Stroller maneuverability: Ease of movement matters

Stroller maneuverability is an important factor when buying a stroller. Ease of movement of a stroller depends on factors such as its weight (how light it is) and its wheels.

Here’s Why Maneuverability Matters

One major point of concern for many parents that I know of has been the ease of movement with the stroller or in other words the maneuverability performance of a stroller.

It is easy to maneuver a stroller when your baby is smaller at 6 months but try doing that when he/she is 3 years and you will find a lot of difference between the performances at both ages.

So, basically, as the weight of your baby increases, you will find that the stroller maneuverability decreases. A trip to the store and a trial run there won’t help either because the stroller is empty when you try it in a store and the terrain is a smooth tiled terrain.

So, what can be done to avoid such a situation? I have explained it below.

Test Drive One-handed and with 25 Pounds of Weight

At the age of 3 years, your baby may weigh approximately 25lbs, so going with that estimate, I would suggest that the next time you visit a store to test the product, place weight of 25lbs in the stroller seat.

You also may want to add diaper bag, baby items and essentials to the storage section of the stroller because remember, you will be putting all of those items in the stroller when you go out with your baby.

Now you are ready to test the maneuverability.

Try to move and maneuver the stroller in the store with all of this. Try doing it with both hands, then switch to using one hand and if you are satisfied with it, only then buy the product.

Related: The ultimate stroller buying guide

Do Consider the Terrain

You won’t always move around with the stroller on smooth paved roads. You will encountered all kinds of terrains, be it gravel, grass, or even snow. This is when your stroller goes through the true test of maneuverability.

For such situations, you will need a stroller with bigger wheels.

Although some experts have claimed that the three wheeled strollers are not good enough on difficult terrains, I have another opinion.

Some of the products I tested were jogger strollers that were extremely maneuverable.

The three products, all of which had big air-filled tires were a bit heavy and bulky despite it being folded. However, that doesn’t take away from its performance.

For example, if you consider the BOB Gear Revolution Flex jogging stroller and pit it against your standard sized popular stroller, you’ll find that the BOB is only a few pounds heavier, and when folded, its size and weight was around the same as the standard size stroller.

But when it was compared in terms of maneuverability, ease-of-use, quality of materials, and safety, it was way ahead than the standard-size.

Now, isn’t that something!

Look for front wheels that swivel; this swivel action will make it easier to turn. You should be able to easily push the stroller in a straight line using one hand. Brakes also play a part in stroller maneuverability.

Related: All stroller features and functions explained