Joolz Aer2 vs Ergobaby Metro3: Which Compact Pushchair Fits Your Family?

COMPARISON · ON THE GO

Choosing a compact pushchair can feel overwhelming. You want something light enough to carry upstairs, small enough for a plane overhead bin, and smooth enough that your baby actually sleeps in it. The Joolz Aer2 and the Ergobaby Metro3 are two of the most talked-about lightweight pushchairs in the UK right now, and for good reason. Both fold impressively small, both work from birth, and both promise to make city life with a baby genuinely easier.

But they take different approaches to get there. The Joolz Aer2, designed in Amsterdam, leads with premium materials and a one-second fold that has parents filming themselves doing it one-handed in airport queues. The Ergobaby Metro3, from the brand that built its name on structured baby carriers, focuses on ergonomic comfort and packs in features that competitors charge extra for. At around £369 versus £241, the price gap is significant. So which one actually deserves the space in your hallway? We dug into real parent experiences, compared the specs that matter day-to-day, and put together this honest comparison to help you decide.

Lil’ Bubba’s verdicts

• Best Overall: Joolz Aer2 · 8.5/10 - Premium build and the slickest one-hand fold in its class
• Best Value: Ergobaby Metro3 · 8.0/10 - Bigger basket, raincover included, and over £120 less

Quick comparison

Feature	Joolz Aer2	Ergobaby Metro3
Price (from)	£369	£241
Weight	6.5 kg	7.8 kg
Folded size	44 × 53 × 23 cm	56 × 44 × 23 cm
Max child weight	22 kg	22 kg
Basket capacity	8 kg	10 kg
Recline	Near-flat (zip-panel)	175° (one-hand lever)
Cabin approved	Yes (IATA certified)	Yes
Raincover	Sold separately	Included
Rating

How we picked the two

We track which compact pushchairs UK parents add most often to their registries, then cross-reference with real-world parent reviews and expert tests. These two stood out because they sit in the same cabin-approved, birth-to-toddler, one-hand-fold bracket, yet take genuinely different design paths. We excluded travel systems, umbrella-fold buggies, and anything over 8 kg to keep the comparison tight and the decision clear.

What to look for in a compact pushchair

Weight and fold size matter more than you think. A 1.3 kg difference sounds minor until you are lifting the pushchair onto a luggage belt with a baby on your hip. Measure your car boot, check your airline overhead bin dimensions, and compare those numbers against the folded specs. Both pushchairs here are cabin-approved, but their folded shapes differ, so one may suit your setup better than the other.

Recline mechanism. If your baby naps on the go, the recline becomes a daily interaction. Look for a near-flat option that works from birth without a separate bassinet attachment. Some mechanisms are simpler than others, and a fiddly recline can wake a sleeping baby at exactly the wrong moment.

Suspension and wheels. Small wheels are the trade-off that makes compact pushchairs compact. Good suspension helps compensate, but no lightweight buggy will handle gravel tracks the way a full-size pushchair does. Be honest about your terrain: mostly pavements and shopping centres, or mostly park paths and cobblestones?

What is included versus what costs extra. A raincover, bumper bar, or carry bag sold separately can add £50 to £100 to the real cost. Factor those extras in before comparing headline prices, because the cheapest pushchair on paper is not always the cheapest once you have everything you need.

1. Joolz Aer2 / 10 · Best Overall

The Joolz Aer2 is the compact pushchair that keeps getting compared to full-size models, and that is the highest compliment in this category. Designed in Amsterdam and built with recycled fabrics, it folds in one second with one hand and stands upright on its own afterwards. At 6.5 kg, it is one of the lightest birth-to-toddler pushchairs available in the UK, and its IATA-certified fold fits comfortably into most overhead bins.

Parents consistently praise the ride quality. The all-wheel suspension smooths out pavement cracks and cobblestones better than most travel strollers manage, and the extended UPF 50+ canopy is one of the best in its class. It covers well even in low sun and features a peek-a-boo mesh window so you can check on your little one without stopping.

What parents love

• One-hand, one-second fold. One parent told us: "Folding is a dream - one hand, one second, and it stands on its own. Game-changer when you are holding a baby and bags."
• Rides like a bigger pushchair. Parents we hear from regularly say it feels more like a robust full-size stroller than a travel buggy, thanks to the suspension and wheel setup.
• Outstanding sun canopy. Wide coverage with a zip-open extension that covers the child completely, plus a mesh window for ventilation.
• Genuine newborn recline. A parent shared: "The deep newborn recline meant we did not need a separate carrycot for the first few months."

What to know before you buy

• Fixed handlebar height. There is no telescoping handle, so taller parents above roughly 185 cm may find the push height uncomfortable on long walks.
• Recline zip can be fiddly. The zip-panel recline mechanism is tricky to adjust while your baby is napping without risking a wake-up.
• Extras add up. The raincover, bumper bar, and footmuff are all sold separately, which can push the total cost well above the base price.

Best for

• Frequent flyers and holiday families who need a cabin-approved fold
• Urban parents navigating buses, trains, and crowded high streets
• Parents wanting one pushchair from birth through to toddlerhood
• Those who value premium build quality and sustainable materials

2. Ergobaby Metro3 / 10 · Best Value

The Ergobaby Metro3 comes from the brand that built its reputation on ergonomic baby carriers, and that DNA shows throughout the pushchair design. The padded seat is one of the most comfortable in the compact category, with a 175-degree near-flat recline that works from birth thanks to an integrated newborn nest. At around £241, it undercuts many competitors while including a raincover in the box.

The CushionRide suspension system on all four wheels absorbs bumps well for a lightweight buggy, and the 10 kg basket capacity is notably generous - big enough for a changing bag and a small shop. Parents who have tried multiple compact pushchairs often comment on how plush and well-padded the seat feels compared to alternatives at this price point.

What parents love

• Comfortable, padded seat. One parent told us: "My daughter does her big midday nap in it and wakes up happy. It is that comfortable."
• Compact fold with carry handle. A parent shared: "It folds up so neatly, stands on its own, and the handle in the seat lets you pick it up like a bag."
• Excellent city manoeuvrability. Parents we hear from regularly say it is narrow enough for tight shop doorways and restaurant aisles, with responsive one-handed steering.
• Proven travel companion. One parent put it best: "It has been on five plane trips and it is still going strong. Pushes smoothly, steers one-handed, the basket holds everything."

What to know before you buy

• Unfolding takes practice. The fold is easy, but opening it back up needs both hands and a specific wrist motion that is not intuitive at first.
• Recline adjustment needs force. Pulling the recline back to upright requires significant effort - enough that you would not do it with a child sitting in the seat.
• Slightly heavier at 7.8 kg. The extra padding and larger basket add 1.3 kg compared to the Aer2, which matters if you are regularly carrying it up stairs.

Best for

• City-dwelling families who want comfort without the premium price tag
• Budget-conscious parents who do not want to pay extra for a raincover
• Small-car and small-flat households where the compact fold matters most
• Parents who prioritise seat comfort for longer outings and naps on the go

What about the Bugaboo Butterfly?

The Bugaboo Butterfly is another popular choice in this bracket, and parents often weigh it against both the Aer2 and the Metro3. We do not currently stock it through our retail partners, so we cannot include a shop link here. If you are considering a Butterfly, look at the handlebar height (it is fixed, like the Aer2) and the canopy coverage, which some parents find smaller than they expected.

How to choose

Pick the Joolz Aer2 if weight is your top priority and you will be lifting the pushchair frequently - on and off planes, up stairs, or onto public transport. At 6.5 kg with a genuinely one-second fold, it is the lighter and faster option. The ride quality and canopy are best-in-class for a compact, though you will spend more upfront and on accessories.

Pick the Ergobaby Metro3 if value and comfort matter most. The included raincover, larger basket, and plush seat mean you get more in the box for over £120 less. It is slightly heavier and the unfold mechanism takes getting used to, but parents who prioritise seat comfort and everyday city practicality rate it very highly.

Add it to your Nest

Comparing pushchairs is easier when everything is in one place. Add your favourites to your free BubsNest registry and share the shortlist with your partner before you decide.