Baby Jogger City Select 2011

Review by OzzieExplorer : Super buy - met all expectations

Pros: Super stable with huge parcel tray Cons: Expensive to buy locally in Australia Overall: I am a first time mum buying this with the possibility of more to come. I researched extensively - was initally tending towards Mountain Buggy but then going to buy the Baby Jogger City Elite but decided to get the Select as it has the potential for expansion.I did look at strollers in BigW, Target etc but decided that this was an investment to last for several years and that I wanted a sturdy stroller. This one is sturdy. I live in a country town with limited footpaths and this copes with gravel, grass and roads easily.To answer some of the critics - I don't believe they have read the instruction manual! This stroller is super adjustable - canopy can be moved up, foot rest adjusted etc. Also, I'd love to see a 2 yo activate/deactivate with the brake! It is a 2 stage mechanism. Maybe the kid would try playing with the brake but I don't believe they could do more than touch it. To activate the brake (which is a one step process) they would need to have super long arms if they are strapped in correctly. To deactivate the brake is a two step process with the handle having to be squeezed and flipped. Check out the YouTube video with the 5yo in it!Things to watch: When you attach the front wheels check they aren't locked! I had one locked and one unlocked with seriously affected performance.Price: Buy from Amazon!!! ($400 cheaper than buying locally) I've got the 2011 model.

Review by Justbooking : The only stroller you'll ever need - for one or two kids

The City Select may just be the only stroller you'll ever need, especially if you are planning on having a second child. With three kids under four, I've had my fair share of single and double strollers. This is by far the best one I've owned because it is the narrowest, goes anywhere - indoors or out - and folds compactly. PROS: * It was just named Baby Gizmo's Top Tandem/ Twin stroller of the year. * Goes anywhere as a single or double stroller - the reason I got it. I found out the hard way that side-by-sides do not fit between parked cars - the City Select does, with room to spare. No more leaving one child alone in front of the car while I put the other in their car seat. The narrow width (26") of the City Select is a huge advantage at doctor's offices, restaurants and stores that have narrower aisles. * It can be used from birth up. You can configure the City Select with optional Baby Jogger Car Seat Adaptor for one or two babies (three types sold, some car seats fit better than others) or with one or two seats (place the heaviest child in the top position); it can have stadium seating facing forward (with a huge storage basket), or you can put both seats facing you so they can recline fully 180 degrees (better for babies 6m+, looks like bunk beds). * The three-part canopies are excellent and provide far more shade than most Maclaren strollers. A mesh zip-in backing can be zipped in front for additional sun shade when the sun is low (though the instructions don't say this). A clear peek-a-boo window with built in mesh on top has a flap with quiet magnetic close. * Total weight load recommended for this stroller is 45 lbs. per seat (combined passenger and baggage weight), so calculate 90 lbs. total max allowance with two seats. Max allowance for the basket is 15 lbs. and for each seat pocket, 2 lbs. My 14 m babies are 22 & 21 lbs., the diaper bag is 8 lbs. = 51 lbs. Still way under the limit. * Optional carrycot(s) are sold separately. * The Forever Air wheels with front suspension work on many surfaces. I've been able to use the City Select on narrow paths, snow, grass and mud. The City Selects pushes very easily on smooth surfaces, even with my 32 lb son. In comparison, the BOB Revolution Stroller is superior off-road, has 3" suspension and feels lighter to push, but it's way too long to use indoors in smaller spaces (especially if you have the Duallie). The Maclaren Techno, Quest and Triumph strollers handle very well on smooth surfaces but are hard to use in uneven terrain and snow. * Very compact fold. The City Select takes up a quarter of the trunk of my minivan standing up, with all three rows up (half the space with a 2nd seat). If I need more cargo space in back, I simply stash the stroller & seat(s) in the third row of the minivan. As a double, it takes up less space folded than a Bob Duallie or Twin Techno. * Huge storage basket - with the seats facing forward, the City Select has an enormous basket. I've been able to finally go grocery shopping and fit a fair amount of groceries underneath, whether configured as a single or a double (up to 15 lbs but I also use the footwells for heavy items). In addition, if you put one baby facing you in the stroller in the stroller and another in a carrier such as the Ergo, one of the seats can be reclined fully to hold a shopping basket & groceries, up to 45 lbs (about 3-4 bags)- a Stroller Hook can be used to keep the basket secured to the side of the stroller. * When the seats are rear-facing as a double, storage is more limited but still generous. Zippers on all corners allow you to extend it and put in large items from the front, back or sides. * With the seats facing away from each other, you can partially recline them and get the full benefit of the huge basket underneath. * The hand break is very easy to use and with the rubber wheels in back, provides a sure grip. * The handle extends from 39" to 42" for taller parents. * I'm able to fit two 7 lb. KidCo GoPod Portable Activity Seat - Pistachio or two 7 lb. BABYBJÖRN BabySitter Balance, Brown/Beige bouncy seats in the storage basket - the diaper bag hanging down from the Munchkin stroller hook keeps them secure. No other single/ double stroller I have can do this - it's great for playgroups or when I need to take the babies out of the stroller for any reason and am alone. * Many accessories - you can get many different ones but I found that stroller accessories from other manufacturers also work, at a fraction of the price. * The JJ Cole Urban Toddler Bundle Me - Stealth fit the seat(s) perfectly and can be used Spring & Fall - go with the toddler size which you'll use longer and use along with a blanket in winter. The thick LL Bean winter bunting works great in frigid winter weather. Fully reclined, the seat works like a carrycot - my babies sleep very comfortably in them. * Baby Jogger just came out with a ride-on board for a 2nd or 3rd child but, if needed, the seats are wide enough (12") and the canopy extends high enough (24") for older kids (my child is 41" and fits fine). Both the canopies and the footrests can be extended. The footrests also adjust to four positions, up or down for babies & toddlers. * I use a Lassig Messenger Eco-Friendly Diaper Bag, Stones Black, which comes with stroller velcro hooks. It works great for one or two kids, for mom or dad, and can be used as a purse or briefcase. 40 colors available on amazon, lots of removable covers to pick from to fit your style anhd mood. * As a double, it's superior to the Britax B Ready as the second seat works up to 45 lbs (vs 35 lbs in the Britax) and taller parents will not be bumping their shins against the second seat. It's also lighter than the iCandy as it weighs 33 lbs as a double, compared to the i Candy's 44 lbs. * The "Baby Jogger City Select Second Seat Attachment Brackets" are sold separately if needed on mystrollers dot com. You do not have to buy the whole second seat. CONS: * The City Select can be hard to get up and down curbs if used as a double - if you're pushing it forward; but if you pull it backwards up or down a curb, it's no harder that any other stroller (actually a bit easier because of the larger wheels in back). * The City Select is expensive but worth it for versatility. However, if you plan to use it as a single stroller and not convert it to a double, consider buying a high quality, all-purpose umbrella stroller you can travel with like the Inglesina Trip Lightweight Baby Stroller Black Ink : 2010/2011 Model Improved Suspension - Rain Cover Included. It has a huge canopy, four recline positions, waterproof durable fabric, rain cover (included), suspension, 6.5" wheels that handle smooth surfaces as well as some uneven ones, and a compact fold for storage & travel and a max child weight allowance of 55 lbs. * Cannot be used as a jogging stroller. However, it does everything else well. If you need a great jogger, consider the BOB Revolution SE Single Stroller, Black, keeping in mind that this is just for one child and won't convert to a double. * The rain cover is not included. You can buy other brands that work though. For example, the universal Jeep rain shield fits each seat well (as a single) or you can get a sngle cover for less from Sashas Kiddies Model BJCS Baby Jogger City Select Series Single Double Strollers Sun Cover (for use as a double). A Munchkin Stroller Hook can be placed on the handle to hold bags up to 8 lbs. * This stroller is full-sized and not a good pick for use in public transportation unless there is handicapped access. I've yet to find a double I can carry down stairs with a baby though. * The 2010 model costs less than the 2011 model, which has been slightly redesigned with a firmer back, a 1" deeper seat, more padding. The stitching on the 2010 is horizontal, and on the 2011 is vertical, so make sure to get the same year model to avoid a mismatch. In all, I am thrilled with our City Select and wish I had known about it before. It would have saved me a bundle of money in strollers.

Review by Bianca K. Waters "Bianca" : Best stroller ever ...... for tiny kids!!!

After month and month of nerve wrecking research I found this to be the stroller for us. I love it, love it, love it!!! This stroller has all the bells and whistles I was looking for ...... IF it would only be bigger. After playing with it for 1 hour in the store, I finally gave up and decided NOT to buy it. I have a 3 month old girl and a 21 month old boy. My boy is 36 inch tall and weighs 30 lbs. He barely fits into this stroller. That means I would only be able to use it for a couple month as a double - if at all. Investing this kind of money ( $900 with all the add ons) I would hope to use this fabulous stroller a little longer. The 2011 model features a seat only 9 inch deep and a back rest hight of only 18.5 inch. The foot rest is way too short as well. Make sure to watch the Baby Gizmo Video Review. One of the child testers has his legs bend to the side and the other has her legs pulled up with knees almost touching her chest. I figured my boy could just have his feet dangling but found that the bar surrounding the foot rest would hurt his calfs after a while. The canopy is not very big either in compare to all other Baby Jogger strollers. Another con is that the only way to recline both seats at the same time is if they are facing both toward the handle, which was not the deal breaker for me though. Please, please, PLEASE Baby Jogger make a stroller just like this one ......... but BIGGER!!!!!! Pros: Baby Jogger thought of just about anything a stroller needs. - A huge EASY accessible storage basket - A flat and EASY fold - Handle break - Adjustable handle for tall parents - Add on glider board - 16 ways for double occupancy - Rubber back tires - Suspension - Very sturdy frame and on, and on, and on .......... Cons: - Made for only small kids - Not as easy to maneuver as other Baby Jogger strollers - Very expensive considered that ALL the add ons have to be purchased seperate - A little more heavy than I wished for

Review by eiresurg : Excellent

This review is based on the 2010 model, but little has changed other than a gain of an inch or so. I believe all the accessories and other widgets are the same.Pros ================== Extremely versatile--we have two seats for this stroller, the Chicco car seat adapter, rain cover, sun cover and handlebar accessory. There are many configurations you can set-up depending on your needs for that moment. It is very easy and quick to switch between the various configurations. We also have the table adapter that lets you use the seat as a booster at the table. This is an awesome feature for restaurants. We have been using it since our son was 3 months old and he loves it. They have thought of everything.Engineering--it folds very simply and quickly. It requires two hands, but it is one simple tug. Folding this thing is NOT a multi-step process and unfolding it is just as simple. I'm 6'4" and my wife is 5'4", so one essential feature was an adjustable handlebar. I do wish it extended a little further, but it's comfortable. The wheels come off with the simple push of a button for breaking it down even further when you are putting it in small spaces. There is more than ample space underneath for storing a large diaper bag and days worth of shopping.All-terrain--goes everywhere. We have pushed it on the beach, in the grass and on hiking trails. It pushes easy and goes in a straight line. It can easily be pushed with one hand.Cons ================== Heavy--what do you expect. This is not an "umbrella" stroller. My wife struggles a little with the heft of it, but she slings it around pretty good getting it in and out of the trunk when I'm not around. We do have a McClaren umbrella stroller and never use it despite it being significantly lighter.Size--again, this is an SUV in the stroller world. My wife has a small Acura and it easily fits her trunk, even with all the junk she keeps in there. But, I think it could potentially be a struggle with very small cars or trunks. The wheels easily come off as mentioned, so it gets smaller quickly if needed.

Review by TeeGui : Great stroller BUT...

I did a lot of research before deciding on the City Select. I have two daughters, 3 years old and 8 months old, and wanted a stroller that I could use for the both of them. I ended up choosing the City Select because it not only had the option of being used as a single stroller, but also as a double stroller. The versatility alone immediately intrigued me. However, I no longer own the City Select stroller and I will tell you why: 1. Although the seat capacity is 45 lbs, my 3 year old (at 35 lbs) sat uncomfortably in the seat with her winter jacket on. When it warmed up, she could sit normally in the seat, however, if you intend to use this stroller in the winter, with winter jackets, your older child may not be comfortable. The seat depth is not forgiving of winter jackets. 2. Even when she was able to sit normally in the seat (w/o a jacket), the seat depth is still not that deep (8 inches). The 2010 model also does not have a seat board so it's just a canvas material holding your child up (they have added a seat board to the 2011 model). 3. The straps are an absolute PAIN to adjust. It literally took me and my husband 5-6 minutes to adjust EACH of the 4 straps for our daughters. I've never had that issue with any stroller I've owned. My daughter's carseat was even easier to adjust than the stroller. Go figure. 4. The stroller also does not stand on it's own. The way that I finagled that is by locking the front wheels and that way it would lean up against my garage wall without sliding forward when it was not in use. 5. If you intend on using the stroller with kids who are two different ages, the stroller maneuverability will be compromised when you put your oldest (and obviously heavier) child the furthest away from you. It is extremely hard to push and turn when the weight is in the front. Because I wanted to keep my youngest closest to me, I did not like this at all. Whenever I used the stroller as a double I had to put my infant furthest away to maintain the smooth ride. The only plus in that situation was the stroller versatility in seating, I turned the front seat around so that it was facing me so that I could keep an eye on the baby. 6. In order to use it as a double there are SO many steps to follow. When alone, it would be difficult to do the setup with an impatient infant and toddler...or even two infants. You have to detach the first seat (if you've been using it as a single), take off the covers to the insert location of the double seat mounting brackets, insert the second seat mounting brackets, and finally, attach the second seat. You also can not fold the stroller when it is set up as a double so you would have to detach the second seat, the second seat mounting brackets AND the first seat in order to fold it up as flat as possible. Imagine doing that alone with two kids! I started to feel like I couldn't use the stroller without my husband which defeated the purpose. 7. This stroller is H-E-A-V-Y! It is 28 lbs as a single stroller and 34 lbs as a double stroller...not counting the weight of the children. Regardless whether you put the heaviest child closer to you or not, turning the stroller could take some extra muscles at times. 8. This stroller comes with NO accessories. Seriously! Not even a belly bar! The stroller itself is $500, the second seat kit is $160. If you needed two carseats for twins that is $120 for two carseat adapters. You'll probably want belly bars and they are about $30 a piece. The raincover is $40...multiply that times two if you are using the double option...insane! By the time you purchase every accessory that you'll need for this stroller you are in the Bugaboo price range...so why not just buy a Bugaboo or the likes? 9. I do NOT recommend this stroller for public transportation users! We used it once when trying to go to a circus in Downtown Boston instead of driving our car...the WORST! Particularly on the buses. The stroller is just too wide (26 inches) for comfort and convenience on public transportation. I cannot even imagine how much worse it would have been if we had to fold up our stroller like they require in NY. Now this stroller does have some great features. Here they are: 1. 16+ seating combinations is amazing! The ample amount of seating options was so very intriguing to me. You just don't see that in the stroller market. 2. The seats can fully recline for sleepy babies. My infant was always incredibly comfy when she feel asleep. 3. The handles are adjustable from 39" all the way up to 42"...my tall husband was very happy with that feature. :) 4. I LOVED having the breaking system right up near your right hand and not down by your feet. All I had to do was flip it up and the stroller did not move an INCH! 5. I loved having the option of using the stroller as a single or a double. In the stroller's last days in my home, it was only used as a single stroller because it was just way too much work as a double. 6. The canopies are excellent! Your baby will be completely covered...no sun worries. 7. I loved the peekaboo mesh window with a magnetic close. I could peek at my baby without having to disrupt her with loud velcro. 8. The wheels are awesome! The forever air tires held up to our family walks and trips. The stroller ride was super smooth...didn't always do too well over bumpy terrain but was decent. My trick was to lock the wheels over terrain that was not smooth. 9. The basket is HUGE! HOWEVER, Baby Jogger only recommends putting up to 15 lbs!! The basket CAN and WILL stretch if you do not follow their guidelines. It will also make it even more difficult to push with any more weight. 10. You can wash the seats and reattach them. That was great for me because I just HAD to have this stroller in Diamond White! :) Overall, the City Select is definitely not the worst stroller but it is certainly not the best. I look forward to seeing the changes that Baby Jogger will implement as they work to improve the City Select. My advice is that if you are considering this stroller for versatility alone like I did, please also consider the functionality when you actually have to use it. I did not.

Review by Tarina Anthony : A few gripes on an otherwise great stroller

Okay, I agonized over which stroller to get before finally pulling the trigger on this one. I think the easiest way to review is the good ol' pro/con list.Pros: 1. It's beautiful. Sleek, sexy. Can a stroller be sexy? I don't know, but this one sure is pretty. 2. It's a very smooth ride. Turns easily and almost feels like it drives itself. 3. Extremely adjustable. Adjustable handlebar for the parent (great even for my 6'3" husband), footrest for the child, three recline positions and a ton of different places/directions to put the seat. 4. Large canopy 5. Great storage basket underneath! So big, and holds a ton of stuff. 6. Little pocket on the back of the seat actually comes in handy. 7. Little swivels on the straps make untangling a breeze (though also means they twist easily). 8. Folds up easily 9. Options for expanding to 2 kids are awesome. 10. The wheels are BIG. Bigger than I thought based on the pic. I'm looking forward to this feature come winter time.Cons: 1. The recline button is amazingly difficult to compress. Perhaps it's just a flaw of this individual stroller, but it's hard to push the button in to recline. My daughter is older and likes to be upright, so this isn't a huge issue. 2. The wonderfully large canopy doesn't lock at all. So, my daughter will just push and pull it all the time. Kind-of annoying, especially when I'm trying to keep her dry. 3. No cup holder. And I've heard that the one you can by from Baby Jogger isn't all that great. So, if you frequent a local coffee shop, you'll have to hold your coffee while you push. Why, oh why does this stroller not have a parent console? C'mon, Baby Jogger! 4. Does not stand on its own when folded. This is my biggest gripe. If you're planning on storing it in your car or flat somewhere else, you will be totally happy with the folding. But if you live somewhere where you want to store this upright and don't have space to leave it open, it's a pain in the tuckus. It will lean against the wall pretty well one way (try flipping it if it keeps rolling away from you) but I've had it fall and scare the poop out of me in the middle of the night. 5. (Goes along with #4) the clip to keep the stroller shut is not very secure. It is a shallow clip and just doesn't do a great job. There have been many times I'm carrying a squirmy toddler and a slowly opening stroller downstairs. 6. (This is being very picky) When the canopy is in the highest position and the seat is in the highest pegs and the handle is the lowest, unfolding the stroller is tough. It's hard to grab the handle because it's behind the canopy and the stroller is trying to unfold itself. Not a huge deal as everything turns out fine in the end, but a little annoying. 7. All the accessories will set you back more $$. But that's basically par for the course anymore.So, overall a great but not perfect stroller. Once it's unfolded and going down the sidewalk, I forget about all the little gripes I had because the ride is just sooooo smooth. ;) Black looks great, of course, but I kinda wish I had gotten the purple. Of course, the red looks nice too.

Review by malexa : the right choice

Like many other people that purchased the city select, I spent ALOT of time researching double strollers. At first I was looking at the more affordable options like the Joovy Ultralight, or the Kolocraft Contours (both of which got excellent reviews as well). However, I knew that my 2 year old would not be able to stay seated in a bench and still likes to fall asleep in the stroller (ruling out the Joovy), and the Kolocraft was just too large and I didn't want to be stuck with a double since my other one would eventually out grow it in a bit. This lead to looking at the more expensive options. It came down to the Britax B-ready and the City Select.I must have read and watched almost every review on these two strollers that exist on the internet, and they all lead me to the same place.. they are BOTH great strollers. I knew I would just have to go check them out in person. The main drawback of the city select is that the seats are smaller. However the b-ready only has one larger seat and the second seat is smaller. What I ultimately did not like about the B-ready is the position of the second add on seat. Knowing my 2 year old, she wants to be able to see everything so being so far near the ground wasn't going to work. I also liked the tires on the city select a lot better. The b-ready tires did not have any tread.The drawback of the city select is the price, since baby jogger items are never eligible for discounts and rarely ever go on sale. However, I was able to nab mine at a great price on black friday where amazon had it 10% off, I also used my baby registry completion discount of 10% off on top of this and used a $50 off code for strollers I received on my amazon kindle. It was still expensive to me, especially with the second seat and carseat adaptor addons but at least I was able to save quite a bit!I used the stroller a bunch this past weekend, at the mall and to do some christmas shopping. I loved it and so did my kids (infant and 2 year old). It is a little hard to turn because of the weight and the length, but it is a really nice smooth ride. My 2 year old loved to sit in the seat in the front. The large canopies are awesome. It is pretty heavy, but that's a given already and shoudln't be a surprise to anybody. It's easy to take apart and put together each time, but you do need quite a bit of trunk space for it. Also the fact that it can easily convert from a single to a double is awesome. At one point I stayed in the car with my newborn and my mom was able to take my 2 year old shopping in the stroller as just a single, how convenient!All in all, so far I'm really happy with my purchase. It's a really solid stroller that I'm sure will last me a very very long time. Do your research and know what you need it for.

Review by no name : If you want to spend good money for a good stroller - this stroller is worth your money

At first we thought it was a bit too much to spent $500 for a stroller but after a year of cheap strollers we LOVED this stroller. We've been using it for a few months now with two kids (16 months and a newborn) and it's been an incredible experience. Love the different ways you can rotate seats, Love the fact that you can use infant car seat with it, Love the huge basket underneath, Love how easily it goes even with two babies, Love Love the sleeping position for my toddler girl, Love how steady it feels. i love everything about this stroller

Review by dale brown : Sanity Saver- and energy saver.

I am a very busy mom with three children ages 7, 2.5, and 16 months. Some family members bought this stroller for me as a gift about 4 months ago because I was struggling with my sit'n'stand stroller. The City Select has saved my life. I live in Atlanta (in the city), and needed a smaller all-terrain double stroller that I could actually push. This one has fit the bill. Not sure what people are talking about when they say the seats are too small. My seven year old can sit in them if she gets tired. My two year old is VERY large for his age and he fits great. I have another baby on the way and I just bought the bassinet kit to go with it. This stroller makes it possible for me to go out in public without my husband- and without breaking a sweat. Some of my favorite things about the stroller: * Love the basket on those days when I take one of the kids jogging to the grocery store. There is plenty of room for me to fill up with groceries. * The hand break is awesome. * Steering is so easy. Even when you are on uneven ground with the stroller fully loaded. It is by far one of the easiest doubles I have ever driven. * I am 5'2 and folding this thing is a breeze. * The seats can go in every direction depending on the moods of the kids. * The canopy is tall enough for my tall two year old. * The reclining seats are awesome for nap times. * I can take this stroller anywhere. * When the stroller is set up as a single on the top setting, it pulls right up to the table at restaurants. No need for an extra highchair. Restaurants never have enough high chairs in the city. * Did I mention that this stroller is the best looking stroller on the market? Oh man. It's so cute. Everywhere I go, people ask me where I bought it. * I love the double/single option. No need to take a double stroller out when you've only got one kid with you! Things that bother me about the stroller: *Not a thing. This thing is perfection for me.