Baby Jogger Glider Board

I posted a few weeks ago a review of my Baby Jogger City Elite Stroller.  Today , I bring you a review of the recently released, long anticipated Glider Board.

The Glider Board---

• Attaches to any Baby Jogger Stroller in the City Series--Mini, Elite, and Select or the Baby Jogger Summit.   
        (I really don’t know if it works on other brands) 
  
  
• Holds up to 45 lbs
  
  
• Allows the angle of the board to be adjusted
  
  
• Can pull out or in (closer to stroller) depending on the needs of the child
  
  
• Easily folds up  and straps to stroller when child not on the board.
  
  
• Wheels pop right off for easy folding.
  
  
• The Glider board is current $69 on Amazon.

You easily attach the Glider Board by clipping it on your back axle, and tightening the straps.

You can then pull out the Glider Board.   And in the middle of writing this review I decided I just needed to video it--- it would make SO much more sense! 

Please humor me by watching this hilarious video.  I am SO not cut out for video reporting.  And why does the still image always stop on a horrible place in the video??

Helen holding on with handle bar above her.  My preferred position for younger/shorter children.

Helen holding on with Handle Bar lower.  Shorter children could actually hold the handlebar (like H is doing) , while parent holds the the above cross bar.  Or with older children, I’d have them hold above on the cross bar, and parent holds the handlebar under their arms. 

Things to consider

• Only works up to 45 lbs.  So Charlotte it too big (and too tall) though Carson still works great on it. 
  
  
• With the City Elite, the Handlebar needs to be adjusted depending on where you child’s chin and head hit.  With smaller children I find putting the handle Above them works best (see above pic) and with older and taller children the handle bar kind of hits them in the head, so I find putting the handlebar down, and you holding the handlebar under their arms works better. I think this isn’t as much of an issue with the City Select.
  
  
• You need to teach your children “we only get off when the stroller is stopped”.  Especially rambunctious boys (ahem, maybe like mine)  who will think this is a super cool kind of skateboard…. if they bounce off real fast, or lean back, the weight pulling on the stroller can tip it back.  Children do not need to lean back, or bounce, or try and “skate” with this board.  They need to just stand up straight and hold on and simply enjoy the ride.   
  
  
• Leaving the Glider board attached makes it harder to fold up the stroller.  You have to lift up the Glider Board (attach with straps) and then you pop off the wheels (I toss them in the storage basket below).  The easy fold  techniques still works, its just doesn’t quite fold as flat. 
  
  
  But, the Glider board is SO easy to attach, that I don’t mind just popping it on and off when I need it. 
  
  

Overall thoughts and opinions

• Great for when you just are past the point of needing a double stroller.  I want my kids to be walking, so a double stroller is not practical for me.  But there are times when it’s just too far of a walk.  12-15 blocks is about our kids’ max.  It is nice in those times to let them walk a little and ride a little. 
  
  
• Would be great for Disney or other trips like that when your non strolling child might need an occasional lift.
  
  
• Not seeing how practical it is for someone in the suburbs (you wouldn’t use it a brisk exercise walk), but someone who lives in the city and uses a stroller as a main source of transportation, this is a great add-on.

**I was provided a Glider Board by Baby Jogger for my personal use to test and review.   The above thoughts are my own opinion.

Baby Jogger City Elite

We ended up with a Baby Jogger City Elite and we LOVE it! 

Here are some of the stroller’s best features

• Awesome tires and great suspension
      We glide right over uneven pavement and misplaced 
      bricks in the sidewalk
  
• 1 handed fold (see video below)-  One word…Amazing!
  
• Storage—it’s great and roomy.
  
• Huge sunshade--- people stop me mainly to ask about my sunshade.  (see pics below)
  
• Parent “console” pouch.  It holds it all. 
  
• Easy to steer one handed.  This is critical when you are walking 4 kids to school (we do a carpool walkpool with a neighbor down the road) and pushing a stroller.  I need to be able to hold a hand while crossing the road.  I can with this stroller…easily.
  
• Adjustable handle pushbar—great for the 5’4 mom and the 6’4 dad. 
  
  

Check out the awesome Sunshade…

         

 

And the Great Recline…
Goes to an almost complete flat recline.

One Handed Fold

Just in case you don’t believe all those claims of
“one handed fold”…
We’ve heard that before from stroller companies…

But this one… they really mean One Handed Fold.
It is THE easiest stroller to fold I have ever had.

 

(note—Sorry about the plumbing van behind me…I can’t choose who parks on the street on any given day.  And I realize I actually used 2 hands in the first part of this clip… if you have 2 hands, why not use them?  But really I often only grab it with one hand and use the other to help carry the weight of the stroller.)

Things to consider

• No drink holder
  (but I can fit a bottle of water or coffee thermos in the parent console)
  
• Have to buy adapter for carseat
  
• It is a pricier stroller, but worth it.  If you are a city dweller, I think a quality stroller is a necessity. 
  
• My model is a 2009.  The 2010 is slightly different in that it has a hand break instead of foot break, forever tires, and a firmer back I believe.
   
• The City Elite is not intended for Jogging/running.  Though the front tire can lock and I have taken mine for a light jog.  If you are a serious runner, I would look into the Summit or the Fit Jogger (both Baby Jogger Brands)  or other strollers intended for running. 

**I am a deal finder---

You can often find great steals on quality baby gear.  With my stroller, I purchased a 2009 model, even though the 2010 model had just come out…saving me over 30%.  I also encourage friends to look at sites like Albeebaby.com or diapers.com for deals on strollers or coupon codes. 

 

Adapters or Accessories you can buy

• Drink Holder
• Car seat adapter
• Baby bassinet/pram (soft or hard)
• Rain cover (though off brands work well with it)
• Foot muff
           (a JJ Cole Toddler Bundle me is working great for us)
• Hand muff
       (this looks awesome! and totally wish I had one this winter!)
• Belly Bar for front of stroller
• Child Tray
• Glider Board for toddlers to ride on back
      (stay tuned for a review of the Glider board!)

 

For those who don’t need the big tires involved with the City Elite, but want something more than an umbrella, I would suggest a
City Mini.  I see these ALL over Capitol Hill.  It is like a rainbow of City Mini Strollers at the park!  And just like the City Elite, it has the amazing, one handed fold where you just pull a strap.  

For those who want a more hi-tech stroller, with many options, including transforming into a double… you should consider the
City Select.  It is a phenomenal stroller, that if I had 2 babies so close together again, there is no doubt I would want this stroller.

 

There are 16 different configurations for the double. Amazing.

*Disclaimer--  I purchased the above mentioned Baby Jogger City Elite myself, and the above views are my own opinion.   I was sent a Baby Jogger Glider Board to enjoy and review (coming soon).