One of the questions we most frequently receive is the following: What’s the difference between an all terrain stroller and a jogging stroller and a walking stroller? It’s a great question, because a lot of stroller companies seem to use the terms interchangeably, and it can get confusing picking out a stroller that works well for your family without a bit of guidance in this area. Let’s take a look at the three basic kinds of strollers: walking strollers, jogging strollers, and all terrain strollers in an effort to tease out the differences. You can read our reviews of some of the best double and single strollers here.
Walking Strollers
Walking strollers are designed, as their names imply, primarily for walking. They typically come with plastic wheels that are either solid or filled with foam, and there are typically four sets of wheels in a rectangular or square configuration.
Depending on the stroller, some may have two wheels per set in the front and two per set in the back, while others may simply have two wheels per set in the front and one per set in the back, as is the case with the Britax B-Agile Double and Joovy Scooter X2 Double. Still others may have simply one wheel per set in the front and one per set in the back, as is the case with the Baby Jogger City Mini GT Double.
Whatever the wheel configuration, these strollers are meant to be used on smooth surfaces, such as indoors in malls, shopping centers, and stores, and outdoors on asphalt or concrete roads or sidewalks. They are not designed to be used on trails or to be used when running or jogging. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from doing so if you choose to, but the strollers typically won’t perform well under such conditions, even though they can often handle a bit of grass without much trouble.
Walking strollers are a good choice for parents who are looking for basic strollers to do everything on sidewalks and inside buildings. The truth is that they will fit many parents just fine, especially those who aren’t looking to exercise with their strollers or those who live in more urban areas.
In our opinion, the best double walking stroller currently on the market is the Baby Jogger City Mini GT Double.
Jogging Strollers
Jogging strollers are essentially the opposite of walking strollers, in that they are mot comfortable when being used to explore and have adventures off the beaten trail. They almost always come with air filled wheels in a triangular, tripod, or pyramid configuration.
Depending on the stroller, some double joggers have two larger wheels in the back and a slightly smaller wheel in the front, such as is the case with the BOB Revolution SE Duallie, while others have three equally sized wheels, such as the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Double.
Whether the wheels are uniform in size or not, these strollers are comfortable just about anywhere where a stroller can go, from smooth surfaces to trails and even through snow and grass. Uphill, downhill, concrete, sidewalks, and even beaches are accessible with a good jogging stroller. And of course, as you’d guess by their names, they’re also excellent choices when it come to jogging. The front wheel can be locked and the tires are inflatable, providing additional levels of cushion over all but the most treacherous trails.
Jogging strollers are a great choice for active parents who want a way of getting a workout while out and about with the kids. They’re also a good choice for parents who simply don’t want to be stopped by the elements or turn around when the sidewalk ends; the truth is that if you can walk in an area, you can almost always push through it with a jogging stroller.
In our opinion, the best double jogging stroller currently on the market is the Baby Jogger Summit X3 Double.
All Terrain Strollers
All terrain strollers are basically a balance between walking and jogging strollers. They’re equally at home on or off the sidewalk, and allow parents to obtain the additional storage and comfort factors present in walking strollers while taking advantage of some of the more rugged features typically only present in jogging strollers.
All terrain strollers tend to come in four wheel configurations like walking strollers but with air filled tires like jogging strollers. However, they may also come in three wheel configurations, particularly if they’re the tandem or inline design, such as with the Phil and Teds Navigator or Classic.
Depending on the stroller, some double all terrain strollers may have larger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front, such as with the Baby Jogger City Select, which is a tandem all terrain stroller. Alternatively, they may have four identical wheels, such as with the Mountain Buggy Duet or Bumbleride Indie Twin. As a rule, however, they almost never come with multiple pairs of wheels, as is often the case with walking strollers.
All terrain strollers work well for parents who want more off-road capabilities than they’d ever be able to get from walking strollers, but who aren’t planning on doing daily jogs or 5Ks with their strollers in tow. It’s not that all terrain strollers can’t handle those; it’s just that they’re not going to be as efficient as jogging strollers for dedicated jogging tasks. That said, when it comes to hopping curbs, cruising through state parks and woody trails, or simply ambling through the snow, all terrain strollers have the benefit of large, beefy tires to help them get around.
In our opinion, the best double all terrain stroller currently on the market is the Bumbleride Indie Twin, which is also our double stroller of choice for pretty much everything.
Which Kind is Best?
Great question! The answer, however, will depend entirely on your needs. We know parents who are happy with walking strollers, jogging strollers, and all terrain strollers, and we also know parents who’ve bought one kind only to find out that they’d do better having another kind for special occasions.
Personally, we find all terrain strollers like the Indie Twin or Duet to be the best compromise in terms of functionality. You can take them anywhere you’d be able to get to with a walking stroller, yet you can also use them in some areas where jogging strollers would leave walkers in the dust. At the same time, they’re not as imposing as jogging strollers and are more likely to blend in when used, which is a positive element for a number of parents. What’s most important is that you choose a double stroller that meets your needs.
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