All-Terrain Strollers

Best all-terrain strollers for everyday use

Lots of strollers offer three wheels, but they really aren't meant for jogging. Rather, they are designed to be versatile enough for indoor and outdoor use. Many reviewers say these strollers are great for fitness walking and neighborhood strolls because they maneuver better and have a smoother ride than standard, four-wheeled strollers. Most of these all-terrain strollers have a front swivel wheel that locks into place for jogging, but reviewers say that fixed-wheel strollers are a better bet for runners.

BOB scores again in the all-terrain stroller category with the BOB Revolution (*Est. $390), earning lots of praise for its versatility. This stroller has polymer BMX-style wheels. The 16-inch back wheels are fixed, with a 12.5-inch front wheel that swivels or locks, so it can maneuver around tight spaces but still track straight for light jogging or off-road hikes. It has a 70-pound weight limit, a two-step folding system and adjustable shock absorbers. BOB redesigned the seat on the latest model, which now inclines up to 70 degrees -- 25 degrees farther than previous versions of this stroller. Professional reviewers recommend the BOB Revolution for handling uneven sidewalks or gravel, while still being useful for shopping or running errands. Even though all-terrain strollers aren't really designed for jogging, reviews say that lots of parents use the Revolution for that purpose. The world record for the fastest marathon run with a stroller was set in 2007 with a BOB Revolution.

The BOB Revolution gets rave reviews from testers at Cookie magazine, which give this jogging stroller perfect scores for durability and ease of use. Testers like the adjustable tracking, which allows you to correct the stroller if it starts veering off in one direction. The suspension and turning capabilities also earn accolades, and Cookie's editors like the generous storage space. Testers at Babble.com also praise the ample storage capacity, and love the easy maneuverability and smooth ride. The BOB Revolution ultimately earns the Babble Best from Babble.com, with the editors finding it performs "heads above the rest."

Christine Luff at About.com agrees, picking the BOB Revolution as a versatile stroller for those who want the option of indoor and outdoor use. The double model, the BOB Revolution Duallie (*Est. $590) also enjoys great reviews from owners, especially for its straight and smooth ride. "It glides like you are on ice," one parent says.

The BOB Revolution has a fixed handlebar, which some reviewers find is one of the only downsides to this stroller. Overall, owner feedback confirms the glowing praise this stroller receives from experts. The BOB Revolution gets a clear majority of five-star reviews from the roughly 70 reviews on Amazon.com, with owners praising the stability and durability. Some reviewers, however, are frustrated that you have to pay extra for the cup holder console (*est. $20). For a stroller that costs $350, these parents expect a cup holder to come standard.

BOB makes a scaled-down version of the Revolution called the BOB Revolution 12-inch AW (*Est. $400). The 12-inch Revolution has a lockable 12-inch front wheel, welded frame, full canopy and two-step fold just like the full-size Revolution. The back wheels are 2 inches rather than 16, and the overall weight is 22 pounds (slightly lighter than the Revolution). The smaller wheels are designed to make it more maneuverable indoors in tight spaces, and the few parents posting to Amazon.com praise its compact size and easy maneuverability. Parenting magazine selects the BOB Revolution 12-inch AW as the best jogging stroller, praising its performance over bumpy terrain. Although the Revolution 12-inch is designed to accommodate a bit of off-road use, the BOB Ironman is a better bet if you want a true jogging stroller.

The Mountain Buggy Urban Single (*Est. $550) is a favorite of parents and earns consistently good reviews. It features quick release 12-inch wheels, with a swiveling front wheel that can lock into position for brisk walking and casual jogging. Reviewers say this is a quality all-terrain stroller that rides smoothly, maneuvers well and folds up easily for storage. There's a deluxe version of the Mountain Buggy Urban called the Urban Elite (*Est. $500), which adds a fleece liner, some extra padding on the harness, canvas fabric for extra durability and a matching diaper bag with changing mat. Both strollers feature a fully reclining seat suitable for newborns, and with the right accessories, they can convert to carriage strollers.

Cookie magazine praises this all-terrain stroller for its easy maneuverability, with testers finding that the Mountain Buggy Urban Single performs well over sand, trails and interior floors. Testers also like the adjustable handlebar, but some say the size of this stroller makes it hard to maneuver in small spaces.

The future of the Mountain Buggy stroller line is unclear. The manufacturer, New Zealand-based Tritec, declared bankruptcy in early 2009, and the company was acquired by phil&teds shortly thereafter. Phil&teds says it wants to grow the Mountain Buggy brand and won't make any decisions until late 2009, so we may see some changes later this year.

Phil&teds has their own well-reviewed stroller in the phil&teds Sport (*Est. $450). Reviewers love the optional toddler kit (*est. $90) that converts this stroller into an inline double that easily fits through standard doors. Parent feedback on the phil&teds stroller line is very good, primarily because of the double option. One drawback is that the second child rides quite close to the ground, meaning his or her view is partially blocked by the front seat. However, several parents say their children prefer the rear seat, and it is a good location for napping. Reviewers say the phil&teds Sport is ideal for parents who need a double stroller, but who don't want the added width or length of a traditional double.

A New Zealand-based television show, "Target," picks the phil&teds Sport as the best buggy out of four models reviewed. In the categories of value, weight, size and accessories, the phil&teds Sport came out on top. The stroller has 12-inch wheels with a lockable front swivel wheel and is suitable for children up to 55 pounds. If you add the optional double kit, the stroller can accommodate 44 pounds in the front seat and 33 pounds in the back seat. Parents particularly like the height-adjustable handle. Owner-written reviews say the lack of a cup holder and a relatively small canopy are the downsides of this all-terrain stroller.

If you need more sun protection, reviews say the phil&teds Vibe (*Est. $700) offers a better canopy than the Sport. The canopy rotates and slides up and down on its frame to obtain the perfect balance of headroom and sun protection. The Vibe also features a cushioned seat with full recline and an adjustable five-point harness. It's still not a true jogging stroller, though, and it costs significantly more than the phil&teds Sport. Parents at JoggingStroller.com are giving the Vibe above average reviews so far. Although some say it's worth the high price, others say it doesn't live up to the hype, pointing to an uncomfortably thick handlebar and lack of shock absorbers. Unlike the other phil&teds strollers, the Vibe can fold with the doubles kit attached, although parents say folding the stroller is no easy feat. One reviewer says it is a 12-step process.

As mentioned earlier in this report, phil&teds had three voluntary safety recalls in 2008. Professional reviewers like this brand overall, especially the Sport.

Although it doesn't score as well as the top-rated BOB Revolution, parents also like the Bumbleride Indie (*Est. $460). This 20-pound all-terrain stroller attracts praise from testers at Cookie magazine and Babble.com, who like how it keeps kids comfortable with a cushy padded seat, four-point recline, safety bar and foot rest. Like most other all-terrain strollers, the front wheel on the Bumbleride Indie swivels, but it can be locked into place for better tracking. This all-terrain stroller gets good reviews at BabiesRUs.com, with reviewers praising the stable turns and smooth ride; they also say it's easy to fold once you get the hang of it. However, one reviewer finds it too bulky for everyday use. One professional review finds that the Bumbleride Indie is more stylish than the BOB Revolution, but says it doesn't ride as well.

Unlike the BOB Revolution, the Bumbleride Indie has an adjustable handlebar that testers find very useful. The Bumbleride Indie can only accommodate kids up to 45 pounds (25 pounds less than the BOB Revolution), so you'll be able to use the BOB Revolution longer.

The City Series line from Baby Jogger, which includes the Classic (*Est. $400), the Elite (*Est. $450) and the Mini (*Est. $230), is another popular option for all-terrain strollers. The Mini, with its lightweight 8-inch swivel wheels, cannot be considered an all-terrain stroller, but the Elite and the Classic have 12-inch wheels. The front wheel can be locked in place for better handling on rough terrain, but neither model is a true jogging stroller. The City Classic and Elite feature a quick folding system, whereby you grab the fold strap in the seat, lift and go; some editors say this is the best folding mechanism they've seen. The Baby Jogger City Classic also includes a one-touch switch that allows you to change from a swiveling to a locked front wheel and, at 21 pounds, it is fairly lightweight for an all-terrain stroller. The Elite weighs 25 pounds and includes a few extra features like a raised kicker footrest and a handlebar console.

New for 2009, Baby Jogger has released the Summit 360 (*Est. $400), which is receiving good feedback in preliminary reviews. It can accommodate up to 75 pounds, and features Baby Jogger's one-step folding system and all-wheel suspension. It addition to the single version, it also comes in double (*Est. $650) and triple models (*Est. $1,000). Baby Jogger markets the Summit 360 as a hybrid stroller/jogger -- the front wheel swivels for easy maneuverability around town, but it can also be locked into place for walking or casual jogging.

Because the Baby Jogger Summit 360 is so new, it hasn't attracted many reviews yet. It does win a National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA) and a Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Media Award for 2009, although the testing methodology for these awards is not available to the public. Pregnancy magazine highlights the Baby Jogger Summit 360 as a "jogging stroller you'll actually use" in a very brief review. Owner-written reviews are scarce, but one owner says that the stroller pulls while jogging -- even with the front wheel locked -- which is why experts recommend fixed-wheel strollers for running.

Teutonia strollers (*Est. $650 and up) are a relatively new addition to the market, having launched in the United States in 2008, and they're getting a lot of buzz. The strollers are fully customizable, so you can design your own stroller -- but it's not cheap. You start by choosing a chassis (*est. $500) -- the T-200 chassis is the only all-terrain version -- and then pick a stroller seat (*est. $150) or removable car seat (*est. $225), wheels and colors. If you want to add accessories, like a handmuff, footmuff, extra seat cushioning or a car-seat adapter, you'll have to pay extra for those too. By the time you finish customizing your stroller, you could be looking at a total cost over $800.

Cookie magazine likes the Teutonia T-200 series, which earns praise for an adjustable handlebar, aluminum frame and handbrake. Their tester loves the extra features, including a hand muff for cold or inclement weather. The Teutonia T-200 strollers, at about 30 pounds, are heavier than other top-rated strollers, and they are only suitable for kids who are 50 pounds or less. In a later review of the Teutonia T-200 series, Cookie says that the weight and size of the stroller are drawbacks.