Customer Reviews

Summit XC Single Jogging Hybrid Stroller in Red / Black Color: Sand / Black

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're looking at this stroller you're probably comparing the Summit and the BOB revolution, as I was. I hope this helps you make your decision! I was leaning toward the Baby Jogger Summit, but the BOB won out in the end.

As you know, they are really, really similar. The dimensions and weight are almost identical, and they fold down to almost the same size. The main reason I thought I would end up keeping the Baby Jogger is the one-handed fold. What could be easier? You can fold the stroller and throw it in your trunk while holding your baby in the other arm.

Other reasons the Summit almost won me over:

1. It locks shut when folded whereas the BOB does not. You can use the wrist strap on the BOB to secure it shut, but it doesn't have an automatic lock.

2. Better sun canopy on the Summit. It's really sturdy and opens at multiple positions. It has a smallish peek-a-boo window on top that secures easily with velcro, and two ventilation windows on the side that secure with velcro. The sun canopy on the BOB is just as large, but doesn't feel as sturdy and won't stay open in as many positions (i.e., partially open). The peek-a-boo window is larger on the BOB, but the means of securing it is not as well engineered, and there are no ventilation windows.

3. More headroom in the Summit. It has an inch and a half more headroom, which is technically not that much, but the canopy on the BOB kind of hangs down the seat back when it's not in use and unless you tuck it up, it cuts off several inches of room.

4. The seat in the Summit. It's slightly more upright and more padded. The recline mechanism is much better than the one on the BOB. To the BOB's credit, its seat back is much more rigid and supportive. One complaint in reviews of Baby Jogger strollers is the lack of back support.

5. Shocks. The Summit has shocks on every wheel whereas the BOB has only rear-wheel shocks.

6. Accessories. You can buy a belly bar for the Summit, and a rider-board for the back that a second child can stand on. The BOB car seat adapter comes with a snack tray, but from what I've read, it's too high to be useful as such.

So why on earth did I pick the BOB??? Well despite all the lovely facts above, the biggest thing that sold me on the BOB is that it's narrower. The back wheels are noticeably closer together under the seat. That makes it much easier to maneuver. Even just pushing it around my kitchen I could tell a big difference. The BOB felt so much better to push. The handlebar is nice and padded and it turns on a dime. I can imagine pushing the Summit through doorways or aisles would be trickier because of how far out the wheels stick.

In addition:

1. The fold on the BOB. While not quite as simple as the Summit, it's nearly there. You have one extra step with the BOB - flipping down the handlebar. Then you pull up on a handle just like the Summit and voila. BUT... the BOB is so much easier to open. You just pull on the handlebar and the thing flies open easily. I was struggling to get the Summit open and upright.

2. Alignment. The BOB has a front wheel alignment mechanism. That's important if you plan to jog with it in the fixed wheel position so you can adjust the wheel if the stroller is drifting to one side.

3. The basket underneath. The baskets are the same size, but it's nearly impossible to access the basket on the Summit. There is no way I could fit my medium size diaper bag in it, not because the basket is too small, but because of the way it's nested in the frame of the stroller. I had to squish, but my diaper bag fit easily into the BOB basket.

4. The handbrake. I guess some people would see it as a plus, but I didn't like the handbrake on the Summit. It just sticks up awkwardly from the handle. The BOB doesn't have a handbrake.

And, most importantly, like I said above, the BOB's narrower profile and maneuverability were what won me over in the end. It just felt better to push.

My 4 year old is 45 inches tall. Finding a stroller that would accomodate a child this tall was a great challenge. We do a lot of Disney and other long walking activities, and it was just not feasible to expect him to last all day on his feet under those conditions.

I read reviews for 2 1/2 months and had narrowed it down to BOB Revolution and the Baby Jogger Summit XC. I decided on the Baby Jogger simply because it has 2 inches more headroom. I have had the stroller since March 2010 now and it has gone on many trips already.

Pros (for me anyway):
By far the smoothest rolling stroller I have ever pushed. The shocks are just amazing. You feel it give with every stride!
My son fits in it perfectly. His knees aren't at his chest, his feet are not dangling, and his head has room even with the canopy fully extended.
HUGE canopy!
Turns on a dime
Seems amazingly made
My son loves it
Hand Brake
Swivel and locking front wheel
Awesome accessories available. I purchased the pump, childs tray, adult concole with MP3 hookup and the travel bag.
Great to be checked as luggage while in the travel bag.
With the wheels removed, it will fit in just about any trunk.
The wheels remove VERY easily
The one hand fold is truly one hand fold.

Cons:
The mere size of it. It will not fit through security. It has to be handled like a wheel chair, which is fine.
Just allow more time to get through security
When folded with the accessories, or even the wheels it is very heavy and bulky
A little difficult to unfold because of the size and weight

The basket is neither a pro nor con. For a jogger it is good sized, and worked better if accessed from the sides. There is also a pouch behind the seat that holds quite a bit.

I absolutely love this stroller. I am very happy with my choice.

UPDATE 06-16-11

It has been over a year since I purchased this stroller and my son is now 5 and 48 inches tall. He fits wonderfully in the stroller. He is 49 pounds and the stroller pushes and turns like he is 10 pounds, even on carpet.

I still love this stroller as much as the day I bought it. As one other poster commented, you can remove the wheels very easily to fit the stroller through the security scanner. It has been to Disneyland more than 8 times, to Disney World, to Las Vegas, Sea World, Lego Land and the zoo many many times. It looks and acts like brand new.

The BOBs of the same age look tattered, especially at the foot plate which they have now changed to plastic for good reason for 2011.

Not every child that just turned 5 is 48 inches tall, but at theme parks, children need strollers through age 6 for an all day adventure. Simply having a stroller that can and will last until you no longer need it makes it worth the money paid.

I am a 48 year old mother of a 5 year old so he will be my last, but if I did ever have the need for a stroller again, it would be a Baby Jogger Summit hands down.

I love my baby jogger summit xc. I looked at many jogging strollers and almost didn't look at this because of the high cost. However, I'm so glad I went with this stroller.

Pros:

* The front swivel wheel is a huge help when navigating around the park or stores.
* The ability to lock it into place while jogging is great too.
* It is easy to control one handed
* The tether strap and hand break add safety
* The stroller folds very small for a jogger (smaller than my travel system stroller)
* The wide wheel base makes for a steady, stable ride
* Shocks allow you to run and baby to be comfortable, it also allows the stroller to go off the pavement (we took ours on an uneven walking path through the woods and it handled the roots and rocks well)
* Very easy to fold
* Pretty big basket under the stroller (compared to other joggers) as well as a mesh storage space behind the seat.
* Reclines for sleeping baby
* Huge canopy covers most of the baby from the sun.

Cons:

* If you plan on using this stroller as an everyday stroller, it is very difficult to get through some stores with it (I have knocked over a couple of displays trying to get the back wheels through the isles).
* No parent tray or child tray (both can be bought separately, I bought a jolly jumper parent tray that works perfectly around the hand break).

EDIT 10/1//2011: Just wanted to add that I have now gone running numerous times with the new front wheel (with tracking knob), and the stroller moves perfectly straight now with the front wheel locked in place! Love my Summit XC!!

EDIT 09/09/2011: Like some other reviewers on here, I also started to have problems with my stroller pulling to the left when I was running with the front wheel locked in place. I called BJ's customer service, and they immediately sent me a brand new front wheel with a tracking knob on it (like the BOB stroller has). Apparently, they are well aware of the pulling problem, and have resolved to fix the issue. The new wheel arrived in 2 days, free of charge with free shipping! Thank you Baby Jogger!! I am still 100% happy with my purchase. If you have ANY problems with the stroller pulling, CALL BABY JOGGER!
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I am yet another person who spent countless hours comparing the Baby Jogger Summit XC to the BOB Revolution. Finally, I decided on the Baby Jogger Summit XC, and managed to catch a sale on the red color here on Amazon. I could NOT be happier with my decision!! In the past week that we've had the Summit XC, we've taken it out for a number of walks through snow and ice and it conquered everything in its path without missing a beat. I also took it out running, with the front wheel locked forward, and it was very easy to maneuver.

The reasons I chose the Summit XC over the BOB Revolution are as follows:

1.) Height limit. There is NO comparison here. If you have a tall child like me, buy the Summit XC! When I saw the BOB Rev in person, I was extremely unimpressed at how short the seat was under the canopy (especially when the canopy was folded back into the seat). The Summit XC has MUCH more headroom, and the canopy is amazing - it has a window in the top and two sealable side vents.

2.) The fold. We already had the Baby Jogger City Mini, so we knew all about how amazing the fold is on the Baby Jogger strollers. We have a small apartment and have no room to keep a stroller open all the time, so the ease of the fold was incredibly important to us. This stroller cannot be beat. Pull up on the strap in the seat and, BAM, you're done. The Summit XC even stays closed very well without fastening a lock of any sort (I think there is a lock on it, but I haven't even used it yet).

3.) The wheels are removable! It's incredibly easy to remove the large wheels off of the stroller for compact storage. But don't worry, they lock onto the stroller very, very securely.

4.) Three-wheel suspension. The Summit XC has suspension on all three of the wheels, which provides for an exceptionally smooth ride and the ability to plow through anything without jostling the little passenger too much. The BOB Rev only has suspension on the back wheels (at least, the 2010 model did - not sure about the 2011).

5.) Hand brake! This was important to me, since I run frequently and plan to run with the stroller in some hilly areas. It's easy to get pulled down a hill with a jogging stroller loaded with a heavier child, and I feel much more secure with the presence of the hand brake than with just a strap tether (which it also has). It works really well, and with the use of a screwdriver, you can adjust the angle of the hand brake on the handlebar.

Most of the other features on the two strollers are very comparable and aren't really worth mentioning here. The two advantages that the BOB Rev has over the Summit XC is that 1.) it has a fine-tune tracking adjustment knob for the front wheel, and 2.) the rear wheels are a little narrower. My Summit XC seems to run very straight with the front wheel locked in place, so I don't feel that the lack of a fine-tuning knob is a big deal. I was, admittedly, slightly concerned about the width of the stroller, but we took it out to the grocery store and the mall today and had no issues getting through tight spaces whatsoever.

I hope this helps!

If you are buying this stroller to use for just walking around your neighborhood and on trails, this is a great stroller. It is very comfortable for my daughter to ride in. She easily falls asleep in it. It is also very easy to push and steer.

However, if you buy this stroller with the intention of using it in the "fixed wheel" positon for jogging, buyer beware. The stroller does not stay in a straight line when jogging so you are constantly adjusting the stroller. This causes a lot of strain over a long period of jogging/running. The reason for this is that when the wheel is "locked" there is still a small amount of movement allowed for the wheel which causes it to veer left or right.

Edit 9/7/11

After working with Baby Jogger Customer Service about our issue with the wheel veering when it is in the locked position we are now very happy with our stroller. BJ Customer Service is excellent! They sent us a new stroller and a replacement wheel to try and fix the issue. None of this worked and they still tried to work with us. BJ is aware of the issue with the front wheel and they sent us a new model of the wheel (similar to BOB) which allows you to manually adjust the tension. We have been using this new wheel on our stroller for three months and I am happy to say that we are now able to use our stroller as a running stroller!

Just to put this in perspective, I've never felt the need to write an online review, ever. However, as a first time father, constantly second guessing everything - I feel compelled to share my experience with all you all and I hope my experience helps prevent any regrets.

We loved this stroller until we were finally able to go out and run with our daughter. It was then that we discovered:

1. Front wheel shakes side to side when you start running, in locked position or otherwise.
2. When in the locked position, our stroller significantly pulls to the left. Event after i played with brakes and checked the air pressure in both tires.

Dear Parents,

If you've found this stroller here on Amazon, you are probably comparing it against the BOB models. I know I did, and here's why I chose this one.

1. It is SO easy to fold and transport. I am petite, and I felt like I was always wrestling with the BOB strollers in the stores, and it seemed like it was taller than me even when it was collapsed. The salespeople had to show me a trick on how to fold it. I don't want a stoller I have to fold with a trick. I kept getting frustrated with the BOB when I tried to pick it up and the front wheel flopped all over. The Summit XC is SO EASY to fold. You just pull up on the strap marked "pull" and it collapses up in one step. No tricks to fold it! I think there is also a latch to keep it folded, unlike the other brand, which had a velcro strap that didn't work in the store. This is really what sold me on the Baby Jogger brand.

2. It is a true jogging stroller. The salespeople told me the Elite model was not for jogging because of the handlebar placement/front wheel locks in the "trailing" positon, or underneath the frame. In case you actually want to jog with the Summit, there are independent suspensions on all the wheels. There is a handbrake on the handle bar, which is great, and I hadn't seen it on other models of jogging strollers in the same price range. There is also a foot brake, or what I call a parking brake, to keep it in place when you are not moving. I don't remember seeing that on the other brand. The front wheel locks in place in the "leading" position, or in front of the frame. It's supposed to be better for joggers, but I can't really tell the difference.

3. The ride is really smooth! We have red brick streets and bumpy sidewalks from the 1930s in my neighborhood, complete with original tree roots, and the Baby Jogger Summit XC glides right over them. We also looked at the Citi Mini by Baby Jogger, but ultimately we chose this model because the Summit wheels are better for city sidewalks. The Mini looked great, but was no match against our tree roots and bumpy sidewalks for everyday strolls. The Mini has small plastic wheels when compared to this Summit model.

4. The baskets aren't great, but this stroller is so heavy and big I don't think I'll plan on using it as my grocery shopping stroller. Like other models, there is no cupholder. Baby Jogger sells one, but I was able to find a cheaper off-brand parent console that works with the hand brake.

If you are going back and forth between this and a similar brand, go with the Baby Jogger Summit XC! You will be so happy with it, especially when you can actually fold it!

I love how trendy this stroller looks, especially in red/black, but there are some drawbacks I didn't find until after buying the stroller

1) The handle bar is really high! I'm short, 5'2" and the handbar came up to my chest. This was uncomfortable for me and gave me minimum leverage when using with a fixed front wheel.

2) While the one hand fold is brilliant, there is and extra safety clip you have to clip and unclip on each side each time you want to unfold/fold the stroller. That's extra steps and much less convenient.

3) the latch for keeping the stroller closes can only be latched when the front wheel is removed. Again, this is not saving any labor.

4) It is awkward to unfold the stroller

5) The front wheel of the stroller is not very stable (wobbles) in the fixed wheel position. It is not very good for jogging/running.

#1 and #5 were deal breakers for me. #2 and #3 were also huge annoyances. All in all, I decided it wasn't worth the money and I returned it using Amazon's EXCELLENT return policy. <3 <3 <3

I went on to purchase an older model BoB revolution (chocolate/blue) and am VERY satisfied with how easy it is to fold the BoB, the location of the hand-bar, how much leverage I have for turning, the stability of the front wheel in fixed position, and how much easier it is to push the BoB. My husband is 6' and still is happy with the lower handlebar on the BoB.

I bought this stroller after comparing it with the BOB stroller online only. I called many stores in my state even 300 miles away and still could not find a store that would have this on the floor to try. I was apprehensive to buy something so expensive sight unseen. I read the pros and cons to the Summit XC vs. the Bob stroller and I have to say I'm really glad I bought the Summit XC via Amazon.

The stroller rides so smoothly it's amazing. I often take it to soccer fields through the grass and dirt with no problems. I prefer to keep the front wheel in swivel mode as it's easier to maneuver even when running (even though I believe when you run you are suppose to keep the front wheel in fixed position).

The key selling point that DID not disappoint is the way this stroller folds up. There is a strap on the seat that says "lift here to fold" and that's about it. You lift up on the strap and the stroller collapses and ready to put in your trunk.

I would say this is a stroller for "heavy-duty" as in doing outdoor activities, going off-road, outdoor athletic activity, etc. Yes you can take it to the mall but it's on the big and heavy side and not easy to get through stores that have lots of racks. I have a small umbrella stroller to do that job.

Instead, I take this stroller to parks, hiking, endless soccer games at various school fields, city walking, etc.

Also another major plus is that the seat folds down pretty far. My 2.5 year old sleeps in this for hours so when we are out all day I do not worry about nap time. The ride is smooth that is actually puts him to sleep like a car ride! I feel the basket fits a lot of stuff. I just wish it came with a cup holder. I would say that is the only thing missing that I need along with a stroller hook to hang bags from.

The thing that is frustrating is that stores do not carry this model in stock. They can order for you but then it's no different than you ordering for yourself online. I can't tell you how many stores when asking if they carried the Summit XC tried to convince me to come into their store and try a BOB stroller instead. I still do not understand why the Bob is so popular when this model is way more convenient to collapse.

If you are looking for a more "every" day type stroller I would get one of the other Baby Jogger models like the City. I specifically bought this for light jogging/running and hiking and knowing I would be going off the beaten path.

Unlike the previous review, I picked this stroller over the BOB Revolution and haven't looked back. While I am sure the BOB is a great stroller, the Baby Jogger won me over because of the shocks on every wheel and the easy fold. We are on a lot of trails, and this stroller is amazing in all sorts of terrain- mud, gravel, over branches, and our 10 month old loves it- I think because the extra shock on the front wheel gives it such a smooth ride. And the easy fold mechanism is amazing. You literally just pick up with one hand and it folds up for you. My friends have BOBs and I have been with them many times while they struggle to get it in and out of the car (but obviously if you don't take it in the car often this may not be an issue). It does not take as much room in the car as the BOB seems to either, and the wheels easily come off (though I think the BOB's do also) It pushes like a dream- you literally can use one hand and just sort of guide it, if you're like me and walking your dog and baby at the same time and have a leash in your other hand. If you are looking for a comfy ride, easy fold, and more height under the sun canopy- the Baby Jogger is for you! Also, if you order this stroller or the BOB from REI, you can have it shipped to the store to avoid shipping costs and they will put it together for you.

Update 3/2012:
Still love this stroller. It really is the best on all terrain and turns like a dream. The only con is that the wheels are bigger so for some stores its a challenge but generally it is ok. Still looks brand new too. Also one more tip- someone gave us the BOB parent cupholder console and it fits fine on the Summit!