Best Jogging Strollers

Best (but expensive) jogging strollers overall

For runners who want the best jogging stroller on the market, numerous reviewers point to the BOB Ironman (*Est. $350). This jogging stroller, which was first introduced in 2004, consistently gets excellent reviews from experts and parents. It has 16-inch fixed wheels with quick-release mechanisms, a lightweight aluminum alloy frame and can accommodate children up to 70 pounds. One professional source for stroller reviews picks the BOB Ironman (and the BOB line in general) as the best option for fitness-minded parents. Editors at Baby-Gaga.com report excellent long-term durability, backed by a five-year frame warranty. At 21 pounds, the BOB Ironman impresses reviewers with features like adjustable tracking and newly designed pneumatic bike tires with stainless steel spokes. The suspension system, capable of 3 inches of travel, minimizes bouncing and vibration.

Other publications, like Fit Pregnancy, Cookie and Pregnancy & Newborn, also give the BOB Ironman high marks. This jogging stroller earns a Reader's Choice award from Pregnancy & Newborn magazine, and a pick as the best stroller for outdoor use from Fit Pregnancy. Calling it "built for speed," testers for Fit Pregnancy find the BOB Ironman tracks straight and glides easily over roads and packed-dirt trails. It receives a perfect score from Cookie magazine for durability, with editors finding that the frame is tough without being too heavy.

The BOB Ironman also receives high marks from parents like Stephen Regenold, the author of the nationally syndicated Gear Junkie column. Regenold isn't a big fan of running with a jogging stroller, but during two months of testing, he finds the BOB Ironman tracks perfectly straight, maneuvers easily and requires little pushing and few corrections once it gets going. The child's seating area is roomy and comfortable, and owners at Amazon say their children love riding in this stroller.

The BOB Ironman comes in a snazzy racing yellow color scheme for visibility (it's available in navy blue as well). Although other jogging strollers don't have many storage options, the Ironman jogging stroller features a lower basket and three storage pouches. The seat reclines up to 70 degrees, so you can adjust it for a sleeping child, and the sun canopy is one of the largest on any jogging stroller. The multi-position canopy comes down a lot lower than those on many other models, which keeps the sun out of the baby's eyes on early-morning or late-afternoon runs. There's a safety tether and parking brake. Most reviewers overwhelmingly praise the BOB Ironman, but reviews do point to a few weaknesses. Stephen Regenold said he thinks the caliper hand brake is pretty weak, especially going downhill, and he finds the foam handlebar gets slippery and sweaty in hot weather. Other testers find it difficult to fold, and the fixed front wheel limits its use for shopping in stores or navigating city sidewalks. Unlike many other jogging strollers, the handlebar height is not adjustable, which annoys some reviewers.

Other BOB jogging strollers also get good reviews, including the original BOB Sport Utility Stroller (*Est. $300), sometimes called the BOB SUS. Whereas the BOB Ironman has 16-inch bike tires, the BOB Sport Utility features 16-inch polymer wheels, which have up to 3 inches of give. Experts say bike tires are better for road running than polymer wheels, but most reviewers seem to have no problems jogging with the BOB Sport Utility Stroller. The front wheel is fixed, and reviewers say it tracks straight and offers a smooth and stable ride. The Sport Utility Stroller's shock absorbers are adjustable, so you can optimize the ride for a heavier child (up to 70 pounds).

The latest 2009 model gets only a handful of reviews of Amazon.com, but the reviewers like the suspension, ample storage space and quality construction that holds up to miles of running. The similar BOB Sport Utility Stroller D'Lux (*Est. $350) uses bicycle wheels (with steel spokes and aluminum rims) instead of polymer wheels, and its fixed front wheel makes it a good option for jogging. However, the canopy on the BOB SUS D'Lux isn't as generous as the canopy on the BOB Ironman jogging stroller. Still, it gets excellent feedback in owner-written reviews compiled by Buzzillions.com. Parents like the comfortable padded seat and quick-release tires. Several tall parents say that they can easily stride behind this jogging stroller without bumping their knees, but a few say they had some problems with tire spokes breaking.

Kelty, a company better known for its popular baby carriers, also makes jogging strollers. The highly rated Kelty Speedster Deluxe (*Est. $335) has 16-inch fixed wheels, a lightweight aluminum frame, an adjustable five-point harness, a reclining seat and a pulley-assisted fold. Like the BOB jogging strollers, the Speedster Deluxe can accommodate kids up to 70 pounds. This jogging stroller gets good feedback from owners, but nowhere near the rave reviews the BOB Ironman enjoys. Overall, owners say the Kelty Speedster Deluxe stroller is roomy, nicely padded and easy to maneuver. Owners like the height-adjustable handles, and the sunshade gets good marks for coverage and ease of use. The Speedster Deluxe does well in independent testing, and scores especially high for safety and performance.

The pared-down Kelty Speedster (*Est. $260) has similar features, but lacks the height-adjustable handles and reclining seat, so it's less configurable for both parents and babies. We didn't find many reviews for this basic jogging stroller, but the few owner-written reviews available were mixed. Parents like the stroller in theory, but no one seems overly impressed. Reviewers say the nonreclining seat is a real bummer, especially for younger babies. It does have the same frame, wheels and weight limit as the Deluxe, and it might be worth a test drive if you're on a budget and don't need the extra adjustability. One professional reviewing source thinks that Kelty jogging strollers are starting to show their age.

Joovy is better known for its traditional strollers, but it unveiled a fixed-wheel jogging stroller in late 2008 called the Joovy Zoom ATS (*Est. $300). It has a 75-pound weight limit and is one of the few jogging strollers that includes cup holders and a rain cover (most manufacturers charge extra for these accessories, which irks some reviewers). The Joovy Zoom ATS features 16-inch pneumatic wheels, an under-seat storage basket and suspension with 3 inches of travel. Reviews are sparse for this new jogging stroller, but Celebrity Baby Blog, run by People magazine, writes a detailed personal review of the Joovy Zoom ATS. Its reviewer says this stroller offers a smooth ride with good impact absorption, and she loves the neoprene organizer. However, she says the stroller does not fold very compactly, which is a common complaint for jogging strollers.

Most jogging strollers have 16-inch wheels; for long-distance runners and marathoners, experts recommend looking for a jogging stroller with 20-inch wheels. Larger wheels provide a smoother ride and make pushing easier, which limits arm fatigue on long runs. Runners reviewing 20-inch strollers say the larger wheels make a huge difference in performance. In this category, the Baby Jogger Performance Single (*Est. $430) stands out, winning an Editor's Choice award from Pregnancy & Newborn magazine. It has 20-inch fixed wheels on the front and back, a V-brake for more braking control on hills and a multi-position sun canopy. Christine Luff, the running guide for About.com, chooses the Baby Jogger Performance Single as the best option for serious runners, finding the durable frame holds up well for frequent use. She also praises the easy push, but finds this jogging stroller takes up a lot of space when folded. Luff has to remove the wheels (which she says is easy to do) to fit it into her SUV.

Babble.com, an online parenting website, also picks the Baby Jogger Performance as one of the best jogging strollers on the market. Babble's testers find that this 24-pound stroller tracks straight and handles well, with a stable and smooth ride. Because it is large, Babble recommends the Baby Jogger Performance for serious runners who have lots of storage space. Although it may not be the most compact option, it does have a 100-pound weight capacity, which means you'll be able to use this jogging stroller longer than other three-wheeled strollers, which usually have a 70-pound weight limit. The Baby Jogger Performance Single also features a new quick-incline system, which allows parents to adjust the seat with a pull of a strap, and it gets high marks for its independent rear shock absorbers.