OutGrown

Rolling Into Spring : Stroller Review

  2. Share
OutGrown Community Member OutGrown Community Member
0 0
The Hike it Baby community is rolling into spring and using our favorite wheeled-gear to get outside with our families. Whether you plan to walk around the park, run a 5k, or stroll along the trails, we've rounded up the best all terrain strollers out there and given you our thoughts. We looked at a few different things with each of these strollers: price point, ease of set up, storage and off-road factor. Take a look at our test drives. stroller

All Terrain Jogging Strollers

BoB Revolution Flex Duallie ($689.99)

Out of Box of Set up: Easy, snap-on wheels and go Storage: Ample Favorite thing: wide bar foot brake One of my favorite things about the BOB Stroller is it shows up on your doorstep and within 5 minutes you can snap on the wheels and roll. This is not the case with all strollers and is a huge plus if you feel like you have limited time in your life. This is the case for both the single and the double Revolution. I also am a big fan of the brake. It's easy to snap to a halt quickly with your foot and it feels secure, even if you are on an incline. BOB is one of the most recognizable brands on the market for a reason, it's a solid stroller and a very easy re-sell once you are through with it, even if it's 5-plus-years-old. -- Shanti Hodges, Hike it Baby Founder Our BOB stroller has been a game changer for our family. It goes everywhere with complete ease. (I've maneuvered it over fallen logs.) It's also incredibly easy for me to collapse. I thought I loathed strollers, but it turns out, I just needed the right stroller. -- Colette Clarke, Hike it Baby Harrisburg The BOB Revolution has been the perfect stroller for our family. We use it on a daily basis on a variety of terrain-hiking, around town, cruising around the mall and even to doctor's appointments. We love our BOB Revolution stroller so much that we've just purchased the double version! -- Natalie Kendrach, Hike it Baby Capitol Region

2016 Sport Utility Stroller ($399.99)

Out of the Box: Easy to set up, snap on wheels. Will need screw driver for plastic mudflap Storage: Ample Favorite Thing: Knobby wheels for rugged trails.

There are so many reasons why I love BOB Strollers. This was my first experience with the Sport Utility and like all BOB strollers, the Sport Utility shows up ready to roll. BOB has been the "go to" high impact stroller since day one for most active parents. The brand continues to hold the edge in the stroller market because they are so functional, utilitarian and they can handle anything. They are known affectionately within the Mommy hiking world as the "beast" and with good reason as we tend to put this stroller through every test. In our case we have literally travelled hundreds of miles around the US, Canada and Mexico with a similar version of this stroller Revolutions SE) since Mason was born. This particular model I'm showing off is slight different than the Revolution SE in that it has a fixed front wheel. If you are planning on trail running and being on fire roads, this is the one to consider. For more urban rolling and strolling, try the Revolution SE. The only downside to these strollers (and all of the all terrain strollers out there) is they are bulkier and heavier. We haven't minded the weight because for us it has translated to almost 4 years of high use and we will still be able to sell or giveaway our stroller to a friend or family member when we are done with it. The other thing I really like about this and the other BOB strollers is being able to pump up the wheels. Hard plastic wheels that aren't like bike wheels get damaged when you get on to gravel roads over and over. The wheels on this particular stroller are especially tough and have thick rubber and knobby tread for better grip on loose terrain. Just for perspective on how tough these are, we have popped our BOB wheels twice in 3 years (once in Mexico on sharp cactus needles) and you wouldn't believe the trails we have been on and all that we have put our BOB through.  -- Shanti Hodges

Thule Urban Glide ($399.95)

Out of Box of Set up: Easy, snap on wheels and go Storage: Ample Favorite thing: Covered storage area My favorite thing about the Urban Glide single and double is how easy it is to break down. It's very one handed. Flip up the flap near the foot area, twist and drop. It's super smooth and aerodynamic. I also really like the protection below the stroller for bad weather. This is critical in a place like Portland where our winter can be really rainy. -- Shanti Hodges We have a sedan and I was really concerned that a jogging stroller wouldn't fit in our trunk, but it does! I love the under seat storage area and how easy it is to collapse down. It handles so well. --Heidi Schertz, Hike it Baby Milwaukee

Burley Solstice ($389)

Out of Box Set up: Easy Storage: Ample and easy to slide things in Favorite thing: One handed collapse Hands down the easiest stroller I have ever broken down. It pretty much can be done with one hand, which isn't common for all terrain strollers, which are solid, but often a bit clunky on the collapse. Wheels also snap off easily. Locking mechanism on the front wheel took a little figuring out but once it was locked it felt good and tracked well. -- Shanti Hodges

Bumbleride ($529)

Out of the Box Set Up: Plan on spending some time setting up Storage: Great storage and coverage of baby Favorite thing: Environmentally, this one is the winner hands down! Care about the planet? So does Bumbleride–and they definitely are making a point of doing this in their stroller development. The fabric is made from 100% recycled nylon and the dye they use needs less water to produce. Also, there are no fire retardant materials in the stroller, which means less toxins to expose to your baby. After putting this one together and strolling around the park we had a lot of positive comments. -- Shanti Hodges We ended up choosing the Bumbleride because we wanted something a little lighter and easier to travel with. I absolutely love it, because it worked great with our Nuna car seat, and our son has been comfortable in it ever since. We aren't sure when he will walk, so we needed to make sure to get something versatile that we can use for a long time, and it has worked great for hiking and jogging when I was training for a half marathon. -- Lindsay Frost, Hike it Baby Evergreen

Honorable Mentions

While these strollers are not jogging strollers, we loved them enough to recommend them to you.

Britax B-Ready ($499)

I was never a fan of a stroller that's just either too specific or not specific enough. That's why after much research we purchased the Britax B-Ready system. We've hiked with our stroller as it has great wheels that are all-terrain, although not as big as a typical running stroller. I never had issues maneuvering it on different types of terrain and I couldn't be happier with our choice. This is one good looking stroller, strong and very functional. -- Anka Trifan

Maclaran Techno XLR ($450)

It's not a 'hiking' stroller, but it can handle any dirt/rocky road without a problem. It's an umbrella stroller with shocks in the wheels. We've had it for over 6 years, two children, awful Caribbean roads, a year without a car in England and it's still going strong. -- Melissa Hollingsworth
Photo Credit: Névé Photography
Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and videos are Hike it Baby's own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby members are their own and reflect their own love for their strollers.

Community tags

This content has 0 tags that match your profile.

Gear

Children's Gear
Hiking Gear

Comments

To leave a comment, login or sign up.

Related Content

0
Outdoor Family Gear: New Brands Roundup
This past January, our Hike it Baby team ventured to Outdoor Retailer to meet with companies and organizations serving outdoor families. We’re excited to share a few new outdoor brands and products you may not have heard of before. Whether an exciting new approach to outdoor gear, a brand with a compelling mission, or a new product in the market, these five companies stood out to us. Butler Boots Butler Boots are all-weather, water-resistant boots that can be worn three different ways. They come with a washable, removable liner that keeps little toes warm in temps as cold as -30F, which is great for playing in the snow. For those wet, rainy days that are perfect for puddle jumping, the liner can be removed and the accordion-style feature makes it easy to slip them over existing shoes. When back inside, just take the wet boots off without a shoe change! And when lounging around the house, the liner can be worn as comfy slippers. They're available in four colors and a tall and short version. My son absolutely loves wearing Butler Boots. The material feels so springy that he bounces off running circles around the house and on the trails. He and I are both excited that these could be worn right over tennis shoes. The convenience of not having to replace his shoes after he plays in the mud and creek, or puddle stomps, is definitely a bonus. – Vong Hamilton Photo by Vong Hamilton Kari Traa  Fashion meets function with Kari Traa. Kari Traa is a champion freestyle skier with three Olympic medals to her name and a clothing brand designed for active women. Kari Traa makes a variety of active wear from wool base layers to outerwear. Since it's all designed by women, it fits a woman's body well. I'm loving my wool base layer top from Kari Traa. It's a half zip and perfect for Wisconsin weather. I really love all the fun, bold patterns. The silhouette is excellent for my body shape and when I lift my arms, my shirt stays put. I'm not constantly fidgeting with my top while out on a hike. – Jessica Featherstone Photo courtesy of Instagram @karitraa OneWild If you’re past the phase where your baby pulls on everything and you’re ready to sport earrings again, check out OneWild’s handcrafted genuine leather, sterling silver earrings. What’s unique about OneWild is their mission. In addition to having a fun, unique, and beautiful aesthetic, OneWild is committed to artisanal craftsmanship and fair labor practices. They’re also committed to community. OneWild donates $1 of every pair of earrings sold to programs that help women and girls feel #wildlyconfident in the world. What I love about these earrings is they're incredibly lightweight, making them easy on the ears to wear. They look elegant and feel effortless. You don’t even feel like you’re wearing earrings at all! – Christina Merhar Photo courtesy of OneWild.com  Wonderbag  If you have been at a campsite and wanted to leave a soup in the slow cooker, this bag is for you. Wonderbag is a non-electric heat-retention cooker. It can continue to cook food that has been brought to a boil up to 12 hours without any additional fuel. A bonus is that it will never overcook or burn your meals. It can also work as a cooler bag. Best part: For every large Wonderbag purchased, one is given to a family in Africa, so women don't have to spend all day cooking. We end up camper camping quite a bit and this has been so helpful the last few trips. We simply start something in the morning like we would with a slow cooker and then leave it in the camper to cook while we hike. In the evening, we already have part of the meal done! – Jessica Featherstone Photo courtesy of www.TheWonderBagShop.com  Night Trek  We’re always on the lookout for lighting that works well for adults and kids. As such, we were excited to discover Night Trek 270 Tactical Shoe Lights. Night Trek safely lights the way from dusk until dawn with hands-free lighting. But instead of a headlamp, the lights clip on to your shoes. The ultra-light and ultra-bright tactical shoes lights illuminate the path ahead and provide 270-degree visibility. They are rechargeable, rugged high-performance lights that work well in all-weather and terrain. “I love going on night hikes with our kids, but one problem we have with headlamps is that I often get blinded by my preschooler's bright light every time he looks up at me. My son also tends to fidget with his headlamp (i.e., taking it on and off 100 times or pulling my headlamp off when I’m back carrying), so the shoe lights are a great solution! They clip securely to adult or kid shoes and do a great job of lighting the path ahead.” – Christina Merhar Photo courtesy of www.NightTechGear.com Do you have a favorite new or innovative product? What type of hiking or outdoor gear should we review next? Comment below! Read More The New Era of Family Camping Tents Down for Adventure - Comparison of 7 Lightweight Jackets Fitness Trackers: Finding the Right One for You Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are Hike it Baby’s own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby staff are their own and reflect their own opinion of these products and brands.
0
5 Gear Essentials for Hiking in the Rain with Kids
Just because you're outside hiking in the rain doesn’t mean you have to be soaked to the bones. Make sure you are covering yourself and your kiddo from head to toe in waterproof gear. With careful planning and the right accessories to keep you warm and dry, you and your kiddo can enjoy your hikes and play in the rain longer. 1. Go beyond the raincoat When dressing your child, a full rain suit is a great option. There are no gaps in the material for water to sneak in. Oaki makes amazing rain suits and gear!  My daughter has spent hours in the pouring rain and gone swimming in some epic puddles in hers. Afterward, I'm always shocked when I peel it off and she is completely dry underneath. If the suit is a challenge because of potty training or an older child who wants a little more independence, a long rain coat and pants works great. Pro tip:  Size up in rainsuits if your little one will be in a carrier because it tends to pull the legs of the suit up and can leave gaps above their boots. 2. Take care of yourself If your child is warm and dry but you are drenched, the hike is going to be miserable for you. Get yourself a waterproof jacket and pants to keep yourself dry -- especially if you want to join in some puddle splashing too! Also consider how you can stay dry if you will be wearing your kiddo. 3. Don’t forget your feet Rain boots that are tall enough to be covered fully by the pants legs are a must. Make sure they are fully waterproof and insulated if you live where it is cold. Fortunately, most kids love rain boots, and they come in all sorts of happy patterns and colors. You will likely have more trouble getting your kids out of their rain boots than into them. Get yourself some waterproof boots too or minimally consider spraying your old hiking boots with waterproofing spray. 4. Waterproof your gear If you're carrying a pack with all your hiking essentials inside, get a pack cover to waterproof your cargo. And if you have a frame-style carrier like a Deuter, they make great rain pack covers to provide even more protection. If you are out in the rain with a stroller, look into one of the rain covers for the stroller that zip on and keep your kiddo warm and dry inside. 5. Warming layers and post-hike dry clothes Make sure to wear warm, wicking base layers to keep you cozy underneath. Wool clothing (like Luv Mother) is a great option - as it stays warm when wet and wicks away the moisture. Rain coats are often just shells so make sure to have solid layers underneath that you won't sweat in but will hold in the heat. Bring a hat to slip on under a hood and a couple pairs of gloves since those will inevitably get soaked. Pro tip: Have warm, soft, cozy clothes waiting in the car to slip into after the hike if you do end up a little cold and soggy. Having my daughter’s favorite pair of fleece or wool pants waiting in the warm car always works well as a motivator to push to the end of a rainy hike. (Hot cocoa waiting in the car is also a lovely treat!) Bonus tip: Hike it Baby offers discounts to members on many of these brands. Check out our Community Discounts page for current deals! Read more Getting outside - even in the rain What to wear: Hiking in the rain and winter Winter layering options for mothers Kids' Perspective: 5 Things kids like about hiking in the rain and cold What are your go-to gear items or tips for hiking in the rain and cold? Leave a comment below!   ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  
OutGrown
Powered by Cause Machine. All rights reserved.