Fantastic Stroll with Great Shocks
Written: May 21 '04
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Pros: Smooth ride on various surfaces, comfortable on caretaker's hands, great experience for Baby. Collapses easily.
Cons: Obnoxious product defect in canopy; bulky for transport.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a durable long-lasting attractive jogging stroller, this is your product! It is easy to maneuver and comfortable for Baby on up.
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| lisandrea's Full Review: Eddie Bauer Jogging |
I did a lot of online research before registering for the Eddie Bauer jogging stroller and am so glad I did! This stroller rides like a sweet dream--no surface seems to slow us down and my son loves the 180 view while we venture around the neighborhood.
I took my son for his first trip around the neighborhood when he was just 10 days old and felt very secure about having him in the Eddie Bauer jogging stroller. The adjustable strap behind the seat makes adjusting the angle so simple and he slept in it for weeks while I worked off my baby weight. This review will talk through most of the features of this fantastic hardy stroller.
HANDLE: There is an adjustable handle on the stroller, from a fully heightened angle to a lower position that feels like you're pushing a grocery cart. This is very convenient for people of various heights. I like to drive my car with a different angle than my husband, and any steering wheel that isn't adjustable drives me crazy, so I was delighted to find that the handlebar of this stroller was adjustable. The cellular foam cushioning that covers the handle makes for a very comfortable grip, even on a lengthy walk or jog. I have walked nearly two hours without any discomfort on my hands. You barely have to grip the handle, really, because the stroller moves so smoothly.
Attached to the handle is a strap of about a foot and a half in length. This can easily be removed, or used as an extra security when jogging down hills, to be sure the stroller doesn't run away from you! I have never used it since all of our walks are on flat surfaces, but it is a smart addition.
There is also a "pedometer" attached to the handle. Mine malfunctioned very soon after its first use, as the liquid display (LCD) is uneven. I have used this pedometer to keep track of our mileage, and appreciate its presence. It has more features than I have used...you can track mileage or time.
A single hand brake is attached, as well, for the left hand. I always keep my hand near or on this brake, but have never used it. I test it often, and it functions well. I am certain that any fast runner would see this as a good safety feature.
FABRIC: The fabric of this stroller is nicely not gender specific. I did not know if we were having a boy or girl before our son was born, and would have been just as happy to walk/jog with a baby girl in this stroller. The brown is a warm color, not in any way cheesy or cheap looking, and the black is a rich and dark color, which has not yet appeared dirty, even after 13 consistent months of nearly-daily use. It still looks like it rolled off a show room.
CANOPY: There is a canopy on the Eddie Bauer jogger that has a clear window for observing Baby below. This does keep sun off of Baby's head when you are headed away from the sun, but serves little help whatsoever under full sun in the midday. This is where I have one major complaint with this product. There is a black net attached to the back of the canopy that was designed for carrying along a water bottle, which comes with the stroller. This water bottle is also BLACK. Who wants to take a dark bottle on a walk? It attracts heat, of course, which isn't refreshing to a sweating jogger. Bad choice. It could have been a tan color and still blended in with the design of the other gear. But the worst part of all is that when it is full of water and the bottle is placed in the carrying net the TOP of the canopy will NOT stay in an open position!! The weight of the water pulls the canopy out of its fully outstretched position, sort of defeating the whole purpose of having a canopy! In fact, the canopy does not stay locked in place even when NO water bottle (empty or full) is in the net.
This defect shouldn't deter anyone from purchasing this amazing product, but it is a frustration I do not appreciate having to "accept" and I hope its correction is on the drawing boards of any further models!! Since I got our stroller in February '03 this problem may not exist any more (if so I would love Eddie Bauer to send me a new canopy...!!)
SHOCKS: There is plenty of "off road" riding on our regular adventures and my son has not complained in any way while I push the stroller over rocky paths, or through muddy puddles. It is a smooth ride, regardless, and I am often surprised that he has fallen asleep during some of our roughest rides. I also do not feel any stress on my hands while traversing over the more difficult terrain, so I give a double thumbs-up to the shocks on this product.
COLLAPSIBILITY: The front wheel can be removed for transport, and this stroller folds down to the height of the two rear wheels. That is still a very bulky item to maneuver into a vehicle, but since most people are driving SUV's these days there shouldn't be a concern to most. For me, however, who drives a small wagon, I must make sure nothing else is in my hatchback in order to bring the stroller with me away from home. It does fit nicely, however, and I do not typically remove the front wheel to do this. Collapsing the stroller is so simple--pull up simultaneously on two side buttons below the handle on the outer frame and it smoothly folds forward and down.
WHEELS: The wheels are high quality, and placed far enough apart in the back for perfect balance and stability. They adjust easily (see SHOCKS area) to all different terrains. I have not yet needed to inflate the tires (as previously mentioned, we've been strolling along regularly for 13 months), but here is a GREAT FEATURE--in the under carriage a tire pump is included with the stroller for any sudden emergency needs to re-inflate the tires. It is neatly encased in a snapped compartment. So smart!
UNDERCARRIAGE STORAGE: The netted storage area below is sufficient for carrying along all the extras you might need on a walk/jog. A water bottle fits here just fine, so there is no need to use the attached bottle net on the upper canopy, solving the weight malfunction. I usually throw a snack, a sippie cup, a blanket, coat, sweater, sunglasses...whatever loose items we need for the trip...and all fits well. However, it is a fairly shallow compartment, so don't expect to stuff an entire full diaper bag in (I use an Eddie Bauer back pack bag, and it's shoulder strap fits nicely across the handle bar instead, so no worries for a long stroll around slow scenic trips). A purse fits OK, and a box of tissues, or other items. This area is netted on each side, but solid on the bottom. Also black. Easy to access.
ADJUSTABLE TILT: There is a clip in the back of the seat that is very easily adjusted with two hands for lifting up, or just one hand for pulling down. Just pinch the butterfly clip together and the recreational strap that forms the harness system loosens to lower the angle. When my son falls asleep on a walk it is a smooth movement to lower the angle. However, I do not think tightening the strap to its highest height is necessarily high enough. I feel he is tilted too far back at 13 months old, to really get a good view of everything around him. On the other hand, this angle does prevent him from attempting any escape, so I've concluded that it was well thought out. Regarding the "view:" it is very easy for a child to see more than 180 degrees around himself, as the seating does not pull him too far back with obstructing framework on each side. Instead, it is perfectly aligned so that it takes little to no straining on the child's part to catch a glimpse of wildlife (rabbits in our area, and of course ducks & birds), or observe kids playing, dogs being walked past us, or anything else. I know that my child is comfortable, intrigued and safe in this vehicle.
HARNESS: The thick straps that pull down over each shoulder are very easily adjusted by an adult, and not easily reachable by a child, so once they are tightened properly in place--no worries. Each shoulder strap then snaps securely into a center lock, similar to the Bauer 5-point car seat. This can be released with the firm pressure of just one adult thumb, but does not release so easily that little hands will pop it open. The click-in lock is attached to a wide crotch strap that folds any child in firmly. My son has been in this stroller from its tightest position, when he weighed just 8 pounds, to his current size at 25 pounds, and there is lots of room to grow.
FOOTING: In fact, his feet aren't even close to reaching the wide footrest provided. I feel confident that using the stroller for so much of his life so far will make the transition to riding as an older child so easy--his legs will grow until his feet rest on the foot rest, keeping toes and shoelaces out of the front wheel. This footrest is removable, and is plenty large enough for he feet of children up to age 3 or even 4, I'd think.
MATERIALS: This is NOT an umbrella stroller by any stretch of the imagination, but it also not too heavy to lift, easily. The aluminum frame makes for the easiest of carrying! If you're also looking for a good collapsible umbrella stroller, I highly recommend the London Stroller by Chicco (@ ~$60). With these two I have all the moving vehicles I need to take my son around our neighborhood, town, botanical gardens, zoo, historical sites, zip through the airport, the beach, rough trails, or the MALL! A perfect match! (London Stroller review will soon be posted).
I think that about covers it! :O) This product is a real winner. I highly recommend it, and trust this stroller will last through several children as each decides he/she is too old not to walk with Mommy, rejecting a ride on these smooth wheels.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 160
Age Range of Child: Other
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Epinions.com ID:
lisandrea
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Location: Virginia
Reviews written: 45
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
AP, NFP, WAHM/SAHM but NO SPAM (thank you, Ma'am)! :O)
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