Manufacturer: Schwinn

List Price: $199.99

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If you’re an active parent and you begin perusing the higher quality jogger-style travel system strollers on the market, you may feel like you’re going to have to max out a credit card to get one that will stand up to daily use. However, Schwinn Turismo Swivel Wheel Jogging travel system strollers offer great durability at a about half of what most premium joggers retail for.

What’s So Great About Schwinn Turismo Travel System Strollers?

After taking this unit for a test spin, I was very impressed by the overall durability of the product. With most of the other jogger-style travel system strollers I’ve tested, the construction of the products seem to fit in one of two categories: “solid, durable, and expensive” or “flimsy engineering at a budget price”. I noticed that when jogging with the Schwinn Turismo over uneven terrain, the wheels and the frame of the stroller seemed to be very sturdy, even on the crushed gravel path where I met my friend who owns the stroller to test it out.

The Schwinn Turismo also has some other really nice features as well. It has a massive storage basket underneath that is likely among the largest you will find on travel system strollers and it seemed to be very easy to access due to its large opening at the back of the stroller. The unit also comes standard with features like a built in child snack tray, a large retracting sun canopy, and also a pretty nifty built in speaker for attaching your MP3 player of choice. This could be a really fun feature for playing sing-along tunes while you and your little one are out for a walk or jog.

Another terrific feature that made this unit stand out from a lot of the other premium jogger-style travel system strollers was just how compact it becomes when folded. The unit collapses very easily and the wheels are all removable (very similar to the BOB Revolution). Once folded with the wheels removed this unit takes up so little space that it would fit in just about any car trunk or SUV/wagon cargo area.

I tested the tracking of the stroller with the front wheel both in the swivel and locked position. It is obviously recommended to use the locked position when running to prevent tipping, however, with many of the jogger travel system strollers, the front wheel seems to become very wobbly when in the “fixed” position. With the Schwinn Turismo, the front wheel was very stable and solid when locked and I found that it tracked very well when running.

Currently, the Schwinn Tursimo is compatible with a long list of infant car seats including some of the more popular models from:

• Graco
• Chicco
• Maxi-Cosi
• Peg Perego
• Combi
• Evenflo
• Britax
• Baby Trend
• Cosco

To find out if this unit is compatible with your specific infant car seat, you will probably want to contact Schwinn directly just to make sure that you don’t have any surprises.

What’s Not So Great?

One design feature of the Schwinn Turismo Swivel Wheel Jogger that I noticed right off the bat was that the footrest seems to be a little close to the stroller seat. Obviously, when you are using this unit with an infant car seat, this is not an issue, but if you end up with a long and lanky three year old, they might have a little less leg room than with a few other units.

Also, as with any stroller with pneumatic tires, the tubes can be punctured, leaving you out an about with a flat tire. I noticed that the quality of the tires which come standard with the Schwinn Turismo could leave them especially susceptible to punctures, so it could be wise to either purchase a spare tube and a pump to keep in the cargo basket or to go to your local bike shop and have them install puncture-resistant tire liners for a few dollars.

And as with all jogger-style travel system strollers, this unit does not fit into the lightweight category. I weighed it right at 31 pounds. I’ve been using a double jogger regularly for a while now so I’m used to transporting a heavier stroller around, but if you’re comparing this to a more metro-style folding unit, then you’re going to notice that it is heavier and bulkier.

What’s In the Box?

• Schwinn Turismo Swivel Wheel Jogger Stroller
• User’s Manual

Manufacturer: Britax

List Price: $499.99

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When choosing from among travel system strollers, parents often find that most of the units on the market really require that you choose a style of stroller and stick with it. This often means compromising. For example, you decide that the most important feature for you is that the infant car seat fits securely. So you set out to look for travel system strollers that meet this criteria and soon find that they might end up being less than stellar once you’re child is out of the car seat.I recently had a chance to test the Britax line of B-Ready travel system strollers and I can honestly say that there is finally a product on the market that eliminates the need to compromise. According to company marketing literature, the B-Ready utilizes modular construction to adapt to 14, yes 14, different configuration options.

What’s So Great About B-Ready Travel System Strollers?

Did I mention 14 different configuration options? The B-Ready will adjust for front facing, rear facing, double stroller options, in line options, reclines completely for toddlers, and even incorporates an optional infant bassinet for letting your little bundle of joy sleep while you’re out and about. It also allows for two infant car seats at once. For any expectant parents with twins on the way, you’ll find this to be among the most compact of travel system strollers which can accommodate two infant carriers.

The extended range of functionality means that this will likely be one of the only strollers your ever changing family will need. With this unit, even the leg rest is adjustable to accommodate toddlers of varying leg lengths.

The Britax B-Ready is well-constructed and comes in four different attractive color options. The fabric is simple and easily cleaned. Durable wheels with a single foot pedal for engaging the brake make for a relatively smooth ride on most urban surfaces. The cargo area is roomy and easy to access, the unit folds and stores easily, and is compatible with all Britax infant car seats. I have long been a fan of the Britax infant carrier options as I feel that they offer wonderful safety features for the price.

What’s Not So Great?

One feature of the B-Ready line of travel system strollers that may turn some parents off is the width of the rear wheelbase. As far as two-child compatible units go, the B-Ready is compact, however, the wide rear axle makes it a little tight in narrow spaces such as crowded grocery aisles.

Additionally, the B-Ready lacks a clear grasping point to carry it when it’s in the folded position. After folding the stroller up, I noticed that there was not really an intuitive way to grab and carry the unit. If you’re just planning on getting this stroller in and out of the back of your vehicle, it’s not a deal breaker, but it wouldn’t be comfortable to carry in the folded position for long distances.

What’s in the Box?

• Britax B-Ready Stroller
• Britax B-Ready Toddler Seat
• Infant Car Seat Adapter
• Adult Cup Holder
• Rain Cover
• User’s Manual

Manufacturer: Kolcraft

List Price: $179.99

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For active parents who like to get out often for exercise or activities, the travel system strollers on the market that fit the bill are often very bulky and heavy. While many of the “jogger-style” travel system strollers are very durable and can withstand plenty of off-road use, their sheer weight and size can make them very difficult to transport and carry. I know from experience as we used to take frequent weekend trips with our jogger and even in our SUV, it ate up about half of the available cargo space.I recently had the opportunity to test out the Contours Options 3-Wheeler line of travel system strollers from Kolcraft and believe that this series may just be a game changer for active parents. It’s a well-designed, minimalist 3-wheel jogger-style unit that utilizes a lightweight, space-saving design.

What’s So Great About the Contours Options Travel System Strollers?

The Contours Options 3-Wheeler hits the scales at a mere 24 pounds. Although I’m a huge fan of the B.O.B. Revolution jogger strollers (stay tuned for an upcoming complete review that has been three years in the making!), they weigh over 30 pounds and are about 6 inches wider according to my measurements. While the Contours Options may not stand up to daily six-mile runs off road, it’s more than suitable for plenty of activity on pavement, through grassy parks, and on crushed gravel trails.

The Contours Options line of travel system strollers are able to accommodate most all makes and models of infant car seats (no car seat is included with this product), and I actually tested it out with three separate models. All of them fit nicely into the stroller frame without any tampering and were seated securely in place. The toddler seat of this stroller is reversible as well, hence the “Options” in the product nomenclature, and it’s a great little feature once your child grows out of the infant car seat. Hey, sometimes you just want to start at your child and chat a bit, right?

The Contours Options 3-Wheeler folds up easily and was a breeze to navigate due to its swiveling single front wheel. The rear wheels are sturdy and durable, and I really liked the width of the wheelbase. The rear wheels are situated far enough apart to prevent the stroller from tipping over on uneven surfaces due to its 3-wheel design.

What’s Not So Great?

Going right back to the width of the wheelbase, some parents may find the stroller a little wide for tight grocery aisles. While it’s a safety feature that’s necessary to prevent tipping, it’s not ideal for tight spaces. These types of travel system strollers are generally more suitable for outdoor adventures.

Another slight downside to this product is the seat length. While it is rated for toddlers up to 50 pounds, the seat is a bit short for tall toddlers and once your child is reaching the 50 pound mark, they’re likely to be too to use this stroller comfortably.

What’s in the Box?

• Kolcraft Contours Options 3-Wheeler Stroller
• Infant Car Seat Attachment
• Removable Toddler Seat
• Adjustable Canopy
• User’s Manual