Parents always want the best for their children, why should it be any different when it comes to a stroller?
Whether you are exploring rough trails or simply want to take your child on a relaxing walk, owning a good hiking stroller is very important. In this guide, we review a few popular choices for the best hiking stroller on the market and explore what makes them so great.
Before you dive into our reviews, here are a few reasons why every parent should look into buying a hiking stroller:
- Safety: When it comes to hiking, most regular strollers just wont cut it. They simply aren’t made to take the bumps, obstacles, and dirt. The last thing you want is your stroller breaking apart or collapsing in the middle of a hike. Hiking strollers are much safer and reliable out on the trails.
- Durability: The best hiking strollers out there are made specifically for durability. Theres no telling what you are going to run into while hiking. These strollers are made out of heavy duty materials, feature large wheels, and won’t rip or tear.
- Ease of Use: Pushing a regular stroller through a rough trail will tire you out in no time. Hiking/Jogging strollers are designed for ease of use even when the trail gets bumpy. You will notice a difference after your first trip out!
Our choice for the best hiking stroller is the BOB Revolution. Keep reading for a more in depth review!
Our Top Choices for the Best Hiking Stroller
Here is our list for the best hiking strollers on the market:
1. Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Stroller
The Baby Trend Expedition Jogger is easily the most affordable hiking stroller on our list, and rated as highly as hiking strollers twice its price point.
The Baby Trend’s strength is very much in jogging/hiking on flatter trails and less on rough hiking terrain, so if that’s all you’re looking for it’s a great choice. It boasts both child and parent trays with 2 cupholders each, plus a large under-seat basket.
With those features and its large sun cover, it comes in at 28.7 pounds—not the absolute lightest weight option out there as far as jogging strollers go. That being said, no jogging stroller is going to feel particularly “light” compared to classic baby strollers anyway.
Some reviewers commented on how bulky the Baby Trend felt when lifting it into or out of their vehicles. The only other somewhat common complaint was that, unlike a few others on this list, the Baby Trend was difficult to fold and unfold one-handed. This is a small price to pay for athletic adventures with your little one, which this jogging stroller absolutely, reliably delivers.
The front wheel locks for jogging and bumpier terrains, a standard feature in most jogging strollers. For your little one’s comfort, there is a fully adjustable 5 point safety harness and adjustable, padded reclining seat (again, pretty standard features).
For your comfort, there’s an extra wide ergonomically shaped rubber handle. Another appealing safety feature of the Baby Trend are its footrest reflectors for morning or evening jogs.
The Baby Trend Expedition Jogger comes in 5 awesome colors with arguably the coolest names ever, such as Elixir (purple), Carbon (yellow), and Phantom (black).
As with most jogging strollers, the maximum weight recommendation is around 50 lbs, and it’s compatible with Baby Trend brand carseats.
If you don’t mind carrying a little extra weight in exchange for great storage space and sun cover, and want a jogging stroller just for jogging/hiking on relatively smooth terrain, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger is a dependable choice that’ll get the job done.
2. Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger Click Connect Stroller
The Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger Click Connect Stroller is another affordable option in the world of jogging and hiking strollers.
Graco is a well-known name in the stroller biz, so naturally they were going to produce an all-terrain jogging stroller model sooner or later. “All-terrain” is the key term here, as the Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger really does aim to please all forms of joggers and hikers regardless of how rough their paths may be. It performs on beaches and trails as well as city streets.
The Graco has a smooth swiveling, lockable front wheel, plus air-filled tires which help a lot on bumpy terrain. Some customers reported their tires deflating, in which case they simply contacted the manufacturer for replacements. You can easily purchase a protection plan with Amazon when you buy the stroller if anything should happen.
Parents love how easily this stroller is to fold/unfold even while holding their child in one hand, and how it stands upright when folded thanks to a convenient kickstand. The two cup holders and phone/mp3 player holders are other bonuses, and of course the standard under-seat storage space for snacks and diaper bags.
This stroller comes in 4 color choices. It’s got the standard comfort qualities for your kiddo, like the adjustable padded seat, removable tray, and large sun cover. It weighs 30 lbs without the Graco car seat, which adds an extra 5 lbs. This makes the Graco the heaviest stroller on our list, but it’s also the most affordable truly all-terrain option.
One happy customer referred to the Graco as “the Land Rover of strollers”! It’s a great choice if you want an affordable all-terrain jogger with somewhat basic features and don’t mind its somewhat bulky weight.
3. Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller
At 25 pounds, the Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller technically is the lightest jogging stroller on this list, if only by a few pounds. For a jogging stroller to have all the capabilities and features you want while managing to be this lightweight is nothing to scoff at.
While we’re on the subject of weight, another appealing aspect to the Joovy Zoom is its high maximum weight capacity of 75 pounds. This combined with a high, large seat allows parents to have older, taller children in this stroller.
The tradeoff there is a minimum weight recommendation of 15 pounds (every other stroller on this list has a minimum of 5 pounds). The absolutely massive sun cover which goes over the seat is also much larger than those of most other strollers, so if that feature is a bonus for you this stroller will not disappoint.
A fascinating selling point of the Joovy Zoom 360 is its aluminum frame with shock absorbing suspension, which is supposed to be great at minimizing the effects of bumpy terrain. Parents tend to find that it does that job well indeed, though would not use this stroller for anything rougher than a rocky road. In other words, trail runners may want to pick a different option.
Parents did love that this stroller is easy to fold one-handed and it includes a tire pump for keeping those wheels nice and full so their child feels as few bumps as possible.
The Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller will work well for those who are willing to spend for a few more high-end features, need a larger jogging stroller/sun cover, and do more jogging than trail running or hiking.
4. BOB Revolution FLEX 2016 Jogging Stroller
Besides looking totally snazzy, the BOB Revolution FLEX 2016 Jogging Stroller has some of the most glowing parent (and kid) reviews you could ask for. There’s a reason it’s the most expensive option on this list.
Even so, the Revolution FLEX 2016 model itself is one of the most affordable jogging strollers sold by BOB. It comes in 5 colors, though a couple colors are perplexingly a full $100 more than others.
It also has the widest potential age/size range, from a minimum weight recommendation of only 5 pounds to a maximum weight recommended of 75 pounds. So while you’re paying more, you can at least get a bit more use out of it depending on how fast your child grows!
The super high-end features of the BOB is really incredible. It boasts 9 different positions to adjust handlebars for parents’ heights and an adjustable suspension system for the smoothest rides. Even if Mom is 5’2” and Dad is 6’3”, everyone can use this stroller with ease on any terrain.
The child seat angle is also easily adjustable with one hand, which a lot of parents really loved as their child grew and wanted to sit more upright. With all this, it still somehow only weighs 28.5 pounds.
If you are looking for a top shelf jogging stroller with all the bells and whistles (whether you’re a casual jogger, hardcore runner, or rough trail hiker) the BOB Revolution Flex 2016 can’t be beat.
5. Chicco TRE Performance Jogging Stroller
The Chicco TRE Performance Jogging Stroller shines in its adjustability. Almost every feature on this thing is adjustable or customizable in one way or another.
It is another fairly heavy option at 34.5 pounds, but if you want total control over your stroller experience that’s what you pay for. Specifically, the TRE control console includes the standard jogging stroller activated swivel lock, a deceleration brake, a parking brake, and height-adjustable handlebars.
You only need to use one hand to easily and quickly fold it up, and it stands by itself when folded. There’s also a foot activated suspension that many parents seem quite happy with.
The maximum weight the manufacturer recommends carrying is 50 lbs and the Chico TRE only appears to be sold in one color at the moment, though that could change.
There is no child tray—the only common complaint among generally happy customers—but there is a removable parent tray, plus lots of compartments and two beverage holders beside the handlebar control console. Overall it does not have the most storage space compared to other jogging strollers on this list, so keep that in mind if that’s a deal breaker for you.
Something that might make up for this, besides the unique control console, is how easy this stroller is to fold/unfold and pack into a vehicle (despite its weight). Several parents commented on how easy it was to store and load into their vehicles, which is nothing to sneeze at considering the size of the Chicco TRE.
If you want control over virtually every aspect of your jogging stroller, you may want to consider the Chicco TRE. It has incredible reviews from casual joggers and trail running parents alike. While not the most expensive option on this list, it’s certainly not the cheapest and still could be considered a high-end splurge. Depending on what you want out of your jogging stroller, it could also be absolutely worth it.
Features to Look for in a Hiking Stroller
Here are a few features to look for in a good hiking stroller:
5 Point Safety Harness
Safety should be your number one concern, especially when it comes to a hiking or jogging stroller.
Strollers understandably tend to take a lot more of a beating out on the trails. As a result, it is very important that your child is always buckled in nice and snug.
A five point safety harness works similarly to a car seat, ensuring that the child will stay secure in the case of an accident. Generally, they go across the hips, legs, and shoulders to provide maximum stability. Nearly all hiking/jogging strollers feature a five point harness, but make sure you check it off your list before ordering.
Swiveling and Fixed Front Wheel
You’re probably wondering…
How can the front wheel be both swiveled and fixed? Well, most hiking strollers contain a simple locking mechanism that locks the front wheel in place when activated, but allows it to swivel free when removed. This is essential, because both setting have their own strengths and weaknesses.
A swiveling front wheel always for much more maneuverability. Turning is much easier and you can change direction at a moments notice. That being said, high speed jogging is very difficult with a swiveled wheel. You will constantly be correcting the direction, which can get very tiring.
A fixed front wheel allows you to run a little faster while maintaining a straight line. With this setting, you must sacrifice a little maneuverability. Turning will be a lot more difficult.
As you can see, each setting can be useful depending on what type of exercise you choose for the day. Having the ability to switch back and forth is extremely convenient and useful.
Tether & Parking Break
There are tons of distractions out hiking, so we don’t blame you from looking away from the stroller every once in a while. With dangers and drops around every turn, though, it is important to stay connected to your stroller at all times.
Tethers are usually attached somewhere around the handle and wrap around your wrist, allowing you to take you hands off while still being connected. Roll away strollers are a huge danger. Make sure your’s has a tether.
Parking breaks are more useful for times when you’re not hiking and need to step away for a second. They loch up the wheels and make sure the stroller doesn’t roll into a dangerous situation.
Both of these features are a must from a safety position.
Padded Handlebar
Pushing a stroller while hiking (trails and rough terrain) is understandably harder than pushing it on smooth pavement. As a result, you tend to tire out faster. A padded handlebar is one of those features that you think you could overlook, but is really a necessity.
Padded handlebars not only make for a more enjoyable experience, but also allow you get focus more on your child and less on your aching hands.
Large Tires
In general, hiking and jogging strollers have larger tires than their everyday counterparts. Large tires make it significantly easier to roll over obstacles and lend to a smoother ride.
Keep in mind, though; hiking stroller tires are usually air filled, meaning you will have to check the air pressure once in a while.
Extra Storage Space
I’m not sure about you, but I tend to carry a lot of stuff when hiking. Any added storage space is a huge plus, no matter where it is.
A lot of hiking strollers have a storage basket under the seat. If this is as important to you as it is to me, make sure you look into storage specifics before you make a purchase.
Adjustable Canopy
I’m sure you will agree that sometimes hiking exposed us to some bad weather conditions. As a result, an adjustable canopy is necessary to protect you child from UV rays, rain, and wind. Make sure the canopy is large enough to provide complete protection.
Cup Holders
This one isn’t a necessity, but it is nice to have a little reminder to stay hydrated without having to carry around a water bottle.
Final Thoughts
Judging all of these hiking strollers against each other is pretty difficult. Some strollers on the list are half the price as others, so you can’t really expect the same features.
If price is a big factor for you, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger is probably the best choice. It excels in basic features and has an amazing price point (making it one of the most popular hiking strollers on the market).
If you don’t mind splurging and throwing around some extra cash, the BOB Revolution FLEX 2016 Jogging Stroller is very hard to beat.
In you want something mid range in terms of price, but still full of great features, the Joovy Zoom is a great lightweight choice.
Clearly, the question of the best hiking stroller comes down to your wallet and needs.
We have worked hard to compile this list of the best hiking strollers on the market. No matter what you choose, we are sure that you will be more than satisfied. Enjoy your new stroller and happy hiking!