Review/Giveaway: BOB Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller

Last month after begging, whining, pleading, and praying to the stroller Gods (namely Jacqueline, our review team leader) this kick butt jogging stroller landed on my door step. Now Charlotte is beyond the age of a regular stroller and other than a quick umbrella push at the zoo, she has to use her own two legs to get to and fro.

Like so many moms, I have grand visions of taking her on a walk with a jogging stroller. Somehow the stroller would magically allow me to be able to jog, or want to jog, but just like having an elliptical, you can put the product in the house but you still have to do the work.

I didn’t really get that far ahead.

1) The Maneuverability:

Let me start with this… Charlotte’s a big kid. A BIG kid. From 1 year old in 24 month clothing to a now 4 years old and 45 pounds,  she is less and less little girl and more big kid. I am on the opposite side, a small adult female. 102 pounds and 5’1″ on a good day. If I am not careful, a stroller can overpower me and with the wrong wheels, I can spend more time hitting a wall and adjusting them than walking, which definitely can impede the entire point of from A to B.

The Wheels on the BobGear stroller are massive, think Jeep or Hummer, but turn on a dime. I am actually willing to bet if you put a dime down..they would turn on them. It also has a suspension system which allows for a majorly smooth ride (and I know because I took a ride as you will see) and absorb about any shock from the curb, to the grass, to the street.

You can lock the wheel into place so you don’t slip and lose your grip (and your child) and its truly built to go offroading (or jogging roading!) if you know what I mean.

2) Strong: Again, big kid over here, but we wanted to REALLY test out this stroller, so Charlotte took ME for a ride in it to see how the fabric could truly hold up. I could totally get used to this:

Obviously strollers are not mean to carry an adult weight, so I am not advocating that here. Check your stroller for weight requirements.

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3) Concepts:

Exercise Bands: This stroller is truly a jogging stroller. Its actually meant specifically for stroller strides, so they made it with that in mind. It came with Exercise Bands and a book on how to do the exercises, and from beginning to end is a model of how to get off your butt and out into the sun. Unfortunately since it didn’t come with someone elses stamina and legs, we tend to take it on glorified family walks while I work myself up to be able to breath and run at the same time. I never knew it was so difficult. HA!

Storage: There are several bins to hold extras on the stroller. The bottom of the stroller has storage as well as the back as a place you can easily add a towel or extra pair of clothing too.

Cup Holders: My only complaint is that it would be nice to have 2 cup holders. Generally people jog together (sisters, husband/wives, friends) and it would be nice to have a spot for two drinks. There is a larger area (witha  zip, which is a nice touch to hold down your keys, fit your camera, IDs, etc) that you could probably throw an additional water bottle into, but it would not be as easily accessible to someone running beside you to reach out and grab.

4) Safety: Above all, as a parent you are always looking out for the safety of your child.

• First off, the strollers come in a variety of colors, including bright ones for jogging like red, yellow, and orange. Helpful to be seen by cars!
• Second, the harness  buckled across charlotte’s chest, and through her legs and while she had no problem buckling herself, she could not just as easily undo them so it kept her strapped down and safe.
• Third, there is an easily accessible foot brake on the back bottom that lifts like a hydraulic up and down. Its very smooth and also very strong.
• Lastly, we really liked the sunshade to keep the sun out of Charlottes face, but the nice peek a boo window that we could still see how she is doing. Not that she needs that, but a moms a mom, and we like to stare at our kids.

Mom Approved: Yes. I would purchase this stroller AND recommend to friends. Its a quality product from top to bottom. If they could just send me a trainer, it would be darn near flawless.

From BobGears Website:

Tah-dah! We’re proud to present the official stroller of Stroller Strides®, the nationwide stroller exercise program founded by fitness expert Lisa Druxman. Based on the BOB Revolution stroller, it combines swivel-wheel maneuverability to this great way for moms (and dads) to stay in shape. To find out more about the Stroller Strides fitness program, please visit www.strollerstrides.com

• Frame: High strength aluminum alloy
• Seat: 15″ wide x 21″ high x 10″ deep (38cm x 53cm x 25cm) / ultra-padded seats recline up to 70 degrees (from vertical) / 3-ply hollow core system seat back / stain resistant-easy to clean / 2 seat pockets / large seat back pocket
• Safety Features: Padded 5 point safety harness with sternum strap / parking brake / safety wrist strap
• Weight: 24.6lbs (11.2kg) – includes Fitness Kit
• Capacity: 70lbs (32kg)
• Suspension: Adjustable shock absorbers for big or small kids (2 position), coil spring with elastomer core, 3 inches of travel
• Tires: Rear 16″ x 1.75″ (slick), front 12.5″ x 1.75″ (slick)
• Hub: Quick release axle with sealed cartridge bearings
• Rims: High impact composite polymer
• Spokes: High impact composite polymer
• Brake: Foot-activated parking brake
• Storage: 2 interior seat pockets, 1 large pocket on seat back and large Low Bay Cargo Basket underneath
• Includes: Multi-position sun canopy, swiveling front wheel with lockout feature. Handlebar console with exercise tubing and instructional booklet
• Key Features: Front wheel swivels for unmatched maneuverability. Lockout mode for jogging. Stroller Strides Fitness Kit. Fast, compact and simple folding system, shock absorber suspension system with three inches of travel (wheel movement), padded shoulder harness for added comfort, red plastic pull rings for easy harness adjustments

WIN ONE

Would you like to win a BobGear Jogging Stroller for your house? Yes, you do.

Trust me.

Just go HERE to complete your entry!

BobGear will be picking the winner.

Contest runs from May 18th-June 29th