Baby Jogger

The original Baby Jogger debuted in 1984.

Baby Jogger started as a maker of jogging strollers and expanded into compact-folding strollers (the City series) aimed at urban and suburban parents.

Baby Jogger was founded in 1984 by Phil Baechler (pictured) who invented a stroller to enable him to pursue his passion (running) by marrying air-filled bicycle tires with a stroller frame. He recounted the company's founding in an interview with the Seattle Times in 1994:

(Baechler) said he derived the stroller's slant from Double A Fuel dragsters. The Baby Jogger allowed Baechler to quit his copy-editing job at the Yakima Herald Republic seven years ago. He started the company in a rented garage. "I had no intention of going into business," he said. "I was just trying to figure out how to get my daily run in."

By 1993, Baby Jogger was selling 29,000 strollers per year, mostly to bicycle shops and specialty baby stores. The stroller's high price ($545 for the entry-level model in today's dollars) limited their appeal, although the company racked up $6 million in estimated sales by its 10-year anniversary.

The company ran into financial difficulties in the early 2000's amid the economic recession and declared bankruptcy in 2002. Baby Jogger was bought out of bankruptcy in 2003 by Dynamic Brands, which also owned several golf brands.

Dynamic Brands reinvigorated the Baby Jogger brand by adapting the quick fold of its golf bag products to a baby stroller and launched a series of compact strollers aimed at urban parents. In 2014, Dynamic Brands sold Baby Jogger to Newell Brands (owner of Graco baby gear) for $210 million.

In the 2010's, Baby Jogger had a run of best-selling strollers, thanks to the boom in sales of three-wheel strollers that quickly fold. Ironically, the company found the most success with small wheel, compact models that strayed from its roots as a stroller for runners. Even though the name Baby Jogger lives on, most strollers offered by the company today are not designed for jogging.

Baby Jogger current divides its line between the City Series (compact-folding strollers) and Summit (jogging strollers).

Flagship model: Baby Jogger City Tour 2

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 (14 lbs.) is an compact, lightweight stroller that has a one-step, one-hand fold. It can pair with a Baby Jogger infant car seat (sold separately) to make a travel system. When folded it is 23" by 19.4". Other key features include:

• Rear-wheel suspension: The City Tour 2 has rear-wheel suspension, which helps to smooth out bumps in the road for a more comfortable ride.
• Multiple recline positions: The City Tour 2 has multiple recline positions to better accomodate a napping child.
• UV 50+ canopy with ventilation window for air flow.
• Included carry bag.

As for cons, this stroller lacks a cup holder or parent storage console—this is sold as a separate accessory. That is unusual for a stroller in this price range.

The storage basket is small and somewhat difficult to access when the seat is fully reclined. The handlebar is also not adjustable, so parents who are short or tall may find it uncomfortable to push.

Finally, because of the way City Tour folds, it is not as compact when folded compared to competitors in the ultra-compact category—and will most likely not fit in the overhead compartment of an airplane. For comparison, the BABYZEN YOYO+ is 20.5" x 17.3" when folded—about 2" to 3" more compact that the Baby Jogger City Tour 2. It is also more expensive than the City Tour 2, however.

Other City-Series Strollers: City Mini GT2, City Select, City Sights

The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 (22.4 lbs) is a tri-wheel stroller that is pitched for more all-terrain outings, thanks larger rubber tires. Unlike the City Tour, it does have a height-adjustable handlebar. It also features a UV 50+ canopy with mesh ventilation window and an almost-flat reclining seat. There is also a double version of this stroller that has two seats side-by-side.

The City Mini GT2 also works with Baby Jogger infant seats, yet lacks a cup holder or parent console (sold as accessories).

This stroller has a one-hand, quick-fold that is seen across the Baby Jogger line.

The Baby Jogger City Select 2 (28.1 lbs) is a single-to-double stroller that can morph into 16 different configurations. With a telescoping handle and foam tires, the City Select (28.1 lbs.) is among the most expensive strollers in the Baby Jogger line. Like most single-to-double modular strollers, the City Select has an a raft of accessories including a second seat, car seat adapters, foot muff and rain shield.

For a while, Baby Jogger also sold a "lux" version of the City Select, which added five more configurations, including a jump seat that can be used up to 45 lbs. The seat on the LUX version folds in a more compact manner—making the stroller 30% smaller when folded. At 28.4 lbs., the LUX is roughly the same weight as the original model. It also added rear-wheel suspension. As of this writing, it appears the Baby Jogger City Celect LUX is discontinued but still for sale online.

The Baby Jogger City Sights (26 lbs) is a newer arrival to the Baby Jogger line and is basically a City Select that can NOT add a second seat. Hence, it is still a modular stroller where the seat can face forward or back . . . and can accomodate an infant car seat.

In a sense, the Baby Jogger City Sights is to the City Select much as the UPPAbaby Cruz is to the Vista—the Sights is less expensive and has less functionality. Once folded, the City Sights is about 20% more compact than the City Select. The one-hand fold on the City Sights is simpler than the two-hand fold on the Ctiy Select

One unique feature to the City Sights: it has a bassinet accessory that is not available on other Baby Jogger models. While the City Sights is designed for one child, a stand-on board accessory is available that enables an older child to stand in back.

The infant car seat compability varies between the City Sights and the City Select—while both have adapter for Britax, Chicco and Graco, the City Select can work with the Peg Perego and UPPAbaby infant seats. The City Sights does not.,