Life can be overwhelming enough after the addition of a baby without trying to wade through the many options available for strollers. Jogging strollers are a popular item for those who are trying to maintain physical fitness, but there are many different jogging strollers from which to choose. One key difference with jogging strollers is the swivel wheel versus the fixed wheel. It’s important to understand the pros and cons of both options before you make a jogging stroller purchase. Each wheel type is good for different scenarios. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of wheel.
The Fixed Wheel
The fixed wheel is the perfect choice if you’re an intermediate or advanced jogger or runner. The fixed wheel makes it easy for you to jog in a straight or gradually curving line without having to continually correct the direction of the stroller. Imagine jogging along the sidewalk with a shopping cart that continually pulls to the right or to the left. That’s what a jog can be like if you don’t have a fixed front wheel on your jogging stroller.
Jogging and running shouldn’t have to be harder than they already are, so it’s important to have a fixed wheel. Additionally, having a fixed wheel will reduce the number of corrections you have to make, which will lead to a smoother ride for baby.
The Swivel Wheel
Jogging strollers are generally large, heavy and bulky pieces of equipment. While this is not a huge concern if you’re jogging or running – they’re designed to be very lightweight while in motion – it can be a big concern if you’re trying to take a leisurely stroll along sidewalks or through a store. If you have a fixed wheel, you have to raise your jogging stroller’s front up into the air in order to make sharper turns. With a swivel wheel, this necessity is avoided.
The swivel wheel automatically enables much tighter turns and is ideal for public places. If you’re a beginning jogger or you mostly want to use your jogging stroller for power walks around the neighborhood, you will probably want to purchase a model with a swivel wheel, or at least with an option of a swivel wheel setting.
The Best Of Both Worlds
If you intend to use your jogging stroller for both training and relaxing walks or visits to the store, you’ll want to be able to employ both the swivel wheel and the fixed wheel. There are several jogging stroller models available with this option. Some require you to make an adjustment to the wheel itself, while others can be adjusted with a simple lever even while you’re in motion.
Conclusion
Running with a baby doesn’t have to be a chore if you pick the right stroller. Knowing your needs will go a long way in identifying the wheel type you will need, whether a swivel wheel or a fixed wheel – or both! Both wheels have their disadvantages, but both wheel types have their place in the active person’s life.
