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Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro review: a good-value buggy for runs, walks and rough ground

Can the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime work as both an everyday pushchair and running buggy? Find out how it performed when tested with a newborn and toddler.

Published: May 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Our Rating

4.2

A star rating of 4.2 out of 5.

GBP £349 RRP

(with carrycot)

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In a nutshell

A budget friendly option that works well as a jogger and everyday stroller. Though bulkier than a standard buggy, it is a versatile product for active families.

What we tested

Overall Rating

4.2

A star rating of 4.2 out of 5.

Pros

Cons

The Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro is a running buggy designed to double up as an everyday pushchair, giving families one option for walks, errands and jogging once their child is old enough. We tested the Venus Jogger Pro Prime bundle, which includes a newborn cocoon and key accessories needed for newborn use.

Suitable from birth with the included newborn cocoon, it can be used as a pushchair for everyday walks before switching to the main seat from 6 months. Its running-focused features — including large wheels, suspension, a hand brake and wrist strap — also make it well suited to bumpier terrain and off-road family walks.

At £349, the Venus Jogger Pro Prime is very competitively priced within the running buggy and all-terrain pushchair market, particularly as the bundle also includes the newborn cocoon and everyday accessories.

Parents who don’t need the newborn cocoon can also buy the Venus Jogger Pro on its own for £269, which may suit families who only plan to use it from 6 months.

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About our parent tester

Rachael tested the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime with her 2-month-old baby Angus, using the newborn carrycot for everyday walks on pavements and dog walks across fields. She also tested the pushchair with her son Jack, aged 3, while returning to running postpartum as part of her half marathon training.

Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair set up with newborn cocoon

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger to build?

The buggy was really easy to assemble, as only the two rear wheels needed to be clicked into place. This did mean it arrived in a sizeable box, but it was ready to use within minutes.

The instructions were easy to follow with diagrams and written instructions. As it was held folded with cable ties, it was a little fiddly trying to get scissors in to release them, but I managed not to scuff the frame.

Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair unboxed before building

What is the newborn cocoon like?

The newborn cocoon was easy to assemble with a firm base and sides that are reinforced with plastic panels. I felt comfortable taking Angus for longer walks in it, and he seemed settled enough to sleep. The lightly quilted effect looks attractive and means there is a little cushioning in the sides.

It is narrower than some newborn carrycots but quite long. When I placed my baby with his feet at the bottom, he sat quite far down in relation to the apron cover. Because of the narrow width, I would expect the fit to become tight, particularly if you are using a pram suit on a slightly bigger baby.

The cover is completely removable to allow air ventilation on warmer days and also has the option of folding down partially — though I used this more to be able to see Angus than for temperature control. The hood is a good size and allows for full coverage when used with the cover for wetter weather.

Attaching the newborn cocoon to the buggy was relatively simple, with 2 straps that fit around and underneath the frame. This is more fiddly than having a more traditional clip-on adapter, as you have to then tighten the straps beneath the buggy, but once installed, this felt safe and secure.

However, this meant that it was more difficult to see into the cocoon as the hood/buggy frame was in the way slightly. It also made the buggy feel quite long due to how it sat within the main frame.

2 pictures of baby in Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair newborn cocoon

How does it perform as an everyday all-terrain pushchair?

As an everyday pushchair, the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime handles well.

The suspension does a good job of absorbing bumpy terrain, although there is still some bounce, particularly on uneven firm surfaces such as poorly maintained pavements. It also handles well on firm grass/mud.

Though the tyres are narrow, it tackled soft ground well. With the front wheel unlocked, it is able to go up and down kerbs with little extra stabilising needed from holding the handle. The wheel’s movement does not make this any more challenging than when it is in the fixed mode. Lower kerbs can be managed without having to lift the front wheel.

It is also very easy to steer while moving with a tight turning circle. The ease of manoeuvring also means it is possible to push one handed — very important if you want your fitness tracker to pick up your steps while walking!

When using the newborn cocoon, the buggy does feel bumpier. Because there is less weight than with a toddler, you notice more wobble. To me, this is comparable to using a standard buggy, I just expected a little more cushioning from the springs in the wheels.

2 pictures of close ups of the wheels on

How comfortable is the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger for a toddler?

The back support is a good size for toddlers and the width makes it a comfortable ride, with a five-point harness that adjusts easily for size. Each side of the buckle can be inserted separately rather than being a fiddly act of getting all the pieces in the right place first.

Taller toddlers may find the buggy a bit short for them, but the footmuff helped provide a more secure and cosy covering. My 3-year-old son, Jack, was happy and comfortable riding for both walks and runs.

2 pictures of toddler in Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair

How does the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger perform when running?

The handling when jogging is, unsurprisingly, where this buggy comes into its own. It is much easier to manoeuvre with some speed, even with a heavy child in the front. The suspension also felt more effective when travelling at a quicker pace.

I am a regular runner but not a regular buggy runner. However the Ickle Bubba is easy to use so I quickly found a rhythm when using it. I did have to concentrate more on my body position to maintain a rhythm, however, overall I was comfortable running with this.

Due to the additional weight, I covered slightly less ground in the same amount of time but equally, felt like I had worked hard during the run. Switching back to walking mode for my cool-downs was easy — I prefer the wheel unlocked but this is just done with the flick of a small lever and then ready to go.

There is a security strap to wear around your wrist when running and an additional brake on the handle. Though the brake is fixed in the middle of the handle, it is much easier to use right-handed as the cable narrows the space for your left hand to hold the bar.

The hand brake is effective though I did not need to use it often. However, the mechanism is quite large so you need to move your hand from gripping the handle to deploy this.

The forward placement of the basket leaves enough space behind the buggy for a longer running stride without worrying about catching your toes.

How safe and secure does it feel?

The buggy has a five-point safety harness that can be easily adjusted to give a secure fit, important particularly when moving at higher speeds.

The foot brake felt secure when stationary and the hand brake responded quickly when used. The mechanism did feel a little awkward as it is more of a bike handle brake shape that required a change in hand position, but it reduced speed as needed. I was confident when jogging that the brake would help slow or stop us quickly if needed.

How do you fold the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime?

Folding the Ickle Bubba is straightforward and after a few attempts can be done in a fluid motion.

To fold the buggy, the seat does need to be reclined and you also need to remove or adjust extras such as the footmuff, bumper bar and cup holder.

To fold the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime:

To open the buggy, simply place it down, unlock the frame lock and lift.

How compact is the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime when folded?

It folds down well, the space taken up is comparable to my existing buggy (iCandy Peach). However it is quite a large buggy and takes up most of the boot.

What’s the handlebar like?

The handle has around 10 height settings which means it works for a range of heights.

The buttons are on the inside of the handle and can be pressed with thumbs in quite a natural motion. It does need both buttons pushing to adjust, so it requires both hands to do so.

The handle is covered in a light foam, making it comfortable to hold. However, the placement of the hand brake cable means that you need to tuck your left hand underneath this which could become annoying or be difficult to do if wearing gloves.

What is the hood like?

The hood features high visibility strips on it which is great for winter walks and can be easily removed by unzipping it if you prefer a clearer view of your child.

The coverage is not overly deep, which isn’t an issue when used with the rain cover, however it does mean that the shade is limited in sunnier conditions. It also annoyingly does not stay fully extended, instead bouncing back slightly after letting go of it.

The peekaboo panel allows good visibility of toddlers when sitting up, but there is not an option to keep it lifted so it is not possible to continually keep an eye on your passenger.

The ventilation panel is sizeable and rolls up easily, giving toddlers fresh air when lying flat to nap or reclining in the seat. When the seat is upright, the ventilation flap rolls up easily.

How practical is the basket on the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger?

Though the basket is smaller than some, it has enough room to keep the rain cover, footmuff and a blanket for colder runs or to fit a mid-sized changing bag.

The height from the floor means that even when loaded, it does not catch on the ground when tackling kerbs. All items felt secure when running too. The solid material meant that nothing was splashed when running in wet weather through puddles.

The basket is easy to access from the back when the seat is upright, but it is difficult to reach when the seat is lying flat.

2 pictures of Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair basket

How easy is it to clean?

The fabric of the buggy was smooth and easy to wipe down to get rid of mud splashes. The all-terrain tyres did hold onto mud meaning, once dry, the mud fell out onto the floor, but this is a hazard with any running or all-terrain buggy.

The ability to recline the seat of the buggy fully means that it’s easy to give it a quick hoover or wipe to tackle everyday toddler crumbs that may get caught in it.

What’s in the box?

What is the build quality like?

The buggy feels well made and secure. The frame feels sturdy and the wheels once clipped in feel secure. It stands up well to regular use in any weather.

The newborn cocoon is less solid than more traditional carrycots.. It comes flat-packed and plastic inserts are used to give it shape. This does make it feel a little flimsy, but as it is installed within the main buggy, the frame provides additional protection and stability

Being able to order replacement parts also gives peace of mind that, even if something goes wrong outside the warranty, it should be easier to repair and keep using.

Side view of Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro all-terrain pushchair

How sustainable is the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime?

Ickle Bubba has a vast range of spare parts and replacements on their website in addition to the product warranty. This is reassuring when it comes to repairs or replacement parts. Both the fabric and the frame feel durable and high quality.

Though the buggy arrived in a large cardboard box, there was no excess packaging with most of this being easily recycled. The fact that it was almost fully assembled was a bonus that outweighed the downside of arriving in a large box.

Ickle Bubba states that it is committed to reducing waste and offsetting carbon emissions, which is a real positive when investing in products to support future generations.

Is the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger worth the money?

As a buggy that sits at the lower mid-range of prices for both everyday and running use, it feels like a solid investment.

If you plan to run with a buggy, this is definitely one to consider. It is also a viable option for families who enjoy exploring bumpier terrain and want to include their baby in outdoor adventures.

However, it is a long and wide model, so if you mainly use public transport, navigate busy city streets or have limited storage, this may not be the best fit.

Where can I buy the Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime?

It is available from Ickle Bubba, Kiddies Kingdom

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MadeForMums verdict:

The Ickle Bubba Venus Jogger Pro Prime is a good-value option for families who want one pushchair for everyday walks, all-terrain outings and running once their child is old enough. It means you can avoid buying both a standard pushchair and a separate running buggy, which makes the bundle feel particularly good value.

The newborn carrycot is narrower than some and the way it fits into the main buggy frame is a little fiddly, but it still felt secure and fit for purpose. For families who spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoy off-road walks or want to run with their child, the features that make it a good running buggy also make it a capable pushchair for everyday adventures.

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Authors

Rachael Austerberry

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