5 Best Jogging Strollers
Run, walk fast, hike trails or sail over gravel and sand with one of these three-wheel strollers.
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If you want to take your child along on your runs or jogs, or if you live an active outdoor lifestyle and want to push your stroller over rough terrain and trails, a jogging stroller is key. These have three wheels: The one in front can be locked straight when you want to run, so the stroller does not veer, or it can be set to swivel, if you're moving around town. Any jogger should also have a safety strap you wear around one wrist so the stroller does not roll away from you when you're moving fast.
A jogger is a sturdy, heavy-duty stroller built to provide a smooth ride. The compromise is that, if the tires are built for speed, the stroller should weigh more than 25 pounds and never fold up particularly small. These are not lightweight strollers.
Our list of favorites is based on Good Housekeeping Institute Lab-tested picks, top-performing brands, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback from testing more than a dozen jogging strollers in the outdoors. Many joggers can also work as a travel system (car seat and stroller combo) or come in a double stroller version. We note that in the writeups.
Safety note: Even if a jogging stroller is advertised usable from birth (i.e. with an infant car seat attached), you shouldn't use a stroller for jogging without clearance from your child’s pediatrician. Usually, it's recommended that you wait until your child is at least 6 months old, so they have proper neck and head support. For that reason we are listing all of these jogging strollers for ages 6 months+.
Pros
- Smooth ride over most terrain
- Large cargo basket zips shut
- Easily stands on its own while folded
- High 75 pound weight limit for child
- Easier to steer than previous BOB joggers
Cons
- No parent storage in the handle, just a cupholder
- Heaviest stroller on our list
BOB Gear says that the Wayfinder offers independent dual suspension (if one wheel goes over a bad bump, it adjusts independently of the other) and air-filled, mountain-bike-like tires. Testing proved that the design helps soften the impact of rough terrain, like gravel, for better traction. "You can easily pull it or push on harder sand," a tester told us. "It handles nicely and the seat is comfy for the kid."
This scored so well with parents at home and with our Parenting Lab experts that we gave it one of our most recent Parenting Awards. "It's smooth in its movement, making it easy to guide during a run," a parent said. "My son loves it, and the opening in the canopy is great for keeping an eye on him."
Our Lab experts especially love that a zipper closes up the basket. Testing showed that you can go fast and over bumps without cargo flying out. Also, this stroller stands on its own when folded, which helps for storage and loading this in and out of the car.
User complaints were pretty much par for the course with three-wheelers: This is bigger than a regular stroller, and heavy, but all joggers are. That said, the Wayfinder is the heaviest on our list of faves. One tester said they wished there was more storage in the parent handle (there's only a cupholder).
Parents and Lab experts agree that this is an improvement on older BOB joggers. For one thing, the Wayfinder has a high 75-pound child weight limit so it can take an older kid. "I previously had a BOB stroller and this one was more narrow and not such a beast," an experienced jogging-stroller user reported. "I found the steering even easier and I was able to go fast." And that's the whole point of buying a jogging stroller!
There's also a BOB Gear Wayfinder Travel System that comes with the BOB Champ infant car seat. For now there is not a double version of the Wayfinder but we do like the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie, which fits two kids.
Child weight limit: 75 lbs | Ages: 6 months+ | Dimensions: 44" x 26" x 41" | Wheel diameters: front wheel 12", back wheel 16" | Stroller weight: 31 lbs
One parent tester sent pictures of her baby and her older child taking turns napping in the Wayfinder at the beach, saying it seemed super comfortable. She noted, though, that the large canopy can't completely shade a child. You'll still want a beach umbrella.
Pros
- More affordable than most others
- Lots of great reviews over the years
- Easy to navigate
- Snack tray for baby and storage hatch for you
Cons
- Smaller canopy and basket
- Child weight limit of 50 pounds
- Takes longer than others to fold down
If you're willing to cut back on features — the canopy on this is small, the basket is small and open, it can only hold a child up to 50 pounds — this is a great bargain, under-$250 option for casual runners. It's got bicycle wheels for rolling and has been on the market for years, garnering more than 19,000 five-star Amazon reviews.
Take note that while our testers generally agreed that the stroller is easy to navigate, "even on gravel and off-road terrain," it does take a couple of minutes to fold down. "It’s no big deal at all but when in a hurry it can be a pain in the butt," said one tester.
The Expedition comes with a snack tray for your kid and a storage hatch for you. It can work nicely as an around-town stroller with those conveniences. If you're looking for some fun colors there are models with a pop of pink trim or red trim. You can also buy this as a travel system and get it with the matching Baby Trend car seat — that, too, is a bargain.
Child weight limit: 50 lbs | Ages: 6 months+ | Dimensions: 47" x 21" x 41" | Wheel diameters: front wheel 12", back wheel 16" | Stroller weight: 25.5 lbs
Pros
- Holds a child up to 75 pounds
- Hand brake gives added control
- Switch from a fixed to a swiveling wheel with a handlebar control
- Easier to fold
Cons
- Large stroller
- Parent storage console is sold separately
- Can't stand on its own
Like our best overall choice, the Summit X3 can hold a child up to 75 pounds, so it can last for years or be a good choice if your big kid is already older than toddler age. Even with the higher weight capacity and larger frame, we found that pushing this over rough terrain is pretty much a breeze, thanks to all-wheel suspension and air-filled rubber tires.
The Baby Jogger is a few pounds less than the BOB (even though it's physically larger) and it's less expensive. Like the BOB, there are no parent compartments on the handle and on the Summit, there's no cupholder. You can buy and add a parent console separately.
What the Summit does come with is a large hand brake that gives parents more control when going downhill. There's also a way to switch between having the front wheel locked and having it swivel with a control right on the handlebar, which is a lot easier than bending down and changing the setting by the front wheel.
Our Lab experts feel this stroller folds down more easily than many others. It can be tricky to store, though, since it's big and is unable to stand on its own while folded.
To use it as a travel system, buy the infant car seat adaptors that hold either a Graco infant car seat or a Baby Jogger infant car seat. If you're looking for this in a double stroller configuration, there's a Baby Jogger Summit X3 Double Jogging Stroller that can hold two kids up to 50 pounds each.
Child weight limit: 75 lbs | Ages: 6 months+ | Dimensions: 51" x 26" x 42" | Wheel diameters: front wheel 12", back wheel 16" | Stroller weight: 28.4 lbs
RELATED: The Best Double Strollers
Thule Urban Glide 3
Pros
- Integrated twist hand brake
- Long leg rest plus side pockets for your kid
- Storage basket with zip-top cover
- Lighter weight than others
Cons
- Lower weight limit than others
- Seat always remains on a recline
- Most expensive on our list
The Urban Glide 3 is a solid choice for those who make running a serious part of their lifestyle. We found that it was highly maneuverable on varied terrains. "It's very easy to control the speed and to turn, even sharply," a tester said. When you need to stop, you can quickly brake with the integrated twist hand brake.
This has a lower weight limit for a child than other jogging strollers, but it does have a comfy seat with an integrated full leg rest. "The stroller has small pockets on the inside of the seat, where my child can store toys and snacks," one tester noted. Store your own odds and ends in the underhand storage basket, fastened with a zip-top cover. It's not as large as some other stroller baskets, testers said, but it's secure.
One thing to note: The seat is always set at a recline. "The recline, even at the highest possible setting, seemed to be laying far back. My son was quite comfortable, and this could be for aerodynamics of jogging," noted a mom who took this on hiking trails and paved streets.
Thule's jogger has an aluminum frame and is lighter than many others, even with the air-filled rubber tires. There are two car seat adapters you can purchase separately if you're interested in using this as a travel system. One is a car seat adapter for Chicco infant car seats and one is a car seat adapter for Maxi Cosi infant car seats.
Thule also makes a jogging stroller bike trailer combo. It's a pricey two-for-one product, and a double stroller to boot — an earlier version of it won one of our previous Parenting Awards.
Child weight limit: 49 lbs | Ages: 6 months+ | Dimensions: 49" x 31" x 44.5" | Wheel diameters: front wheel 12", back wheel 16" | Stroller weight: 26.2 lbs
We're big fans of storage baskets that zip shut, keeping your cargo in place when you're running with a jogging stroller. Both this Thule and the BOB stroller on our list have zipped storage baskets.
Pros
- Airless tires can't get punctured
- Unique fold is smaller to store
- Switch on the handlebar to lock or swivel the front wheel
- Clear instructions from the brand
Cons
- Must buy direct from the brand, but we like the customer service
Guava's Roam has airless rubber tires, so there's nothing to puncture, even if you're going over sharp rocks. That makes this particularly good for all terrain. "I felt like I was gliding when using it! The ride is so smooth and easy to navigate with it," a tester said. "We live on a hilly terrain and this stroller has made my walking experience 10 times better!"
Our Lab experts also really like how small this folds. The back wheels are a few inches smaller than others and they tilt in when you fold, so the stroller is narrow and stands upright when folded. That makes this easier to fit in a car, too.
This is another where the mechanism to lock the front wheel is right on the handlebar. A parent explained that and some other standout features: "I love that I can use a switch on the handlebar to lock and unlock the front wheel. Locking it into a straight position keeps the wheel from rocking out at high running speeds. Unlocking it is great for maneuverability. It has a great turning radius. Also, I love that the instructions for opening and closing the stroller are illustrated on the stroller itself."
Guava Family sells this direct to consumers, so there's a "60 Day Test Ride." Save the box, save your order receipt and read all of the instructions carefully if you think you might need that. In general, our testers were impressed by the level of care from the brand. One said, "The packaging and instructions were so nice and detailed and you could tell the company really valued the customer experience. They even sent an additional handlebar attachment for a cup holder and zipper pockets!"
For an extra $50 you can pick up a car seat adaptor that works for most big brands including Graco, Chicco, Nuna and Britax. The stroller is currently sold as a single, there's no double version.
Child weight limit: 60 lbs | Ages: 6 months+ | Dimensions: 39" x 25" x 43" | Wheel diameters: front wheel 12", back wheels 14" | Stroller weight: 28.5 lbs
Our tester took the Roam to a track for some exercise and fresh air.
How we choose the best jogging strollers
The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed more than a dozen jogging strollers over the past five years. We work with parents nationwide to test jogging strollers on the streets during runs, plus on terrain such as sand and hiking paths. Testers fill out surveys assessing how easily each stroller folds and unfolds, how easy it is to push and navigate, how it handles different terrain and how easy it is to lock the front wheel in place, among other things.
We also build each stroller and run tests in our Parenting Lab. We only look at trusted brands that have a proven track record of safety. We prefer strollers that have JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) Certification, which signifies meeting minimum government requirements on safety and use, as tested by an independent third party. At a minimum, we ensure a product adheres to ASTM test standards. As a final check we pour through online reviews.
What to consider when shopping for a jogging stroller
✔️ Front wheel lock: When the front wheel is locked, the stroller will stay on its path. Once you unlock it, the front wheel will swivel so you can make tight turns. Be sure you know where the lock is on any jogging stroller you buy, because it's nearly impossible to run without the front wheel locked, and nearly impossible to navigate sidewalks without it set to swivel.
✔️ Wrist strap: This accessory is specific to jogging strollers for added safety. If you lose your grip on the handlebar, a wrist strap ensures the stroller cannot get away from you. If you buy a three-wheel stroller and there's no wrist strap, that's usually an indication that it's not actually a jogging stroller. See the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 as an example of a jogger style that's just for walking around.
✔️ Hand brake: Most strollers feature a foot brake you activate to keep the stroller standing still when you're stopped somewhere. Many joggers have an additional hand brake you can squeeze while running, to slow down.
✔️ Large canopy: If you're out running, there's likely sunshine. Be sure the canopy is large enough to throw some shade.
✔️ Peekaboo screen: A mesh screen atop the canopy is a great way to peek down on your kid while you're out, without stopping the stroller and moving around in front of them.
Do you need a jogging stroller?
If you want to jog or run with your little one, investing in a good jogging stroller is a great idea. Unlike regular strollers designed for, well, strolling, a jogging stroller keeps your baby from bouncing around while you move at a high speed or across irregular terrain. Not only does this make for a much more comfortable ride for your little one, but it's easier for you to push and control the stroller.
We had testers confess that they fell so in love with their jogger, they started using it for regular errands, too. But these are pretty big strollers. They're not compact nor are they lightweight, so they're not what we'd recommend for a travel stroller.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For more than 100 years the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on consumer products. For new parents we cover the latest gear categories including stroller wagons and all-in-one car seats. For runners we have articles like HOKA vs. Brooks for running shoes and the best fitness trackers for women.
Original testing for this article came from Rachel Rothman, the Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute for more than 15 years and a mom of three who was trained in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics.
This latest update and most recent testing came from Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn, a 20-year veteran of the juvenile product industry and most recently a senior editor at Parents magazine. She's a mom of two and a judge for the Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards, Family Travel Awards and Best Toy Awards. She also judges the annual JPMA Innovation Awards.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
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