Lightweight, serious running stroller. Cool name.

Like most internet enabled shoppers, I researched jogging strollers for several months before making a decision. In the end, the B.O.B. Ironman was the clear winner. While I'm certainly no "Ironman", I log about 4 miles a day, 5 or 6 days a week, so I needed a pretty serious jogger. Plus, I had never run with a jogger before so I didn't want a heavy jogger that would make running more difficult than it already is.

Initially, I thought the original Baby Jogger brand was the way to go, since they (according to them) invented the jogging stroller. I typically prefer products that aren't knock-offs of the original, but I found the Baby Jogger line of strollers (2 & 3) to be somewhat stripped down and rather basic (not necessarily a bad thing, but they seemed a bit_too_ basic). So, I looked at Kelty, In-Step, and alot of the lower priced stuff you typically find at Babies-R-Us. While most of the joggers on the market would probably be fine for most people, I really wanted a jogger that was tailor-made for runners, and not one simply created by a company hoping to cash in on the popularity of jogging/all-terrain strollers.

The Kelty looked like a pretty serious jogger and the handle was adjustable for height, but there was a certain 'something' about the B.O.B. that I really liked. In case you're wondering, the company says B.O.B stands for "beast of burden". The folks at my local REI said they only carry Kelty and B.O.B. because those two brands were simply the best and that they expereienced lots of returns with the lesser brands they sold in the past.

Anyway, I chose the yellow B.O.B. Ironman and have absolutely no regrets. One of the coolest thing about the B.O.B. is the ease with which it folds together for storage. You squeeze a lever on each side of the handle which drops the handlebar, then you reach down and grab a padded cord that folds the whole thing up. Takes about 3 seconds. Very slick. I also purchased the optional handlebar 'console', which is a nifty nylon thingie that fits between the two sides of the handlebar and has a zippered pocket for your stuff and two mesh cupholders. Very functional without adding hardly any weight to the stroller. The B.O.B also has storage space underneath for extra blankets, etc., and the seatback reclines. Not all strollers have these features. The fuzzy seat is another must-have item when the temps drop below 50 or so.

Finally, don't get hung-up on wheel size when shopping for a jogger. At first, I thought I _had_ to have 20 inch wheels, but the 16s on the B.O.B. are just fine, although the path I run on is fairly flat and smooth. If you run on rougher terrain you may need bigger wheels. Note, however, that the B.O.B. has a really nice suspension system that alot of other joggers lack.

Finally, pay close attention to weight when you are comparing joggers. I think the B.O.B. is one of the lightest on the market, and when you're at mile 3 on a hot and humid day and hit that dreaded hill, you'll thank your lucky stars you have a lightweight stroller. Think about it; the stroller is roughly 20 lbs, and the kid is at least 17 pounds. That's 37 pounds you're pushing around! At first, I really didn't notice the weight, but after a week I could feel it in my hamstrings. Running with a jogger isn't necessarily more difficult, but it _is_ different. Good training tho - and the kid is going to get heavier and heavier each day...

UPDATE. It's now July 2005 and I've been using the B.O.B. Ironman for more than a year. I'm still thrilled with it and have had no problems whatsoever. And I can't stress enough how nice it is that the stroller folds-up so easily. Not all jogging strollers fold-up easily, so look carefully when shopping.

UPDATE. It's June 2007 and the B.O.B. is still getting used nearly every day. However, I have discovered that running with a stroller becomes considerably more difficult when your kid reaches about 35 pounds. As a result, I don't take my 3-year old with me too much anymore, but luckily, I also have a 1-year old who enjoys coming along. I also added a small bicycle headlight on the front and a small flashing red light at the rear, since it gets dark really early during the winter.