Review: Baby Jogger Glider Board

I have been wanting to try the Baby Jogger Glider Board for a while now, but I was waiting for my toddler to get a little bit older. He is 2.5 now, and we just got it a couple days ago. He is very excited about his new "skateboard" and so am I!

I was able to open it and install it on the Versa in about five minutes, with A hurrying me along because he wanted to try it out NOW. It is very easy to attach, and feels very secure.

I had to turn my Versa seat forward facing in order to use the board, but Baby E doesn't seem to mind. It is very easy to adjust the angle and length of the glider board, and A was ready to hop right on. I definitely need to change my stride when pushing the stroller with the board attached, but it is still comfortable. I love how the board folds up for easy storage when it is not in use, while still staying attached to the stroller frame.

I think A is still a little bit young for the board, and I wouldn't feel comfortable going very far without an actual seat for him. But for short walks, or the mall where he mostly wants to be out of the stroller, it is a great option. I can't wait to try it out some more!

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Review: Baby Jogger City Mini GT Double

     I started researching double strollers when I was pregnant with Baby E. I was looking for a double stroller that could do it all. Even though no stroller is perfect, the Baby Jogger City Mini Double GT (BJCMGTD enough letters for you?) has been an amazing fit for our family! Here are some highlights:

A winter walk when baby E was around  6 weeks old

Size
The Double GT is a big stroller. Any side by side double is going to feel big, and the GT is no exception. It is 29.5 inches wide, and fits through all standard doorways. I have however been pleasantly surprised at some small spaces it has been able to fit.
The size works great for our lifestyle, because I do not really use my double stroller for errands. A prefers to walk on short errands, so I just use a single umbrella stroller for the baby. At 33 pounds, I would not want to be loading and unloading the double GT multiple times throughout the day.

Seats
The seats are TALL and have plenty of room. A is a very tall 2.5 year old and he fits well in the GT which was a main reason we chose this stroller over some other contenders. The seat is more supportive than the regular City Mini seat, but still does not sit totally upright. My toddler doesn't seem bothered, but a child who likes to sit up very straight, may not be comfortable. The seats have a near full recline, and I placed my newborn in the seat with just a Snuzzler pillow. It has the option for use with a car seat, but I prefer to use the regular seat, even for newborns.

Push
The stroller has 8.5 inch forever air tires. This was a major selling point for me. I love that I do not have to worry about my tires going flat or needing air. That being said, it was an adjustment to switch from air-filled tires (single Bumbleride Indie) to forever-air tires on the GT. I can feel more of the road or sidewalk, and the stroller doesn't glide over bumps as easily. All that being said, I find it very pleasant to use the stroller for long walks around the neighborhood, even on bumpy sidewalks. The Double GT has front-wheel suspension, and I really only feel the weight of the fully loaded stroller when going up hills. If you need to do a lot of off-roading with your stroller, this may not be for you. I am really loving it for everyday use around the neighborhood and for longer outings.

Fold
The GT has the classic Baby Jogger fold, although you need two hands to fold the Double. I love that it takes a few seconds to fold or unfold, because I do not want to spend precious time wrestling with the stroller. It is pretty big when folded, but fits easily in the trunk of our SUV.

Features 
The Double GT has some great features that really add to the value of the stroller:

• The stroller has 2 separate, very large canopies with great coverage and 2 peekaboo windows. The material in the back of each seat can also be rolled up to allow air to flow through the seat on a very hot day. 
• I love that the parking break is up near the hands! Locking and unlocking the break is extremely easy and convenient. 
• Adjustable handlebar for comfortable walking 
• The basket is large, but does not have any great points of access. It would be really hard to get a large diaper bag in there, but you can fit in a lot of smaller items. There are also great mesh pockets on the back of each seat which are very handy for storing water bottles, sunscreen, or small toys and snacks.
• There is a rain cover and cup-holder available for purchase. I love the rain cover, but I am still on the hunt for a cup holder that works better with the Double GT. The way the cup holder attaches to the handlebar feels awkward to me. 

Overall, the Double GT is a great double stroller that has the capability to be a one and only. It pushes great outside, yet is not so huge that it is impossible to fold up and put in the car for outings. If you are looking for a comfortable and versatile double stroller, this might be the one for you! 

Just back from a walk!

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First Blog Post! Baby Jogger City Versa Review

Yay for my first blog post ever!

I love strollers. Before having my first child, I did not even know that this world of stroller obsessions existed. But I am officially hooked now. I spend lots of time reading about different strollers...and lusting after them. 

I had a Bumbleride Indie (another great stroller) when my older son A was a baby. But for new baby E, I wanted to try something different. I missed not having a reversible option on the Indie so that was my major motivation for picking a new stroller. After lots of research, I settled on the Baby Jogger City Versa, and it was definitely love at first stroll. 

I have seen many reviewers say that the Versa is nothing pretty to look at, but I don't have any problems with how it looks. And I am a big fan of the green color. I almost went with black, but am very happy I decided to go with green. It's a lighter shade, almost like a sage green. 

It took less than 5 minutes to assemble the stroller, and then it was ready for a test drive. Here is what I have to say about the stroller after owning it for 5+ months now:

PROS:

fold: The Versa has a spectacularly easy fold for a reversible stroller. You can fold the stroller with the seat facing either direction-simply fold the seat forward and then pull the signature baby jogger handle on the bottom and the stroller snaps shut. 

push: This stroller has an amazing push, especially for a stroller without air tires. It is great both indoors and out, and I can push it easily with one hand, even with my heavier toddler in the stroller. It doesn't have the super smooth feel that air tires will give you, but I think it is about as good as it gets for EVA foam wheels. 

Basket: The basket is huge and easily accessible. I can fit a jam packed diaper bag in there, or pack it up for a trip to the zoo or pool. 

Versatility: This stroller is great for both indoors and outdoors. With the great basket, medium weight, awesome fold, and good wheels, this could definitely be a one and only stroller. My tall 2.5 year old is comfortable in the stroller, and loves to chat with mommy while we ride :) 

I also love the hand break up by the handlebar instead of down on the bottom. I am neutral about the handle bar - it is comfortable enough and easily adjustable, although sometimes I do wish it was a little taller. I am 5'7'' and sometimes it feels a little awkward even on the tallest setting, but I think it may just be because I am used  to pushing a double stroller. 

CONS:

Canopy: This is the only major complaint I have about the stroller. I wish the canopy was larger, or had another expandable section. It is often hard to get full coverage especially early or late in the day. I have also had a couple issues with my canopy popping off either during the folding or unfolding process (not sure), but it only takes a second to re-attach. 

Extra Info:

There is a slight learning curve with the recline mechanism. It is a small lever on the back of the stroller, that you need to pull up to recline the stroller. But after having the stroller for a while, I have no issues reclining the stroller. 

For the amount of stroller you get, the size/weight are not bad at all. I personally would not want to be carrying this in and out of my car all day long, but stronger people may feel differently. This is not a lightweight stroller - it weighs a bit over 24 pounds. But it folds very compactly so not a bad option if you need to put it in the trunk, or store it in your living room like me.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: This post contains affiliate links