Mountain Buggy Terrain running stroller review: a well-designed stroller that’ll happily tackle most terrain

The most versatile running stroller on the market, the Mountain Buggy Terrain is great on both on rough trails and around town

Mountain Buggy Terrain
(Image: © Mountain Buggy)

Advnture Verdict

The most versatile buggy on the market – great on both on rough trails and round town.

Pros

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    Light

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    Durable

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    Swivel or lock front wheel (genius!)

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    Easy to assemble/pack away

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    Multiple handlebar height options

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    Handlebar brake

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    Easy clip five-point harness

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    Backrest at any angle & easy to use

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    Good carrying capacity

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    2 x bottle and 4 x zip pockets

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    Bumper bar available

Cons

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    Handlebar brake in awkward position

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    Rain cover tricky to attach, bulky and gapes at top and costs an extra £32

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    Front wheel clogs in deep, sticky mud

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    Handlebar brake slows it down but does not bring buggy to a complete stop with 16 inch wheels, only when using 12 inch wheels

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Mountain Buggy Terrain: first impressions

The Mountain Buggy Terrain must be the most versatile running buggy we put to the test for our best running stroller buying guide; if you combine your fitness with meeting friends or food shopping and want one pram that’s fit for all occasions, then this is a really great option. 

The genius in the design is a front wheel that can be locked into place for speedy running or left on swivel for quick, compact maneuvering around town, filling the ample undercarriage with a week’s shop. The two 750ml bottle holders and four zip pockets are handy for nappies, your purse, phone, tissues, gloves and so on. 

Mountain Buggy Terrain

The Mountain Buggy Terrain’s stand-out feature is a front wheel that can be locked or left to swivel (Image credit: Mountain Buggy)

The thick, grippy 16-inch wheels (there’s also a 12-inch pair for town) are really good on rough, rocky ground. It’s so good we were tempted to take it running in muddier trails than the other buggies, but the mud was so sticky it clogged the front wheel… oops.

The child passenger remains very comfy with the easy five-point harness and lie-flat backrest that is super easy to adjust up and down. You can also buy an additional sunshade to zip on.

The only downsides are that the handlebar brake is in an awkward, uncomfortable position, and the rain cover costs extra (and it is tricky to fit around the water bottles).

Specifications

RRP: $660 (US) / £660 (UK)
• Weight: 13.5kg / 29.8lb
• Folded size: 37in x 25in x 15in / 93cm x 63cm x 39cm
• Minimum age: Six months
• Maximum weight: 25kg / 55.1lb
• Colors: Yellow / Black / Graphite
• Newborn crib or car seat attachment possible? Yes
• Double version available? No 

Mountain Buggy Terrain: on the trails

Cybex Avi

On hot days the side and sunshade mesh are great for keeping your baby cool, but this means the buggy’s not so great for all seasons and weathers (Image credit: Cybex)

The Mountain Buggy Terrain comes with a choice of 12-inch or 16-inch wheels, but for the trails we popped the larger ones on and just kept them on even for town, where they are absolutely fine at that size. 

As this stroller was the one we used the most, we did find it got a puncture at one point (during hedge-clipping time), and it was really handy to be able to just slip on the other wheels for a couple of journeys and repair it later on when not in a rush. 

Trail-wise, the suspension is great; the baby remains very comfortable and you can put the grab-bar on as protection, like a sort of roll cage. The pram rolls well over most terrain, in all but the muddiest gloop, as the uniquely moveable front wheel is relatively small compared to the fixed front wheel of most other running buggies. 

The arch clearance area got clogged up with mud and fallen leaves through the dastardly claggy fields of Lincolnshire, but on regular wet ground with a moderate amount of mud it takes it all in its stride. 

Claire Maxted

The co-founder and former editor of Trail Running magazine, Claire now runs the YouTube channel Wild Ginger Running, creating films about trail- and ultra-running advice, inspiration, races and gear reviews. An award-winning journalist, writing for outdoor and adventure sports magazines and websites, Claire's first book, The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook (5k to 50k), is out now. Her second, The Ultimate Ultra Running Handbook (50k to 100 miles), is out Autumn 2024. Claire also speaks and presents at events and races.