Joolz Aer buggy review

The Joolz Aer buggy is a serious contender for one of the best lightweight, compact and collapsible best prams and buggies on the market. With Joolz announcing an update to this stroller for 2023, the Joolz Aer+, we take a look at what the standard version looks like, with an overview on the update, too.

Weighing a mere 6kg, the Aer fits in an airplane overhead locker and collapses in seconds with just one hand - super useful when toddler and baby are in tow. Ergonomically designed, this buggy has an easy-to-use five-point harness for extra comfort, a large storage basket and good ventilation in the hood.

The Mother&Baby Awards 2024

The Joolz Aer won Bronze in Best Lightweight Buggy/Stroller in the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

Testing the Joolz Aer

Here's what Mother&Baby tester, mum-of-two, Teresa Street, said after testing the Joolz Aer.

"With having such bulky prams in the past, I was looking for a pram that was small and light that came with lots of features. I needed a buggy that was easy-to-use and was comfortable for my children. I also needed something adaptable to all situations.

"When testing the Joolz Aer, me and my family took the buggy out on walks around town and across different terrains, with my 3-year-old and 6-month-old.

First impressions

"When opening the packaging I loved that the buggy fitted in a bag, instantly showing how compact it is and then pulling the buggy out, it was so light! There was no need to build anything or put anything together, it was as simple as taking it out of the bag and pressing the two buttons on the handlebar, then pull up to release the pram. The rain cover was stored in the basket. The storage basket is spacious and holds shopping, toys or a small bag.

"The build quality is impressive, it is strong and robust and has a premium quality feel. We have taken the pram out for urban and rural walks and would say it’s sturdy on both. I wouldn’t be taking it on really rocky terrain but it handles trails and grass well. My husband being 6ft 1in was more than comfortable pushing the Aer around with the higher handlebars. For my 5ft 5in self, I had no issues at all, it is very comfortable to push, it feels smooth and handles well.

"The Aer is extremely compact and when folded fitted into my car boot with ease – what a treat in comparison to some more bulkier designs I've used in the past. It was nice to be able to have space for other items in my car. In addition, I was able to store it at home with no issues on finding space. Although it’s compact when folded, the size of the pram when opened is a great size for manoeuvring around shops and doesn’t take up too much room whilst still being comfortable for my little ones.

"With the buggy weighing a light 6kg, it was easy to put in and out of my car, and I didn’t struggle whilst picking it up. The integrated shoulder strap is comfortable, which made it easier to transit the Aer if needed. I would have thought with the buggy being so light, it would sacrifice the build quality and the feel of the pram. However, this was not the case. The Aer, as mentioned, feels premium quality and I would recommend it to other parents.

"I was most impressed with how the pram opened and folded. It was so easy to do with a press of two buttons and a pull of the handlebar it would open and close with ease. This saves a lot of time compared to using a conventional buggy where assembling can be more tricky.

"The seat unit was versatile and I had no complaints from my 3-year-old and 6-month-old who took it in turns to use the Aer. They both seemed very happy and comfortable when seated and the only obvious adjustments needed was with the five-point harness, which is really easy to adjust. The seat can be reclined using the zip release in the back of the pram, whilst it reclines to a sleeping position, it doesn’t recline to a flat position.

"My youngest child never fell asleep in the Aer, and I feel she may have benefitted if it was in a flatter position. However, the older she gets the better the reclined position will be. One other gripe of mine is that I found it a little difficult to put the seat back to an upright position as you have to push the seat with one hand, tuck all the material back in and then use the other hand to zip whilst holding the weight of the child. It's easier if the child isn’t in the pram, but as a compact stroller, the Aer still feels fit for purpose.

Accessories

"We also used Joolz Aer footmuff that compliments the buggy well and is a must-have during the winter months. It was easy to fit onto the pram and is a seamless design. It’s made of lightweight materials which can be folded with the pram and doesn’t compromise on compactness. On a really cold day, I popped a blanket inside the footmuff as I felt it wasn’t going to be really warm inside. The footmuff is conveniently water repellant, so there's no worry when walking around in a light drizzle."

"We also tried out the Joolz Aer step board which came in a large box with easy instructions. The wheels were easy to attach on to the footboard but was slightly more difficult to attach the wheel clips onto the pram.

When pushing the pram it’s easy to manoeuvre and smooth but as the footboard is so large it’s not as easy to walk directly behind the pram/ footboard so do have to walk slightly off-centre. However, given the purpose of the footboard is for your toddler to use when tired, it’s a lot easier to push the pram like that than hold your toddler and push the pram.

I love that you can tilt the board up when it’s not being used so you can walk as normal with the pram and just as easy to tilt back down when it’s needed as this saves the hassle of taking it on and off. The only downfall is that you can’t tilt it up if the pram seat is reclined, there isn’t enough room for the two.

Folding the pram with the board attached makes it even easier to get the pram in and out of the car as there's no faffing with taking it off just one click of a button and fold. The only thing I would say is that if the seat is attached, the seat will stick out. You can still carry it, just will have the seat poking out.

I love how the board has given me the freedom to go out with two little ones without having to worry about what’s ifs. My toddler can’t wait to go on the board and can step on and off so easily when she wants to explore a little more."

Accessories you can purchase for the Joolz Aer

Footmuff

Leg rest

Bumper bar

Organiser

Cup holders

Car seat adaptors

Cot

Comfort cover

Joolz Aer final verdict

Overall, the Joolz Aer is a clever and well-built pram that hasn’t compromised on quality and sturdiness with its compact lightweight design. It’s easy to take in the car and on walks, plus it is comfortable for young and older children. Although the reclining part of the pram was something I mentioned that I had a little difficulty with, I wouldn’t consider any other pram than this.

Testing for the 2024 Mother&Baby Awards, our mum testers said:

"The pushchair is very light and really easy to use. My toddler seemed to find it very comfortable and soon fell asleep in it if he needed to. It is super easy to put up, a push of a button and pull another and it just unfolds itself. As it is light and compact it was so easy to put in the car. I’m sure it would fit in many a smaller boot. I loved that it came in a travel bag so any dusty wheels were contained. I can’t praise this enough as it's done the job with ease."

"I have really enjoyed using the Joolz Aer with my little one (18 months old) and genuinely feel that using it has made day-to-day life on the go that little bit less stressful. From opening the box to getting on the move with the Aer, the whole experience was effortless. I felt that the design of the chair and the useful in-built features make the Aer a very practical and pleasant pushchair to use. The handlebar height was ideal for me (being tall) and I personally found the Aer really easy to push. I felt that I was comfortable walking around with it on day trips (no back pain)."

"We had no issues fitting it into our very packed car and felt that it was a dream to set up and ready to use within seconds – perfect when you need to get going! The Aer looks smart and the Taupe colourway which we tested is very stylish and fit well with the rest of our accessories. My son was very happy in the Aer and certainly looked very comfortable and secure; overall a delightful compact pushchair!"

New for 2023 – the Joolz Aer+

Joolz unveiled the Aer+ in February 2023 and it has some convenient updates. The new buggy gains an elevated and eco-friendly design, made with 100% recycled fabrics. It continues to feature the lightweight frame and one-hand fold, but brings in an updated ergonomic seat that offers a bit more space for little ones to sit comfortably.

Other new additions include a larger ventilating SPF50 hood, a full-lie flat position, an LED light, new wheel design and a bigger under-seat storage basket of 17L. The Joolz Aer+ cot, which can also be used with the standard Joolz Aer, now includes a peek-a-boo window to keep a close eye on your little one. Read our full review of the Joolz Aer+.

FAQs

Are compact strollers useful?

Compact strollers can be a great addition to a family with a toddler, especially as we know toddlers can come with a lot of stuff (toys, spare clothes, snacks etc). So having a small lightweight stroller can mean things like creating more storage at home and in the car.

Are compact strollers ideal for travel?

Lots of parents praise compact strollers as they can fit in the overhead locker in an aeroplane. They flat pack nicely when going on a long-haul car journey, allowing more room for other luggage. Even if you're not taking a journey by plane or car, parents enjoy using compact strollers for tackling busy city centres and day trips to places like museums.