As soon as this weather finally cooperates, I'm looking to get outside more often with my toddler. I'd love to get a jogging stroller, but don't really know what to look for. I hear an important feature would be a front wheel that swivels to make turning easier, but other than that, I'm clueless. If you own or have owned a jogging stroller and could give me some feedback, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!
I have a Schwinn double jogging stroller. I love it! It's the only stroller that I use now. Mine has a swivel front wheel and I wouldn't want anything else! Actually, my front wheel swivels and locks, so you could have the option of locking it if you want. The swivel wheel makes it easy to push and steer with one hand, but it would lock if you want to use it for stability while jogging. It was a great investment!
(This is part of my response to another mom who asked about bike trailers vs joggin strollers. but it should give you an idea of some of the features you'll want to look for and some to avoid.)
We went through maybe a dozen strollers of all kinds before I finally landed on a jogging stroller. The one I have has several drawbacks- the bar in front does not lift up and over to one side so you can easily put your child in and out. It is a stationary bar, and now that my son is 25 lbs, it is hard for me to maneuver him in and out of the thing with that bar in the way. I'd try hard to find one where it won't be a pain to get your child in and out when they are older. - the cup holders up at the top where I am are never the right size no matter what cup or water bottle I put i there. The cup either won't fit or it it falls out when we go over a bump. Look for one with deep cup holders. - The front wheel wobbles a lot. Doesn't seem to hurt anything, but it annoyed me until I got used to the sound and feel of it. -Like every other stroller I've ever seen, it does not offer adequate sun shade.
What I do like about my jogging stroller - the shade has a plastic peek-through window, so I can see my son whenever I want, and fold the window cover over the window to help keep sun off of him. -The handle is adjustable which is great for all the hills we have here. -It has a safety harness that adjusts from pretty small to pretty big. -It has a snack tray for my son, and a small snack tray up top for me. -It has good under-seat storage, and a small storage pouch higher up. -Heavy duty material and velcro closures. - Easy to maneuver, even one-handed.
Hi C.!
I have a Zooper Boogie jogging stroller & I like it. It has a front wheel that swivels & also easily locks in place. I think that is very important to have both options. You want it to stay in place while running, but you want it to be able to swivel when you're walking around town or shopping, etc. I bought it (very slightly used) on eBay for $200, which is about half-price for one of those. They are expensive, but I think comfort and ease of use is important. It came with all sorts of covers to protect the baby/toddler from any kind of weather. The seat also reclines all the way back, so my daughter is able to sleep comfortably in it, which often happens while on a run with her. The only slight down-side with my stroller is that it is sort of clunky when I'm in a place where I need to maneuver a lot. For example, I took it to the zoo last year & although I loved the fact that it could carry a lot & was very comfortable for my daughter, it didn't move around as quickly or easily as my other 'regular' stroller. Bottome line, my advice is to not skimp here - get one that has everything you are looking for. Good luck!
It seems that other people have said this, but I would avoid the front swivel wheel. The are not as stable when you are running.
Hi C.- A good jogging stroller is a great idea...they make a huge difference. I was fortunate enough to get mine as a gift but it did come from a garage sale. I understand they can be quite expensive, some costing upwards of $500. Shop around. I love mine, but the front wheel does not in fact swivel and I have never found that to be a disappointment. The back wheels are larger than the front which is the general shape of a jogging stroller and they look somewhat like a recumbent bike. They do allow you, the mommy, to run at a comfortable pace and they absorb shock differently than a regular stroller and can go bounce-free on many terrains. Go for it....I can't wait for the nice jogging weather either! A. B.
Hi,
I just bought a jog stroller for me and my 5 month old daughter. We bought a BOB stroller, and so far I love it. I would not get a swivel front wheel because you will work much harder to keep the stroller going straight. Ours does not swivel, all you do is tip the front wheel off the ground and turn. If you look at the higher end jog strollers they do not have a swiveling front wheel. From friends I have talked to I would not skimp and get a cheap jog stroller. It will be heavier and will not hold up as well. We bought the BOB sport utility stroller.
Chris B.
I am a 33 year-old 1st time mom. I am very active also doing triathlons, marathons etc. Now I work part-time as a Physical Therapist. Married almost 4 years, my husband is also very active and supportive.
I have a Schwinn jogging stroller from Target, and it works great. Nice big rubber tires so you can walk on dirt roads and its very easy to push. One thing you do have to make sure the tires are pumped evenly or it will pull ot one side.
We have bought two jogging strollers from Babybungalow.com
They were priced best and free shipping. We have the Instep Safarri strollers, a single and a double. I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. We lived in Texas and used it EVERYDAY! It was great!
This model has the swivel wheel, very important if you want to use it for anything besides jogging. You can lock it in place to keep it going straight. The single stroller had great cup holders for both parent and child. The double does not have any cup holders, only a pocket on the back. I have refered many friends to this site, (4 to be exact) and all were happy with their purchase. Two bought the Schwinn model instead. It was around $10 more. Good luck!
Well, we have the Jeep Overland and it has served us well through wind, snow, rain and shine for about 18 months now! We love it. However, it doesn't have a swivel wheel. Actually, for serious jogging, a fixed wheel is more stable and it's easy to learn to turn after just a few times out. The Overland is comfortable for our son (now almost 2), has Music on the Move, parent and child cup holders, and rides great on paved or dirt surfaces. Ours has paid for itself about 20 times by now!
