were your first impressions of the Mamas & Papas Ocarro?

When the four-piece Starter Kit arrived, I was impressed with how chic it looked. Our pram came in a grey twill colourway; with a padded grey seat and a fabric hood with silver trim. The carrycot is made out of the same fabric as the hood and I noticed that the mattress was thick and comfortable.

The dark brown leatherette pushchair bar and the handle both looked sturdy and well made. The black basket seemed spacious. I was also pleased to see that the pushchair came with a cup holder.

How does it compare to other pushchairs you've used?

We have an iCandy Peach, which steers well and looks good. I could put one bag of shopping and my changing bag in the basket below and it's sturdy. However, my son seems much happier in the Ocarro, because he can easily see what's going on around him. The Ocarro folds down with the seat attached and has some additional handy features, including a cup holder and a very generous basket which comfortably holds two large bags of shopping, as well as my changing bag.

What age is the Mamas & Papas Ocarro pushchair suitable for?

The Ocarro pushchair lies flat so it can be used from birth. You also have the option of using a carrycot.

What do you think of the carrycot?

The carrycot is good quality and easy to fit, but my baby started to feel uncomfortable in there from 3-4 months, because he couldn't see what was happening around him. As a result, he cried and kicked his legs, pulling carrycot cover off as it's only held on with press-studs. I felt that this was quite impractical and that a zip fastening would have been better.

Despite the carrycot being easy to attach to the chassis, it has a low fit, meaning that I couldn't access the basket below, which is very impractical.

Another disadvantage of the carrycot is that it isn't very long, but it's still bulky, so we were unable to fit it in the boot of our car. This meant we had to put it in the back seat–something that would be troublesome for people who have more than one child.

What do you think of the seat unit?

The seat is brilliant. I tested it in the flat, parent-facing position, as my son is only 4 months old.

The seat is padded and there's a plump, foam headrest. The harness is quite heavy duty, but the pads make it comfortable to wear. My baby looked very secure and happy when strapped in.

The hood also pushes right back, meaning that my baby could easily see what was going on around him – perfect for curious babies.

What age is the seat unit suitable for?

The seat unit is suitable from birth until your child is aged 3. It can be used in both parent-facing and forward-facing positions. To change the seat around is simple: just press a button, lift and turn it.

How many recline positions are there on the Ocarro?

There are 3 recline positions.

How comfortable does it feel for your little one?

My baby is very comfortable in this pushchair. He often falls asleep whilst being pushed; it’s great that he can fully lie down.

How does the Ocarro fold?

You can fold the pushchair with one hand. However, there is a hook on the chassis which you need to remember to undo. Once you know how, it’s easy to fold and unfold once you know how. We show how to fold and unfold the Mamas & Papas Ocarro in the video below:

How compact is it when folded and unfolded?

The pushchair is quite chunky when folded, but it stands up neatly, so it's easy to store. When unfolded, the pushchair seems quite nifty and compact. You can also adjust the height of the handle, thus reducing the size.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

The Ocarro fits comfortably in the boot of my Honda Jazz and my partner's Honda Accord.

How lightweight is the pushchair with the carrycot and also with the seat?

The pushchair is light to push when using both the carrycot and the seat. When you fold it with the seat attached, the pushchair is quite heavy, but I can still lift it into the boot without assistance.

How easy is the Ocarro to push?

It's very easy to push and you can lock the front wheels, which helps the pushchair to remain steady on rocky terrain.

How does it ride on different surfaces?

Nothing fazes the Ocarro; it's a seamless ride regardless of the terrain. It’s smooth on pavements and I was able to mount the kerb without any difficulty. I'm also easily control the pushchair on uneven terrain.

What do you think of the wheels on the Ocarro?

When I first saw the wheels, I was unsure whether they would be robust enough, as they looked like plastic. However, they are tough and having put the pushchair through its paces, I have no complaints about the wheels.

Is the frame strong and durable?

The frame is very strong. However, it showed signs of wear and tear on the wheels, the hood and chassis almost instantly.

What do you think of the handlebar?

The handlebar is adjustable and provides a decent amount of height. It's easy to push one handed.

How is interacting with your baby when using the Ocarro?

My son could look around whilst sitting in the rear-facing position, meaning I could easily interact with him.

How useful is the hood?

The hood feels well-made and sturdy. It's also attractive to look at; it is made using a textured grey fabric and has a silver, metallic trim. You can push the hood right back, meaning that your little one can see what's going on around them and pushes quite far forward, which is provides privacy and shade.

How effective are the brakes?

I found the brakes quite stiff to unlock. There was also a slight delay between the brake being released and the wheels starting to move again, which was a tad irritating. I also found manoeuvring the brake uncomfortable when I was wearing sandals.

How easily can you access the Ocarro's basket and is there enough storage for all your bits?

It's hard to access the basket when using the carrycot. It easier to get into it when the seat was attached, but even that took some effort. The basket is spacious though and I found that it would easily hold my changing bag and two large bags of shopping.

Is the Ocarro car seat compatible?

The Ocarro comes with car seat adaptors and it's compatible with Aton, Maxi-Cosi and BeSafe car seats.

Is it a stylish pushchair?

The Ocarro looks great – strangers stopped me to compliment me on it. I liked the grey twill colours; it’s sleek and gender-neutral.

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Who would the product be most useful for?

It's most useful for those that are going to use it on a number of terrains.

What was your favourite feature of the Ocarro?

The hood is my favourite feature, because it goes right back, enabling my son to see what's going on around him. However, it also tilts forward, giving some privacy, which is nice when he's sleeping.

Is it good value?

The Starter Kit (including the carrycot, pushchair, rain cover, adaptors and cup holder) may seem pricey when compared to other mid-range systems. However, the Ocarro can handle any type of terrain and has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the child and the parent, so I think it's well worth the price tag.

Where can I buy the Mamas & Papas Ocarro pushchair?

It's available from: Mamas & Papas, Boots and Very.

MadeForMums verdict

Overall, I was very impressed with the Ocarro. I think that it's has been carefully designed and well thought out. This pushchair has some great mod-cons: the seat folds up within the chassis, it's sturdy on all terrains and perhaps, most importantly, my little boy was happy and comfortable within the pushchair.

However, it isn't perfect; I didn't like the carrycot option and I found the chassis heavy to move around. Overall I would recommend this model to others if you're looking for a smart buggy that can handle a range of terrains.

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