Mockingbird Stroller Review

Mockingbird appears to be a fairly new company with only the Mockingbird stroller in their lineup. They claim a mission of empowering parents with innovative products that make life easier at a lower price.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Mockingbird is easier to use than the average full-size stroller.

Fold and Unfold

This stroller takes two hands to fold and unfold. It has an automatic lock to keep the frame closed, and it self-stands. It does not have any carry handle or strap, which is disappointing given its size and heft. To close, you push a lever and squeeze a button on the handle. Unfolding is more challenging, and the fold lock is very stiff and hard to undo.

Brakes

The Mockingbird has single-action brakes with a pedal located in the center of the rear axle. The pedal is stiff and harder to press than some of the competition, and it makes two click sounds before being properly set. We worry parents might think they've set it when it isn't fully engaged. The design is friendly for sandal-wearing feet.

Storage

The Mockingbird storage bin looks big and has good access from the back. It has a maximum capacity of 25 lbs, one of the highest in the group, and it fits an extra-large diaper bag easily inside. A metal bar goes across the back, but it didn't prevent us from easily using the bin.

Sunshade

The canopy on the Mockingbird is attached to the seat and rated as UPF 50+. It has a mesh peek-a-boo window for checking on your baby and ventilation and an additional zip-out mesh extension panel. Compared to the competition, it is only medium in size and doesn't come down far enough to cover the passenger's knees.

Harness

The harness on the Mockingbird is a 5-point harness. The strap webbing is stiff, making it harder to adjust than the average harness, but it doesn't slide loose over time, which is a plus. It has adequate padding for comfort, and the crotch strap is adjustable.

Seat

The Mockingbird seat is similar to some high-end seats in design and functionality. It does have an adjustable leg rest and reclines flat, but the seat maintains its shape. The lever on the back of the seat is easy to use and can be done one-handed to raise and lower. The entire thing is well padded and comfortable.

Car Seat Compatibility

The Mockingbird is compatible with several infant car seats, including some in our best infant car seat review. These include the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35, Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 LX, Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX, Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 (all models), Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30, Graco SnugRide 35 Lite, Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX, Graco SnugRide SnugLock Extend2Fit (infant models), Evenflo Nurture, Evenflo Embrace, Cybex Q, Chicco KeyFit, Chicco KeyFit 30, Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip, Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Air, Chicco KeyFit 35, Chicco Fit2, Chicco Fit2 Air, Chicco Fit2 LE, some Britax models, Baby Jogger City GO 2, UPPAbaby Mesa, Nuna Pipa (and some other Nuna seats), and the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30. We tested ours with the Chicco Keyfit 30.

The Chicco required adapters that had no assembly. It was a click-in attachment frame that worked well. To attach the adapter, you need to remove the toddler seat/canopy combination, but this is easily done. Unfortunately, it requires the two side connection points to be attached simultaneously, which takes some practice, and you could potentially think you have both sides when you only have one. Removing the seat is easier, and it feels fairly stable once installed properly.

Ease of Setup

The Mockingbird takes about 1-5 minutes to assemble. The manual is clear, and it only requires snapping on the wheels and the seat.

Maneuverability

This stroller rolls smoothly with little resistance over flat surfaces. It doesn't rattle, but significant flexing in the frame worsens the more weight you have in the stroller. This flex means it isn't very responsive, and most maneuvers need to be planned ahead of time. The wheels are somewhat grippy and provide traction, but the turning radius is huge, and we struggled to get it around tight corners. It also takes more strength to push and turn, given its size and flex. The Mockingbird performed better than the average full-size stroller off-road, but given our difficulty moving through doorways and tight spaces, we aren't sure the trade-off is worth it. If maneuverability matters to you, the Thule Urban Glide 2 excels in this testing metric.

The handlebar on the Mockingbird has a rotating adjustment (above left) to change the height. This feature is nice, but the handlebar is still somewhat low, and the rotation puts taller pushers closer to the rear axle where they might step on it. The front wheels on this stroller can be locked forward (above right) to make pushing over uneven terrain somewhat easier and prevent the stroller from veering off course.

Weight and Folded Size

This stroller is fairly heavy for a non-jogging stroller. At 27.5 lbs, it is about a pound heavier than the manufacturer claims and above average for the test group of full-size strollers.

The Mockingbird is also one of the largest folded products in the group by over 10,000 cubic inches, measuring 23,432 cubic inches in our tests with one seat attached. Even if you remove the seat to make a smaller fold, you'll still need to do something with the seat. Whether you have one kid or two, it is significantly larger than the similarly designed competition that folds much smaller.

Quality

The Mockingbird has a similar look and style to other top-ranked strollers. While it looks close at first blush, it does not have the same level of craftsmanship or attention to detail with better materials than less expensive models but not as nice as some of the competition. The frame has some flex, and there are a lot of exposed rivets and connection points that make it look less finished. The fabric feels synthetic and easy to clean. It is soft enough for cozy napping, but it doesn't fit the frame as well as it could.

The overall fit and finish are okay but not as good as similarly styled competitors. For example, it has leatherette-wrapped bars, but there are loose threads on the Mockingbird, and there aren't on the competition.

Should You Buy the Mockingbird Stroller?

On paper, the Mockingbird Stroller seems compelling. It appears high-end, can expand to seat multiple children, and it can accommodate a long list of car seats (adapters purchased separately), so there's a good chance the car seat you use will work with this stroller. However, in our testing, and when compared to others, the Mockingbird did not impress us. Its heft and large frame don't offer any notable or striking features. Of course, it will get the job done, but we think others in our lineup do the same and are more enjoyable to use.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?

If price is not an issue, and you'll be pushing multiple children, the UPPAbaby Vista v2 is a significant step up from the Mockingbird. Although this stroller is one of the most expensive contenders in our lineup, it offers impressive quality and more features than the Mockingbird, as well as better maneuverability, easier fold, massive storage (you'll be thankful for this perk when packing for two), and a giant canopy to cover your littles on warm, sunny days. Plus, if you're already using the UPPAbaby Mesa, this car seat is compatible with this stroller. Alternatively, a money-saving backup is the Evenflo Pivot Xpand. Like the Mockingbird, this stroller accommodates multiples and offers seat versatility. But, it struggles with the same issues as the Mockingbird, such as maneuverability and quality. However, it's less money, which might make up for what it's lacking.

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