Baby Jogger City Lite Stroller, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Vine Customer Review of Free Product (What's this?) To begin, I am a HUGE Baby Jogger fan. I am currently an owner of the 2012 City Mini as well as the 2013 City Select. These are my two main strollers that I use every day. So, when the opportunity came to test out the new Baby Jogger City Lite, I was very excited at the chance to see what new things Baby Jogger was bringing to the US Market.



I believe the City Lite has been available in the UK for a few months now. I also believe that this model will be replacing the US version of the City Micro. Because this stroller is more in line with the City Mini and is closer in price range, I’m mostly comparing the City Lite to the City Mini, instead of the Select (which, I don’t believe the City Lite has any comparison to)…



The Good:

- It’s lightweight! It’s about ½ pound lighter than the City Mini

- Roomy! My son, at 8 months old and already 25 pounds, will be a big boy! I need a stroller that will hold a LOT of baby! The City Lite has a 55 pound weight limit.

- Recline – It reclines nearly flat – just like the City Mini

- Ease of Use – this stroller is just as maneuverable as the City Mini

- Canopy – If anyone has owned or researched any of the Baby Jogger brand strollers, you will know that their sun canopies just can’t be beat. It’s large and shields your baby from the sun at all times – although, it doesn’t appear like it’s lined like the City Mini’s canopy is.

- Fast fold – This is another incredible feature of the City Mini that Baby Jogger brought to the City Lite. However, there is one extra step. There is a small red button in the back of the stroller. You must first press that button and then pull up on the folding strap. Still a one-handed fold, just a button to press first. This is not an issue at all, nor is it cumbersome.



The Bad:

- The Fabric – I feel like the fabric is a little bit cheaper than the City Mini. It doesn’t feel as thick or “wipe-able” as the City Mini and Select fabrics.

- Car seat attachment – Now, I don’t know this for a fact, but it really doesn’t appear like there is an available car seat adapter for this stroller. I don’t see where any adapters would be inserted in order for a car seat to be attached and use this stroller as a travel system. I could be wrong, but I don’t see it and there isn’t enough information on this stroller at the time of this review for me to research this answer.

- Overall “feel” – The City Lite feels a little flimsy. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a good stroller, it’s just not as “solid” feeling as the City Mini



Overall, I would say that the City Lite is an excellent stroller for those looking for a lightweight, easily maneuverable, and easy-folding stroller. If price is not an object, I would say that the City Mini is the better route to go – with the ability to convert to a travel system and the available accessories. The City Lite is small and can fit in the trunk of any compact car. It’s lightweight and just overall a great stroller option for those looking for an affordable entry in to the Baby Jogger brand.

Britax B-Agile Double Stroller, Sandstone

Product Description

Color: Sandstone

The B AGILE Double stroller incorporates the same quick fold design and great maneuverability of the single B AGILE stroller, but with capacity for two children. With a lightweight frame, height adjustable handle and the ability to fit through standard doors, it is perfect for all occasions. Equipped with the BRITAX CLICK and GO system, the B AGILE Double stroller accepts one BRITAX Infant Car Seat with the included infant car seat receivers. Caregivers will further appreciate the access to under seat basket through the front leg rest, automatic chassis lock and two convenient zippered back of seat pockets. The padded, supportive seats feature a 5 point harness system with head pad that is adjustable without having to rethread or unhook any straps. The infinite seat recline allows the B AGILE Double to be used from birth and has a weight capacity of 50 pounds for each seat. Extra large canopies with mesh ventilation windows allow you to see your children, while the all wheel suspension ensures a smooth ride, and a single step locks both rear wheels simultaneously.






CUSTOMER REVIEW



I have has several double strollers. At least 4 side by sides. This one is by far the best one. It has it pros and cons but i would recommend this to any parents with 2 or more kiddos!

Pros:

- One handed steering works great with my toddler and infant (when my 6 year old gets in- tho she's too heavy for it)-it doesn't maneuver as well with one hand)

-Easier to get stuff out of front of basket than back

- folds great- large but easily

- fits through all doors I have encountered

- harness clips together easily

- harness adjusts easily

- cheaper than city mini

- pushes better than city mini

- has one handed push and city mini does not

Cons:

- car seat adapter doesn't work well but if you buy the cup holder/tray you can rig the car seat on it facing forward.

- tray is way to far away from seat for my toddler to reach it with 4 point harness on

- the clip that holds it closed often sticks when trying to open it quickly.

Fitbit Surge Fitness Superwatch, Black, Small

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I received the FitBit Surge as part of FitBit's early limited release. I purchased it directly from FitBit on December 5, and received it on December 8th. UPDATE: My original review was made after one week of use with the Surge. I've gone through and updated every section of this review after over a month of use.



The FitBit Surge is FitBit's flagship fitness "superwatch". It integrates a few capabilities of a smart watch, like text/call notifications and music control, into a GPS/heart rate fitness tracker. It tracks your sleep as well.



-------------------------------------------------



The Good:

Heart Rate Tracking:

This is probably the most important feature of this tracker, so I'll go into a bit of detail here. It is accurate, if it is worn snugly. When exercising, it's best to wear it a notch tighter than you normally would so that it stays in place, and a few inches up from your wrist so that it can get an accurate reading. It takes a few minutes for the reading to stabilize. I noticed that if it's loose, the results are all over the place. For everyday use, you can't wear it too tight because your skin won't be able to breathe (in my case wearing any watch made out of non-breathable material too tightly for too long results in a rash). When loose, the reading is 20BPM higher that it should read until I put it higher up my arm and tighten it, which is quite disappointing. But when it is just tight enough that it won't move around and further up the arm, it works great, and was accurate within 5BPM compared to my elliptical. So for exercise it seems to work well, but for everyday use is inaccurate. Unfortunately, any wrist-based heart rate tracker would have this same issue because they use a light sensor and blinking LED's, and having the band loose lets external light in, and light from the LEDs out.

FitBit: In the future, add something that lets you choose a target heart rate, then gives you a buzz on the wrist if you go outside it. This would tell you to work harder or slow down and pace yourself without having to look down at the watch, and would be an awesome feature.



Altimeter/Stairs Tracking:

Counts going up every flight of stairs (going down stairs does not count). Accurate and no complaints here.



Telling Time:

Several different watch faces available from the FitBit app. Digital, or analog, or some are a combination of both. They are easy to read, and if you just touch the screen in the dark, a backlight will illuminate the screen. However, since you can swipe on the screen to show different stats (Flights of stairs, heart rate, distance, calories burned, steps), that makes it very easy to inadvertently swipe it to a different screen. So it might be on a different screen than time at a moment's glance, and you then need to swipe left or right to get back to the clock.



Notifications:

It's nice to get a buzz on your wrist for a notification, when you're forgotten your phone across the room and left it on silent. I have even had the Surge go off when my phone was on the other side of the house! So great range, and sometimes the Surge actually goes off before my phone does.



Battery Life/Charging:

When I originally received my FitBit Surge, it seemed to be fully charged - I did not charge it out of the box. The first week it lasted from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon (battery was low, but not dead). After leaving it on the charger for about an hour, it was fully charged and ready to go again! Fast charging time, and much, much less downtime that something such as a phone. After a month, it seems battery life is about 4-5 days, and it still charges crazy fast. However, it does not reach its advertised seven day battery life. I was sick for about a week, and didn't work out at all - Surge still only lasted five days.



Motivation:

The FitBit App lets you set a main goal for the day: Steps, Distance, Calories Burned, or Floors Climbed. I set mine to calories burned. When you're reached your daily goal, the Surge gives a series of buzzes and shows that you're reached your goal on the screen. If you use the app for logging food, you can see a nice ratio of how many calories you've burned vs how many you've consumed. If you're trying to lose weight, approx. 3500 calories = 1lb fat, so do the math on you calorie deficit for the day, and that's how much you should have lost (in theory).



Fit:

I ordered a size Large. After ordering I reconsidered and tried to get FitBit to change it to a size small (my wrist is barely large enough for a large, but not too large for a small). After receiving it, I'm glad that they couldn't change the size from large to small since it was about to be shipped. My wrist measures at about 6.00-6.25 inches, and I am at the 4th notch in for normal use, or the 3rd notch during exercise with the Large size. Since you need to wear it a few inches further up your arm while exercising, if you are in between sizes, go with the next size up.



Build Quality:

The build quality overall seems decent. The band is super smooth, and it can be cleaned easily. There isn't anything sharp or with rough edges anywhere on the device. There is no significant wear after a month of everyday use, wearing a winter jacket, and bumping into things with it. I'm not sure how much wear there will be on the band over time, but at least it doesn't look too difficult to replace - each side is just held on by two Torx T5 screws.The side of the Surge that is furthest away from you is about two times taller than the side closest to you. This side tends to snag on jackets, shirts, just about anything.



-------------------------------------------------



The Bad (And Improvement Recommendations):

Just about every digital watch has a stopwatch and lets you set alarms on the watch itself... Except the FitBit Surge!



Alarms must be set in the FitBit app on your phone, then you must sync it. You can turn alarms on/off on the Surge, but you cannot create, delete, or edit them from the Surge itself. A quick buzz on the wrist also isn't enough to wake up someone like me... And that's all the Surge does when an alarm goes off. It should act like a watch, beeping (or in the case of the Surge, buzzing) incessantly until you shut the alarm off and actually wake up. Because of this, the alarm feature is basically useless for me, which is disappointing.



The lack of a stopwatch on fitness "smart" watch is also a bit ridiculous. You can get a decent alarm and stopwatch on a cheap $10-15 watch.



No tracking for cycling. On FitBit's site, it is rated to 5ATM of water resistance, but it does not track swimming (I don't think FitBit wants this to be used in water - quite possibly due to chlorine and other detergents, and they specifically mention not to use soap on it).



The good news is that FitBit can add just about all of these features in the future, since they are just software-based features. For the sake of battery life, FitBit could easily implement the continuous alarm by checking to see if the watch is actually on your wrist (which it does anyways for the heart rate monitor), and if it is, the alarm goes off continuously until it shuts off. If it isn't on your wrist, it could either remain silent or buzz a couple times like it normally does.



Again, these are issues that FitBit can solve in the future with software updates. After a month, FitBit has still not added any of these features.



-------------------------------------------------



The Ugly:

I had major issues out of the box. The left button, which is used for going through the menus, was very problematic when I first received the Surge. Barely touching the button with constant pressure (not even enough to press it in), would cause it to think that it was being pressed very quickly, and would bring up the music control screen... Again, and again, and again... Double-pressing that button is what should bring up the music control. Even clicking the button once firmly would make it think it was being pressed several times. I rebooted the Surge and still had issues, and that made it obvious that it was a hardware issue with the button, not a software problem. I was about to contact FitBit and send it back, but decided to spend a few minutes gently pressing the button to get it to sort of break in. Surprisingly, it worked! I haven't had any issues since then.



-------------------------------------------------



What I haven't been able to test:

I have not been able to test GPS, since I hate Winter weather. I also don't plan on using it for the music control, and it seems that you must enable "Bluetooth Classic" in settings in order to use it. This would most likely lead to worse battery life since it would probably be using normal BT instead of BT Low Energy, so I don't want to enable it.



-------------------------------------------------



Four Stars: Lack and limitations of basic watch features, such as a stopwatch and alarm, is a major problem. A month after receiving it, FitBit has still not added any of these features, and other users are also complaining about it in their reviews. Battery life is worse than advertised at 4-5 days on average, and this is with no GPS use. There was a week when I was sick and didn't exercise at all, and it still only got five days of battery life. The button issue I experienced resolved itself, so that isn't affecting my rating, however it is a bit bothersome to see an issue with a simple button on a $250 watch. The lower than advertised battery life, lack of added software-based features, and inaccurate everyday HR monitoring dropped this from five stars to four stars.

Fitbit Surge Fitness Superwatch, Black, Large

CUSTOMER REVIEW



I received the FitBit Surge as part of FitBit's early limited release. I purchased it directly from FitBit on December 5, and received it on December 8th. This review covers my almost one week's use of the Surge, and I will update it as time goes on.



The FitBit Surge is FitBit's flagship fitness "superwatch". It integrates a few capabilities of a smart watch, like text/call notifications and music control, into a GPS/heart rate fitness tracker. It tracks your sleep as well.



-------------------------------------------------



The Good:

Hear Rate Tracking:

Accurate, if it is worn snugly. When exercising, it's best to wear it a notch tighter than you normally would, so that it stays in place. I noticed that if it's loose, the results are all over the place. But when it is just tight enough that it won't move around, it works great, and was accurate within 5BPM compared to my elliptical. Overall amazing for just a light sensor and a couple LED's tracking blood flow. Step counting is also accurate.

FitBit: In the future, add something that lets you choose a target heart rate, then gives you a buzz on the wrist if you go outside it. This would tell you to work harder or slow down and pace yourself without having to look down at the watch, and would be an awesome feature.



Altimeter/Stairs Tracking:

Counts every flight of stairs. Accurate and works great here.



Telling Time:

Several different watch faces available from the FitBit app. Digital, or analog, or some are a combination of both. They are easy to read, and if you just touch the screen in the dark, a backlight will illuminate the screen.



Notifications:

It's nice to get a buzz on your wrist for a notification, when you're forgotten your phone across the room and left it on silent. Sometimes the Surge actually goes off before my phone does.



Battery Life/Charging:

When I received my FitBit Surge, it seemed to be fully charged - I did not charge it out of the box. It lasted from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon (battery was low, but not dead). After leaving it on the charger for about an hour, it was fully charged and ready to go again! Fast charging time, and much, much less downtime that something such as a phone. Battery life may actually be better than my example here, since I did not charge it out of the box.



Motivation:

The FitBit App lets you set a main goal for the day: Steps, Distance, Calories Burned, or Floors Climbed. I set mine to calories burned. When you're reached your daily goal, the Surge gives a series of buzzes and shows that you're reached your goal on the screen. If you use the app for logging food, you can see a nice ratio of how many calories you've burned vs how many you've consumed. If you're trying to lose weight, approx. 3500 calories = 1lb fat, so do the math on you calorie deficit for the day, and that's how much you should have lost (in theory).



Fit:

I ordered a size Large. After ordering I reconsidered and tried to get FitBit to change it to a size small (my wrist is barely large enough for a large, but not too large for a small). After receiving it, I'm glad that they couldn't change the size from large to small since it was about to be shipped. My wrist measures at about 6.00-6.25 inches, and I am at the 4th notch in for normal use, or the 3rd notch during exercise with the Large size.



Build Quality:

The build quality overall seems decent. The band is super smooth, and it can be cleaned easily. There isn't anything sharp or with rough edges anywhere on the device. However, after less than one week there is some visible wear on edges of the band. I'm not sure how much wear there will be over time, but at least it doesn't look too difficult to replace - each side is just held on by two Torx T5 screws.



-------------------------------------------------



The Bad (And Improvement Recommendations):

Just about every digital watch has a stopwatch and lets you set alarms on the watch itself... Except the FitBit Surge!



Alarms must be set in the FitBit app on your phone, then you must sync it. You can turn alarms on/off on the Surge, but you cannot create, delete, or edit them from the Surge itself. A quick buzz on the wrist also isn't enough to wake up someone like me... And that's all the Surge does when an alarm goes off. It should act like a watch, beeping (or in the case of the Surge, buzzing) incessantly until you shut the alarm off and actually wake up. Because of this, the alarm feature is basically useless for me, which is disappointing.



The lack of a stopwatch on fitness "smart" watch is also a bit ridiculous. You can get a decent alarm and stopwatch on a cheap $10-15 watch.



No tracking for cycling. On FitBit's site, it is rated to 5ATM of water resistance, but it does not track swimming (I don't think FitBit wants this to be used in water - quite possibly due to chlorine and other detergents, and they specifically mention not to use soap on it).



The good news is that FitBit can add just about all of these features in the future, since they are just software-based features. For the sake of battery life, FitBit could easily implement the continuous alarm by checking to see if the watch is actually on your wrist (which it does anyways for the heart rate monitor), and if it is, the alarm goes off continuously until it shuts off. If it isn't on your wrist, it could either remain silent or buzz a couple times like it normally does.



Again, these are issues that FitBit can solve in the future with software updates.



-------------------------------------------------



The Ugly:

I had major issues out of the box. The left button, which is used for going through the menus, was very problematic when I first received the Surge. Barely touching the button with constant pressure (not even enough to press it in), would cause it to think that it was being pressed very quickly, and would bring up the music control screen... Again, and again, and again... Double-pressing that button is what should bring up the music control. Even clicking the button once firmly would make it think it was being pressed several times. I rebooted the Surge and still had issues, and that made it obvious that it was a hardware issue with the button, not a software problem. I was about to contact FitBit and send it back, but decided to spend a few minutes gently pressing the button to get it to sort of break in. Surprisingly, it worked! I haven't had any issues since then.



-------------------------------------------------



What I haven't been able to test:

I have not been able to test GPS, since I hate Winter weather. I also don't plan on using it for the music control, and it seems that you must enable "Bluetooth Classic" in settings in order to use it. This would most likely lead to worse battery life since it would probably be using normal BT instead of BT Low Energy, so I don't want to enable it.



-------------------------------------------------



Four Stars: Lack and limitations of basic watch features, such as a stopwatch and alarm, is a major problem. If this is fixed by FitBit in the future through a software update, I will definitely upgrade this to five stars. The button issue I experienced resolved itself, so that isn't affecting my rating, however it is a bit bothersome to see an issue with a simple button on a $250 watch.

BOB Revolution SE Single Stroller, Orange

CUSTOMER REVIEW



My grandchild is one year old and I bought this stroller for jogging and hiking on dirt trails in our local parks. It does a superb job for each. However this is not a stroller that I would buy for everyday use, especially if you live in the suburbs rather than a big city, where people walk most places and don't need to constantly take a stroller in and out of a car trunk. Let me describe the stroller, which I bought at my local REI store since it came fully assembled and because they have a lifetime return policy in case I run into any problems.



1. The construction is first rate, the fabric used is high quality, and it takes literally seconds to open and close, which is very simple. Just pull a red handle to lift the stroller into the open position. To close, just push two levers on the top forward and the stroller collapses (I disagree with the leading negative review that this is at all difficult). There is a wrist strap on the handle to be used when jogging that can be buckled to keep the stroller closed when it is folded. I NEVER use the wrist strap while jogging. I know that its purpose is to prevent the stroller from getting away from you if you lose your grip, but I think it is dangerous to use. If I tripped while jogging and had the wrist strap on, not only could I break my wrist from the force of the stroller with a child in it, but the odds are that I would flip the stroller too. If I felt myself going down I would rather just hold onto the handlebar and try to slow the stroller down. Just my opinion.



2. The stroller has two modes--walk (the front wheel swivels) and jog (the front wheel is locked into position and stays straight). There is a simple red knob on the front wheel that allows you to easily switch between the two positions, and it literally takes just two seconds to switch.



Note: If you are ONLY going to jog, and don't mind having the front wheel permanently locked, then you can buy a less expensive BOB stroller known as the Sport Utility model, on which the front wheel does not swivel at all. Yes you can turn the stroller with a locked front wheel--but you have to lift the front of the stroller to do so. I did not want to be so limited, especially hiking on trails, which is why I bought the Revoution SE instead.



3. This rides very smooth for jogging, and handles off road surface well when walking. The reason is that this is a very heavy stroller (24 pounds--I weighed it on my luggage scale, which makes it heavier than any of the other strollers that my grandchild has, which I discuss below) and has very large wheels--again larger than on her other strollers. Unlike other strollers, these wheels are inflatable just like bicycle tires. They need to be kept at 30psi for best performance. Of course jogging with a seriously under inflated wheel could be dangerous; ordinary walking would just be more difficult. You don't have to check tire pressure all the time, but ask yourself if you want to bother having to check it at all if you are considering this as an everyday stroller. You might not want to have to deal with an unexpected flat tire just when you need to use the stroller.



This takes up a lot of space in a trunk, and is heavy to put in and take out. Yes, each of the wheels has a quick release lever (just like bicycle wheels), so you can take them all off to save trunk space. This might make sense on a long trip, but I can tell you from experience that this is not something you would want to do on a regular basis, especially with a cranky young child or in inclement weather. Plus, using quick release wheels takes some getting used to. As the directions point out, if the "quick release lever does not leave a visible imprint in the palm of your hand" after you put the wheel back on, then you have not done it right.



4. I do agree with the leading negative review that there is no soft padding on the seat, though I disagree that the crotch strap is too short (it is adjustable) or that buckling your child in is any more difficult than on any other stroller. When the canopy is fully extended, there is a "window" on top that lets you see your child. There is also ample storage underneath. You can adjust the seat to a reclining position using two straps, though for jogging you need to keep it fully upright (the further back it is, the less stability you have).



However I would not use this as an everyday stroller. My grandchild (who lives in Manhattan) started out with the Bubaboo Cameleon stroller for local neighborhood walking (which I have reviewed on Amazon), and then at about nine months also started using the Maclaren Quest Sport stroller (which I have reviewed on Amazon) for traveling in cabs and subways, as well as day trips out of the city (like visiting me and my wife) since it is more light weight, easier to fold and close, and easier to carry with a carrying strap. And at my house she sometimes used the Graco Infant Car Seat stroller frame (which I have reviewed on Amazon).



I mention these different strollers because all of these provide more comfortable seating, and are lighter and more compact (except maybe the heavier and bulkier Bugaboo) than the Revolution SE, which for me is a special purpose stroller for jogging and off road use. Yes, it can be used as an everyday stroller, but its strength lies not in lots of comfortable padding or a light weight compact size when folded, but rather in great stability while jogging or walking off road.



For walking only the recommended age range is 8 weeks-8months; for jogging/off-road use it is 8 months-5 years. The stroller can accommodate a child up to 70 pounds.



5. This stroller comes with a very clear and well illustrated manual that explains everything. Among the advanced features is a simple form of wheel alignment in case the stroller does not roll in a straight line (which could occur after off road use, the same as when a car goes over lots of bumps), and a shock absorber setting.



Bottom line: This is a special use stroller that works great for jogging and off road use. For everyday use I would get something else whether you live in the city or the suburbs.



Update February 23, 2012: This past weekend I went jogging with my 13 month old granddaughter in Manhattan and really appreciated how this stroller performed on lots of different surfaces and terrain-- smooth paved roads, uneven asphalt surfaces, sidewalks with bumps, street curbs, and some moderately steep uphill and downhill paths. It was a breeze using this stroller and more importantly my granddaughter enjoyed every minute of it. Since it is critical to keep the front wheel in a locked position while running, anytime that I needed to make a turn (like at a street corner after we left Central Park), I easily just pulled back on the handlebars to lift the front wheel up and move it into the new position. Very easy to do and no big deal.



Update June 10, 2012: The instruction manual contains the following warning in bold letters: " Never jog with the stroller in walk mode. Doing so could result in loss of control and serious injury." Nevertheless my daughter and son-in-law went running with my granddaughter in Central Park in Manhattan with the stroller in walk mode. My daughter said it worked fine, and made the stroller much easier to maneuver going back and forth to the Park and running inside the Park. I am not recommending this, but am simply pointing out someone else's experience.



Update June 2, 2013: Still in perfect condition and working great.



Update September 22, 2013: This stroller is easy enough to use one handed. Let me explain. My 2 year 8 month old granddaughter wanted to go to the playground in her Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Ride-On. I wanted to bring my 5 month old grandson in the Bob stroller, but grandma was not available to wheel the stroller. No problem. I wheeled the stroller with my left hand (my weaker one) and my granddaughter's toy car right behind it with my right hand. The Bob was so easy to use that it was effortless even with just my left hand (and I am not a lefty) to navigate broken and uneven sidewalks while pushing my granddaughter at the same time.



Update October 20, 2013: I took my 6 month old grandson for a walk on a beautiful sunny fall day. Even walking with the sun directly ahead of us, he was shaded down to his shoulders by my extending the canopy all the way. I was also able to see and talk to him through the opening between the canopy and handlebars, and to see his entire body by pulling back a flap on the top of the canopy that reveals a clear plastic shield. I mention these features because I think they are important.



Update February 11, 2014: If you live in the suburbs and have an SUV, then transporting this stroller might not be a problem. On a recent weekend morning the family went out to breakfast and afterwards walked around a suburban downtown. I knew there would be patches of snow and ice on the sidewalks (the storms in my area this winter seem never ending) and packed the BOB for my 10 month old grandson. It fit easily into the back of my SUV, though there was no room for anything else. This stroller worked just as well on snow and ice as it does on grass and dirt.



Update February 25, 2014: Because of all the snow this winter, sometimes the path that my neighbors have shoveled on the sidewalks is just too narrow for the BOB to make it through without at least one of the rear wheels having to cut through the snow. No problem. I just went walking down the sidewalk with my 10 month old grandson as if I were driving an SUV--and I did it using only one hand because I was pulling my 3 year old granddaughter behind me in a wagon with my other hand. This really is an all terrain stroller.



Update March 13, 2014: I received the Thule Chinook 2, which I would never have bought on my own because it's so expensive. But since the Bob Revolution SE accommodates only one child, I now use the Thule for running with my 3 year 2 month old granddaughter and 11 month old grandson. However, had I not received the Thule, I would have purchased the Bob Revolution Duallie--which costs 2 1/2 times less.

BOB Revolution SE Single Stroller, Black

CUSTOMER REVIEW



My grandchild is one year old and I bought this stroller for jogging and hiking on dirt trails in our local parks. It does a superb job for each. However this is not a stroller that I would buy for everyday use, especially if you live in the suburbs rather than a big city, where people walk most places and don't need to constantly take a stroller in and out of a car trunk. Let me describe the stroller, which I bought at my local REI store since it came fully assembled and because they have a lifetime return policy in case I run into any problems.



1. The construction is first rate, the fabric used is high quality, and it takes literally seconds to open and close, which is very simple. Just pull a red handle to lift the stroller into the open position. To close, just push two levers on the top forward and the stroller collapses (I disagree with the leading negative review that this is at all difficult). There is a wrist strap on the handle to be used when jogging that can be buckled to keep the stroller closed when it is folded. I NEVER use the wrist strap while jogging. I know that its purpose is to prevent the stroller from getting away from you if you lose your grip, but I think it is dangerous to use. If I tripped while jogging and had the wrist strap on, not only could I break my wrist from the force of the stroller with a child in it, but the odds are that I would flip the stroller too. If I felt myself going down I would rather just hold onto the handlebar and try to slow the stroller down. Just my opinion.



2. The stroller has two modes--walk (the front wheel swivels) and jog (the front wheel is locked into position and stays straight). There is a simple red knob on the front wheel that allows you to easily switch between the two positions, and it literally takes just two seconds to switch.



Note: If you are ONLY going to jog, and don't mind having the front wheel permanently locked, then you can buy a less expensive BOB stroller known as the Sport Utility model, on which the front wheel does not swivel at all. Yes you can turn the stroller with a locked front wheel--but you have to lift the front of the stroller to do so. I did not want to be so limited, especially hiking on trails, which is why I bought the Revoution SE instead.



3. This rides very smooth for jogging, and handles off road surface well when walking. The reason is that this is a very heavy stroller (24 pounds--I weighed it on my luggage scale, which makes it heavier than any of the other strollers that my grandchild has, which I discuss below) and has very large wheels--again larger than on her other strollers. Unlike other strollers, these wheels are inflatable just like bicycle tires. They need to be kept at 30psi for best performance. Of course jogging with a seriously under inflated wheel could be dangerous; ordinary walking would just be more difficult. You don't have to check tire pressure all the time, but ask yourself if you want to bother having to check it at all if you are considering this as an everyday stroller. You might not want to have to deal with an unexpected flat tire just when you need to use the stroller.



This takes up a lot of space in a trunk, and is heavy to put in and take out. Yes, each of the wheels has a quick release lever (just like bicycle wheels), so you can take them all off to save trunk space. This might make sense on a long trip, but I can tell you from experience that this is not something you would want to do on a regular basis, especially with a cranky young child or in inclement weather. Plus, using quick release wheels takes some getting used to. As the directions point out, if the "quick release lever does not leave a visible imprint in the palm of your hand" after you put the wheel back on, then you have not done it right.



4. I do agree with the leading negative review that there is no soft padding on the seat, though I disagree that the crotch strap is too short (it is adjustable) or that buckling your child in is any more difficult than on any other stroller. When the canopy is fully extended, there is a "window" on top that lets you see your child. There is also ample storage underneath. You can adjust the seat to a reclining position using two straps, though for jogging you need to keep it fully upright (the further back it is, the less stability you have).



However I would not use this as an everyday stroller. My grandchild (who lives in Manhattan) started out with the Bubaboo Cameleon stroller for local neighborhood walking (which I have reviewed on Amazon), and then at about nine months also started using the Maclaren Quest Sport stroller (which I have reviewed on Amazon) for traveling in cabs and subways, as well as day trips out of the city (like visiting me and my wife) since it is more light weight, easier to fold and close, and easier to carry with a carrying strap. And at my house she sometimes used the Graco Infant Car Seat stroller frame (which I have reviewed on Amazon).



I mention these different strollers because all of these provide more comfortable seating, and are lighter and more compact (except maybe the heavier and bulkier Bugaboo) than the Revolution SE, which for me is a special purpose stroller for jogging and off road use. Yes, it can be used as an everyday stroller, but its strength lies not in lots of comfortable padding or a light weight compact size when folded, but rather in great stability while jogging or walking off road.



For walking only the recommended age range is 8 weeks-8months; for jogging/off-road use it is 8 months-5 years. The stroller can accommodate a child up to 70 pounds.



5. This stroller comes with a very clear and well illustrated manual that explains everything. Among the advanced features is a simple form of wheel alignment in case the stroller does not roll in a straight line (which could occur after off road use, the same as when a car goes over lots of bumps), and a shock absorber setting.



Bottom line: This is a special use stroller that works great for jogging and off road use. For everyday use I would get something else whether you live in the city or the suburbs.



Update February 23, 2012: This past weekend I went jogging with my 13 month old granddaughter in Manhattan and really appreciated how this stroller performed on lots of different surfaces and terrain-- smooth paved roads, uneven asphalt surfaces, sidewalks with bumps, street curbs, and some moderately steep uphill and downhill paths. It was a breeze using this stroller and more importantly my granddaughter enjoyed every minute of it. Since it is critical to keep the front wheel in a locked position while running, anytime that I needed to make a turn (like at a street corner after we left Central Park), I easily just pulled back on the handlebars to lift the front wheel up and move it into the new position. Very easy to do and no big deal.



Update June 10, 2012: The instruction manual contains the following warning in bold letters: " Never jog with the stroller in walk mode. Doing so could result in loss of control and serious injury." Nevertheless my daughter and son-in-law went running with my granddaughter in Central Park in Manhattan with the stroller in walk mode. My daughter said it worked fine, and made the stroller much easier to maneuver going back and forth to the Park and running inside the Park. I am not recommending this, but am simply pointing out someone else's experience.



Update June 2, 2013: Still in perfect condition and working great.



Update September 22, 2013: This stroller is easy enough to use one handed. Let me explain. My 2 year 8 month old granddaughter wanted to go to the playground in her Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Ride-On. I wanted to bring my 5 month old grandson in the Bob stroller, but grandma was not available to wheel the stroller. No problem. I wheeled the stroller with my left hand (my weaker one) and my granddaughter's toy car right behind it with my right hand. The Bob was so easy to use that it was effortless even with just my left hand (and I am not a lefty) to navigate broken and uneven sidewalks while pushing my granddaughter at the same time.



Update October 20, 2013: I took my 6 month old grandson for a walk on a beautiful sunny fall day. Even walking with the sun directly ahead of us, he was shaded down to his shoulders by my extending the canopy all the way. I was also able to see and talk to him through the opening between the canopy and handlebars, and to see his entire body by pulling back a flap on the top of the canopy that reveals a clear plastic shield. I mention these features because I think they are important.



Update February 11, 2014: If you live in the suburbs and have an SUV, then transporting this stroller might not be a problem. On a recent weekend morning the family went out to breakfast and afterwards walked around a suburban downtown. I knew there would be patches of snow and ice on the sidewalks (the storms in my area this winter seem never ending) and packed the BOB for my 10 month old grandson. It fit easily into the back of my SUV, though there was no room for anything else. This stroller worked just as well on snow and ice as it does on grass and dirt.



Update February 25, 2014: Because of all the snow this winter, sometimes the path that my neighbors have shoveled on the sidewalks is just too narrow for the BOB to make it through without at least one of the rear wheels having to cut through the snow. No problem. I just went walking down the sidewalk with my 10 month old grandson as if I were driving an SUV--and I did it using only one hand because I was pulling my 3 year old granddaughter behind me in a wagon with my other hand. This really is an all terrain stroller.



Update March 13, 2014: I received the Thule Chinook 2, which I would never have bought on my own because it's so expensive. But since the Bob Revolution SE accommodates only one child, I now use the Thule for running with my 3 year 2 month old granddaughter and 11 month old grandson. However, had I not received the Thule, I would have purchased the Bob Revolution Duallie--which costs 2 1/2 times less.

BOB Revolution SE Single Stroller, Navy

CUSTOMER REVIEW



My grandchild is one year old and I bought this stroller for jogging and hiking on dirt trails in our local parks. It does a superb job for each. However this is not a stroller that I would buy for everyday use, especially if you live in the suburbs rather than a big city, where people walk most places and don't need to constantly take a stroller in and out of a car trunk. Let me describe the stroller, which I bought at my local REI store since it came fully assembled and because they have a lifetime return policy in case I run into any problems.



1. The construction is first rate, the fabric used is high quality, and it takes literally seconds to open and close, which is very simple. Just pull a red handle to lift the stroller into the open position. To close, just push two levers on the top forward and the stroller collapses (I disagree with the leading negative review that this is at all difficult). There is a wrist strap on the handle to be used when jogging that can be buckled to keep the stroller closed when it is folded. I NEVER use the wrist strap while jogging. I know that its purpose is to prevent the stroller from getting away from you if you lose your grip, but I think it is dangerous to use. If I tripped while jogging and had the wrist strap on, not only could I break my wrist from the force of the stroller with a child in it, but the odds are that I would flip the stroller too. If I felt myself going down I would rather just hold onto the handlebar and try to slow the stroller down. Just my opinion.



2. The stroller has two modes--walk (the front wheel swivels) and jog (the front wheel is locked into position and stays straight). There is a simple red knob on the front wheel that allows you to easily switch between the two positions, and it literally takes just two seconds to switch.



Note: If you are ONLY going to jog, and don't mind having the front wheel permanently locked, then you can buy a less expensive BOB stroller known as the Sport Utility model, on which the front wheel does not swivel at all. Yes you can turn the stroller with a locked front wheel--but you have to lift the front of the stroller to do so. I did not want to be so limited, especially hiking on trails, which is why I bought the Revoution SE instead.



3. This rides very smooth for jogging, and handles off road surface well when walking. The reason is that this is a very heavy stroller (24 pounds--I weighed it on my luggage scale, which makes it heavier than any of the other strollers that my grandchild has, which I discuss below) and has very large wheels--again larger than on her other strollers. Unlike other strollers, these wheels are inflatable just like bicycle tires. They need to be kept at 30psi for best performance. Of course jogging with a seriously under inflated wheel could be dangerous; ordinary walking would just be more difficult. You don't have to check tire pressure all the time, but ask yourself if you want to bother having to check it at all if you are considering this as an everyday stroller. You might not want to have to deal with an unexpected flat tire just when you need to use the stroller.



This takes up a lot of space in a trunk, and is heavy to put in and take out. Yes, each of the wheels has a quick release lever (just like bicycle wheels), so you can take them all off to save trunk space. This might make sense on a long trip, but I can tell you from experience that this is not something you would want to do on a regular basis, especially with a cranky young child or in inclement weather. Plus, using quick release wheels takes some getting used to. As the directions point out, if the "quick release lever does not leave a visible imprint in the palm of your hand" after you put the wheel back on, then you have not done it right.



4. I do agree with the leading negative review that there is no soft padding on the seat, though I disagree that the crotch strap is too short (it is adjustable) or that buckling your child in is any more difficult than on any other stroller. When the canopy is fully extended, there is a "window" on top that lets you see your child. There is also ample storage underneath. You can adjust the seat to a reclining position using two straps, though for jogging you need to keep it fully upright (the further back it is, the less stability you have).



However I would not use this as an everyday stroller. My grandchild (who lives in Manhattan) started out with the Bubaboo Cameleon stroller for local neighborhood walking (which I have reviewed on Amazon), and then at about nine months also started using the Maclaren Quest Sport stroller (which I have reviewed on Amazon) for traveling in cabs and subways, as well as day trips out of the city (like visiting me and my wife) since it is more light weight, easier to fold and close, and easier to carry with a carrying strap. And at my house she sometimes used the Graco Infant Car Seat stroller frame (which I have reviewed on Amazon).



I mention these different strollers because all of these provide more comfortable seating, and are lighter and more compact (except maybe the heavier and bulkier Bugaboo) than the Revolution SE, which for me is a special purpose stroller for jogging and off road use. Yes, it can be used as an everyday stroller, but its strength lies not in lots of comfortable padding or a light weight compact size when folded, but rather in great stability while jogging or walking off road.



For walking only the recommended age range is 8 weeks-8months; for jogging/off-road use it is 8 months-5 years. The stroller can accommodate a child up to 70 pounds.



5. This stroller comes with a very clear and well illustrated manual that explains everything. Among the advanced features is a simple form of wheel alignment in case the stroller does not roll in a straight line (which could occur after off road use, the same as when a car goes over lots of bumps), and a shock absorber setting.



Bottom line: This is a special use stroller that works great for jogging and off road use. For everyday use I would get something else whether you live in the city or the suburbs.



Update February 23, 2012: This past weekend I went jogging with my 13 month old granddaughter in Manhattan and really appreciated how this stroller performed on lots of different surfaces and terrain-- smooth paved roads, uneven asphalt surfaces, sidewalks with bumps, street curbs, and some moderately steep uphill and downhill paths. It was a breeze using this stroller and more importantly my granddaughter enjoyed every minute of it. Since it is critical to keep the front wheel in a locked position while running, anytime that I needed to make a turn (like at a street corner after we left Central Park), I easily just pulled back on the handlebars to lift the front wheel up and move it into the new position. Very easy to do and no big deal.



Update June 10, 2012: The instruction manual contains the following warning in bold letters: " Never jog with the stroller in walk mode. Doing so could result in loss of control and serious injury." Nevertheless my daughter and son-in-law went running with my granddaughter in Central Park in Manhattan with the stroller in walk mode. My daughter said it worked fine, and made the stroller much easier to maneuver going back and forth to the Park and running inside the Park. I am not recommending this, but am simply pointing out someone else's experience.



Update June 2, 2013: Still in perfect condition and working great.



Update September 22, 2013: This stroller is easy enough to use one handed. Let me explain. My 2 year 8 month old granddaughter wanted to go to the playground in her Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Ride-On. I wanted to bring my 5 month old grandson in the Bob stroller, but grandma was not available to wheel the stroller. No problem. I wheeled the stroller with my left hand (my weaker one) and my granddaughter's toy car right behind it with my right hand. The Bob was so easy to use that it was effortless even with just my left hand (and I am not a lefty) to navigate broken and uneven sidewalks while pushing my granddaughter at the same time.



Update October 20, 2013: I took my 6 month old grandson for a walk on a beautiful sunny fall day. Even walking with the sun directly ahead of us, he was shaded down to his shoulders by my extending the canopy all the way. I was also able to see and talk to him through the opening between the canopy and handlebars, and to see his entire body by pulling back a flap on the top of the canopy that reveals a clear plastic shield. I mention these features because I think they are important.



Update February 11, 2014: If you live in the suburbs and have an SUV, then transporting this stroller might not be a problem. On a recent weekend morning the family went out to breakfast and afterwards walked around a suburban downtown. I knew there would be patches of snow and ice on the sidewalks (the storms in my area this winter seem never ending) and packed the BOB for my 10 month old grandson. It fit easily into the back of my SUV, though there was no room for anything else. This stroller worked just as well on snow and ice as it does on grass and dirt.



Update February 25, 2014: Because of all the snow this winter, sometimes the path that my neighbors have shoveled on the sidewalks is just too narrow for the BOB to make it through without at least one of the rear wheels having to cut through the snow. No problem. I just went walking down the sidewalk with my 10 month old grandson as if I were driving an SUV--and I did it using only one hand because I was pulling my 3 year old granddaughter behind me in a wagon with my other hand. This really is an all terrain stroller.



Update March 13, 2014: I received the Thule Chinook 2, which I would never have bought on my own because it's so expensive. But since the Bob Revolution SE accommodates only one child, I now use the Thule for running with my 3 year 2 month old granddaughter and 11 month old grandson. However, had I not received the Thule, I would have purchased the Bob Revolution Duallie--which costs 2 1/2 times less.