"Starting today, the toy giant is introducing $1-$2-$3 Fun! shops in the front of its stores to help parents provide affordable fun for their children. Since the holiday season, several toy makers and retailers have boosted their selection of inexpensive toys in response to weak consumer spending amid the recession.
Jogging Stroller Reviews, Best Cheap Jogging Strollers
Filed in:
Baby,
Car Seats,
Children,
Double Strollers,
Family,
Fitness,
Jogging Strollers,
Mother's Day,
Sports,
Travel Systems
Price Range
Cheapism
Mid-range
High end
$100
$230
$430...+
Contents |
|
||||||||||
Cheap Jogging Strollers Buying Guide
For parents who frequently find themselves on the run -- literally -- jogging strollers are a worthy investment. But with expensive models such as the BOB and Baby Jogger dominating this stroller category, are budget consumers destined to be left in the dust?
Expert discount jogging stroller reviews are few and far between, and even user reviews of cheaper jogging strollers are limited to a few websites, like Buzzillions and Amazon.
It should be noted that lower-cost jogging strollers are generally suitable for recreational jogging and all-terrain walking only. Serious runners and off-roaders should look into higher-performance models, which typically come with a higher price tag but also afford users greater stability and control.
To help you decide which reasonably-priced jogging stroller best meets your needs, here is an outline of common features and how they affect performance.
Back to top »What to Look for: Cheap Jogging Strollers Features
Inexpensive Jogging Strollers Wheel Size.
To best determine which bargain jogging or all-terrain stroller meets your activity level, first consider the size of the front tire. Strollers with front wheels less than 12" in diameter, such as Kolcraft's Contours Options 3 Wheeler (starting at $160, Amazon
), should be able to navigate sidewalk cracks and uneven pavement but may not be suitable for anything off the beaten path. Strollers with a 12" front wheel, such as Baby Trend's Expedition LX (starting at $130, Amazon
) and Double Expedition Jogging Stroller (starting at $200, Amazon
), Schwinn’s Free Wheeler Stroller (starting at $199, Amazon
) and InStep's Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller (starting at $169, Amazon
) are perfectly adequate for urban or suburban walkers, and the smaller wheel offers greater maneuverability at the grocery store or zoo. For recreational joggers or trail walkers, a 16" wheel makes for easier navigation of curbs and rocky terrain and allows the jogger to coast, resulting in a smoother run and less jostle for the baby. Some economical jogging strollers feature 16" wheels, such as InStep's Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller (starting at $96, Amazon
), and Kolcraft's Jeep Overland Limited Jogger (starting at $190, Amazon
). High-performance jogging strollers, none of which fall into the budget category, feature 20" front wheels that skim rough landscape and effortlessly scale curbs.
Low-cost Jogging Strollers Wheel Movement.
In addition to the size of the front tire, its range of movement should be a significant consideration. Traditional jogging strollers, like the InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller (starting at $96, Amazon) and the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger, feature fixed front wheels for greater stability and straighter tracking during a run. While some complain that the fixed front wheel makes these joggers difficult to steer, users like this Buzzillions reviewer argue that the vehicles are made for exercise and were never intended for trips to the mall.
All-terrain strollers and several of the newer jogging strollers, such as the Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller (starting at $200, Amazon
Bargain Jogging Strollers Brakes.
Some less expensive jogging strollers -- the InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller, the Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller, and the Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller , for instance -- have parking brakes only on the rear wheels, like traditional stroller models. This feature is primarily suited to power walkers and suburban trailblazers because it does not allow runners to easily slow or stop the carriage while going downhill or traveling at a good pace.Models such as the InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller and the InStep Ultra Runner 2 Double Jogging Stroller (starting at $173, Amazon
Still, there is disagreement among users as to how aggressive handbrakes should be. This Amazon dad, for example, likes that the handbrake on his InStep Run Around LTD slows his stroller rather than stopping it outright. Another Amazon purchaser, however, finds the brakes on that same jogger difficult to install, and worries that he wouldn't be able to stop the stroller as quickly as he'd like in high traffic situations.
Jogging Strollers Safety.
There are a few key safety features to watch for when evaluating inexpensive jogging strollers:- A 5-point harness ensures tots can't wiggle free of their fast-moving confines. All of the jogging stroller models we researched came standard with a 5-point harness, although older models might not have this feature. Check to make sure the harness in your jogger is easy to fasten and clips shut securely. One common complaint about these harnesses is that some can easily pinch fingers, as this first-time mom posting on Buzzillions discovered about her Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller.
- Hand and parking brakes, discussed above, are each critical in different situations. Depending on your level of activity, parking brakes may be sufficient. For avid hikers and 5K runners, look for hand brakes to ensure greater carriage control.
- A safety tether is invaluable for those planning to actually jog with the stroller. A durable “leash" that attaches to the handlebar of the stroller and encircles the driver's wrist, the safety tether keeps the carriage from breaking loose on inclines and prevents accidents that could occur if sweaty hands slip off the handlebar.
- Though not standard on all jogging strollers, reflectors are a must-have if you plan to jog in the evenings or in low-visibility weather conditions. In addition to having stroller reflectors, it's smart to consider wearing reflective clothing or using adhesive reflector strips as well.
- If a jogging stroller is ASTM compliant, it meets all the technical standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. (The ASTM sets and maintains these standards, but does not formally regulate them.) If a stroller is JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certified, that means the manufacturer has voluntarily submitted its products for testing and met the standards.
An additional note on infant safety:
Although some jogging and all-terrain strollers come with infant car seat attachments, including the Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler, the Baby Trend Expedition LX, and the Baby Trend Double Expedition, it is not recommended that you jog off-road with babies younger than six months of age. Young babies cannot adequately stabilize their heads to withstand the jostling of rough terrain, and even adding support in the form of a headrest or extra padding does not sufficiently mitigate the risk of injury.Cheap Jogging Strollers Shock Absorbency & Suspension.
Depending on the type of ground you typically traverse, shock absorbency and suspension may be important factors in your budget jogging stroller purchase. Most jogging strollers have been designed to accommodate the unevenness of gravel and mulch. Anything rougher might result in a bumpy ride for the baby unless the stroller has shock absorbers to dampen the effects of rocky terrain and efficiently disperse the energy. A few cheap jogging strollers, such as the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger, the InStep Run Around LTD, and the InStep Ultra Runner 2, come with shocks. As one Jeep Overland Limited Jogger user notes on Amazon, her daughter is comfortable enough to sleep through her morning jog in this stroller.While not all jogging strollers in the Cheapism price range feature shocks, several mitigate rough rides with independent suspension. Independent suspension allows two wheels on the same axle to move independently of one another vertically, so that each can react to different topography simultaneously. The end result is a smoother ride and less bounce for riders. The Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller falls into this category. The Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler features a “floating" seat with suspension, but when using this model with an infant seat inserted, the suspension no longer applies.
Budget Jogging Strollers Construction.
Although it goes without saying that a stroller, especially a jogging stroller, needs to be well-constructed for safety, the materials used also impact the vehicle's performance and weight. For those who intend to use their jogger primarily for casual runs and tromps through the park, steel-frame construction is both sleek and durable. Jogging strollers like the InStep Run Around LTD, InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller, the Baby Trend Expedition LX, and the Baby Trend Double Expedition (starting at $200, Amazon) have steel frames and steel-spoke wheels. The only downfall to steel construction is the additional weight it adds to the vehicle.
For those looking to shave another minute off their running time, the relative airiness of an aluminum frame and/or wheels might make a difference. In addition, the lighter weight makes these joggers easier to schlep around and lift in and out of a car trunk. The Jeep Overland Limited Jogger, InStep Ultra Runner 2 Double Jogger and the Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller all boast aluminum frame construction.
As a note, nearly all jogging and all-terrain strollers feature pneumatic tires. These tires, similar to bicycle tires, rely on a cushion of air to absorb shock and increase stability. Ensuring that these tires are kept inflated to the recommended PSI increases your low-cost jogging stroller's performance and is critical to the safety of the vehicle.
Cheap Jogging Strollers Capacity.
Before making your purchase, do consider the size and number of children and the amount of gear you will need to transport.For those with only one child to accommodate, the options are plentiful. The differentiating factor in the singleton category is the size and weight of the child. The Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller and the Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler can hold a child weighing up to 40 pounds, while the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger can carry up to 45 pounds. Because of their lower weight limits, these models may be inappropriate for older children or those who are larger than average. The InStep Run Around LTD, Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller, and Baby Trend Expedition LX can safely contain children weighing up to 50 pounds.
Parents with two children have a reasonable but more limited selection of joggers to pick from. All of the less expensive double jogging strollers have a maximum capacity of 100 pounds, or 50 pounds per seat. These include the Baby Trend Double Expedition, InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogger, and InStep Ultra Runner 2 Double Jogger. While the Baby Trend Double Expedition can safely seat children up to 42" in height, parents, such as this one posting on Amazon, find the InStep Safari Double Jogger with its 38" height limit isn't great for taller kids.
If you have three children, your jogging stroller options are few and far between, and none of them fall into the Cheapism price range. We only found two available triple jogging strollers -- the Mountain Buggy Urban Triple Stroller and the Baby Jogger Summit 360 Triple Stroller -- both retailing at around $1000.
When it comes to transporting baby gear, all of the models reviewed here boast under-seat storage baskets, most of average to less than average size. As one Buzzillions reviewer notes, the Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller offers plenty of storage with a generous basket and two removable cargo bags, but, at more than 29 pounds, this model is among the heaviest of the single jogging strollers.
Cheap Jogging Strollers Weight and Size.
Inexpensive jogging strollers are typically not the most compact strollers on the market, largely because of their ample wheel size. Those who are worried about the bulkiness might consider leaving it set up all the time, as this Buzzillions mom does, and using a more portable stroller for travel and errands. That said, most inexpensive jogging strollers user reviews of indicate that consumers, like this InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogger owner on Amazon, manage to fold and store them without much difficulty. Most jogging strollers feature quick-release wheels, allowing them to be broken down more compactly for transport. To determine if a budget jogging stroller will fit into your car and your daily life, look at its weight and folded dimensionThe Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller is the lightest and most compact model in this low-price category, with a weight of 22 pounds and folded dimensions of 16" x 24.5" x 35.5". The bulkiest single jogger, weighing 30 pounds, is the InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller, whose folded dimensions are 39" x 25" x 23.5" with wheels, 37" x 23" x 9" without.
When it comes to double jogging strollers, both the InStep Ultra Runner 2 and the InStep Safari Swivel weigh in at 34 pounds; the folded dimensions for these strollers are 33" x 32" x 9.5" and 33.5" x 33" x 21", respectively. Slightly lighter is the Baby Trend Double Expedition, at 32.5 pounds; the assembled dimensions of this jogger are 31.5" x 46" x 42" (no folded dimensions were readily available).
Bargain Jogging Strollers Extras.
When it comes to bells and whistles, today's value jogging strollers offer a wide variety of extra features. Some, like cup holders and multi-position reclining seats, are standard across the category. Others, like the Music on the Move ® iPod ® / MP3 player system included with Jeep's Overland Limited Jogger and Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller, are more unique. But regardless whether a feature is standard or standout, they are bound to get mixed reviews.For instance, although users such as this Buzzillions reviewer love the music option offered on the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger, another Jeep Overland buyer also commenting on Buzzillions dislikes the fact that the speakers face the baby rather than the parent.
One feature most jogging-stroller consumers seem to look for and appreciate is the sun and/or wind canopy. While the Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller gets rave reviews from parents on Joggingstroller.com parent for its oversized sun shade, the InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller is frequently panned for a canopy that is considered small and inadequate, as noted by this Amazon reviewer.
While options like reclining seats, headrests and additional seat padding for the baby, parent organizer trays, and adjustable handlebars are popular among online reviewers, many exercise-focused parents see these extras as just that -- extra. Ultimately, these are the features to consider at the end of your search, once you've narrowed it down to your final few options.
Back to top »What to Expect: Budget Jogging Strollers Performance
Cheap Jogging Strollers Child Comfort.
No matter how highly a jogger ranks in performance, convenience, and safety, if your baby isn't comfortable riding in the stroller, you're going to hear about it. Obviously, stroller capacity (fitting in the stroller seat) and shock absorbency (how much the baby gets bounced around) affects how content they are, and we've touched on both topics above. Other things to think about when buying a jogging stroller are its cushioning, the amount of head support it provides, and the available seat positions.The best way to make sure a jogging stroller meets your child's comfort needs is to test it out in person. This Amazon budget jogging stroller reviewer, for example, voices a common complaint about the InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller -- the lack of padding in the area behind the baby's head, which unfortunately coincides with the location of a reinforcement bar. Parents thinking about purchasing this jogger might consider buying a headrest insert to diminish the potential head banging. Although the Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller's drawstring recline feature gets criticism from budget jogging stroller reviews, such as this one on Viewpoints, other Viewpoints reviewers, such as this mom, like that they can adjust the seat to their baby's preference, rather than being stuck with preset positions.
Budget Jogging Strollers Setup.
Once you ensure that your jogging buddy is both comfy and safe, you need to make sure you can easily handle the setup and breakdown of your low-priced jogging stroller. Several models, such as the InStep Run Around LTD, InStep Ultra Runner 2, InStep Safari Swivel, Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler, Schwinn Free Wheeler, Baby Trend Expedition LX, and Baby Trend Double Expedition, feature one-hand folding upon depression of a trigger. Although the Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller also boasts a one-handed folding system, some, like this Buzzillions user, find it difficult to manage. Other budget jogging strollers, such as the Jeep Overland Limited Jogger, require two hands to fold and unfold.Inexpensive Jogging Strollers Jogging Ease.
The last important factor when it comes to jogging stroller performance is ease of use. If you cannot comfortably run, jog, or hike with your stroller, it will gather cobwebs in your garage or storage locker. Even at bargain prices, spending $100 to $200 on a stroller you never use is a bad investment.This Amazon user of an InStep Run Around LTD Jogger finds her jogger to be sturdy yet lightweight on runs. However, another Amazon runner cautions that, due to the fixed wheel, this model does not handle well on turns.
One Viewpoints mom, who loves how her Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller handles, also warns that the shock absorbent rear wheels tend to make it tip. Another parent on Epinions appreciates the smooth ride of her Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler, which had her son sleeping on walks, but notes that her child quickly outgrew the stroller.
Though it should also meet the criterion of comfort, setup , and ease of use, the jogger you ultimately choose to purchase should be selected based on how well it fits your lifestyle. Stroller striders and suburban trail blazers without a surplus of disposable income might find that a budget jogging stroller fits the bill. Hard-core runners and extreme off-roaders, however, might need to invest more money to get the high-performance vehicle they need. Whatever your budget -- and level of activity -- doing adequate research up front will have you jogging into the sunset for months and years to come.
One final note:
Often, thrifty parents choose to save money by purchasing second-hand baby gear or by using hand-me-down equipment. It is strongly suggested that you not do this in the case of strollers, jogging or otherwise. If you do choose to use a pre-owned stroller, make sure you know how it's been used and check for recalls at CPSC.gov (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html).
Back to top »
Best Cheap Jogging Strollers
InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller
Quick release wheels, fixed 16" front wheel, steel frame, handbrake, rear suspension, and vented cabin earn good ratings from experts and users alike, especially considering its price point; grumbles focus on the lack of head support, insufficient seat padding, and an awkward 5-point harness.
Cheap Deals
|
Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller
With a 12" front swivel wheel with optional lock, aluminum frame, tether, rear suspension, sun canopy, adjustable handle bar, and large storage basket, this model wins positive reviews from users for the lightweight frame and smooth ride; detractors grumble that the seat incline is too steep and the stroller does not lock shut when folded.
Cheap Deals
|
Good Budget Jogging Strollers
Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller
Technically not a jogging stroller, many consumers use and like this model for moderate exercise given features like front swivel wheel with optional lock, portable music system, removable child tray with two cup holders, electronic toy steering wheel, multi-position reclining seat, and storage; users report stroller is bulky and difficult to stow, and seat must be fully reclined before folding up.
Cheap Deals
|
InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller
Includes 12" front swivel wheel with optional lock, steel frame, parking break, bug screen, reclining seats, shoulder pads, and bumper bar; users find this jogger easy to maneuver, fold and unfold but complaints focus on seats fixed at an incline and lack of cup or snack storage for small passengers.
Cheap Deals
|
Cheap toys r here
Cheaper Lakers Tickets
Instead of watching the Lakers' games from the cheap comfort of your couch, you have an alternative. According to the Los Angeles Times, basketball fans can now get tickets to the games at almost-cheap prices.
Children's weight loss
Save money and your waistline all in one shot. Give up those sweet sugared beverages, says The Sun-Times, and you and your children will be a whole lot healthier. Water anyone?
Don't Bother Jogging Strollers
Kolcraft Contours Options 3 Wheeler
Experts give this jogger a poor safety rating when used in conjunction with infant seat attachment, citing difficult installation and instances where infant seats partially or completely disengage upon tipping, even when correctly installed; users like its expensive looks, maneuverability, and option of facing the baby forward or away from driver.
Products Mentioned in This Review
Kolcraft Contours Options 3 WheelerBaby Trend Expedition LX & Double Expedition Jogging Stroller
Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller
InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller
InStep Run Around LTD Jogging Stroller
Schwinn Free Wheeler Stroller
Thrifty Resources
Article Sources
Consumer Reports Consumer Search Consumer Reports Buzzillions Amazon Viewpoints Wize.com Consumer Search Travel Systems on Amazon Epinions Buzzillions Viewpoints Wize.com Consumer Product Safety Commission How Stuff Works Epinions Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Buzzillions Stroller Queen Strollers.com Toys R Us Consumer Reports Consumer Search TargetFinancial Advice
Better BudgetingFrugal Advice
Wise BreadManufacturers
Safety 1stReview sites
Consumer ReportsCheapism.com on Facebook
© 2010 Cheapism
We do not accept payment or other gratuities from manufacturers or retailers to recommend or discuss their products on Cheapism.com. Nor do we accept any payment or other gratuity from websites to blog about their news stories or posts.
