What To Look For
Hiking strollers, often synonymous with jogging or all-terrain strollers, are designed to tackle rougher terrain than the average stroller. As with mountain bikes, hiking stroller wheels are bigger and beefier. Look for strollers with 16- or 20-inch wheels and wide, nubbed, inflatable tires. All-wheel suspension systems will help to eat bumps on rough terrain. Hand brakes provide quicker, surer stopping power, which is particularly useful on steep descents. The stroller should be equipped with a parking brake.
Hiking strollers typically feature two wheels in back and one up front. Fixed wheels are best for dedicated jogging strollers. All-terrain strollers usually feature a locking mechanism on the front wheel. A lightweight aluminum frame will be lighter and easier to push on jogs and up hills.
Inside, you'll want a sturdy, five-point harness to keep your child safe and in place. Be sure the child-weight and age ratings of the stroller meet your needs. Look for certification from the ASTM to ensure that the stroller meets established safety standards.
Common Pitfalls
Don't overspend on a burly stroller that surpasses your needs. If you intend to hike and jog on flat, smooth paved or dirt paths, you don't need to purchase a high-end, full-suspension stroller with huge wheels. Less expensive strollers may not offer gear like suspension, braking and accessories, but if you only plan to do light jogging and hiking you may not need these. Determine your specific uses, read the reviews, and find a stroller that will meet your needs without overspending on excessive gear.
Where To Buy
You can find all terrain strollers at a variety of retailers, both online and in town. Sports shops, baby stores and department stores will likely offer at least one or two jogging or all-terrain models. Outdoor sports shops like REI are a good place to find not only all-terrain strollers, but other outdoor baby products, such as child carriers. Shopping in a store, rather than online, is advisable; it will give you the opportunity to try the stroller out, look closely at the equipment and compare multiple models. Test how easy the stroller is to adjust and fold up, how light it feels and how comfortable it is to walk with.
Cost
Hiking and jogging strollers typically range from $100 to over $500, as of summer 2010. The most expensive are twin or triple models designed to hold multiple children. Less expensive models tend to be designed for light or minimal jogging and off-road use.They may have smaller wheels and a pivoting front wheel, and lack equipment like brakes, adjustable handles and suspension. More expensive models tend to be lighter and more feature-loaded.
Accessories
Some less essential aspects of hiking strollers to keep in mind are cargo storage and water bottle holders for you, and toy pockets, a tray and rain and bug protection for your baby. Some strollers even offer an MP3 player dock.
