Best Jogging Strollers for Runners

Picking the best jogging strollers for runners from so many varieties of strollers available today can be challenging if you are not sure what makes a jogging stroller a good runner. Jogging strollers that can be used on different surfaces or environment are often grouped and referred to as all-terrain strollers. They are very popular with parents because many are all-rounders you can take anywhere with your baby.

All terrain baby joggers stand out with large swivel front wheels and pneumatic tires that make them very easy to push on bumpy and smooth surfaces, and are very maneuverable in tight city corners and crowded sidewalks. The front wheel can be locked, converting them into fixed wheel strollers that track better in straight line when you are jogging.

But if however you are a keen jogger or a runner, a typical all terrain jogger may not be suitable for you if you want your stroller to do more than take your little beauty to the mall, go jogging in relatively smooth city surfaces, or cruise around your neighborhood. And to find out why, we researched features in strollers that will make them not just good jogging strollers, but the best for runners like you.

Our choice of the best stroller for runners back we we wrote this review was the Bob Sport Utility Single Stroller. The Bob Sport Utility has now been discontinued, and may no longer be available for you to buy.

However, the Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller is newer a fixed wheel jogging stroller with rugged, sleek design and features that runners would love. The Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller is a jogger stroller to have if you are a keen runner looking after a young child.

To arrive at our choice, we reviewed ten popular strollers on Amazon, comparing features that are important in a stroller for runners.  Information we used were gathered from manufacturers’ specifications, user manuals, videos and customer satisfaction ratings on Amazon.  If you are an avid jogger or runner, you should also check the following features in a stroller before you buy a jogger stroller for runners.

The Wheels

This is the most important feature to check when shopping for a stroller for runners. While some all-terrain strollers can be used for running if their front wheel can be locked, and pointing in the forward position which make them track better on straight line and rough terrains, the front wheels in others wobble even when locked. Front wheels that wobble slightly in the locked position are also deliberate design in some swivel wheel strollers so they still retain that ease of turning them turning around tight corners.

Runners, however, run in straight lines mostly and wobbly front wheels on a stroller tend to point the baby jogger in the wrong direction. You do not want this happening with your little angle strapped in. And if you ever go running with a swivel wheel baby jogger, make sure the front wheel is firmly locked. Every manufacturer we researched has a warning about running without locking the front wheel of a swivel stroller.

The best wheel design for a running stroller is a fixed front wheel. This laminates the wobble in the front wheel, and keeps the stroller dead straight as you run. Strollers for runners perform better with big diameter wheels and narrow tires. They are easy to push and cover more distance per revolution, just as you would find in road bikes. All the baby joggers we reviewed have large 16 inch front wheels; some however have narrower low profile tires than others.

If you will be using a running stroller in crowded city sidewalks or shopping malls, the width at the rear wheels should be considered. Though strollers with shorter distance between the rear wheels are slimmer, sleek looking, easier to push through doors and maneuver around corners; wider strollers are more stable and have more room for bigger babies.

Handlebar Height

The next consideration for a good running stroller in our opinion is the height of the handle bar. If you are a tall jogger and will be using it with your partner that is not so tall, or even taller than you, then consider a stroller with adjustable handlebar height. It is so important that you maintain a straight profile when running with a baby jogger, and to achieve this, the handlebar have to be at the right level for your height.

Avoid a stroller that will require you stooping to push while running. That will not be good for your back if you run regularly in that position.

Hand Brake

With a hand-activated front caliper brake, control of the stroller when jogging downhill is very easy.

The Suspension

A good running stroller should have a suspension system that is better than what you will find in your average jogging stroller. It should be able to absorb the shocks from bumps and jerks over rough terrains with your baby hardly feeling any of it. Some strollers have shock absorbing systems customers have described as so good their baby could hardly feel anything over the roughest trails. Coiled spring and compressed air shock absorbing systems are some of the designs you will find in jogging strollers.

Ruggedness

Jogging strollers that are used for running are subjected to harsher surfaces and rougher handling than strollers you would use to cruise your neighborhood and shopping malls. High strength aluminium frames and wheels, and easy care hard wearing fabrics are what to check in a good baby jogger for runners.  Strollers with molded plastic wheels may be good for light joggers, but they do not score highly in our review for the best jogging strollers for runners.

Jogging strollers in our top ten popular list were rated 1 to 5 on each of these features, the stroller that performs best in a feature was scored 5, and the poorest performer got 1. Scores on all the features were added up, and a stroller with the highest score is our overall best jogging stroller for runners.

Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller though a far more newer entry in our review, it is averaging above 4.5 in customer satisfaction, and is worthy of our revised #1 spot for jogging strollers for runners. The price is about the same as Bob high performance jogging strollers. It is a rugged Fixed Wheel Jogging Stroller that is very suited for running on all terrains. It is manufactured with high strength aluminium with 16 inches fixed front wheel.

If you are looking for the best stroller for runners, one that is ruggedly built to last, with all the good baby safety and comfort features that are important in baby joggers, we highly recommend the Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller

How to run with Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller – Video Tips!

Where to get a good Deal on the Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller

Now you have done your research, and I hope I have been able to guide your decision on the best stroller for running, where do you go hunting for the best deals?

Online stores without a doubt provide better deals on most purchases these days, and that is true for strollers.  Reputable online store prices are very competitive, and often offer better discounts than mall and high street shop.  Amazon is a good place to start when looking for good deals online, and it has a very good product reviews systems from previous buyers that can help you home in on a the best jogging stroller for a runner like you.

Though more expensive than some other brands of fixed front wheel jogging stroller, the Thule Glide 2 Performance Jogging Stroller is a great choice for active runners that can afford it. It is packed with comfort features for babies, and you as a runner has so much provided on the jogger to make your running experience enjoyable.