You’re already being woken up at 6 AM; time to go for a fun run! And, since jogging with a baby in your arms is frowned upon (mostly by your neighbors), it’s time to fold up the umbrella stroller and buy a hi-tech, feature-laden jogging stroller. It doesn’t matter whether you’re exercising to maintain your sanity, or training for some baby-friendly races, here are 4 things to look for before you make the investment. Running is free, but the accessories are not: For The Urban Athlete: BOB Revolution Pro Pro: Gear Patrol calls BOB’s Revolution Pro “the most technologically advanced piece of workout equipment you’ll ever own.” And that the hand-activated rear drum brakes make you feel in control. “As comfortable as the stroller was for the jogger, it was even better for the rider. A large canopy to shade the sun, foot rests and a wide padded seat, two mesh pockets perfect for a stuffed animal and a sippy cup and reclinable seat back for long jogs (or ones that happen closer to nap time) kept my year-old test pilot happy nearly the whole time.”
Con: It’s heavy and a bit unwieldy. GP says, “At around 25 pounds and 25.5-inches wide from wheel to wheel (wider than most other strollers), it took some maneuvering to get it in and out the trunk.” Reviewers also say that the canopy, which doesn’t filter UV, is a weak spot. Front Wheel Type: Swivel lock Wheel Dimensions: Rear 16″ x 1.75″, Front 12.5″ x 1.75″ Suspension: Coil spring and elastomer core shock absorbers, with adjustable shock release knobs Brake: Hand-activated rear drum brake; Adjustable Handlebar: Yes (33.5 – 45.8″) For The Trail Runner: The Burley Solstice Pro: Burley has been doing the outdoor thing since 1978, so they have a bit of practice making gear built to withstand Planet Earth. The Solstice has coil-spring suspension on all the wheels, making dirt roads feel like (poorly) paved streets. While a lot of reviews cite the S.I.T. technology that keeps the straps out of the way — a pain in the ass if you’ve ever had to dig around to find a buckle under your kid — it also gets points for how easy it is to fold and store.
Core 77, who gave the Solstice a Design Award in 2015 said, “with the exception of the telescoping handlebar, virtually all of the Solstice features can be operated with one hand.” Con: Again, a lot of reviewers wish that their giant-wheeled jogging strollers could be lightweight and smaller. At least one reviewer on REI had issues with the ease-of-use of the brakes, saying “I seem to always be looking for the brake pedal. It is small and tucked up under to the right.” Brake: Foot-activated parking brake Adjustable Handlebar: Yes (37.5 – 40.5″) For The Elite Marathoner: Phil & Ted’s Sub 4 Pro: To own this stroller you should probably be running an elite marathon time. In fact, the guys over at Runner’s World said this jogging stroller “is an ideal choice for tempo and fartlek runs. Testers comfortably turned in sub-six-minute miles thanks to the aerodynamic, lightweight design.” No word on how many of those testers can say “fartlek” without laughing.
Con: Besides costing as much as a one-way ticket to Fiji, the biggest drawback: it doesn’t really fold up, so you better have an extra parking space in the garage. Front Wheel Type: Fixed Wheel Dimensions: Rear 20″, Front: 16″ Suspension: Anti-shock suspension and torsion control bars Brake: One-hand dual disk brake Phil & Teds Sub 4 ($900) For The Blade Runner: KidRunner Jogger Pro: If you’re already a jungle gym, piggyback, and airplane to your baby, why not workhorse? With the KidRunner jogger, it’s not a stroller you push but a tiny rickshaw you pull. Gizmodo says, “the actual stroller that rolls along with a pair of bicycle wheels is a flexible bow that dampens the up and down motion of a runner so that a kid in tow isn’t being constantly bounced around. Because kids and motion sickness go hand in hand.” And champion runner Max King won a 10k with this thing on his back — so you know you can legitimately run with it. Con: If you’re looking for a stroller that you can take to the mall as well as the track, this ain’t it.
The other con is that you currently can’t get one. About 300 of these were already pre-ordered and it’s currently out of stock. Front Wheel Type: None, two rear wheels For The Weekend Warrior: Thule Chariot Cougar 1 / Cheetah 1 Pro: Perfect for the parent who is also a triathlete (although there’s no boat function, yet), the Thule Chariot Cougar not only has the distinction of being the most badass name for a stroller, it’s also the only one that goes from jogger to bike trailer. cut to the chase, saying, “It is a big, brawny, cage of a stroller meant to protect Junior in comfort while you pursue serious outdoor activities.” Con: By being a stroller, jogger, or trailer, the Chariot Cougar isn’t as good at either as some single-function carriers. Gear Review has issues with the tail-light function, saying, “We would really like to see a better, more central light holder (or, even better, a built-in flashing light for the back) to help with visibility when the carrier is used as a trailer)” Then again, what are you doing riding a bike with you baby in the middle of the night?
Wheel Dimensions: Rear 20″, Front (Jogging Kit) 16″ Suspension: Adjustable coil spring Adjustable Handlebar: Yes (HeightRight has a “high” and “low” setting) Thule Chariot Cougar 1 / Cheetah 1 ($690 + $120 Jogging Kit) For The Casual Jogger: Baby Trend Expedition Pro: Baby Gear Lab calls the Baby Trend Expedition “a good all around stroller” if you’re going on “unexpected adventures” (you mean, like the Goonies?). Runner Amy Tarpley wrote on Runner’s World, “It’s got great handling and we’ve pushed it in several races. My husband has even run a 22-minute 5K and said it handled well!” Con: It’s reliable for the light jogger, but not the serious runner. On the other hand, the price is as serious as its competitors. Wheel Dimensions: Rear 15.5″, Front 11.25″ Brake: Double foot-activated parking brake Adjustable Handlebar: Yes (Max height 41″) For Running With Siblings: BOB Pro Dualie Pro: If you have two young kids — best of luck.