Out'n'About are renowned for their excellent all terrain Nipper 360 range. They've recently introduced the Little Nipper, a simple stroller designed to for use in urban areas.
Quick Summary: If you are looking for a chunky urban stroller, but want to avoid traditional umbrella fold designs, then take a look at the Little Nipper, it has a great seat and simple quick fold - oh yes and it is very light!
Whats good?
- Seat is very spacious
- Very generous basket
- Very lightweight
- Great value for money
- Lovely drivability
Whats not so good?
- Two narrow wheels at the front look a little odd
The Out’n’About Nipper 360 range has been popular for many years with parents who love the flexibility of all-terrain wheels. Out’n’About have introduced something a little more urban in the form of the Little Nipper. We check it out and let you know if it will be for you in out Out’n’About Little Nipper Review.
Available Colours: Poppy Red, Marine Blue, Jet Black.
Straight out of the box, the Out’n’About Little Nipper feels light for its size. We have the marine blue, black chassis combination which looks very smart. The most striking design element you immediately notice is the double wheel at the front. It is an interesting idea and will probably help if you ever have to take the Little Nipper away from its natural urban environment.
Up at the top, the Out’n’About Little Nipper has a versatile handle that moves from 104cm to 77cm – its very lowest position. It has 7 positions across this range so everyone should find a height that is comfortable. The handle is foam covered and features a wrist strap in the centre. For me, there is one small problem. The handle is quite narrow positioning my hands too close together. I feel this compromises ultimate maneuverability, however this can be resolved by putting the handle right to its highest position and holding the outer ends that are now upright.
Chassis
Straight out of the box, the Out’n’About Little Nipper feels light for its size. We have the marine blue, black chassis combination which looks very smart. The most striking design element you immediately notice is the double wheel at the front. It is an interesting idea and will probably help if you ever have to take the Little Nipper away from its natural urban environment.
Up at the top, the Out’n’About Little Nipper has a versatile handle that moves from 104cm to 77cm – its very lowest position. It has 7 positions across this range so everyone should find a height that is comfortable. The handle is foam covered and features a wrist strap in the centre. For me, there is one small problem. The handle is quite narrow positioning my hands too close together. I feel this compromises ultimate maneuverability, however this can be resolved by putting the handle right to its highest position and holding the outer ends that are now upright.
Putting on the Out’n’About Little Nipper brakes is as simple as pushing the very obvious red pedal that sits at the centre of the rear axle. To release the brake, lift back up with your toe. It takes a little effort, but can still be done with open toe shoes without inducing any wincing!
The Little Nipper’s basket measures 40cm x 27cm x 15cm. It is not huge and access is a little compromised, however you will get a bag of shopping and a bit more in there if you try. The basket is made from a mesh material without solid base. I think weight will be more of a problem than volume.
I do love the Out’n’About Little Nipper wheel design. The 3 ‘dials’ remind me of 80 and 90’s Alfa Romeos which cannot be a bad thing. Each of the 4 wheels measures 20cm. As I mentioned earlier the distinctive front wheel assembly actually has two wheels. However much I look at the Little Nipper, this is one design element I cannot seem to fall for. The two narrow wheels just look a little odd. I am sure there is good reason for there being two wheels, it is just not to my taste. Each to their own I guess.
Seat
While the seatback height is only 46cm, there is actually between 50-55cm of available space below the hood. The seat is wide too, measuring 33cm at its narrowest part. This is great as it means that the Little Nipper will remain comfortable even when you little one gets to the stage in life when they are ‘not sure if I want to ride in the pushchair, but tired at the end of the day’.
The seat can be made more snug but adding in the liner that comes with the Little Nipper. It is a nice touch, but the material it is made from does appear a little low budget.
With such a big seat, your little one will no doubt get to the stage when they want to climb in and out on their own. The good news is Out’n’About have included a gate opening Bumper Bar as standard. It is easy to release, just pull back the red catch, pull the bumperbar out and it swings out of the way. The removable cover is a nice too, making it easy to remove and pop in the washing machine to clean it.
Coverage from the hood is good especially with the sun visor extended. It is a shame then that you cannot hold the fabric tight when the hood is pulled forward. With the hood deployed, it all looks a little saggy; in addition, the hood is very noisy with a rather unfortunate low quality feel to the ratchet. On top of the hood there is a viewing window which is held in place with Velcro.
Strap reclines are not a favourite here at Pushchair Expert, however the Out’n’About Little Nipper has a simple system that we feel echos the best out there. The key to this is the simple ‘pinch to release’ clamp that holds the straps together and the seat up. The beauty of this design is that you can push the seat up with the hand that is holding the clasp, while pulling the straps through with your other hand. It does mean reclining and putting the seat back up is a two handed affair and not one better suited to an octopus!
Once reclined, the protection from the elements is superb. The apron that surrounds the back of the seat will really keep the elements out. This is a great part of the design.
The Out’n’About Little Nipper has a fully adjustable 5 point harness. The shoulder straps can be moved to one of two positions by simple re-threading. The best feature is the fact waist and shoulder straps are linked and can be connected to the main buckle one side at a time. Perfect to restraining a toddler who is refusing to allow you to strap them in!
Finally the Little Nipper comes with a raincover that is quick and simple to fit. It is made from the flexible type of see through rubber which does not wrinkle.
Around town, the Out’n’About Little Nipper is very smooth and easy to push. The kerb pop is excellent due to the weight distribution. You won’t find it great for heading into the mountains, but that’s not really the point here!
Fold
Folding the Little Nipper is really simple. Undo the two locking flaps on either side, grab the handle located on the bottom of the seat that says ‘Pull to fold’ and pull. The Little Nipper folds like a book quickly and simply. You will need the front wheel positioned in line to get the auto lock to engage. Once folded the Little Nipper will free stand if you have the handle in the correct position.
To unfold, undo the autolock, lift the handle up to open the pushchair and snap the locking flaps shut.
Conclusion
The Little Nipper is very light. This is perhaps the thing you notice when you first get your hands on it. It has a very big seat which means it good longevity, I like the chunky chassis design but am not convinced by the double front wheel. I do however think the Little Nipper will be quite hard wearing when compared to traditional strollers.
There are several elements that let it down though. The hood is noisy with fabric that cannot be pulled tight when it is fully extended. It does provide good coverage though. The basket although having reasonable capacity is made from light mesh and I don’t feel will take a lot of weight. You position the front wheel before you can fold it and engage the autolock and lastly I find the handle too narrow. Some of these issues are personal, however some are not and will no doubt annoy when using the Little Nipper Daily.
That said, the fold is quick and easy and the seat provides excellent protection from the elements making it perfect for our winter months.
If you are looking for a chunky urban stroller, but want to avoid traditional umbrella fold designs, then take a look at the Little Nipper, it has a great seat and simple quick fold – oh yes and it is very light!
