Purchasing a jogging stroller is no walk in the park! It used to be that strollers were designed for gentle walks in the neighbourhood. Now, parents are jogging and even inline skating with the stroller at a quick clip. If you have a young child, and you or your partner jog, inline skate or power-walk to stay in shape, you have probably considered a jogging stroller for your family – and no doubt have realized that deciding on the best one can be a difficult decision. Here is help for you to choose one that best fits your lifestyle and budget.

1. Choose an aluminum framed stroller. Your choices will be strollers made with either metal tube frames or aluminum frames. You want your stroller to weigh less than 25 pounds. Metal tube frame strollers are much heavier than those made with an aluminum frame. Choosing an aluminum frame provides you with a lighter, easier to push stroller, and they are also longer lasting, stronger and more resistant to rust and corrosion.

2. 16 inch wheels. A jogging stroller has three large wheels – one in front and two in back. They achieve a smooth ride for passenger and are easy to push for jogger by reducing rolling resistance. 16 inch air-filled wheels provide less rolling resistance and therefore a smoother ride and push.

3. Comfort for baby. You want your baby to be as comfortable as possible. The seat should be padded and made of a lightweight, breathable fabric. During your jog your baby may decide to take a nap. Look for a stroller that reclines by at least 25%.

4. Protect your baby from the sun. Any jogging stroller that you consider will have a sun canopy. You want to make sure that the sun canopy is fully flexible so that it can be positioned to block out the sun`s rays so that no matter which way your baby is facing they are protected. You should not have to clip a blanket to the stroller for protection. The last thing you want is direct sun into your son or daughter`s face causing potential harm to them, and making the baby uncomfortable which will eventually lead to crying and fussing.

5. Safety is top priority. Your child`s safety is the top priority when choosing a stroller. Strollers with a 5 point harness will keep you baby safely and securely in their stroller. You want to be able to stop your stroller when you need to. The strollers with a hand brake similar to a bicycle`s hand brake will provide the jogger with reliable stopping power. When the stroller is at rest you will want to secure it with a parking brake which is usually a foot activated bar that is positioned behind the rear wheels.

6. Compact for storage. It should be easy to fold by one person with very little effort. If you plan on putting it into your car`s trunk its folded dimensions should be no greater than 45 in. x 25 in. x 18 in. To make it fold even smaller look for wheels that easily can be removed with a push of a button.

7. Handlebar adjustment. If people of different heights will be using the stroller a very good feature to have in your stroller is the ability to – with a push of a button – change the height of the handlebar. Some strollers now provide the ability to change the height of the handlebar anywhere from 35 in. to 43 in., and it can be done even while on the run.

8. Make sure that it works for your baby as they grow. Babies come in all sizes and shapes – isn`t that great. Your stroller is an investment – and you want to get as much use from it as possible. A child that measures under 25 in. when seated should be able to sit in the stroller, and a child eighty pounds or less should be safely be able to use the stroller. Look for a stroller that provides good height and weight capacity.

9. Make sure the manufacturer and retailer stand behind their product. You should expect to have many years of enjoyment from your stroller for your family. Shop for a stroller that provides a solid long term warranty on the frame (5 years is good) and at least a 1 year warranty on the seat material. And when you purchase your stroller make sure that you have at least 30 days to try it out – if it isn`t all that you had expected it to be – make sure that you can return it for a refund.

10. Look for a stroller that fits into your budget. Jogging strollers range widely in price. Look for the features and benefits that you need for your stroller and then expect to pay somewhere in the range of $280 to $900.

You can save yourself a lot of frustration, not to mention time and money by following this list of things to do – and in the end you will get the stroller that best meets the needs of your family.