Jogging stroller? need buying advice

[anakiwa]

I'd love to know what brands/models anyone out there has used/liked/disliked.

First- I'm only 21 weeks pregnant- we weren't going to worry about the stroller for a while, but then we got a coupon for a big discount at a customer appreciation night at the local store.

I live on a dirt road and need something that can handle bumps/potholes well.

We'd love to get something that could double as a regular stroller and a jogging stroller, but aren't sure how well that works. I've read that for running you really need the front wheel to be fixed- that the locking swivel wheels just don't work as well (though obviously it makes the stoller less versatile for other things). I'd love some opinions on how important it is that the wheel not swivel (for running).

I know I won't be running with the baby sitting in the stroller for quite a while- they do make conversion kits so you can snap the car seat into the stroller. Any thoughts on whether it's feasible to run on a hilly dirt road with a baby and carseat and stroller to push?

Baby Jogger FIT and Baby Jogger Summit are the models that the store carries that seem closest to what we need so I'd love info about those ones in particular.

Thanks!

[limewave]

If you are a runner, a baby jogger is a GREAT investment. We also purchased a Graco "Travel System" that had the combo baby seat, stroller, bases for the car.

If I had to do it all over again I would:
1) Buy the Baby Jogger with the car seat attachment bar
2) NOT buy the travel system and get a good, compact, light-weight, yet durable stroller instead.

The very few times we needed the stroller with the car seat holder, we could have used the jogger if we needed to. Relatively speaking, your baby is in that infant car seat for a short time. That heavy, awkward, "travel-system" stroller got used all of 2-3 times and now we can't sell it. We exclusively use the Jeep stroller and jogger. The downside is that the baby has to be able to sit up before they can ride in something like the Jeep brand stroller. But babies are usually sitting up at 5 months of age anyways.

A fixed front wheel is a must, especially if you are using it off-road.

We've had our Baby Jogger for 6 years. I can't even tell you how many miles are on it. I trained for the Chicago marathon in 2006 pushing DD in that Jogger. And then she came with me to running club all winter long. Now DS rides in it while DD bikes and I run. It has been well worth the investment. I know it's expensive, but it is the one baby item I am glad we "splurged" on.

[malkin]

I loved my Baby Jogger too, used it for 4 years and then sent it to my brother who used it for about that long. Since my baby turned 21 not long ago, I'm sure there have been many changes in stroller design!

If you are trying different strollers, be sure to check the height of the handle and make sure there is enough room for your foot stride without crashing into the back of the stroller or a basket or anything else down there.

[anakiwa]

Thanks so much. I think we're probably going to get the Baby Jogger FIT model and buy the adapter so we can snap the car seat into it. (It turns out it is out of stock at the local store so we'll wait until spring anyway.)

I talked to a number of friends and no one seemed to make much use of the travel system stroller- so hopefully the baby jogger will be all we need to start.