Nuna Pipa Series Lineup | Infant Car Seat Comparison

   If you’re expecting a new baby, it’s likely you’ve come across the brand Nuna during your research for the best infant car seats. Nuna is a baby gear brand from the Netherlands that is known for high quality and stylish products. Since the brand was introduced to the United States market in 2007, Their car seats and strollers have become wildly popular with parents who are looking for a travel system that performs better and has an elevated European design. The Nuna Pipa Series of infant car seats are particularly popular due to their extensive stroller compatibility. 

   With the introduction of two new infant car seats in the Pipa Series and one new infant car seat base, we decided to do a comprehensive updated comparison of all the infant car seats in the Nuna Pipa Series. 

Pipa Series Standard Features

   Although each car seat in the Nuna Pipa Series is different, there are some important features that they all share. All car seats in the series are free from any added fire retardant chemicals. The fabrics and foams used in the car seats are naturally flame resistant. They are also Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical emissions. All car seats in the series come with the car seat itself and one car seat base, with additional bases available for purchase separately. 

   All Nuna Pipa Series car seats feature side impact protection and comfort features like flip-out sun visors. Aluminum and leatherette detailing gives the car seats a polished look. Each Nuna infant car seat is compatible with Nuna strollers, as well as a large selection of strollers that use Maxi Cosi car seat adapters. Pipa Series car seats all have the same weight and height limits of 4-32 pounds or 32 inches and feature an infant insert that can be removed as your baby grows. 

Standard Nuna Base

   The original Nuna Pipa, Nuna Pipa Lite, and Nuna Pipa Lite LX each come with one standard Nuna Pipa base for easy five second installation in your vehicle. The base is equipped with rigid latch ISOfix connectors so you can simply click the base into the latches in your vehicle seat. If you don’t have access to the latches, the base has a True Lock lockoff for tight and easy seat belt installation. 

   The standard Nuna Pipa base also has a built in stability leg that transfers crash forces away from the car seat and into the floor of the vehicle and minimizes car seat rotation. The load leg is adjustable to accommodate vehicles of different floor heights. 

Original Nuna Pipa

   The original Nuna Pipa is the introductory car seat in the Nuna Pipa Series. Weighing 8* pounds, it is considered a lightweight car seat. Soft, machine washable fabrics make the seat comfortable and easy to maintain. It is an ideal option for families who will not be using their car seat base often because it has a european belt path for installation using a vehicle seat belt. 

   In addition to versatility, the Nuna Pipa has plenty of comfort features. Most notably, the popular Dream Drape that zips out from the canopy provides full coverage UPF 50+ protection. This extra shade makes napping on the go easier and prevents strangers from trying to touch your baby. Mesh in the Dream Drape and peek-a-boo window ensure that there is plenty of ventilation and airflow in the car seat even while the shade is drawn.

Nuna Pipa Lite

   The Nuna Pipa Lite is the lightest infant car seat available on the market right now. It weighs only 5.3* pounds and is almost half the weight of popular car seats like the UPPAbaby Mesa or Clek Liing. The Nuna Pipa Lite can only be installed using the base and doesn’t have a peek-a-boo window or Dream Drape, but does feature ultra-soft micro knit fabric and integrated harness clips for your comfort and convenience. The infant insert also has a more supportive head cushion. 

   Additionally, the Nuna Pipa Lite is made with Aeroflex foam for superior impact absorption. Aeroflex foam is a type of EPP foam which is more flexible and less brittle than the EPS foam used in the Nuna Pipa and Nuna Pipa RX. The Nuna Pipa Lite is a great option for caregivers with pre-existing back problems that make carrying heavy loads difficult or families that will always be traveling in their own vehicle where they have the base installed.

Nuna Pipa Lite LX

   The Nuna Pipa Lite LX car seat combines the best features of the Nuna Pipa and Nuna Pipa Lite. It is 5.7* pounds, only a few ounces heavier than the Nuna Pipa Lite LX, but also includes the Dream Drape and extra supportive head cushion. The fabric is the micro knit used in the Nuna Pipa Lite, but the insert is a temperature regulating and moisture resistant blend of merino wool and Tencel lyocell fibers. The insert is made from Tailor tech memory foam that relieves pressure points and grows with your baby.

   The Nuna Pipa Lite LX must always be used with the base since it doesn’t have a european belt path, but it does have Aeroflex EPP foam for more durability and impact absorption. 

Nuna RELX Base

   New for 2020, Nuna has released two more infant car seats and one base for the Pipa Series. Like the standard base, the Nuna RELX Base has a steel load leg with a crumple zone for stability and force reduction in a crash. However, the Nuna RELX Base load leg is more adjustable to be used in the center seat where there is often a bump on the vehicle floor. 

   Nuna has also improved the rigid latch connectors to be adjustable to four positions in order to eliminate the gap between the base and vehicle seat back. The addition of an anti-rebound panel further prevents the car seat from moving in an impact and minimizes the forces experienced by your baby. The improved belt path and lockoff allows you to more easily install the base with the vehicle seat belt if required.

   The Nuna RELX Base leaves bubble levels and angle-guessing in the past with an innovative recline that is adjustable after the base is installed. Switch between four recline positions at the push of a button to adjust your baby’s riding angle as they grow. 

   While the new Nuna RELX Base comes with the Nuna Pipa RX and Nuna Pipa Lite R, it is also compatible with the entire Nuna Pipa Series so you can upgrade your ride if you have a Pipa Series car seat that came with a standard base. Just like the standard bases, Nuna RELX Bases are available for sale separately for use with multiple cars.

Nuna Pipa RX

   The Nuna Pipa RX is similar to the original Pipa with a few key improvements. It weighs 7.6* pounds instead of 8, and it has a more supportive head pillow as part of the infant insert. It also has integrated harness holders to make it easier to get your baby in and out. 

   Other than the new features and base, the Nuna Pipa RX has the same EPS foam and side impact protection as the original Nuna Pipa. The Dream Drape and mesh peek-a-boo make the sun canopy extra protective and comfortable for your little passenger. The Nuna Pipa RX also features the convenient european belt path for baseless installation. 

Nuna Pipa Lite R

   The Nuna Pipa Lite R ties with the Nuna Pipa Lite as the lightest infant car seat on the market at 5.3* pounds. Like the Nuna Pipa Lite, the Nuna Pipa Lite R requires the base for installation and is not FAA approved on its own. Organic jersey fabric and Tailor tech memory foam makes the infant insert extra comfortable. Harness holders are also included with the Nuna Pipa Lite R.  

   Need help finding the perfect infant car seat for your growing family? Get in touch with our gear gurus for a one-on-one virtual consultation, email us your questions at questions@mbeans.com, or call us at 866-600-BEAN (2326).

*Weights do not include the canopy or insert.