Since I’ve been trying to drop some inches, I’ve been walking 6 days a week. So far, no loss in the poundage, but my Lilly Pullitzer sundress fits again! I figure it’s more moving the fat around, much like I move our money around before it blows out of our account again.
Regardless, the awesome Peg Perego stroller we have wasn’t cutting it on the scraggly sidewalks and uneven terrain around our neighborhood. Even some of the hills and lifted sidewalk blocks IN our neighborhood were doing a number on it. So I started looking at joggers, and debated whether or not to go for it, or get my next pair of awesome cowboy boots.
Then a friend, “Alice and Peanut”‘s Mom, said she had one she wasn’t using, and would loan it to me to see if I like it. YUSS! A free trial is most excellent! She sent me a few pictures to seal the deal, but I was already there! Red and I took a little trip to go and pick it up that week!
After pumping up the tires a bit and giving it a quick wipe down, at the owner’s recommendation, I took it for a spin. Wow. So much better. If you’ve never used a jogging stroller, you may not know that it has actual tires that help to support the stroller as you go along. Smooth. It even gave me a faster time on Runkeeper! (Thanks to NC Friend Tara for suggesting the app!)
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| No cracks about how slow I am. I’m a walker, people! And there’s hills… And…. |
I liked it so much that now I’m going to write a little review for the BabyTrend Expedition Single Jogger. This exact color and model combo aren’t sold anymore, but there are models just like it for sale at Target, Walmart, Amazon.com and other local and online retailers.
First of all, I noticed the compact fold that helped us get this puppy home in our Jeep.
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| Nice and compact! |
A 3 wheeled, older model, this thing is very light, tightly folded with standing lock, and two handles for easy lifting and maneuverability. To unfold, simply release the standing lock, push on the safety press, and squeeze and release latches on each side. The stroller folds out easily and quickly, but it still takes two hands. (You’ll need to set it up while baby is in the car seat if you’re out on the trails)
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| Easy to fold and un-fold. But it takes two hands. |
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| Our tester peeks over at us |
The three tires need to be pumped up to 25 psi, which is easy if you have a bike pump with a gauge. Available at Walmart for only $10 – easy purchase and good to have around for other things like sports balls, pool gear, etc. The front wheel of this model DOES NOT swivel. Most newer models have a front wheel that can remain fixed for jogging, or swivels with a latch to allow for walking. I think I would like that feature very much, but I’ve learned over the short period of loaner-ship that I can make this work. (Also note the foot rest here).
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| Non-swiveling model, front single wheel |
Unlike several joggers that I have encountered, BabyTrends have a nice little storage bin at the bottom. This is very helpful to hold your giant Nalgene of water, mail that you picked up, treasures that Red finds, keys, or sweatshirts that you have to peel off during the sweat-hog jog. It’s soft but sturdy, and high enough off the ground not to scrape over tree roots or bad sidewalks.
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| Boo – We got bills that day. |
There’s a few little extras for Mamas or Daddies up higher, too. A zippered pocked on one side of the canopy holds looser items that you might bring with you, and there is an identically sized pocket on the other side, but it is velcro-secured instead of zippered. Still handy, though.
I like this next feature the best. The Mama tray at the top of the jogger fits your iPhone or iPod perfectly. It stays at finger’s touch for run trackers, music, or answering the phone with your headset. One hand can stay on the brake if needed (labeled below). Now, the 2 cup holders, I feel differently about. They are very shallow and puny. I’m not even sure you could have a can of something without sloshing it everywhere, much less a tall bottle of water. I believe the newer models fixed this, but please check for yourself before you purchase!
And now some features that affect your little one. The canopy is adequate, and folds forward to nearly a flat plane. It doesn’t cover the side very much, so if you are running late in the day, or early in the morning against the sun, be aware of that. I do like the large clear window in the canopy, and the rolldown and velcro-able shade. Allows more visibility or less sun – whichever is needed. I also find that the shape of the canopy doesn’t affect wind resistance, so that’s nice!
A nice foothold sits in the middle of the rear axle, and provides good leverage if you need to get over a large curb. Two exceptionally strong (read: hard for me to release with my feet, had to use my hands) stop brakes can stop the rear wheels for a stand-still stop. They are GOOD!
A nice option I saw was the recline. Most joggers have a “soft” recline using a strap to sit up or lay back (not flat) the rear seat. This one, Red prefers reclined, but I think that’s because he likes to be lazy on our walks. They almost always chill him out. It acts like a seatbelt on a grocery cart – snap in and out – tighten and loosen.
And speaking of seatbelts, this one was very satisfactory. I didn’t seen anything it was lacking, or wished it to be more than it was. There are two “optional” releasable shoulder straps that click on in a D-ring carribeaner sort of way, a crotch strap that acts as the female portion of the buckle, and the side pieces. It’s a 5 point harness that can convert to a 3 point, which is nice for both older babies and younger ones to keep them safe and interested in the walk.
The newer BabyTrend Expedition models retail for about $99 to $139, depending on which one you buy. Doubles are always more expensive. If you are a Mama on a budget (aren’t we all!), try your local consignment sales or stores. I usually see one or two of these on the first morning of the sales. Craigslist Atlanta has several doubles for sale at any given time. If none of those work for you, ask around! See if someone will loan you one to try, or perhaps sell you their older one!
Lastly, I think my tester really enjoys his rides! He gets very excited when I pull it from the garage for our daily walk, and this Mama loves how much easier it is to **achoo** exercise.
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| Loves the walks! |
And Red makes quite the happy walking companion! After our “loan” is up, I might have to shop the consignment sales and get myself one! Thanks again to Carly for the loan – we love it!
Anytime! Glad you did the review! I didn’t know about the recline strap!
This BabyTrend stroller is really good, specially this Expedition model……. I read reviews on other websites and found very positive…… and the price is not too high like other branded strollers.
agreed. We really enjoyed the loan!