Best Jogging Strollers of 2025

There is perhaps no better way to impart your love of running to your child than taking them with you on your run — and that’s why we have jogging strollers.

There are several factors to consider when you’re choosing the best jogging stroller for you and your child. To help you decide which were the best jogging strollers on the market, we lit up the side streets of southern Oregon and northern California to test more than a dozen strollers of all shapes and sizes, carrying some future running enthusiasts.

We aimed to test the safest all-terrain jogging strollers across as many brands and budgets as possible. We tested everything from top-of-the-line strollers with all the bells and whistles to budget options that are still effective for getting out on the roads or trails with your little one. Ultimately, our top pick overall was the Guava Roam Stroller, due to its unmatched packability and maneuverability. We also loved the BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller, as it can do it all. If you don’t want to break the bank for a jogging stroller, we recommend the Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller as a budget-friendly option. If you plan on doing more than just running with your stroller, we recommend considering the multisport Burley Encore X.

After reading the product reviews, you can read about our advice for buying a jogging stroller, our testing process, and answers to frequently asked questions about jogging strollers. Then take a look through our best maternity workout clothes guide for some apparel options to go with your stroller.

To learn more about choosing the right jogging stroller for you, scroll down to our recommendations for how to choose, as well as our frequently asked questions. Finally, learn more about our research and testing methodology. Happy running — to you and your passenger!

Best Jogging Strollers

• Best Overall Jogging Stroller: Guava Roam Stroller
• Best Overall Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: BOB Gear Alterrain Pro
• Best All-Purpose Jogging Stroller: BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller
• Best All-Purpose Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller
• Best Budget Jogging Stroller: Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller
• Best Budget Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger
• Best Multisport Jogging Stroller: Burley Encore X

Best Overall Jogging Stroller: Guava Roam Stroller ($650)

Pros 

• Compact packability
• Easy to maneuver
• Reclining seat for increased baby comfort
• Plenty of storage with a parent organizer included

Cons 

• Higher price point
• No handbrake

For a stroller that offers numerous features in a lightweight and compact package, the Guava Roam Stroller stands out above the rest. Its defining feature is its 3D Nesting Fold technology, which allows it to pack down to 29 x 15 x 17 inches — significantly smaller than other jogging strollers with similar features. Weighing just 28.5 pounds with its aluminum frame, it is light and easy to maneuver, whether folded or set up. The built-in suspension and durable airless rubber tires make it comfortable for both parent and child on rougher paved roads or dirt, and our testers enjoyed this stroller for both running and walking. There’s a lever near the handlebar to switch between walking and running easily, but there is no handbrake, which could make faster running more challenging.

We also appreciated how easily the seat reclined and adjusted to various positions. This adjustability helped us keep our passengers comfortable, and tilting the seat back made the stroller conducive to naps. The sunshade is plenty big to keep the sun off faces and bodies. This stroller offers ample storage space to carry all the essentials for both the child and the parent, including snacks and water.

The stroller is designed for children up to 60 pounds, and the company recommends a starting age of six months. If you want to start running with your child sooner, you can purchase a car seat adapter separately.

Note that in November 2024, Guava issued a voluntary recall of about 8,500 first-generation Roam strollers due to brake issues.

Folded Size: 29 x 15 x 17 inches | Jogging Size: 39 x 25 x 43 inches | Weight: 28.5 pounds | Seat Size: 22 x 9.5 x 15 inches | Adjustable Handlebar Height: 34 to 45 inches | Weight capacity: 60 pounds

Shop the Guava Roam Stroller

Best Overall Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: BOB Gear Alterrain Pro ($700)

Pros 

• Safe, durable, and car seat-compatible
• Impressive suspension system
• High weight capacity
• Great sunshades and accessory options

Cons 

• Heavy
• You must remove the car seat adapter to collapse
• Expensive

BOB Gear has made a name for itself in the world of baby joggers, and the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro is another standout product from the brand. Throughout our testing, we frequently compared strollers with testers’ previous ones, which were invariably a past BOB Gear model. To use a car analogy, BOB Gear is the Volvo of jogging strollers: high-quality and exceptionally safe. With a weight capacity of 75 pounds, this stroller also boasts a significant lifespan, which could help justify its admittedly hefty price tag.

One of our favorite features of the BOB Gear strollers is their car seat compatibility, and this stroller is no exception. We tested the Britax car seat adapter ($80), which securely attaches to the stroller and allows the car seat to lock in, providing a very stable feel. Before collapsing, this stroller requires you to remove the adapter, which is an easy step, but it’s an extra one. The stroller folds by twisting a bar beneath the seat. The bar closure took some arm-wrestling to get the unit to collapse back down during the first couple of attempts, but it got progressively easier with practice.

One of our testers took this stroller on a trip to Hawaii, where they tested its all-terrain capabilities on the sands of Waikiki. A stroller that can easily push through loose sand probably doesn’t exist, and many would be completely immobile, but this stroller’s 16-inch all-terrain rear tires helped them make it to some stellar sandcastle-building locations. The UPF 50+ sun protection-rated, all-weather, waterproof canopy could not have been more suitable for February’s fickle weather patterns on Oahu. Our mini tester would bask in the safety of his little car seat, fully shaded under the canopy, tropical breeze blowing through the mesh window. We also tested the brand’s claim of a “flip-flop friendly” foot brake on this trip, and it passed with flying colors. A simple brake also resides on the handle for downhill control, functioning much like a traditional bike handbrake.

One of the biggest disadvantages of this stroller is its weight. At 32.3 pounds, it’s the heaviest stroller in this guide, though our tester did not find its weight to make a significant difference while running. Neither their perceived exertion nor their speed differed significantly when they ran the same routes with lighter units. Instead, the weight of this stroller proved the most cumbersome when loading, unloading, and storing it. But while strollers from BOB Gear tend to be a bit beefy, this heft is a part of their undeniably safe feel.

Folded Size: 39.3 x 25.5 x 16 inches | Jogging Size: 46 x 25.5 x 45.5 inches | Weight: 32.3 pounds | Seat Size: 20 x 9 x 14.5 inches| Adjustable Handlebar Height: 31 to 48 inches | Weight capacity: 75 pounds

Shop the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro

Best All-Purpose Jogging Stroller: BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller ($580)

Pros 

• Compact design for easy maneuverability
• Good tires and suspension for a comfortable ride
• High weight capacity

Cons 

• The sunshade doesn’t extend very far
• Narrow handlebars

When it comes to a jogging stroller that can do it all, the BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller is a great all-around option, offering a lower price point and a slimmer profile than the Alterrain Pro reviewed above. With built-in suspension and air-filled tires, this stroller will keep your passenger comfortable over all sorts of terrain. An adjustable sunshade keeps the sun off and features a clear window, allowing you to keep an eye on your child as you run. While the sunshade doesn’t extend as far as that of other strollers, our testers felt it still did an adequate job. The well-built frame feels solid and ready to tackle any terrain you take it on. The front wheel locks into place for better tracking while running and swivels freely for lower speeds.

The height of the handlebars is adjustable, and although our tester initially found them a little narrow for comfort, they became accustomed to them quickly. The handbrake is a simple lever, similar to a bike brake, that is easy to use. The stroller has a standard foot brake to keep it in place when stopped. A zip-top cargo basket allows easy access to small items, and three pockets throughout the stroller provide plenty of storage options for everything you need for your adventure.

Like the Alterrain Pro, this stroller features a high weight capacity, capable of carrying up to a 65-pound child, in addition to its 10 pounds of cargo basket capacity, for a total weight capacity of 75 pounds.

Folded Size: 16.5 x 22 x 32.5 inches | Jogging Size: 43.8 x 25 x 41.3 inches | Weight: 31.1 pounds | Seat Size: 25 x 10.5 x 12 inches | Adjustable Handlebar Height: 34.5 to 45.5 inches | Weight capacity: 65 pounds

Shop the BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller

Best All-Purpose Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller ($550)

Pros 

• High weight capacity
• Infant car seat compatible
• Extensive sunshade and fully reclining seat

Cons 

• Wobbly front wheel
• No storage pockets inside the stroller for the passenger

With an all-wheel suspension design, the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller provides exceptional comfort for the passenger and easy maneuverability for the runner. The fully reclining seat makes nap time during a run easy, and the stroller optimizes airflow to keep everyone cool and comfortable, regardless of the seat position. An extensive sunshade with a peek-a-boo hole keeps the sun off while allowing you to check in to see how the kiddo is doing without breaking stride.

For exceptional control and ease of use, the front wheel locks and unlocks with the flip of a switch on the handlebar. This makes it easy to switch between running and walking modes, which turned out to be an important feature because the front wheel doesn’t track very well while running when unlocked. This wobbly front wheel, when moving fast, is a frequent complaint among users, though a handbrake adds extra safety and control when running downhill.

This stroller offers numerous storage options, providing easy access to all your essentials. Our testers appreciated the elastic storage pocket located underneath the stroller and how easily they could access items in and out. Unfortunately, there are no storage pockets inside the stroller, so if your child wants access to books, toys, or snacks, you’ll have to find an alternative way to store them.

With a sturdy frame, this stroller can carry children up to 75 pounds, allowing many years of use.

Folded Size: Not listed | Jogging Size: 25 x 43.1 x 45.3 inches | Weight: 28.4 pounds | Seat Size: Not listed | Adjustable Handlebar Height: Not listed | Weight capacity: 75 pounds

Shop the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller

Best Budget Jogging Stroller: Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller ($300)

Pros 

• Lightweight and easy to transport
• Car seat-compatible
• Includes parent organizer and hand pump

Cons 

• Finicky foot brake
• No handbrake

The Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller certainly deserves kudos for its value. This stroller performs very well for half the cost of some jogging strollers in this guide and offers many of the safety and comfort features found in more expensive models.

It lives up to the “ultralight” in its name, weighing just a little over 26 pounds, making it easy to lift and load. The ease of loading, unloading, and transporting was our favorite aspect of this stroller, which led us to choose it over some of the heavier models we tested for our daily runs. Our least favorite aspect of this stroller is the foot brake, which requires some finagling to lock and unlock. It’s finicky enough that our tester routinely had to bend down to lock and unlock it by hand, or simply didn’t lock it.

The stroller features shock-absorbing suspension, a swiveling and locking front tire, extra-large air-filled rear tires, a parking brake, and a sun-safe and weather-resistant canopy. It also comes with a parent organizer that hooks onto the handlebar and can store a couple of water bottles, along with a phone, keys, a wallet, and more in the zippered pocket. Finally, this stroller also includes a small air pump that Velcros to the bottom storage compartment.

A peek-a-boo window allows you to see your passenger while running. Our tester used this stroller with a baby in a car seat, and the plastic window was less transparent than those on more expensive strollers we tested. With a bit of sun glare, it can be hard to see if a baby is awake or asleep without fully opening the canopy. When attached, the separately sold car-seat adapter we tested, compatible with Britax, still moved slightly on the stroller’s frame but seemed secure. Conveniently, the adapter can remain attached while folding and transporting the stroller, minimizing the chances you’ll forget it on the way out the door. It takes a few minutes to remove the car seat adapter if you’re switching from an infant to a forward-facing rider.

Note that in 2021, Joovy voluntarily recalled about 9,200 Zoom 360 Ultralight strollers due to issues with their front wheel bearing.

Folded Size: 34 x 25 x 19 inches | Jogging Size: 54 x 25 x 46 inches | Weight: 25.7 pounds | Seat Size: Not listed | Adjustable Handlebar Height: Not listed | Weight capacity: 75 pounds

Shop the Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller

Best Budget Jogging Stroller — Runner-Up: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger ($130)

Pros 

• Affordable
• Many seat positions
• Lightweight with a large sunshade

Cons 

• Plastic parts are noisy
• Feels unstable on rougher terrain

When it comes to a jogging stroller that you can comfortably take on shorter runs on smooth surfaces, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger fits the bill. It rolls smoothly, is lightweight, and highly maneuverable. However, what sets it apart from the rest is its price tag, which is significantly less than that of other jogging strollers included in this guide.

With all-terrain tires and a lockable front wheel, this stroller easily absorbs small bumps on the ground and tracks well while running. However, our tester started to worry about its stability on rougher terrain. The rubber handle is soft and comfortable, but potentially too narrow for comfortable running. Our tester found that she experienced significant arm fatigue on longer runs due to this.

The stroller weighs 24 pounds, making it the lightest on this list, and can accommodate children weighing up to 50 pounds. The seating area was a bit tight for a three-year-old, especially in the leg area, but it provided ample space for a smaller child. A five-point harness provides a secure attachment, but our tester found the buckle to be fairly difficult to use, even after practice. The seat has several positions. You can recline it enough to facilitate nap time during your run. Or raise it enough for your child to see their surroundings clearly. A large sunshade provides ample coverage, although it leaves a gap in the back when fully extended.

There is ample storage space for your running essentials under the stroller, and pockets are also available on the hood. Unfortunately, there are no internal pockets, which is a drawback for passengers who need to keep their toys and snacks secure. The stroller does come with a tray, though the cup holders are fairly shallow, and the entire plastic setup makes a lot of noise when the stroller is in motion. Overall, this stroller feels cheaper than other models — because it is.

While this stroller lacks many of the bells and whistles of other options, it’s affordable and will let you get out running with your little one comfortably and safely.

Folded Size: 24 x 33.5 x 15.5 inches | Jogging Size: 24 x 47 x 42.5 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Seat Size: Not listed | Adjustable Handlebar Height: Not listed | Weight capacity: 50 pounds

Shop the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger

Best Multisport Jogging Stroller: Burley Encore X ($650)

Pros 

• Multisport capable
• Full-zip cover
• Good suspension

Cons 

• The Jogger Kit add-on is not effective
• Expensive

If you’re looking for a child carrier that you can use for running and cycling, the Burley Encore X offers a high level of versatility. While we only tested the stroller running, walking, and biking, you could also use it for skiing. A solid suspension design on the back wheels keeps the ride comfortable regardless of the activity. However, our testers did note that everything made significantly more noise when riding, which was something we expected due to the increase in speed.

This stroller features a swiveling front wheel, designed for easy walking and maneuverability. You can purchase a $150 Jogger Kit with a fixed front wheel separately, though we found that not being able to unlock the front wheel limited the stroller’s usability on anything other than completely straight roads or trails. Additionally, you must install the Jogger Kit front wheel perfectly straight, or it tends to pull the stroller in one direction. Our tester preferred to use the stock swiveling front wheel for jogging and walking.

The handlebar height is adjustable, so people of varying heights can comfortably push this stroller. A bench-style seat is outfitted with a five-point harness to keep your child secure and comfortable. The full-zip cover protects from the elements, and the sunshade effectively keeps the sun off the seating area. With a large cargo storage area in the rear, this stroller keeps everything easily accessible. It can accommodate two children, each weighing up to 40 pounds, for a total passenger weight capacity of 80 pounds, plus 20 pounds of cargo.

While this is among the more costly strollers in this guide, our testers thought the multisport capability and other features made it worth the cost.

Folded Size: 36 x 31 x 12 inches | Jogging Size: 33.3 x 31 x 37 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Seat Size: Not listed | Adjustable Handlebar Height: 30 to 50 inches | Weight capacity: 80 pounds

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Comparing the Best Jogging Strollers

Stroller	Price	Capacity	Weight	Dimensions (folded)
Guava Roam Stroller	$650	60 pounds	28.5 pounds	29 x 15 x 17 inches
BOB Gear Alterrain Pro	$700	75 pounds	32.3 pounds	39.3 x 25.5 x 16 inches
BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller	$580	65 pounds	31.1 pounds	32.5 x 22 x 16.5 inches
Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller	$550	75 pounds	28.4 pounds	Not listed
Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller	$300	75 pounds	25.7 pounds	34 x 25 x 19 inches
Baby Trend Expedition Jogger	$130	50 pounds	24 pounds	33.5 x 24 x 15.5 inches
Burley Encore X	$650	80 pounds	24 pounds	36 x 31 x 12 inches

Buying Advice: How to Choose a Jogging Stroller

The best jogging stroller for you depends on several factors, chief among them how you plan to use it. It should be comfortable for you and your child, easy to push and turn, and, most importantly, safe. Other factors to consider include its weight, folded size, accessories, and durability. You can begin your research with the following considerations.

Car-seat Compatibility

First, a disclaimer: Many manufacturers recommend only walking with an infant in a stroller. Whether or not you feel comfortable running with your baby while secured in their car seat is undoubtedly a personal choice that you should discuss with your pediatrician.

If you plan to run or walk with a stroller when your child is less than six months old, we recommend researching whether the stroller is compatible with your car seat and whether the company offers an adapter specific to your car seat brand. For example, we loved the secure Britax-specific car seat adapter with the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro.

Universal adapters can be a great way to accommodate various car seats. Many stroller companies offer a relatively wide selection of car seat-specific adapters, and knowing their functions and availability can influence your choice of stroller and car seat.

Mileage and Location

It’s important to consider how serious you are about running with your child, especially since buying a stroller is often a sizable investment. Be honest about how many miles you plan to put in on the stroller, and where you’ll run most of those miles. Whether you’re a seasoned stroller runner going on double-digit-mile runs with your child on gravel or are just looking for the best jogging stroller for occasional jaunts around the neighborhood, there are options available to suit your needs and budget.

Some of the more budget-friendly models, such as the Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller, held up well to a gentle running style on smooth roads. In contrast, a beefier model with more robust suspension and wheels, like the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro, is better suited for higher mileage and rougher surfaces. Without subjecting some of the budget models in this guide to years of abuse and multiple children, it’s hard to know if they will stand the test of time. Our testing team has used several strollers from BOB Gear for years and trusts their durability, having covered many hard miles on varied surfaces. Investing in a more expensive stroller can enhance your running experience for many years, spanning multiple children.

Cost

Let’s be frank: Jogging strollers can be expensive. The top ones on the market sell for multiple hundreds of dollars, and that’s before adding any accessories or adapters. For some, cost alone may be the deciding factor.

This is another question that requires honesty about your commitment to stroller running. If you just plan to use a stroller for a few neighborhood road miles here and there, then a budget stroller like the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger might be all you need, but if you plan to run lots of stroller miles across the span of several children, buying a quality stroller like the Guava Roam Stroller could be a worthy investment.

There is truth, of course, in the concept that you get what you pay for, and jogging strollers are no different. Our testers predictably found a difference in performance between the lower- and higher-priced strollers, and there was a nearly direct correlation between price and ease and comfort of running. For these reasons, our team recommends investing in a higher-priced stroller if you’re serious about running with your child. It will pay off in, well, the long run.

Portability

If you have a child — and if you’re reading this guide, we’re guessing you do — you know how difficult it can be to travel with them. One of the starkest differences between pre- and post-parenthood is how long it takes to do relatively quotidian things that used to take you only a few minutes. In addition to bags, toys, snacks, extra clothes, and, of course, your child, a jogging stroller will be another component of your ever-growing cargo. That’s why getting it in and out of your car easily is a big deal!

Many of our testers drive smaller vehicles that don’t have the capacity for excessively sized strollers, and every parent probably enjoys less bulky and lighter-weight units to streamline travel. For these reasons, our testers loved the compactness, packability, and portability of the Guava Roam Stroller, which had, by far, the smallest folded size of any stroller we tested.

Note that just because a stroller is bulkier, like the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro, does not mean it’s impossible to travel with. Just know what to expect from your stroller’s portability.

Capacity

Strollers, as you might have noticed, have different weight capacities for your children. Smaller strollers, such as the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger, can only hold up to 50 pounds, while more robust strollers, like the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller, can hold up to 75 pounds. That capacity difference is a factor in the price difference between them. It’s worth noting that you won’t be able to use a stroller with a lower weight capacity for as long as you can use a stroller with a higher capacity. Do you plan on running with your child once they’re older and weigh more than 50 pounds? If so, it’s probably wise to invest in a stroller with a greater capacity.

It’s also important to consider how many children you plan to use a jogging stroller for. You can use higher-capacity, more durable strollers that accommodate multiple children.

Accessories

Accessories, such as organizers, snack trays, and weather shields, are important factors to consider when selecting a jogging stroller. Some strollers come already equipped with certain accessories, while most have the option to purchase them separately. The Guava Roam Stroller and Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller both come with a parent organizer that provides ample storage for your keys, phone, water bottle, and other small items you’d like to carry on the run. Ironically, the least expensive stroller in this guide, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger, is the only one that comes with a snack tray included, though the newest colorway of the BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller has one “included” for a higher price, albeit a lower one than you’d pay buying it separately. Other add-on options include travel bags and rain and weather shields.

Why You Should Trust Us

When selecting strollers for this guide, we prioritized safety as our top concern and performance as a close second. We tested strollers from eight different companies, covering various functions and price points, specifically for running. We included as many of the following safety features as possible: good suspension, thicker and larger wheels for uneven surfaces, the ability to fix the front wheel, five- or three-point safety harness, hand and parking brakes, a wide base, and car-seat compatibility.

Our team of more than ten testers consisted of a crew of ultrarunning parents primarily based in southern Oregon. All of them tested more than one stroller and/or had previously used a high-quality running stroller for comparison. Some testers compared and contrasted multiple strollers in this guide.

To determine running performance, we rated strollers on their maneuverability, efficiency — including their ability to roll, glide, and stay moving in the right direction — weight, durability, ease of use and effectiveness of the brake, storage compartments and accessories, kid comfort, and the adjustability of handlebars, seat, sunshade, and buckles. We also considered ease of assembly and folding, storage, transport, and value.

We primarily tested the strollers during the warmer months of the year, mostly on bike paths, sidewalks, and paved roads, although we also took some on dirt paths and hills. We tested each stroller for a minimum of 10 hours — and many of them significantly more — before the initial publication of this guide to uncover any unique features or quirks they may have. Many of the strollers remain in use today to monitor durability issues. We didn’t test any strollers in actual rainy conditions, but we did take them out in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

While we couldn’t get direct verbal feedback from our passengers — most were under two years of age — we looked for all the signs of happiness or discomfort. Our youngest passenger weighed a mere 10 pounds when he first rode in the stroller — in a car seat, of course — and the oldest was in the 45-pound range, pushing the upper weight limits of some of the strollers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jogging Strollers

Do I need a jogging stroller?

As parents on the iRunFar testing team, we naturally love running and want to share it with our children. There is no better way to spend quality time with your child, take them on an adventure, and get in your daily miles than by running with them in a high-quality stroller, like our top pick, the Guava Roam Stroller. It also eliminates the need to coordinate your running schedule with another caregiver, as you don’t require childcare when you take your child running with you.

All that said, running with a stroller is different — and more difficult — than running by yourself. Running uphill with a stroller will challenge even the fittest runner, and you need to be extra aware of tight turns and downhill running when you’re pushing precious cargo. It’s also important to consider how committed you are to stroller running before you buy a jogging stroller. If you’re going to invest hundreds of dollars in a high-quality stroller, it should be something that you use frequently; otherwise, it could become a very expensive dust collector that just takes up space in your garage.

Once you and your child get into a stroller-running groove, though, there’s no better feeling than crushing miles with your child in tow, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. Do you need a jogging stroller? If you’re a parent who runs, we think yes.

What’s the difference between a normal stroller and a jogging stroller?

If you already have a regular stroller, you may wonder why you need a different one for running. Jogging strollers differ from normal strollers in several ways.

The first — and most important — difference is safety. Most jogging strollers are equipped with a five-point harness to keep your child secure in their seat, and they also come with a wrist strap on the handlebar, in case it ever starts rolling away from you and you need to pull it back quickly. Several, like the BOB Gear Wayfinder Jogging Stroller, also come with a handbrake for sudden stops. Finally, jogging strollers have front wheels that lock to prevent them from wobbling at higher speeds and veering dangerously off route.

Another key difference is comfort. Since you’ll use jogging strollers over varied terrain, they come with extra suspension to keep them from bouncing too much, and their large, rubber tires navigate rougher trails better than the smaller, plastic tires on regular strollers. The 16-inch all-terrain tires on the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro were the most rugged we tested, effectively navigating even the sands of Hawaiian beaches. One slight drawback regarding comfort is that jogging strollers seats typically cannot fully recline, but that’s again in the name of safety. If you need to stop suddenly, it’s safer for your child to be in a more upright position.

What’s the best jogging stroller?

The best jogging stroller is one that is safe for your child and meets most of your specific needs, including cost, ease of use, and portability. Our top pick overall was the Guava Roam Stroller because it checked most of the boxes of what we looked for in a jogging stroller: safe, easy to maneuver, and eminently portable. Some others, like the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro, are better for more rugged use, while we thought the Joovy Zoom360 Ultralight Lightweight Performance Jogging Single Stroller provided tremendous value.

How old must my child be to start riding in a jogging stroller?

Many manufacturers recommend only walking with a stroller for children under six months. Whether or not you feel comfortable running with your baby while they are secured in their car seat before this age is a personal choice that you should discuss with your pediatrician. Many strollers, like the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro, are car-seat compatible, allowing several of our testers to start walking and running with their babies at a young age.

We recommend that babies not ride facing forward in strollers until they have developed good head control, which typically occurs around six months of age. It’s always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician about the timing of using a front-facing stroller. If you tend to run longer distances and in busier areas, you may choose to keep your little one buckled in their car seat for a bit longer than six months for added safety.

How important is it to lock the front wheel?

Most manufacturers recommend fixing the front wheel while running with your baby in the stroller for improved tracking. Our testers have found some strollers more maneuverable with the front wheel set than others. In a few cases, the mobility of the front wheel was too exaggerated to make running with it unlocked sensible. A wobbly front wheel, which became noticeable when unlocked, was our biggest gripe with the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Jogging Stroller. On the other hand, sometimes fixing the front wheel made running relatively fruitless because we couldn’t turn the stroller well. Most of our testers found it cumbersome to run with it locked.

Nearly all the strollers in this guide had a front wheel that could either swivel or lock into place. The Burley Encore X was a notable exception, offering two options for front wheels: one that swivels and one that is permanently locked. The inability to change between locked and swiveling modes was a significant drawback to the stroller.

While it is always safest to abide by manufacturer recommendations and lock the front wheel, you may find that this safety feature is contingent upon your level of comfort and tolerance. Some of our testers tended to be more conservative about how long they ran with their kids in their infant car seats or were picky when selecting car seat adapters, but our testers ran hundreds of miles incident-free with the front wheel unlocked.

Are there any other safety recommendations I should be aware of?

Safety is a top priority when choosing the best jogging stroller. To address recurring problems with strollers and prevent injuries, stroller safety rules and regulations were updated in 2014, making products significantly safer than they were in the past. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that parents take the following precautions when using their strollers. Choosing a high-quality stroller, such as the BOB Gear Alterrain Pro, can help you carry your child as securely as possible.

The main points from the American Academy of Pediatrics are:

• Always use harness straps per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always store heavy items, such as diaper bags and purses, in the basket underneath to prevent tipping. Do not hang them from the handlebars.
• Always set the brake when the stroller is parked.
• Follow weight and age limitations.
• Do not put children to sleep in strollers, especially infants, as they could move into positions that could cause them to suffocate.

Call for Comments

• Do you regularly run with your child in a stroller?
• What stroller features are most important to you?

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