Best Jogging Strollers
Jogging strollers give you the freedom to go for a run whenever you darn well please, especially if you feel like you can never get away. [See also: best double jogging strollers]
Jogging Strollers come in two different flavors: swivel wheel and fixed wheel.
It all boils down to this: if you require a stroller to serve as your day-to-day stroller and as a jogger, get a stroller with a front wheel that can swivel. If you don’t have a swivel wheel, you’ll have to resort to lifting the front wheel from the ground each time you steer, which is fine for jogging, but terrible for walking, shopping, or futzing around.
On the other hand, if you are an earnest distance runner and your stroller will not be used for bumbling around the neighborhood, grocery store and such (i.e., you have another stroller for that purpose), go with a fixed wheel jogger.
With a fixed front wheel, you will most definitely experience a smoother run with better tracking and less wobbling. In fact, most hardcore runners wouldn’t dream of using anything other than a fixed wheeled jogger.
Generally speaking, jogging strollers are all fairly large and heavy, so if you’ve been using a City Mini or an umbrella stroller, you’re in for quite a surprise. Sorry, this is the nature of the beast — it’s apples and oranges compared to other types of strollers.
Another point to make is that the seats in sports strollers tend to be reclined more than most (thus, they don’t sit bolt upright, even in the most upright position).
FYI — all of the joggers reviewed here use pneumatic, air-filled tires (as they should), which will need to be re-inflated occasionally and may become flat if you hit something sharp; such is life with a jogging stroller. On the plus side, air-filled tires ride and handle exceptionally well, even on the cheapest of strollers.
Best Jogging Strollers
Here are the best jogging strollers in each price category. [See also: best double jogging strollers]
Best Swivel Wheel Joggers
Baby Trend Expedition RG Jogger ~ $119
I am super excited about the latest version of the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger, the RG (it came out in late 2017). It has a new all-black look, is very well-liked, and the price is right. I’ve been running with it in running club and I’m very impressed! The Expedition has decent storage, a big basket, and rolls very nicely.
People love the parent tray, which has two cup holders and a small, closed compartment for your phone and keys and such.
The stroller also comes with a swing-away child tray (it’s nice not to have to remove the tray entirely to get your kid in and out of the seat) with two cup holders. The tray doubles as a frame for a Baby Trend infant car seat so you can use this stroller as a travel system.
I find the tray to be key to keeping a child entertained while we run. It’s just one of those little things that really matters. I wish they all had a tray…
The ratcheting shade canopy on the Expedition offers a good deal of sun coverage, though not as good as on higher-end joggers. The seat has a five-point harness and can recline in multiple positions.
The Expedition comes with a safety-conscious tether strap (you know…for if you fall and bust your ass — it happens). The trigger fold is quick and fairly easy on this stroller (though it requires both hands), and it’s simple to pop off the rear wheels to make the whole kit and caboodle more compact for travel.
All in all, the Expedition is good (great!?) for the price and a solid choice for the slimmest of budgets. Unlike pricier strollers, however, it will rust over time and generally won’t last as long (after all, you do get what you pay for).
Runner Up, Economy
Graco FastAction Fold Jogger ~ $179 retail
The Graco FastAction Fold Jogger sports many good features, including ample storage (in the under basket and parent tray), a fast one-handed fold, a three position recline, a large canopy with a peekaboo window, all-wheel suspension, and a kickstand to hold the folded stroller upright.
The big downside of this stroller is the weight (32 lbs, eeek!!). Imagine lugging this beast in and out of the car. Many have mentioned that the sheer bulk of the stroller makes it hard to run effectively and steer – even with the wheel locked straight. It certainly doesn’t glide along like the others. *Keep in mind when reading reviews that the vast majority of owners do not actually use it for running, so they are not reviewing it as such.
At the end of the day, the only thing the FastAction Fold Jogger has going for it is, well, the fold — and the fact that it goes so well with America’s top-selling infant car seat, the Graco SnugRide Click Connect (NOT the Classic Connect).
Thus, as joggers go, we think you can do better.
We do not recommend the In Step Safari because it is a bulky, low-quality stroller that does not perform well — and the tires go flat pretty quickly
$$ – Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight ~ $219
Joovy…I love Joovy. They are one of the few manufacturers that I feel actually has parents’ best interests in mind when designing their products. They always strive to give you a good quality product with great features at a fair price — and the Zoom 360 Ultralight is no different.
As you might expect, in the $$ department, you get a nicer stroller than you would in the $ department, though I will note that I had a persistent problem getting mine to track straight.
Size & Weight
The stroller weighs 26 lbs, which is average (to high) for a jogging stroller.
Seat/Car Seat
The Zoom 360 Ultralight has a wide seat, though it’s not terribly tall (about the same as BOB). The seat has side mesh pockets, which are great for sippy cups and small toys. The seat does not sit very upright, though it does recline pretty far — about 30 degrees from the horizontal. Again, the seat is not terribly tall, so it may not fit your taller/older kid.
The lower part of the seat has a nice metal footrest for wet or dirty feet — easy to spray off with a hose.
With the purchase of a car seat adapter, you can attach many car seat brands to this stroller. These seats securely click in and out of the adapter.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
This stroller has a HUUUGE canopy with a large peekaboo window, a non-adjustable handlebar, a runaway strap, and, our favorite part, a large storage basket.
It also comes with a neoprene parent console, which has two deep cup holders, a zippered storage pouch, and reflective tape for dusk or night use. Rain cover, sold separately.
Wheels/Suspension
As with all joggers, you get huge 16″ air-inflated tires that ride like a dream. You can switch the front wheel to locked mode at the front tire for jogging. The stroller also includes a mini-tire pump for your monthly pump-up, although I personally couldn’t figure out how to get the pump to work properly.
The suspension system is excellent thanks to shocks over the back wheels.
Folding & Carrying
You can fold the Zoom 360 Ultralight at the seat and it auto locks into place. The fold is very compact for a jogger (yay!). Pop off the wheels for even more space. It fits well in tight trunks, like that of a Toyota Corolla or RAV4.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for something better than a Schwinn or Baby Trend jogging stroller but don’t have the money for a BOB (and the like), look no further than the Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight. The customer service is top-notch (good luck trying to contact anyone at Schwinn or Baby Trend! Speaking from personal experience…).
$$$ — BOB Revolution Flex 3.0/Pro – TOP PICK (Tied)
- Flex: MSRP $449
- Pro: MSRP $499
Smoother than a baby’s butt: in the $$$ category, the BOB Revolution Flex & Pro strollers are the pimp mac-daddies of the convertible wheel/jogger stroller world. Delivering the smoothest of rides, we joke that if you just blow on the handlebars from behind, BOB will start rolling on its own. Note that while the BOB Revolution stroller can be used for jogging, it’s really not their hardcore jogging stroller (see BOB Blaze, below).
Size & Weight
The weight is 28.5 lbs for the Flex and 30.5 lbs for the Pro — on the heavier end. The wheel base is wider than most, but the stroller itself is not terribly long like the Mountain Buggy Terrain, for example. Compared to the Graco FastAction fold, for example, there is no comparison. Many attribute the excellent “push” of the BOB to the wide wheel base and well-balanced center of gravity.
The max weight has increased to hold 75 lbs of child meat.
Seat
The seat has a padded, 5-pt harness and now sits completely upright (yay! This used to be a complaint…). You can adjust the height of the straps with an easy, “no re-thread” harness, which is quite nice. We noted that the buckle is pretty easy for motivated little ones to pop off, so watch out for those jail-breakers who can get out on their own (definitely not cool while jogging!).
The one-hand recline adjustment lets you quickly lay the seat back with the simple squeeze of a button.
The seat has mesh pockets on the side for toys, sippy cups, etc., and you can purchase a snack tray if you’d like. A neg is that you can’t remove the seat fabric for washing; it must be spot cleaned by hand.
Car Seat
You can purchase (separately) an Infant Car Seat Adapter for most car seats on the market – yay! You can even purchase a matching 2016 BOB B-Safe 35 car seat (below) that’s super slick and sporty. Yes, you can use the car seat from birth, but again, please don’t jog with it until your baby is 8 months or so.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
The huge, multi-position canopy is adjustable and the big peekaboo window allows you to keep an eye on things from above. The canopy can get very bunchy and may rub on the heads of taller children. To prevent this, you can use the pull-cords to pull the folded canopy junk out of the head space.
BOB has a heavy-duty, easy-to-use linked parking brake in the back.
Note that the runaway safety strap is fixed on the right side of the handlebar, so if you are a lefty…you may find it a bit annoying because it’s tied to your non-dominant hand.
The handlebar for the Flex 3.0 and Pro models adjusts height-wise for those of you (or your spouse) that are on the tall or very short side.
The storage basket is decent and there are two interior pockets, as well as a large, mesh pocket in the back of the seat for smaller items.
Wheels/Suspension
Note that the tires on the BOB don’t have metal spokes like on some of the cheaper strollers. The “spokes” are rubberized and therefore, won’t rust or break. It’s features like these that set BOB (and others like Baby Jogger and Thule) apart from the rest.
To switch between swivel and fixed mode, you have to do so manually by kneeling down at the wheel. We prefer a switch up by the handlebars (which even the Schwinn has!), but whatevs.
The front wheel on BOB strollers is special: it has tracking knobs, which allows you to correct for any right or left drag that occurs while jogging with the wheel locked. This corrects any pulling, which is super annoying while running. Since pulling to one side is a common complaint with jogging strollers, especially for distance road running, BOB wins a big one in this department.
The suspension system also has shocks on each side, which can be tweaked depending on the weight of your child.
These two controls (the tracking knobs on the front wheel and the shocks) set BOB apart from the rest of the jogging strollers in the world, even from the Summit X3. Conversely, if you aren’t using this for jogging, these features won’t mean as much to you; you can save some money by buying a less technical stroller, like the Joovy or BabyTrend.
Folding & Carrying
The fold is a two-step, two-handed fold which is not our favorite, but not uncommon for a jogging stroller. You have to kneel down to fasten the strap to hold it together, which again…not our favorite — we’d prefer an auto-lock mechanism.
BOB will fit into most regular sized trunks and, if things get tight, you can easily pop off the wheels for a tighter fit.
The Scout stroller rack fits nicely in your tow hitch and allows you to transport your BOB without filling up valuable trunk space. Get 15% off with code lucielovesscout.
Bottom Line: BOB is great at many things — he has an awesome “push” (glides like butter), he steers easily with one hand, and the suspension and tracking on the stroller are state-of-the-art. That said, there are some annoyances: the bunchy canopy, the fold and lock situation, and the switch from fixed to swivel mode. In exchange, you get the most amazing push in the world and most wouldn’t trade it for anything.
- Please note: For those who own BOB strollers (or are planning to purchase a used one) manufactured before 9/30/15, please refer to BOB’s education video about how to properly and safely use the front wheel and quick release.
- The “Pro” has a rear-drum brake for extra braking control. Great for those running in hills and such (or if you live in San Francisco!).
- The “Stroller Strides Fitness” includes the stroller strides fitness kit (parent console, exercise manual, and exercise tubing) and a coupon for classes. Find classes near you at FIT4MOM.com.
Read also: Getting back into Shape After Baby
$$$: Thule Urban Glide 2 – TOP PICK (Tied)
Price: MSRP $479
Runners Up ~ $$$
Baby Jogger Summit X3 ~ MSRP $429
BOB and Thule are not the only fish in the jogging stroller sea, nay. “Mall or mountain,” the Summit X3 works very well as both an all-terrain stroller and a jogger and eclipses BOB when it comes to certain features. I’ll explain…
Size & Weight
The Summit X3 is 28.5 lbs, same as BOB Flex, and a few pounds heavier than the Thule. The max weight capacity is 75 lbs.
Seat
The seat also reclines nearly flat — and the recline is easy to do with one hand with a simple cinch-strap in the back.
The seat is taller than most jogging strollers at almost 19″. In fact, many claim their 6-year-olds still fit comfortably in the seat. Yes, many people use jogging strollers for much longer than regular strollers out of sheer necessity.
The padded 5-pt harness is awesome and (unlike the BOB buckle), cannot be easily undone by naughty toddlers, especially after the recent redesign. Many also use them for older, special needs children or children with mobility problems.
Car Seat
If you’d like to use it with your car seat, adapters are sold separately (but please, not for jogging until 6-8 months). The Summit X3 jogging stroller travel system accepts a plethora of car seats.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
The Summit X3 has a huge, delicious UV 50+ sun canopy with three full panels and two viewing windows, much like the Thule. The canopy is nice and smooth and not bunchy and crinkly like on the BOB.
Another nice feature is these neat little side vents to keep things cool under the canopy when it’s hot outside.
These, combined with the back panel that you can roll up to get a breeze through, make this (and the Thule) better strollers for hotter climates due to the venting.
We like that the handlebar on the Summit X3 is rubberized and is very easy to wipe clean. The handlebar is not adjustable, but is fairly tall. For tall – or very short – parents, I’d opt for the Thule Urban Glide 2, or the BOB Revolution Flex/Pro, since each has an adjustable handlebar.
In addition to the parking brake, the Summit X3 also has a handlebar brake to slow the stroller down while running in the hills. A note: to get the same feature on the BOB, you have to buy the Promodel or the fixed-wheel Blaze. The Urban Glide 2 has it as well.
The Summit X3 also has a runaway strap to prevent the stroller from rolling away if you let go unintentionally (it happens!). The runaway strap is affixed to the bottom of the stroller, which won’t bring the whole dang stroller crashing down if you happen to fall down while running.
The storage basket is pretty roomy for a jogger thanks to the “U” shaped support bar — and is even accessible from the sides, though it’s not covered like the Urban Glide’s.
It doesn’t come with a parent console (sold separately), a snack tray, and other accessories separately.
Wheels/Suspension
The Summit X3 has fabulous 16” rear and 12” front air-filled tires. The stroller has all-wheel suspension (below) and absorbs quite a lot of bumps for a super smooth ride.
One of our favorite features: you can change the fixed front wheel to swivel wheel mode with a simple side lever, unlike the BOB or Thule, where you have to kneel down at the wheel to do it manually. For people who are frequently switching between fixed wheel and swivel modes (perhaps if you like to jog and walk for intervals, for example), this is a wonderful feature. So much more civilized!
Like the BOB and Thule, the Summit X3 also has a trim feature on the front wheel (a red knob) that allows you to get the stroller tracking perfectly straight. This is key for a nice, uninterrupted jog.
Folding & Carrying
The fold is the classic Baby Jogger fold that they are famous for. Simply pull up on the seat-handle, the stroller collapses, and you carry it away. That’s it! It’s super easy, even while carrying a baby. The Thule is equally easy to fold. The BOB requires a little more work.
The stroller folds pretty compactly and should fit into most trunks, especially with the wheels popped off.
Bottom Line: The Baby Jogger Summit X3 has many nice features, including the fold, the awesome canopy, the buckle, the wheel switch, and the runaway strap. BOB and Thule have a better push and are generally easier to run with. At the end of the day, you’ll have to weigh these factors to decide which is right for you. Translation: I wouldn’t pay top dollar for this stroller over the others.
Runner Up #2 ~ $$$
Chicco Tre ~ MSRP $379
The Chicco Tre is an all-in-one stroller that works as a car seat frame (with the Chicco KeyFit and KeyFit 30 infant seats ONLY) or with a regular stroller seat. It has loads of great features, including a hand brake, adjustable handlebar with a front wheel mode switch, generous storage, and a parent console with cup holders and storage pocket.
However, it’s very heavy (28.5 lbs) and not nearly as run-able or maneuverable as our top picks, though nearly as expensive! Therefore, it’s not one we would recommend for earnest running, but fine for bumbling around the neighborhood. Bottom line: #chiccoexcelsatcarseatsnotstrollers — and this one is no exception (ouch).
$$$$ – 2018 Bumbleride Speed ~ $569
The Speed has beauty and brains. It’s lightweight, compact(ish), eco-friendly, very well made and easy to fold. It lies nearly flat and has wonderful storage. The canopy and fabrics are delightful. The only conveniences it lacks are a hand switch (for wheel modes) and a hand brake for hilly terrain and high speeds. It’s not quite as technical or as easy to run with as our top picks, the BOB and Thule, but it’s a beautiful alternative for those looking for something different.
With car seat compatibility, this could be the one and only stroller for an active parent. The three wheel modes allow you to do it all.
Runner Up, $$$$
Mountain Buggy Terrain ~ MSRP: $599
This pricey, heavy (28.5) pound stroller works well in the hills, sand, and snow. The robust frame features a hand brake, adjustable handlebar, bottle holders, bumper bar, and an extra 12” set of rear wheels for urban use.
However, it’s not as agile or maneuverable and just as expensive as the others, so the value (for an earnest runner) just isn’t there. The one thing that’s unique (that I love) is the fact that you can get the 12” rear wheels for casual use — that’s very cool and adds to the versatility of this stroller.
It’s the only jogging stroller with a seat that goes totally flat for newborns (though, remember: not for jogging!). Note that it has a 55 lb weight limit (roughly a 6-7 year old).
You can buy a separate car seat adapter and you can even remove the seat itself (like the Chicco Tre) to use it as a bare bones car seat frame carrier. You can also buy a bassinet-style pram to use with your 0-6 month’er.
There are more quality complaints about this stroller than we’d like, and the fashions are not for everyone. At the end of the day, I think you can do better (especially for the price).
Fixed Wheel Jogging Strollers
Just to be crystal clear, the front wheel of a fixed wheel jogger cannot swivel. At all. Ever.
I feel terrible for people who buy a fixed front wheel stroller expecting something different. And you see them all the time — trying to negotiate the aisles at the grocery store by lifting the stroller up to turn it. This is not the stroller for shopping, folks.
For serious runners, however, a fixed wheel stroller will track beautifully and won’t wobble. These strollers are not multitaskers, but they are specially designed to do their job (distance running!) very well.
$ – Schwinn Arrow ~ MSRP $219
The Schwinn Arrow is our top pick for an economy, fixed wheel jogging stroller. The maximum weight capacity is 50 lbs, though some parents have mentioned that it may grow difficult to use this stroller even with a 40 lb child.
Again, only buy this stroller if you want to jog with it, as the front wheel does not steer (have I beat this horse to death yet? LOL).
Size & Weight
The Schwinn Arrow is one of the lighter joggers in this guide at a mere 24.9 lbs. We love that!
Seat
The seat reclines, but not all the way flat. This will work for babes 6 months+. It has a nicely padded 5-pt harness, but no reflective tape.
Car Seat
The stroller is not car seat compatible, sorry.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
On the downside, the one-panel canopy only covers the sun if it’s directly overhead (translation: it sucks). For better coverage, you’ll have to get a little creative with blankets or even after-market products. The canopy fabric is thin and…not our favorite.
On the plus side, the Schwinn Arrow offers many convenience features found in higher-dollar jogging strollers.
Most importantly, it has an adjustable handlebar, which exceptionally tall or short parents find indispensable. The rubber handle is comfortable, slip resistant, and won’t disintegrate with moisture or heavy use. We love the dual cup holders and the storage compartment.
It has a hand brake and a safety wrist strap to control your speed, especially if you’re running in the hills.
The storage basket is fairly large, but it’s the opening that restricts larger items from fitting into it. Thus, you can fit a lot of loose items down there, but not anything too big. Note also that the storage basket is very low to the ground, so your things may get wet down there in the rain. It also has those silly MP3 speakers that aren’t worth a darn.
Wheels/Suspension
All three wheels have 16” air-filled tires, which is a unique characteristic of fixed wheel joggers (swivel wheel joggers have a smaller wheel in the front). The Arrow has suspension on the rear wheels and while most find it sufficient, it’s not quite as smooth as in higher-end joggers.
Alignment: Remember that with a fixed wheel jogger, it’s crucial that the front wheel is perfectly true. Many reviewers had problems with it at first, then learned how to get it perfectly straight.
Folding & Carrying
The dual trigger fold is easy, but you’ll need two hands. Once folded, the stroller locks into place.
Because the front wheel is fixed, this stroller (and other fixed wheel strollers) takes up more space when folded. If you drive a compact car, you will probably have to take the wheels off in order to get it in your trunk — a relatively easy operation.
Bottom line: The Schwinn Arrow is our top value pick for a fixed wheel jogger. It offers many of the features of a higher-end jogger at a much lower price. Expect a lower build quality, but for those who haven’t been spoiled by the lushness of a BOB, Baby Jogger, or Thule, you should be pretty happy with this purchase.
$$$ – BOB Blaze ~ $499
Note: The BOB Blaze has replaced the Ironman and the SUS has been retired.
The BOB Blaze is quite similar to the BOB Revolution (please start by reading the review for the BOB Revolution). There are only a few variations, the fixed front wheel being the big one.
Car Seats
Yes, the Blaze is compatible with several brands of car seats with the purchase of an additional adapter.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
The Blaze comes with a parent console including two cup holders and a center pouch. However, it does not come with snack tray, which you can buy separately.
Another difference is that the Blaze has the added hand brake to control your speed while running (like the Pro), particularly when running downhill. You can also adjust the handlebar position to your perfect height.
Note again that the safety strap is affixed to the right side, so lefties may find this annoying.
The canopy is the same as on the Revolution: VERY large and full coverage with a large peekaboo window to spy from above and chat with your child. Like the Revolution, the canopy isn’t terribly tall, especially when folded back.
Unique to the Blaze, is a zip-top cargo basket. Your belongings will be safely stored while you’re training.
Wheels/Suspension
The three 16″ high-pressure tires are built for speed, just like a road bike. The tires will need to be replaced every 500 miles or so.
The Blaze boasts a mountain bike-style suspension system with two stages of weight support as your child grows.
Folding & Carrying
The folding mechanism is the same as on the Revolution, but the fold on the Blaze is not as compact because the front wheel is fixed and juts out more. Thus, you may need to remove one or more wheels to get it into a smaller trunk (something that’s very easy to do).
The Scout stroller rack fits nicely in your tow hitch and allows you to transport your BOB without filling up valuable trunk space. Get 15% off with code lucielovesscout.
Conclusion
All in all, serious joggers are gaga over BOB strollers. They consistently get 5-star reviews. At the end of the day, they really aren’tthat much more expensive (especially when on sale) than mid-range strollers and soooo much better.
Please note: For those who own BOB strollers (or are planning to purchase a used one) manufactured before 9/30/15, please refer to BOB’s education video about how to properly and safely use the front wheel and quick release.
$$$ – Thule Glide 2 ~ MSRP $449
The European company Thule makes a top-of-the-line fixed wheel stroller called the Glide 2 that is giving BOB some serious competition. Like the swivel wheel “Urban” Glide 2, the 23 lb fixed wheel Glide 2 is the lightest of all the strollers in this review.
This sleek running stroller has a 75 lb weight limit, handlebar hand brake, canopy with side-ventilation windows, comfy reclining seat, generous suspension, padded 5-point harness, one-handed compact fold, and a large cargo basket.
The rear wheels on the Glide are 18″, compared to 16″ of others. The larger the wheels, the easier it rolls – and 18″ are the largest wheels of any jogger.
This puppy is long, but runs like a dream; serious runners rave about how well it handles. (For the record, many say they like running with Thule’s Urban Glide 2 just as much as this one, if not more — something to keep in mind if you’re not set on a fixed-wheel jogging stroller!)
Bottom Line: the Glide 2 offers the same benefits as its fixed wheel cousin: easier folding, covered storage, a larger canopy and a superior ride. You’ll have to decide, based on these features, which one is right for you.
