Joie Mytrax review

Aside from its award-winning car seat collection, the British company, whose founders call themselves a “group of friends and parents”, has an impressive portfolio of buggies, highchairs, travel cots and bouncers. All products are vigorously tested at each stage of the manufacturing and development process, so that they are are safe, effective and user-friendly.

I was therefore very excited to try one of the brand’s latest products, the Joie Mytrax, a high-quality, no-fuss stroller that looks very similar to the popular and award-winning Litetrax, but with a few extra features.

With an RRP of £250, the Mytrax is a good value option for those in search of a sturdy, easy-to-fold buggy. The Joie brand has a USP of good quality for reasonable prices. It is therefore in a different category to the likes of the ever popular Buggaboo, where the basic Cameleon costs upward of £700. Competitors, price-ways, are often simple umbrella strollers, such as the Maclaren Techno XT or the Cosatto i-spin stroller, or more lightweight options such as the Quinny Zapp Xtra.

You can buy the Joie Mytrax from Uber Kids among others.

For more good value buggies, read our round-up of the best under £250 here.

What were your first impressions of the Mytrax?

As a mum of two to Lacie (4) and Elliott (2) and an avid walker, I was happy to get my hands on the Joie Mytrax. At first glance the stroller looked big enough to accommodate my son, who is starting to look too big for our current pram. I also thought it looked high-end, non-intrusive and something that will withstand all of my walking and constant bumping into things.

Until now, we used only one pram. With two kiddies I have been reluctant to change the pram to a buggy, because I like the storage space, the parent-facing, big fleecy seat and - most of all - the buggy-board. However, my daughter is now off to school, so it’s just me and my 2-year-old, so I was so happy to test and start using a smaller, more compact stroller like the Mytrax.

Whereas Elliott resisted our previous pram, I haven’t had the same problem with the Mytrax because he can now practise his independence using the foot-rest to get in and out of the buggy himself. Journeys to the shops seem that little bit easier, without tears. As it’s just him and me during the day, a simple stroller makes sense and the buggy-board can go. Life suddenly seems a little less stressful – and quicker! I also don’t feel like I’m pushing around a big clunky pram loaded with two kiddies and all the luggage that comes with them.

What age is it suitable for?

The Mytrax is perfect for my little boy. It is pretty big and stable, which is exactly what I need for a solid and fidgety 2-year-old. The pushchair isn’t just for toddlers though. It can be used from birth the rambleTM carrycot or the gemmTM or i-GemmTM infant car seats.

How compact is the Joie Mytrax?

The Joie Mytrax is compact enough to fit in the boot of my Vauxhall Corsa and it feels really lightweight to push (when my son isn't in it at least). When folded flat it measures 81.5x59.5x33.5cm and when open 90x59.5x101cm - perfect for keeping in my porch and manoeuvring around town.

How does the Mytrax fold?

The Joie Mytrax has a unique folding mechanism, which is located in the seat. You simply pull the seat flap up, pull the handle up (with one hand might I add!) and presto it folds in half. To release the auto fold, you unlock the latch on the frame and it pops back up. It couldn’t be easier – and it’s perfect in a rush (which is most of the time).

How easy is it to push?

It was very lightweight and easy to manoeuvre and easy enough to push one-handed while carrying a shopping basket or holding my elder daughter’s hand. The large wheels mean my son sits in a comfortable, high-up position giving him a good view of the big wide world, which in turn keeps him distracted and entertained.

I don’t tend to walk off-road very often but when I did, it went over the grass with ease. Plus, the large wheels with suspension made it super easy to go up and down kerbs without too much muscle-power or upheaval – perfect when Elliott was napping!

How does it work on transport – buses and trains?

The Mytrax was great for whizzing in and out of shops and great for the school run. I don’t tend to get buses or trains very often but I’m pretty confident it would have been fine and it would have been easy enough to get on and off without an extra pair of hands. Saying that we did ‘um and ah’ about taking it on our annual holiday to Canada and instead decided that my mother-in-law’s Recaro Easylife was a lot smaller and more convenient for the airport and storing in the small hotel rooms. The Mytrax would have been fine but the smaller Easylife seemed more like a holiday buggy and I didn’t want the Mytrax being thrown on and off of planes. It felt too nice!

Best buggies for city life and public transport.

How easy is it to store?

Storing this buggy is a pleasure. I like that it stands when folded, so I can slide it into a gap if it needs to be out of the way. I also like that it folds down so easily and I can do it on my own confidently. It makes going into busy toddler sessions so much easier and quicker, and if space is tight I can simply store it out of the way or walk in with it already folded up. There’s nothing worse than a buggy traffic jam with an impatient toddler.

Is it affordable and value for money?

Retailing for around £250, the Joie Mytrax is worth every penny. It feels high-end, high-quality and the fact that it can be used from birth all the way until 3 to 4 years old makes it very reasonable indeed. Its quality and style should definitely make it through three years plus, making it very good value for money.

Is it suitable from birth?

Thanks to the flat reclining seat I would be comfortable putting a newborn in the buggy - however, we do recommend the use of a carrycot (has to be bought separately) which is more flat and firm for newborns.

The hood is also very big and covers most of the seat when extended so I would be confident that my baby would be well-shaded, lying flat and protected. The Mytrax also feels study and safe so I wouldn’t have any problems with this. The only thing I do like with a newborn is to have them facing me so I can see them at all times. The Mytrax only faces outwards with the included seat, but there is a generous viewing window in the hood that allows you to see most of the baby when lying down.

The best buggies suitable from newborn.

What do you think of the seat size?

The seat is very generous and comfortable. It’s padded with a nice wipe-clean material and accommodates my son well. At approximately 59.5cm wide it's a little wider than the pram he’s already in and he has plenty of wiggle room – which will be great in winter when he’ll be wearing a coat.

What do you think of the height of the buggy?

The height is just perfect for me. I’m 5’2” and my hubby is 6’2” – so he loved it too. The handle bar is adjustable to two different heights so that came in handy, and the handle feels really wide and well-positioned making it great to push!

Is the frame strong and durable?

Yes, the frame seems very strong. Overall, it’s a well-built buggy that has clearly been made with high-quality materials and is built to last.

What do you think of the Joie Mytrax fold system?

I LOVE the fold system. It’s easy and intuitive, quick to perform, and easy to remember. You just put the hood back and then pull a handle in the seat. It collapses on itself and the fastener engages. I don’t have to fold buggies very often and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a mind-blank at an airport or at my car boot. The quick and easy fold on the Joie Mytrax offered new ways to move around with a buggy and I had no problems just whipping Elliott out and folding it down quickly and easily.

Is it a one-hand fold?

100%. It’s super easy and convenient – and the folding handle is well placed and marked out so you can’t miss it.

Some of the easiest to fold buggies.

What do you think of the handle?

The handle is well-positioned, padded, grippy and comfortable. I love that it comes with a clip on cup holder too, which is super convenient for my drinks and his. It took a little bit of time to work out how to extend the handle but all you do is pull up two discreet leavers on each side and it comes up really high (101cm) - far too high for me, but just perfect for my husband.

How is interacting with your little ones when in the buggy?

It’s relatively easy to interact as there is a generous viewing window in the hood – and it’s also pretty easy to see over the hood when it’s folded up. My little one was happy as Larry watching the world go by, so there wasn’t much need for communication - which was unusual.

Did you like the hood?

The hood is super generous and can be unzipped to cover the whole pram, which I love! I also love that it’s UPF 50+ which has been really handy on hot summer days and when he wants to sleep without the sun in his eyes. The rain cover was also very easy to attach with top to bottom coverage and plenty of strong velcro straps that kept it in place even in the strongest of winds.

What are the basket and storage pockets like?

The basket is smaller than I would usually like and very square. I wouldn’t be able store my big bag and my shopping, but what it does store is secure and well placed under the seat. I loved the separate smaller compartment for storing keys, dummies, purse etc and that it can easily be accessed from the front and sides. I did however find that once you had the rain cover in there, there wasn’t much room for much else. I also found that once the seat was reclined it was rather hard to reach anything from the back of the baggy but you do have side access – so that is something to bear in mind when packing things away.

Tell us about the brakes

The brakes are reliable, responsive and more than sufficient enough to stop the buggy rolling away when stationary. To operate the brake you simply push a foot lever down and then flip it back up to release. It’s in a good position, it moves fluidly and it doesn’t get in the way when walking and pushing.

I can’t say I noticed the effect of the ‘ShoeSaver’ feature, which promises to not scuff your shoes. It’s a nice idea if you’re on the nursery run before work and don’t want to scuff your nice polished shoes, but I can’t say that I noticed any difference.

What do you think of the tyres?

The tyres are chunky and robust. The front wheels (foam-filled) have a swivel lock and are much smaller than the back (air-filled) wheels. They all have a nifty spring suspension system. They also felt very grippy – so although we haven’t experienced any ice or snow as yet I’d be pretty confident that it would handle winter weather well.

Is it car seat adaptable?

Yes, it’s suitable from birth and compatible with the Gemm infant car seat. You’ll have to buy the adapters separately though.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

Yes. The Mytrax folded dimensions are 81.5x59.5x33.5cm and it fits nicely into my Vauxhall Corsa and my husband’s BMW with plenty of room to spare.

What’s in the box?

• Buggy
• Instructions
• Rain cover
• Hood
• Cup Holder

What other accessories can you get?

• Joie Ramble carrycot (£100)
• Adaptors for carrycot or infant car seat (£15)
• i-Gemm carseat (£130)

How easy is it to assemble the Mytrax?

The assembly was extremely quick and easy. The instructions were clear but I didn’t even need to use them. It was obvious which wheels clicked in where. The trickiest part was attaching the hood, which fastened with a zip. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t hard – it just needed a little bit of patience.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

How easy it was to fold and how comfortable it would be for my son. It’s made trips out so much easier. I also like that my daughter – a petite 4-year old could sit in it if she wanted too!

Who would the product be most useful for?

Anyone who does a lot of walking and wants a sleek and practical stroller that will last and see them through from birth to toddler.

Is there anything unique about this product?

I think just the no-fuss, practical design. It reminds me of my old running buggy but more compact. It’s nippy, handles obstacles, bumps and corners well and I love the recline system - a handle on the back of the seat that pulls up and then brings the seat down smoothly. No annoying toggle, and there are four different recline positions too. There’s nothing worse than jolting your child down to lie flat with those fiddly toggles that have to be pulled and pushed to get the seat in the right position.

Has the product or the parent company won any awards?

Joie has won numerous awards for its variety of products - in particular its car seats and the Litetrax 3 buggy. I would say that the Mytrax should be up for an award too as it’s well-built, well thought out, innovative and in my opinion ticks near enough every parenting box.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Joie Mytrax is no-fuss, sleek and comfortable for my son as well as lovely to push, solid and good quality. I like that my two-year likes it and I like that it folds away easily – perhaps a bit extra storage wouldn’t go amiss – but you can’t always have everything, can you?

Explore some more pushchair review:

• Baby Jogger City Mini
• Bugaboo Bee 5
• Out 'n' About Nipper 360

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