Joolz Hub Review

Introducing the brand new Joolz Hub - the perfect city companion. It's compact, lightweight and super manoeuvrable yet robust enough to tackle everyday life. We were one of the first to get our hands on the brand new Hub, one month prior to the official launch date so what better way to put it to the test than with 2of our trusted parent testers? 

Parent tester 1: Jen Newman

When I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to try out the brand new Joolz Hub I jumped at the chance. Preparing for our second baby was totally different to getting ready for our now five-year-old daughter’s arrival – I knew exactly what I did and didn’t want from baby products and this new buggy looked to have it all!

The buggy arrived in perfect condition (as you would expect!). It was well packaged with separate boxes for the main chassis and the carrycot however there was no wasted plastic – clearly well thought out to reduce wastage. I also noticed that the box included a stencil of a doll’s house – a lovely idea to put the cardboard to good use however in our house the box became a castle, horse and carriage and even an art project, which is still in my living room now…

I loved how the Hub arrived pre-assembled – it’s exciting receiving a new buggy and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it to try it out and discover all the features, so being able to lift it out the box, unfold and get going was perfect. Learning to fold and unfold the Hub up was also straight forward, the instruction booklet was really clear so my husband and I got the hang of it quickly – there is nothing worse than standing at the boot of your car fighting a buggy into your boot!!

Something we noticed the Hub had going for it straight away was its compact size without any compromise on stability or comfort for baby. It's extremely lightweight compared to other travel systems I've used (I LOVE that it’s light enough to put over your shoulder using the handy travel strap) and fits in the boot easily. With our previous buggy, my husband had to remove the seat and wheels every time he put it in the boot whereas the Hub folds with the seat unit in tact and facing either way – something I’ll look forward to once my little one is slightly older. Joolz manages to achieve this without any reduction in quality – the chassis still feels robust enough to handle all the taking it in and out of the car that comes with being an integral part of day to day family life. The fact that it’s travel system compatible too is a big help.

That said the Hub isn't cumbersome, it felt just as at home at times when I needed a buggy to feel compact and manoeuvrable. One of our first trips out was to the paradise that is soft play during half term and I was able to steer between busy tables with ease and even with the carrycot I was able to tuck baby and buggy to one side without feeling like it was in the way. Lots of comments came our way that afternoon on just how stylish the buggy was – especially on the colourway, in particular the tan handle bar which I have to say doesn’t only look good but is also extremely comfortable to push. It seems a small touch but the material Joolz have used feels far superior to the foam handles I am used to on buggies – I imagine on a cold winters morning the way the faux leather warms to your hands will be a real treat!

Considering things like this is something Joolz has done really well with the Hub – modern families need a buggy for all seasons and terrains which different days out bring. Long walks down the canal towpath were made easy with the excellent suspension and large carrycot hood for wind protection (this would be just as suited to shielding baby from the sun as it’s UPF 50+ standard too) and trips to watch big sisters swimming lessons were made a little more bearable with the added ventilation panel ensuring airflow was maintained. Another nice touch is the hinged bumper bar, it allows you to un-clip and lift to one side making it easier to get baby in and out. 

All this is achieved at the same time as maintaining Joolz' main aim with the Hub – to make a buggy that excels in urban environments and it certainly seems to stand out against anything I have used before. In fact, the only drawback we have come across is the Hub’s basket – a bar from one side of the chassis to the other restricts what can be carried in it. Joolz have tried to address this by adding hinges to the front on the basket allowing you to pull the side down to access the space but it would be a squeeze for a large changing bag. It seems to me however that this is easily overcome – a careful choice of changing bag (backpacks all the way!) and problem solved.

I think you can tell we adore the Hub and it has already become a much loved member of our family! As I said, I know what I want from a buggy this time round – lightweight, compact, robust and stylish – and it seems I have found it all and more in the Hub. Thank you Joolz!

Parent Tester 2: Eloise Cumberland

My daughter Arabella and I were lucky enough to test and try the new Joolz Hub in Nero. I love everything Joolz and have done ever since I was pregnant. Their stylish Dutch design is simply beautiful and has always really stood out from the rest. For Arabella we purchased the Joolz Day 2 and are excited to compare the differences in both models. 

The Hub itself was delivered quickly and arrived in perfect condition. I wanted to time how long it would take for me to assemble the Hub, without my other half’s help. But there was no need! After removing the packaging and a few swift clicks later it was assembled. 

The Joolz Hub is strikingly beautiful and noticeably smaller than the Day and Geo. Although this model has compromised on size it certainly hasn’t on the stylish design. 

I’m very glad the Hub is compact, my car boot is bursting at the seams with my Joolz Day 2 at the moment. On our first outing together I quickly swapped the two prams over and off we went. The Hub folds down in such a smart way, and even has a handle to help carry which I found very useful. My tiny car boot didn’t seem so tiny anymore and I even have enough space for a few shopping bags.

Assembling the Hub is easy and quick. I hadn’t seen this pram in a showroom before, I had only seen it online but that wasn’t a problem as assembly is very natural and intuitive.

Manoeuvring the Hub through the street is effortless. It’s lightweight and makes easy work of quick turns. One of the most appealing things about the Joolz brand was the all terrain wheel. So going down a bumping path or cobbled street is no problems. The front wheels even lock to ensure stability.

Arabella was very comfortable and even though the Hub is smaller than other models. She had plenty of space to kick back and enjoy the ride. When it was nap time I simply laid the seat back flat which made for a very happy baby.

 If you love having all matching accessories, like myself, then there are plenty for you to choose from. Changing bag, drinks holder and parasol are just to name a few. If you do purchase the matching changing bag a great improvement from the Joolz Day 2 is that it clips onto the pram so easily with two tiny hooks built into the chassis.

The most exciting part about my test of the Hub was the tube. I often visit my sister in London and usually by car as we don’t travel light. I couldn’t really imagine using my Joolz Day 2 on the tube it’s more suited to life away from the city. The task of taking a baby on the tube is daunting enough. The Hub is a great companion for city travel. It effortlessly fits through ticket gates and can wind through crowd just as you would without it. 

All in all, we love Joolz, and the Hub is no exception. I would recommend the Hub to anyone looking for a pushchair which is not only stylish but so functional for everyday life. The Hub is the perfect addition to the Joolz family and it’s worth every penny.