When you’ve had a baby, you want to be jogging or exercising to get your physique back. But, have you ever tried to jog while pushing a pram?
Not easy. With four wheels to think about you simply do not have the maneuverability that you get with a jogging stroller.
And have you ever tried to move a sleeping baby from a car seat onto a stroller? You inevitably wake the baby up. And a tired baby is a cranky baby. And a cranky baby is a LOUD wailing baby.
I don’t know about you, but I just hate those stares I get from other people when my baby starts wailing at the top of its lungs.
But don’t worry, there’s a solution!
You can get yourself a Jogging Stroller Travel System. That way you can move the car seat holding the sleeping baby and click it into place on the jogging stroller travel system and jog away to your heart’s content. Even on rough terrain, like you’d get in a nice sunny park.
To write up this article we did a bit of research, and after much deliberation, we were able to handpick our top 5 favorite jogging stroller travel systems. And we’re going to be showing you our reviews on those very shortly.
After that, we’re going to show you our buying guide, and this functions as a quick little checklist that you can use to ensure you’ve thought of everything before you buy.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight to it!
OUR TOP PICK
EDITORS CHOICE
BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System
BEST VALUE
Baby Jogger City Mini GT Travel System
OUR TOP PICK
BRITAX B-Lively Travel System
Now, this is a great jogging stroller travel system. It meets all your main requirements and has some really excellent safety features besides. And better yet, you shouldn’t find yourself too out of pocket. The system is very well priced.
We weren’t at all surprised to learn that it made the bestseller lists with online retailers. It has so much going for it.
Let’s start with the safety features. The car seat comes with a high-strength steel-reinforced frame, which helps keep it stabilized in the car.
There’s also SafeCell technology in the car seat to absorb crash energy in the event of an accident. And there’s side impact protection too, as your baby’s head, neck, and torso are completely protected.
The 3-wheel system makes maneuverability a breeze. But better yet is just how easy it is to set up and to pack away. Setting up is a simple click-and-go.
And folding down can be done one-handed, which is great if you’re cradling the baby with your other arm. And it’s quite lightweight, so carrying it to your trunk is also a breeze.
We also love the large canopy, able to accommodate more than just your diaper bag, and the extra-large canopies, which do not only offer UV 50+ protection but are ventilated too, so the baby will not feel at all claustrophobic.
We also like the infinite recline positioning you can opt for on the stroller, allowing the baby to relax and fall asleep.
The rear-facing car seat is designed for infants up to 35 pounds in weight, while the jogging stroller is can accommodate infants or toddlers up to 55 pounds in weight.
So, you get a pretty decent lifespan for the product. And as the baby grows, you don’t have to worry about re-threading the harness.
Pros:
- Reasonable price tag
- Excellent safety features
- Click-and-go set up
- Folds down one-handed
- Safe, ventilated canopy
Cons:
- No cup or bottle holders
- Not designed for strolling on rough terrain
EDITORS CHOICE
BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System
Now, this travel system is even better than the one we’ve already shown you, and if it wasn’t for the hefty price tag we’d have made it our number one choice.
BOB is a high-end brand that you really can’t go wrong with if you have a sufficient budget. They have several different styles of strollers and travel systems you might want to check out, but this one is our favorite of theirs.
This model also made the bestseller lists with the online retailers, and it comes highly recommended from those who’ve bought it, with overwhelmingly positive customer feedback.
Let’s start with the safety features. The car seat comes complete with a high-strength car seat base reinforced with steel, and there’s a protective foam shell to keep the baby protected from head to toe. And there’s special Britax Safecell technology which is designed to help absorb crash energy.
There’s also an extra-large canopy with UPF 50+ for excellent protection from harmful UV rays.
This travel system also offers particularly good maneuverability, thanks to its 3-wheel setup and 360-degree front wheel swivel.
And thanks to its mountain-bike style suspension and large air-filled tires, your little one gets a gentle ride, even on rougher terrain such as hiking trails.
And there are some great convenience features too, such as a very large and deep storage basket, for stashing away the diaper bag, etc. Plus, there are an additional 6 storage pockets, and a cell phone pocket conveniently positioned at the handlebar.
We also love the magnetic peek-a-boo chat window – such a cute feature.
The rear-facing car seat can take the weight of babies and toddlers up to 35 pounds, while the jogging stroller can take babies and toddlers up to 75 pounds in weight.
So, you can rest assured that this travel system will last for you, and give you your money’s worth.
And you don’t have to worry about re-threading the 5-point harness as your child grows.
All the adapters you need to convert the stroller into a frame to carry the car seat are included in the box when it arrives.
But unfortunately, this conversion is not something you can carry out one-handed, so it would be far easier if you could have someone with you to help out.
The travel system cover is removable and, very conveniently, is perfectly safe to wash in your machine.
Pros:
- Top, bestselling brand
- Excellent safety features
- Glides over any terrain
- Peek-a-boo chat window
- Great for storage, lots of pockets
- Usable until baby reaches 75lb
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
- Doesn’t fold down one-handed
BEST VALUE
Baby Jogger City Mini GT Travel System
If you’re based in a city, then this could be the travel system for you.
The City GO infant car seat comes with a base included, but if you need to catch a taxi, there’s a taxi safe belt path for installation without the base.
It has a lightweight frame that you can carry with one hand as you have the baby in the other arm. Moreover, you can even fold the stroller down one-handed too.
But it’s not just for city life. It has all-terrain EVA wheels that let you take your baby anywhere you like.
It has a large adjustable canopy with UV 50+ protection from the sun. And it has a cute peek-a-boo window. And the large storage basket is easily accessible.
The car seat can take babies of weights up to 35 pounds, so you should get a decent product lifespan from it.
It’s a bestseller with online retailers and comes highly recommended.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this travel system, just click “check price” to check if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Safety base with the car seat
- Car seat features a taxi safe belt path
- You can fold it down one-handed
- Features all-terrain wheels
- Great canopy with window
- Very lightweight & compact
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
RUNNER UP
Chicco Viaro Travel System
Now, this is one of our favorites for its excellent value for money. It ticks all the boxes and is available at what we would argue is a bargain price point.
It comes from a good well-established brand, Chicco, and is a strong bestseller with online retailers.
We also like just how long the travel system will last. It’s designed to accommodate infants or toddlers, with the car seat able to little ones from 4 to 30 pounds in weight and up to 30 inches in length.
Of course, once they’ve reached the height limit you will have to get them a new car seat.
You can fold up or unfold the lightweight aluminum frame one-handed. Which is perfect, because you’ll often be holding the baby in the other arm.
Whether you want to attach the car seat or the stroller, either will just naturally click securely into place.
When the car seat is in position, the canopy completely covers the baby, if you want it to, which is great for protecting them from harmful UV rays.
The 3-wheel design of the stroller makes it a jogger rather than a regular stroller, and has that easy manoeuvrability you’re looking for.
The stroller has multiple positions that allow the child to see where they’re going. And there’s a reclining position which is great when the baby needs a nap.
There are some nice extra features too. Such as the extra-large storage basket, which is perfect for stashing the diaper bag, your purse and your shopping.
Then there’s the cup holders – not only does the baby get 2 cup holders in their detachable tray, but Mom gets 2 bottle holders too.
It’s available in very serviceable colors, all black or a black and grey combo.
Pros:
- Bestseller from a top, well established brand
- Extra-large storage basket
- Folds up one-handed
- Large adjustable canopy
- Loads of cup holders for baby and Mom
- Multiple seating positions inc. reclining
Cons:
- Infant car seat is only suitable for infants of up to 30 inches in height
RUNNER UP
Baby Trend EZ Ride 35 Travel System
Now, this is a travel system that’s simply flying off the shelve. And even if you don’t manage to catch one of Amazon’s occasional deals, it’s still available at a great price.
The Baby Trend EZ Ride 5 Travel System includes the EZ Ride Stroller and the Ally 35 rear-facing Infant Car Seat. Both of which feature a 5-point safety harness and a large soft head rest.
The stroller features a padded seat with multiple recline positions for ultimate comfort.
Switching from stroller to car seat travel system is easy and everything you need is included in the box.
The car seat can take babies up to 35 pound in weight, so you should be able to get plenty of use out of it.
Plus, there’s a handful of convenience features, such as cup holders, a swing-away child’s tray, a large storage basket, and a peek-a-boo window in the canopy.
It’s available in two color options. We like them both.
Pros:
- Bargain price
- Rear-facing car seat
- Multiple recline positions
- Nice color options
Cons:
- Not designed for strolling on rough terrain
Best Jogging Stroller Travel Systems Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. And we’ll cover all the key things you’ll want to think about before you part with your hard-earned cash.
What exactly is a jogging stroller travel system?
For those who don’t already know or aren’t too sure a travel system is a combination of parts, that allows you to affix the included car seat onto the frame of a stroller by replacing the seat with the car seat. Or vice versa.
And as to how a jogging stroller is different from a regular stroller, that’s in the wheel set up. Whereas a regular stroller has 4 wheels altogether, 2 at the back and 2 at the front, a jogging stroller has just 3 wheels, one at the front and two at the back.
This gives the jogging stroller much better maneuverability than a regular stroller.
What to look for in a jogging stroller travel system
Safety
First and foremost, comes safety considerations. And this goes both for the car seat element, and for the stroller.
Most important is the safety of the car seat. Ideally, you should look for a car seat with a base, and it should be rear-facing.
But you also need to consider the safety of the stroller. The child should be secured into position with a 5-point harness. Such harnesses are now considered standard on travel systems, and if you see a product review that doesn’t mention it, that’s not to say there isn’t one in place.
The canopy is also an important safety feature because it blocks harmful UV rays.
Infant car seat / Toddler seat
You will want to look into what weight the car seat (and the stroller) can accommodate. This will determine how long the travel system will be of use to you, which in turn determines whether you get value for money.
A quick heads up – there will come a time when the infant has outgrown the car seat, but can still use the stroller. You will then need to buy a new car seat, and this new car seat is unlikely to fit on the travel system frame.
Direction and Position of the Seat
Most kids like to see where they’re going as they’re carted about. But sometimes kids prefer to be able to see their Mom or Dad. So, multiple positioning is a good thing.
Reclining positions are quite popular too, as they can help the baby to relax and go to sleep.
Wheels
A jogging stroller is one with three wheels rather than four, and this serves to give it far better maneuverability than a regular stroller.
This is why you can comfortably push a jogging stroller along on your daily jog.
Portability
The whole point of a travel system is to be able to take the baby out in the car, and then place the car seat on the frame of the stroller so you can happily stroll or jog along with the baby in tow.
But to do this you will need the frame of the stroller, and maybe the stroller as well, to fit in the trunk of your car. This means it has to have compact dimensions when folded.
You may also want to be able to carry the stroller back and forth between your home and the car. And to that end, you’ll need the stroller to be sufficiently lightweight and easy to carry.
At times you will want to carry the folded stroller in one hand while holding the baby in the other arm. Not to mention also carrying your purse and/or diaper bag. So, to that end, you might want to consider buying a travel system that you can fold up one-handed.
Other Features
You also might want to think about convenience features such as cup holders, and a large storage basket to stash your diaper bag and other gear.
Brand
The market for travel systems is brimming with top brands. And if we had made a shortlist of 10 or more top travel systems, we’d have shown you more brands, and maybe some more options from one or two brands.
But remember that brand isn’t everything, and you should always allow safety, practicality, and convenience over flashy brand names.
Customer Ratings and Reviews
While you’re online, why not take advantage of the opportunity to look at the customer ratings for the products you’re interested in.
If you find yourself on Amazon, for example, you should look for products that are rated at 4 and a half stars or above.
Cost
We’ll be the first to tell you – jogging stroller travel systems can vary quite considerably in price. While you may be able to get a second-hand one for circa $200, for a brand-new high-end travel system you can expect to pay upwards of $700.
So, our advice is to shop around, check prices as you go along, and if you’re not particularly brand-conscious you can find yourself a bargain.