Best Jogging Strollers » 2017
Finding the perfect jogging stroller can be a daunting task, especially because you are using it to push your precious little one around while trying to get a good workout in. Safety and ease are both very hard to find when it comes to jogging strollers. You may have already purchased a jogging stroller, and when you took it out for a test-ride, realized it was much too difficult to push. That was me, anyway! I have put this information together on the best jogging strollers, from the perspective of a mom who runs daily, so you can find out exactly which one is right for you. Picking out a new jogging stroller should be exciting, not overwhelming, so let me break the process down for you a bit to make it that way.
First, let's spend some time talking about some key features and their importance when selecting the perfect jogging stroller:
1. Fixed Front Wheel
This is an extremely important thing to pay attention to when selecting your jogging stroller. The front wheel being "fixed" is a MUST HAVE feature. Not only does it make your run wobble-free, but it is also a huge safety feature for your little one. When running at faster speeds your front wheel will vibrate some if you do not have a fixed wheel and if it vibrates enough, the wheel could actually turn mid-run and send your stroller rolling. This is why it is very important that you get a stroller with either a fixed front wheel, or a front wheel lock. As a runner, a fixed front wheel is always preferred because it is more stable, but if you are using the stroller for more than just running on pavement, you might be fine with a front-wheel lock option.
2. Wide Wheel-Spread
The distance between the front wheel to the back wheels. Well balanced strollers may seem like a good option, but with a fixed front wheel, you will definitely want a wider wheel-spread for ease. If your front wheel is fixed or in the lock position, you actually have to raise the front of the stroller to make turns. Raising the front of the stroller is made much easier if you have a wider wheel spread with and uneven weight distribution.
3. Air-filled Rubber Tires
This is just a must. You want to think of a jogging stroller like you would a bicycle. Bicycles are not near as efficient without air-filled rubber tires. That's just the way it is! Also, SIZE MATTERS! You want your front wheel to be at least 12" in diameter and your back wheels at least 16" in diameter. This will make or break your jogging experience, trust me!
4. Shock-Absorbing System
This is extremely important for your little one in tow. If you do not have any kind of shock absorbing system, it is going to be a bumpy ride, and a lot less comfortable. It is also a safety concern for teeny ones, who really need the stability that the shock absorbers give the jogging stroller. Some strollers offer adjustable shock absorbing systems which
5. Safety Features
Other safety features include a five-point harness system, a jogging stroller hand handlebar brake, a safety tether, a parking brake, and a canopy to block the sun/rain. The five-point harness system makes sure your baby stays positioned correctly in the stroller for the duration of your run. The jogging stroller brake and safety tether are pretty closely related-- the brake allows you to stop your run immediately from the handlebar, and the safety tether is a wristlet that you wear during your run. The tether keeps the stroller from getting out of reach if you were ever to let go of the handlebar accidentally, or your hill was so steep that the stroller took off without you. The parking brake ensures that your stroller doesn't run off if you leave it to grab something, and the canopy protects your little ones from the sun and rain.
6. Other Features
Some other jogging stroller features include: the storage components/bin areas for carrying your belongings, drink holders/attachments, and an adjustable handlebar. Some of these you can add-on after purchasing your stroller, but the adjustable handlebar you cannot. The adjustable handlebar is not offered in every stroller, so if you are overly tall, or overly short, it might not be the stroller for you. I am 5'1" and my husband is 6', and we are getting just fine without an adjustable handlebar.
Now that we've covered all of the basics, I will now go in to selecting a jogging stroller. I will classify these strollers into 2 categories: Pavement Jogging Strollers & Trail Jogging Strollers/Multi-Purpose Jogging Strollers.
**Sidenote- The BOB brand will always be my favorite. BOB jogging strollers were designed by two men, one in the cycle industry and the other in the airline industry, so they've just got all of the aerodynamics right. They've had a great reputation for quite some time and have become stroller experts. For that reason, I will always run with a BOB jogging stroller.
Best Jogging Strollers for Running on Pavement:
This is an amazing stroller if you were born to run. It is extremely lightweight (23.4 lb.) so it's easy to push for both distance runs and sprint workouts, and features the 5-point harness system for child safety. It comes with a handbrake, tether cord and adjustable suspension system for an extremely smooth ride. The seat comfortably reclines for your little nappers. It also comes with a very large storage compartment under the seat, so you can fit your whole diaper bag if you need to. The front wheel is fixed which makes it safe, although somewhat bulky when storing. The canopy is pretty large and covers well, but you can always buy an extension if it's not enough coverage. It comes in both single and double.
Cons: Costly, but you get what you pay for. No adjustable handlebar so this is a one-size-fits-all. Not good for extremely short people. It does not come with cup holders or trays-- those must be purchased separately.
Accessories to purchase separately:
Another choice is this Thule Glide Jogging Stroller. It is a little lighter than the BOB Ironman weighing in at just 22lb. It features the 5-point harness system, and has the fixed front wheel for safety. It is easy to fold as well. It also comes with an adjustable handlebar, and a handlebar brake, as well as a parking brake. It's got a decently sized storage compartment below the seat as well, which is great for carrying extra diapers and snacks. The sun canopy is very covering, great feature for UV protection!
Cons: Costly. The child seat is also VERY narrow. Although it has a 75lb. weight capacity,
I don't think my 28lb. petite daughter would be able to ride in the seat for longer than 10 minutes, comfortably. Not the smoothest ride for the little ones either, with no suspension adjustment. No double seat option. No swivel front wheel so not ideal for going on windy walks or strolling through malls. No tether cord.
This Schwinn Arrow is a good jogging stroller if you are on a tighter budget. This stroller offers the five-point harness system and has a fixed front wheel with rear dual shock absorbers. It also has the hand brake for safety, and has individual tire parking brakes (not my favorite). A really great feature is the canopy mounted speakers, so everyone can enjoy some music during your workout. It has a decent storage compartment area (not quite like the BOB) and also comes with cupholders. It comes in both single and double.
Cons: it is a little heavier, weighing in at almost 27lb. It's just not a BOB. The performance just isn't there. No tether cord.
Best Trail-Running Jogging Strollers/Multi-Purpose Jogging Strollers:
The BOB Flex and BOB Revolution SE strollers are both very similar. They both are all-terrain jogging strollers made by BOB, so both are great for trail runs, but offer some different features. If you are looking for an adjustable handlebar, you definitely want to go with the BOB Flex. This is one of the only strollers BOB makes with an adjustable handlebar. This jogging stroller features the five-point harness system, and weighs in at 28.5 lb. It has a front-wheel lock option, parking brake and tether cord. It has a large storage area below the child's seat. Comes in both single and double.
Cons: Steeper price. The Flex weights more (28.5 lb.) than the SE (25 lb.). Better for all terrain, but not for road running. Accessories must be purchased separately.
The BOB Flex and BOB Revolution SE strollers are both very similar. They both are all-terrain jogging strollers made by BOB, so both are great for trail runs, but offer some different features. This jogging stroller features the five-point harness system, and weighs in at just 25 lb. It has a front-wheel lock option, parking brake and tether cord. It has a large storage area below the child's seat. Also comes in a double.
Cons: No adjustable handlebar. Better for all-terrain, but no the best for road running. Must purchase accessories separately.
Pros: This is an excellent choice for all-terrain. It weighs in at just 23lb, which is very lightweight for a multi-purpose stroller. It features the five-point harness system, and has an adjustable handlebar to make running comfortable for both mom and dad. It also has a very large storage compartment that is waterproof. My favorite thing about this stroller is that you can recline the stroller to almost laying position, which is great for your little napper during your run! It also has a swivel front wheel so switching from terrain to pavement is simple, and the stroller itself is pretty compact when folded to store, huge plus!
Cons: Steep price and all extras must be purchased separately.
Accessories to purchase separately:
If you are anything like I was, you are trying to figure out what is most important to you. You don't know if you should get the awesome jogging stroller and sacrifice in the multi-functional stroller department, or go with a really nice multi-purpose stroller and hope that it jogs well. I made this very mistake. I sacrificed on my jogging stroller and I never wanted to push it on my runs. I would say, spend the money on the nice jogging stroller, and get an umbrella stroller or something a little less expensive for those trips to the mall and walks around the block. I am so glad I made the switch and now I push my two babies daily in the jogging stroller!
