OK, for those of you who are keeping track, I've now purchased 11 strollers in the past 5 1/2 years. Did I need another stroller? Uh, no…hey, you sound like my husband! Did I want another stroller? Absolutely.

I've owned just about every type of stroller made but, clearly, my favorite strollers have been the jog/sport strollers. Why? They don't wimp out when you take them over curbs, on trails, and through the snow. Basically, they fit much better with my active lifestyle than other non-sport strollers.

However, I'm also a big time cheapskate when it comes to buying strollers. As much as I think they look nifty, I can't bring myself to fork over the money for a Baby Jogger, even if they are made locally. Baby Jogger owners will swear up and down that their stroller is superior to the less expensive models but the fact is, they are mostly just flashier and snootier in terms of big name recognition. I've used both Baby Jogger strollers and Baby Trend jog strollers and the most notable difference between them is the price - about $200 difference.

My favorite stroller up to this point in time has been my Baby Trend Expedition stroller. I still cherish my Expedition and use it daily with my younger son or daughter. However, my old inStep jog stroller is finally falling apart (good riddance!) and I immediately jumped at the chance to get another Expedition. When I went shopping, though, I spotted the Baby Trend Sprinter and it was love at first sight. I know, I know…I have a strange, possibly twisted attraction to strollers. My therapist knows all about it…

Features of the Baby Trend Sprinter

At first glance, the Baby Trend Sprinter is not that different than it's older brother, the Baby Trend Expedition. On second glance, it still isn't much different. The main difference between the two strollers is in their frame material and, therefore, their weight. The Expedition has a sturdy steel frame, whereas the new Sprinter has a lightweight aluminum frame. This makes the Sprinter about two pounds lighter (~22 lbs.) than the Expedition. That may not seem like much but it certainly feels lighter when I lift it in and out of the van.

The other features of the Sprinter are very similar to the Expedition so, for this section, my reviews will also be very similar:

~ Large wheels: This stroller comes with three large chrome spoked wheels with inflatable tires. The wheel in the front is 12" and the two rear wheels are 16".

~ Heavy-duty "Midnight Blue" Cordura fabric: The material in the seat is very sturdy and unlikely to rip. In contrast, the seat in our inStep jog stroller ripped out the first day we used it.

~ Generous canopy with sun roof: This stroller has a ratcheting canopy/sun visor that can be pulled out and used to shade the occupant. You can use the viewing window to keep an eye on your child when you are walking or jogging. If sun through the window is a problem, you can easily cover the viewing window with the velcro closure flap. In the retracted position, the canopy is a handy spot for putting a lightweight coat, papers, or a pacifier. In addition, the canopy comes equipped with two large storage pockets. These are great places to stash a spare diaper, wallet, watch, or bottle.

~ Large storage basket: The Baby Trend Sprinter comes standard with a large, shallow mesh basket that snaps to the frame underneath the stroller seat. The basket has a mesh top on it to keep your belongings from falling out. It's not a heavy duty basket so I wouldn't recommend carrying heavy items in it or the basket might come undone. We usually use it for a small diaper bag, jackets, and snacks. However, I did carry a gallon of milk and other groceries in the similar basket on my Expedition and it held up just fine.

~ Five point harness restraint: The harness secures the child's upper and lower body in the stroller so there is a much smaller chance of the child falling (or climbing) out of the stroller. Our kids are a squirmy bunch and always trying to escape. This harness keeps them in their place, literally. Just like the Expedition, the harness is a bit loose on the shoulders in its smallest setting - the only real weakness of this stroller that I've noticed.

~ Two position reclining seat: Our older inStep jog strollers both lacked the reclining seat feature of the Baby Trend Expedition and the Baby Trend Sprinter. All it takes to recline the seat is to unbuckle a strap behind the seat and gradually lower it down. Be aware that you should reposition the harness restraint after reclining the seat so as to minimize the risk of your child slipping through the leg openings and possibly strangling. This is especially a risk factor for younger infants.

~ Hand brake: This stroller comes equipped with a single hand brake that brakes the front wheel. I rarely use this feature myself because the stroller is easy to stop without it but my husband uses the hand brake frequently - probably just because it is there.

~ Tether strap: Even more important to me than the hand brake is the tether strap that allows me to slip my left wrist and hand through a loop and be tethered to the stroller. This is extremely important because if I happen to trip or accidentally let go of the stroller, it keeps it from rolling away from me and possibly into traffic or other hazards. I use the tether strap all the time, just like seatbelts in a car.

~ Parking/wheel brakes: This stroller comes with two foot-operated parking brakes that secure the back wheels. They are easy to lock and unlock with your foot and are essential on a jog stroller because of its tendency to roll away from you on the slightest incline surface (or even with a breeze).

~ Oversized fender: The large heavy duty plastic fender over the front wheel helps protect our children's feet from the wheel and keeps them from being splattered with mud or water from the road. There are flat steps on either side of the front fender for the larger child to rest their feet and for helping them get into and out of the stroller safely.

~ Contoured handle: The handle is contoured for a comfortable grip and has a textured rubber surface that helps provide a secure grip.

Our Experience with the Baby Trend Sprinter

Truthfully, we haven't had this particular stroller long enough to report on its performance in all seasons. However, it looks to be just as good, if not better, than the Baby Trend Expedition which has served us faithfully and reliably all year long for almost three years now.

Just like the Expedition, we found the Sprinter very easy to assemble. The front wheel has a quick release feature though you don't really need to remove it because the stroller folds up so easily and compactly. Just push down on two buttons on the "handles" on either side of the seat and the top of the stroller folds back into a relatively compact bundle.

Since we no longer have any little babies in the home, I can't report on how well the Sprinter works with infants. As with all jog strollers, you probably should wait until around 4 months before using the Sprinter with an infant. However, the real test of a stroller is not how well it transports light infants, but how well it holds up under the weight of heavy toddlers and preschoolers. The Sprinter can hold one child up to 50 lbs. though we have been known to occasionally haul around our 50 lb. son with his 25 lb. younger brother on his lap. I wouldn't advise this as a regular practice, though, as I suspect it could eventually bend the frame or tear the fabric.

The only two drawbacks I've noticed with the Sprinter are the same two drawbacks with the Expedition. First of all, although the canopy is nice and high, the actual back of the seat is set lower so taller children may not be able to rest their heads comfortably on the back of the seat. Secondly, the 5-point harness is too loose in the smallest setting. My kids all fit in the harness fairly well now but with younger children you might need to use a plastic clip to pull the straps together behind the child.

I have actually used this stroller once or twice when jogging but I've learned that I much prefer to jog without any stroller. My shoulders get too tense when pushing/holding the stroller and the lack of ability to swing my arms in a natural rhythm is fatiguing. The stroller is very easy to push but it still cramps my running style. This is not a criticism of this stroller but more my personal difficulty jogging with ANY jog stroller. However, I do take long walks with this stroller almost every day, on both streets and trails, flat and hills, and have found it to be very easy to push and maneuver.

A note about steering jog strollers… I've seen several other reviewers complain because they could not easily steer their stroller. The reason for this is that the wheels don't pivot - that's true for ALL jog strollers. Maneuvering these strollers involves slightly pushing down on the handle to lift the front wheel and then scooting it subtly in the direction that you want to go. This sounds like a hassle but it quickly becomes second nature. Steering this jog stroller is never a problem for me unless (1) I have a very heavy load that I’m carrying (like my 3 year old and groceries), or (2) I only have one hand on the handle because the other is holding something else, like another child's hand.

Why Are the Baby Trend Jog Strollers Our Favorites?

The main reason we love the Baby Trend Sprinter and the Baby Trend Expedition is because of their versatility. We can take them anywhere, from city streets to country roads to hiking trails. Granted, they are not the most convenient for taking into cramped little shops because their length requires a little bit of room to maneuver. However, we don't tend to go into shops like that with little kids and if we do we leave the stroller outside (and carry the child in).

I also love the way these strollers fold up easily and set up easily. The handles are comfortable to grip and the parking brakes (missing on our older jog strollers) are a must-have feature. Finally, the storage pockets on the canopy and the large basket underneath allow us to carry everything we need for our child and ourselves. I literally use the Baby Trend strollers every day - rain, snow, or shine. They hold up well and show no signs of wear and tear except for some fading of the fabric on our Expedition after spending a couple of summers out on the deck in the full sun. I'm planning to stash this pretty Sprinter in the shed when it's not in use so hopefully the fabric color will hold up longer.

In Summary…

Haven't I said enough already? The Baby Trend Sprinter is just as good as the reliable Baby Trend Expedition and its lighter. For this price, you can't go wrong.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 124