Best Jogging Stroller Overall: Graco FastAction Fold Jogging Stroller

Let’s talk jogging strollers!

First on the market in the 1980’s, these strollers combined bicycle-like air-filled tires with a sling-style seat—this was to enable folks to walk or run with baby.

We’ve been rating and reviewing jogging strollers since 1994. Over the years and after interviewing hundreds of parents, we realize “jogging” is a somewhat misapplied name for these strollers. Most parents want to exercise with baby, but that means walks and hikes too, not strictly running with a baby.

Hence, jogging strollers with air-filled tires are great even if you don’t jog! If you live in a neighborhood with rough or broken sidewalks, a jogging stroller is great. Ditto for gravel trails or hiking paths.

After testing 14 current models of jogging strollers, we think Graco’s FastAction Fold is the best jogging stroller for most folks. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Fits all Graco infant car seats. These easily attach to the stroller with a secure fit.

• One-hand fold. When Graco says this fold is Fast Action, they mean it—in our tests, it is very quick to fold!

• Parent console with 2 cup holders! You’d think this would be standard for most jogging strollers, but alas, no.

• Lockable front swivel wheel.

• Air-filled rubber ties. 

• Child tray that pivots to the side for easy entry/exit.

• Multi-position seat recline.

• Seat cushion is removable/washable.

• Roomy and sturdy.

What Needs Work

• Heavy. This stroller is a beast! At 27 lbs. empty, this isn’t something you can easily pick up.

• Large trunk space needed. While the fold is quick and easy, the stroller itself has a rather large footprint when folded: 39″ by 23.6″. Yes, that is three FEET by two FEET in length. That may not fit in the trunk of smaller or mid-size cars. (You can remove the stroller’s tires to make it more compact).

• Parent console can only fit smaller phones.

• When fully loaded, can be hard to maneuver. This stroller works with kiddos up to 50 lbs. But when fully loaded, it can be hard to steer. To be fair, this is true for many jogging strollers, even the more expensive ones!

Best Budget-Friendly Jogging Stroller: Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Stroller

Yes, jogging strollers can get expensive. If you are looking for something on the more affordable side,  the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger is easy to use and includes some some extras: the Expedition adds a parent console with two cup holders, for example. (The entry level Baby Trend Xcel has just one cup holder and no parent console). Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to fold.

• Smooth ride for walking.

• Easy to assemble.

• Affordable.

• Seat with more padding than entry level model.

• Covered parent console with two cup holders.

What’s Needs Work

• Bulky when folded. But that is true for most affordable jogging strollers, unfortunately. This stroller is 21″ x 41″ folded. Yep, 41″ is more than three and a half feet! This stroller may not fit in the trunk of a smaller vehicle.

• Long term durability is not a Baby Trend strong suit.

• Not the best stroller for running. This is true for most strollers with lockable front wheels—even when locked, they shake when pushed at a faster pace than walking. If you want to actually run with a stroller, you may want to invest in a stroller like the Thule Urban Glide—great for running, albeit at a price that is much higher!

• Front wheel can be hard to inflate. Air-filled tires require maintenance (refilling tires, fixing flats)—and that frustrated some folks, understandably.

Best Upgraded Jogging Stroller: Graco Modes Jogger

If you have the budget, an upgraded jogging stroller like the Graco Modes has some additional useful features. Example: this stroller has six riding positions, including a bassinet mode. That lets a baby sit in a nearly completely reclined position in an enclosed bassinet-like seat—either facing the parent or outward. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Upgraded canopy with sun visor.

• Easy to assemble.

• Works with Graco infant car seats.

• Smooth ride.

• Large storage basket—larger than others we tested.

• Baby can face toward the parent or out.

• Parent console.

• Baby tray.

What Needs Work

• Two-hand fold. That’s not fun when you have baby in one hand and need to fold the stroller in a parking lot. That said, the fold isn’t that complex.

• Harder to maneuver when fully loaded. 

• Pricey if you don’t need the infant modes. If your baby is already nine months or older, the bassinet mode is less useful.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing baby gear, including jogging strollers, since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward safety, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Baby Bargains is your independent and unbiased source for expert baby gear reviews.