Which Nuna Pipa is Right for Me? — The Baby Cubby

It’s no secret that the Nuna Pipa is a popular infant car seat! In fact, it’s one of the most popular infant car seats on the market due to its elegant design and incredible safety features. Since the Pipa was first released, Nuna has come out with 5 additional versions of this incredible car seat to ensure that you get just the right fit for your family. For first-time and experienced moms alike, this can be a bit overwhelming! With just minor differences between each Nuna Pipa model, it can be hard to figure out which one to pick! So to make life easier for you, we’ve done the research so that you can feel confident with your car seat purchase! Let’s take a look at some of the biggest similarities and differences between the original Nuna Pipa, the Pipa Lite, the Pipa RX, the Pipa Lite R, the Pipa Lite LX and the Pipa Lite RX! 

Why pick Nuna?

If you’re familiar with baby gear, you’ve most likely heard of Nuna! Nuna is a global brand, designing and innovating baby gear that’s built to last a lifetime while providing parents with convenient features that make life easier each step of the way. They focus on providing all of this while ensuring the products are made with organic, natural and chemical-free materials. Many of their products are also GOTS™ certified, meaning they are sustainably produced from start to finish! And if you’ve seen ANY of Nuna’s gear, from their car seats and strollers to their playards, you know just how beautiful and timeless the craftsmanship in design. When you’re buying Nuna, you know you’re getting the best the baby gear world has to offer!

How do I pick a Nuna Pipa car seat?

The Nuna Pipa car seat was first released in 2016! In the years since, Nuna has made slight changes in fabrics, accessory additions, and even added another car seat base option! This allows you to get a car seat with exactly the features you’re looking for–who doesn’t want a customized seat? So when deciding which Nuna Pipa to pick, the first step is to decide what features you’re looking for!

Do you need something as lightweight as possible for easier in and out?

Do you want to be able to install your car seat without the car seat base so that you can safely use it in an Uber, taxi, or easily place into grandma’s car?

Do you want luxury fabrics and accessories, such as a built in canopy or peekaboo window?

Do you want a unique color or luxury fabric?

Or do you want a car seat base that has an anti-rebound board and additional recline positions?

Whatever your priority in an infant car seat is, write it down! Then you can easily narrow down your choices based on which Nuna Pipa model checks off all your boxes! 

To help you do this, let’s break down each model one-by-one, starting with the original Nuna Pipa!

Nuna Pipa

The original Nuna Pipa still remains one of the most popular car seats. With the lowest price tag of any Pipa, it still packs a punch with its beautiful design, its ease of installation, its incredible safety features, and its light weight compared to other car seat brands. The Pipa also comes with a Sky Drape™ (formerly known as the Dream Drape) and mesh peekaboo window, which some of the newer models do not come with. It can be safely installed without a car seat base, but comes with the standard base for everyday use.

Price: $319.95

Color Options: Caviar

Fabric: Micro-knit fabric; polyester inserts

Weight: 7.9 lbs without canopy/base/inserts

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base: Original base

Installation w/out Base: Yes

Additional Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, one standard infant insert, mesh peekaboo window in canopy

Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat in Caviar

Nuna Pipa Lite

One of the most common complaints about infant car seats is how heavy they are to carry around. By simply removing the European belt path for those of us that only want to install our car seats WITH a base, the Nuna Pipa Lite was born, becoming the world’s lightest infant car seat without sacrificing any safety features. The shell is built with Trademark Aeroflex Foam technology to keep your infant safe and secure in the event of a crash.

Price: $349.95

Color Options: Caviar, Granite

Fabric: Micro-knit fabric; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one polyester infant insert)

Weight: 5.3 lbs without canopy/inserts/base

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base Included: Original base

Installation w/out Base: No

Accessories features/accessories: Harness holders to keep the buckles out of the way when placing baby into the car and an extra set of infant inserts. (No Sky Drape™ or peekaboo window in the canopy).

Nuna Pipa Lite in Granite

Nuna Pipa Lite LX

The Pipa Lite LX was released soon after the Pipa Lite but with some slight upgrades. The Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend used in the seat is naturally moisture wicking, keeping your baby more comfortable on hot or humid afternoons! It’s also anti-microbial, which is a must have when dealing with baby gear! The Lite LX also comes with the Sky Drape™, which the previous model did not include.

Price: $399.95

Color Options: Caviar, Granite, Frost

Fabric: Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one Merino wool TENCEL infant insert)

Weight: 5.7 lbs without canopy/inserts/base

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base: Original base

Installation w/out Base: No

Accessories Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, harness holders, and an extra set of infant inserts. (No peekaboo window)

Nuna Pipa RX

The Nuna Pipa RX is similar to the original Pipa in many ways. However, it is the first to come with the upgraded RELX car seat base that includes an anti-rebound panel and provides for more recline positions, allowing you to get a more customized fit for your vehicle. The Pipa RX also comes with a luxurious organic jersey insert to keep baby more comfortable and is slightly lighter than the original Pipa while still allowing you to install it without a base when needed.

Price: $379.95

Color Options: Caviar, Granite, Birch, Lagoon, Camel, Hazelwood

Fabric: Organic jersey knit

Weight: 7.6 lbs without canopy/inserts/base

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base: Upgraded RELX base

Installation w/out Base: Yes

Accessories Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, mesh peekaboo window in canopy, harness holders, flip out eyeshade, and upgraded RELX base. (NO second set of infant inserts).

Nuna Pipa RX in Hazelwood

Nuna Pipa Lite R

The Pipa Lite R came as another option similar to the two previous editions (the Pipa Lite and the Pipa Lite LX), but this time with the brand new RELX base! With many of the same features as the previous Lite models, you also get even greater customization and safety with the anti-rebound panel, a wider range of load leg heights, and more recline positions that the RELX base provides.

Price: $399.95

Color Options: Caviar, Granite, Timber, Carbon

Fabric: Organic jersey knit; Tailor Tech™ memory foam insert

Weight: 5.3 lbs without canopy/inserts/base

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base: Upgraded RELX base

Installation w/out Base: No

Accessories Features/Accessories: Harness holders, flip out eye shade, and upgraded RELX base. (NO Sky Drape™, peekaboo window in the canopy, or additional infant insert.)

Nuna Pipa Lite R in Caviar

Nuna Pipa Lite RX

The newest and most deluxe version of the Pipa is the Pipa Lite RX! With all the best features in previous models, from a lightweight car seat shell that still enables you to install without a base to the luxury fabrics and the upgraded RELX base. And with the wide array of colors to choose from, the Lite RX enables you to find just the right car seat to fit your style.

Price: $449.95

Color Options: Caviar, Granite, Frost, Lagoon, Camel, Riveted, Hazelwood

Fabric: Merino wool TENCEL Lyocell fiber blend; Tailor Tech™ memory foam inserts (one GOTS™ organic cotton and one Merino wool TENCEL infant insert)

Weight: 6.9 lbs without canopy/inserts/base

Weight/Height Capacity: 4 – 32 lbs; up to 32″ tall

Base: Upgraded RELX base

Installation w/out Base: Yes

Accessories Features/Accessories: Sky Drape™, peekaboo window in the canopy, magnetic harness holders, extra set of infant inserts, upgraded RELX base, an adjustable head support and a no-rethread harness.

Other FAQ’s:

What do all the Nuna Pipa infant car seats have in common?

All of the Nuna Pipa infant car seats are GREENGUARD gold certified, which means the fabrics will not be emitting any harmful chemicals.

All of the fabrics are also made with FR (fire retardant) free fabrics. So instead of adding chemicals to the fabric to reach fire safety guidelines like other brands do, Nuna uses naturally flame-retardant fabrics, limiting your child’s exposure to harmful chemicals!

Each car seat is also FAA aircraft certified.

In regards to design, each Pipa comes with the gorgeous luxe leatherette handlebar!

What are the biggest differences between the Nuna Pipa infant car seats?

The biggest differences between each of the Nuna Pipa models are the cost, the base, the shell, the accessories included, the weight, and the fabric material. Check out the graphic below to get a side-by-side comparison of all the models.

What is the Nuna Sky Drape™? Do I really need it? Can it be used when you’re driving? 

The Nuna Sky Drape™ is a built-in car seat cover. With mesh paneling on the sides and magnets to keep it closed, your baby can have the shade and privacy needed, keeping away strangers that want to peek or harsh sun rays in the afternoon. 

Everyone will differ on their car seat needs. Although you can purchase third party car seat covers, the Sky Drape provides an additional convenience and is built to fit your car seat perfectly. Plus it can safely be used while driving!

What is the difference between the original base and the upgraded RELX base? Which car seats come with the upgraded RELX base?

Both bases have True Lock™ installation and a rigid LATCH system, which allows you to install your base tightly within seconds. Both bases also include a stability leg, which provides added safety in the event of a crash. Although the bases are similar in a variety of ways, there are some key differences that bring the RELX base to a whole new level!

Original Base: (shown below)

Weight: 14 lbs

Load leg: 2-piece stability leg allows for 12 height positions

Recline: One flip foot, which allows for one additional recline position (but has to be uninstalled to make this adjustment).

LATCH: Rigid latches that rotate, but can not be lengthened for a more customized fit.

RELX Base: 

Weight: 18 lbs

Load leg: 3-piece stability leg allows for 17 height positions. (This allows for greater customization to different vehicles and may allow you to place the car seat more easily in a center seat position.) 

Recline: Bubble-free, numbered recline makes it easy to adjust the car seat to 4 separate recline positions as your baby grows (without having to uninstall your car seat to make adjustments).

LATCH: Rigid latches rotate and have 4 extension positions, allowing it to fit in a wider range of cars.

Additional features: Anti-rebound board for additional safety and advanced seat belt guide for an easier installation when using the seat belt instead of the latch system.

Both bases can be purchased separately, and all bases can be used with any of the Nuna Pipa models. However, the bases that come included with each Nuna Pipa car seat model will vary. Simply put, the RELX base comes with the models with the letter “R” in their name: the Pipa RX, the Pipa Lite R, and the Pipa Lite RX.

What are the differences between the Pipa shell, Pipa Lite shell, and the New shell used in the Nuna Pipa Lite RX?

The original Pipa is made from a heavy duty shell with incorporated seat belt guides for base-less installation, causing it to be the heaviest of the Pipa models.

The Pipa Lite shell is made from Trademark Aeroflex Foam. This is a very strong, shock-absorbing foam.

The new shell found only in the Nuna Pipa Lite RX also has the Trademark Aeroflex Foam found in the Lite models, but has the incorporated European belt path and seat belt guides to allow it to be installed without the base.

Are all of the Nuna Pipa Car Seats compatible with the Nuna strollers? 

Yes, all the Nuna Pipa car seats are compatible with the car seat-compatible Nuna strollers. 

Are the Nuna Pipa infant car seats compatible with any other stroller brands?

Yes, the Nuna Pipa car seats are compatible with a wide range of other stroller brands such as BOB, Bugaboo, Bumbleride, Cybex, Silver Cross, Thule, UPPAbaby, and Veer with car seat adapters (sold separately). You can see a complete list of compatible stroller here.

Can the Nuna Pipa infant car seats be installed without a base?

The Pipa, Pipa RX, and Pipa Lite RX can be installed without a base because they have seat belt guides and a European belt path.

Can the Nuna Pipa fabrics be machine washed?

The Nuna Pipa fabrics can be machine washed on a cold gentle cycle. Hang to dry.

The Nuna Pipa line is truly incredible. With a wide range of accessories, fabrics, colors, and car seat bases, you are sure to find just the right Pipa for you and your baby!

Still not sure which Nuna Pipa to pick? Chat with us online at babycubby.com or come talk with one of our certified Cubby Moms in store! We are here to answer ALL your baby gear questions!