Baby Jogger 2016 Summit X3 Single Jogging Stroller

Baby Jogger Summit X3 Review

Disappointing to run with and harder to use, make it an option we aren't fond of

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

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Price: $460 List

Pros: Easy one hand fold with larger storage for more supplies

Cons: Difficult to run with and hard to lift

Manufacturer: Baby Jogger

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57

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#11 of 12

• Run-ability - 35% 4.1

• Ease of Use - 25% 5.9

• Maneuverability - 20% 6.9

• Quality - 10% 7.2

• Weight/Folded Size - 10% 7.1

The Skinny

The Baby Jogger Summit X3 has the price of a high-end stroller but failed to perform well enough in our tests to justify the hefty price tag. Without the features and performance necessary to function as a dedicated running stroller, it is hard to find a reason to purchase it. It earned a 4 out of 10 for run-ability, making it a product we think parents will be disappointed if running is their plan. Compared to the competition that includes strollers with higher scores and better performance coupled with lower list prices, it is a no-brainer to say we do not recommend this stroller.

Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 5, 2021, to include new sections designed to help you better sus out our options.

Compare to Similar Products

	This Product Baby Jogger Summit X3	Thule Urban Glide 2	BOB Revolution Flex 3.0	BOB Rambler	Baby Trend Expedition
Awards
Price	$460 List	$580 List $549.95 at Amazon	$550 List $549.99 at Amazon	$450 List $449.99 at Amazon	$130 List $129.99 at Amazon
Overall Score	57	87	79	73	65
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Pros	Easy one hand fold with larger storage for more supplies	Top scores for run-ability and maneuverability, easy to use, high quality	More storage, tight turns, adjust-ability, smooth runner	Easy to move, great runner, quality materials	Super easy to maneuver, low price
Cons	Difficult to run with and hard to lift	Harder to transport and stow as it doesn't self-stand	No self-stand, awkward to lift and carry	Harder to lift and carry	Harder to run with, lower quality
Bottom Line	Disappointing to run with and harder to use, make it an option we aren't fond of	Our favorite jogger that also makes a great everyday stroller, which can save you money	A rugged jogger good for every day use, going off-road, and running	A great jogger for a good price that works for every day use	An affordable jogger, but not the best option for serious runners
Rating Categories	Baby Jogger Summit X3	Thule Urban Glide 2	BOB Revolution Flex...	BOB Rambler	Baby Trend Expedition
Run Ability (35%)	4.1	9.6	8.0	7.7	5.2
Ease Of Use (25%)	5.9	7.7	7.4	5.7	6.8
Maneuverability (20%)	6.9	9.2	8.3	8.0	8.3
Quality (10%)	7.2	9.2	8.9	8.6	6.1
Weight Folded Size (10%)	7.1	7.0	6.7	7.2	7.2
Specs	Baby Jogger Summit X3	Thule Urban Glide 2	BOB Revolution Flex...	BOB Rambler	Baby Trend Expedition
Measured Weight	28.1 lbs	24.4 lbs	27.3 lbs	25.1 lbs	23.6 lbs
Rolling Resistance Test	98 Feet	144 Feet	145 Feet	140 Feet	124 Feet
Folded Dimensions	25.75"W x15"H x 34.5"L	27.2"W x 15.5"H x 36.5"L	25.5"W x 15.3"H x 37.8"L	25.3"W x 13.5"H x 38.5"L	23.5"W x 16.75"H x 33.75"L
Capacity Limits	Minimum: Birth Maximum: 75 lbs./44"	Minimum: Walk Only: Infant Car Seat: Birth Stroller Seat: 6 mo. Jogging & Off-Road: 6 mo. Maximum: 75 lb Total Capacity Limit	Minimum: Walk Only: Infant Car Seat: 0 - 8 wk. Stroller Seat: 8 wk. - 8 mo. Jogging & Off-Road: 8 mo. - 5 yr. Maximum: 75 lbs/44"	Minimum: Walk Only: Infant Car Seat: 0 - 8 wk. Stroller Seat: 8 wk. - 8 mo. Jogging & Off-Road: 8 mo. - 5 yr. Maximum: 75 lbs/44"	Minimum: 6 mo. Maximum: 50 lbs./42"
Included Car Seat Compatibility	None	None	None	None	Baby Trend Any Baby Trend car seat
Click-in Car Seat Adapters	Britax B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite BOB B-Safe	BeSafe Izi GO Mod, Izi GO X1 Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30 Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton 4, Aton 5 Maxi Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Mico 30, Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Pebble, Pebble Plus Nuna Pipa	None	None	None
Strap-in Car Seat Adapters	Baby Jogger City GO Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, 35, 35 LX, 40 Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30 Cybex Aton, Aton 3S, Aton Q Maxi Cosi Mico AP, Mico Max 30	BOB Unity Britax Affinity Unity, B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone, Unity, Unity ISOFIX Compatible Britax-Romer Baby-Safe, Baby-Safe Plus II Chicco KeyFit Plus Combi Shuttle 33 Evenflo Discovery 5 Graco SafeSeat, SnugRide, SnugRide Click Connect, SnugRide Click Connect 30, SnugRide Click Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect LX 35, SnugRide Click Connect 40 Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30, Primo Viaggio 4-35 Safety 1st Comfy Carry Elite, onBoard, onBoard Air Safe-n-Sound Unity, Unity Neos UPPAbaby Mesa	Britax/BOB Britax® Chaperone®, B-Safe®, B-Safe® 35, B-Safe® 35 Elite, Endeavours™, B-Safe® 35 Ultra, BOB® B-Safe®, BOB® B-Safe® 35 Chicco Fit2, KeyFit, KeyFit 30 Cybex Cybex® Aton 2, Aton Q, Cloud Q Graco SnugRide­ Click Connect 30, 30LX, 35, 35LX, 40, SnugRide­ Classic Connect, SnugRide ­Classic Connect 30, 32, 35, SafeSeat Maxi Cosi Maxi Cosi® Mico 30, Mico Max 30, Mico AP Nuna Nuna® Pipa, Pipa Lite Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, SIP, SIP 30/30	Britax B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone BOB B-Safe, B-Safe 35 Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, 30LX, 35, 35 LX, 40, SnugRide Classic Connect 22, 30, 32, 35 Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30, Primo Viaggio SIP Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30	Baby Trend Any Baby Trend Car Seat
One-handed Fold	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Locking Fold	Manual	Auto	Manual	Manual	Manual
Self-standing Fold	No	No	No	No	Yes
Handlebar Height - Min/Max	40.5"	30"/46"	34.5"/48"	38.8"	41"
Fixed/Swivel Wheel	Swivel	Swivel	Swivel	Swivel	Swivel
Sandal-friendly Brake	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Included Accessories	None	None	None	None	None
Setup Time	8:39 min:sec	5:13 min:sec	4:26 min:sec	5:30 min:sec	6:30 min:sec

Show full specification details Hide full specification details

Our Analysis and Test Results

Baby Jogger started with a line of jogging strollers and now primarily creates strollers not suitable for jogging. They offer a comprehensive line of full-size strollers for up to two children. Their full-size strollers are popular with parents and have some easy-to-use features. The Baby Jogger Summit is one of their only jogging strollers. They also offer a few car seats.

Performance Comparison

Some of the top jogging strollers we tested (Several new and updated models not shown in this original picture).

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Run-ability

For run-ability, the Summit is a disappointment compared to most of the competition.

The red knob will lock the wheel in place on the Summit X3

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

This stroller does not have an adjustable handlebar, which could cause running biomechanics problems for taller pushers. It has good suspension and adjustable tracking that keeps the stroller on track. Our professional runner feels it is a solid stroller with a solid middle-of-the-road feel and a nice grounded feeling when running.

This stroller is hard to tip and turn or balance when you lock the wheel for running, unlike options like the Thule Urban Glide 2. It seems easy to turn on long sweeping turns but more challenging to make shorter turns. It sports a deceleration brake that should slow you down, but it is hard to squeeze and doesn't work well. The stroller feels heavy, and we think the handle is too low for runners over about 5'7. We kept hitting our free hand on the bar, and if you use the safety tether, you'll need to keep the same hand on the stroller at all times.

Ease of Use

The Summit offers below-average ease of use with features that aren't as simple as the competition.

We wish the fold handle was a little harder to access to prevent little ones from pulling it while climbing inside

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Fold and Unfold

The fold is straightforward but requires parents to unsnap part of the seat from the frame to prevent accidental folding. It requires one hand to pull the handle in the middle of the stroller. It is more difficult to unfold this stroller because it takes two hands, which isn't very graceful. If you lack the strength to hold it in the air with one hand, then it will be a hard stroller for you to unfold.

The brake on the Summit is a single action brake that is easy to set

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Brakes

The single-action brakes on the Summit are relatively easy to use with a reassuring click, so you know when they are set, but the pedals are hard to push down. It also sports a deceleration handbrake that doesn't slow the stroller and is hard to squeeze.

The under seat storage on the Baby Jogger is easier to access from the side than the rear

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Storage

The large under-seat storage bin is easy to access from the rear and sides. It has a maximum weight allowance of 10 lbs, and we fit our large diaper bag inside, but the bin is open instead of covered like the BOB Alterrain Pro. There is also a mesh pocket on the back of the seat that can hold up to 2 lbs and is a nice place to store water bottles. While we like the mesh pocket, it is hard to reach while running.

Sunshade

The Summit has a large canopy with a UPF of 50+. It has two windows and vents on each side. We prefer ventilation through the back, and there is some if you detach two snaps and three hook and loop strips. However, this will remove much of the shade. The canopy snaps into place and stays taut when open. The windows and vents have Velcro closures with toggles to hold it open. This shade has similar coverage as the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 with a little more headroom.

The 5 point harness on this Baby Jogger is easy to put on and release. It has an adjustable crotch strap and should height adjustments

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Harness

The Summit 5-point harness has a smooth operation that is easy to put on. It is simple to adjust with adjustable shoulder strap heights and an adjustable crotch strap. Once adjusted to the proper size, the long tails of the shoulder straps have nowhere good to go, leaving them hanging.

The seat on the Summit X3 reclines almost flat, but it isn't safe for baby to run at this angle.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Seat

The seatback reclines in an infinite number of positions. The ventilation is better with the seat reclined, but this significantly increases the tipping hazard when fully reclined.

Ease of Setup

The Summit took us 8:40 minutes from the box to ready to use. The setup is pretty simple, with three wheels and a canopy to snap on, and it doesn't require any tools to assemble.

The manual is okay but not as straightforward as some of the competition. It is a tri-language manual with good pictures, and the English portions appear in gray.

The Jogger is not the easiest stroller to maneuver for a swivel wheel model

Maneuverability

The Jogger has unimpressive maneuverability for a swivel wheel jogger. Pushing on and off hard surfaces is pretty easy. It seems relatively good at turning through tighter spaces with its shorter wheelbase. We tended to catch the rear wheels on stuff as we turned through the obstacle course. Given its more significant weight, it feels heavier and harder to push and maneuver than the lighter options.

It did not perform as well off-road as it did on. It is a little tippy on the side hill, and if we hit a bump with any speed, it tipped over. It managed to roll over a large curb with some help, and it fared well through the deep gravel.

The easy pull handle for folding has a backup safety mechanism of snapping sides to prevent accidental folding of the Summit X3

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Weight and Folded Size

The Summit is relatively heavy at 28 lbs, but its folded volume is 13,300 cubic inches, one of the smaller options. These measurements make the Baby Jogger heavy but able to fit in smaller spaces. If the size or weight is a motivator for you, the Baby Trend Expedition is smaller and lighter.

Quality

The Summit also offers below-average quality keeping the trend it had through most of our testing.

The Summit did not offer the kind of overall quality we would have expected given its higher list price

The fabric felt nice and didn't snag except on the footrest. It has a slicker, plastic feeling, but we suspect it will wipe down easier. It doesn't feel very breathable, and if it might end up feeling like vinyl seats all hot and sticky in the sun.

The Summit has a solid frame with little flex. It is a nice-looking stroller, and the canopy and seat fabric fit snugly on the frame. The plastic parts seem well made and fit well. The wheels on this stroller have a nice tread, and the molded plastic wheels are sturdy.

While it is nice that the X3 has a hand brake for deceleration during running, we found it to be both quite tight and placement suboptimal, right in the spot where a runner may naturally want to place their hand. In addition, the brake cord also interferes with grip.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The handle is not adjustable and not as comfortable as the foam on other strollers. The rubber handle cover may clean easier, but it isn't as comfortable. The handle has no upward curve, and the brake cable lays along the handle on the right side and got in our way. The rubber might get hot in the hot sun.

The Summit has a three-wheel suspension that is not adjustable. The higher-end options offer adjustable suspension. The stiff sling-style seat has good padding, and the minimally padded shoulder straps aren't bad.

Should You Buy the Baby Jogger Summit X3?

While the world is full of die-hard Baby Jogger loyalists, we don't think the Summit deserves the same kind of love as their full-size stroller, the Baby Jogger City Mini 2. This stroller is heavy, big, and harder to run with than similarly priced competition. With low run-ability in our tests, we don't think it is a good choice for those serious about running. And even if you want a jogging style stroller, but don't plan to run very often, there are less expensive and easier to use selections in our full review, like the Baby Trend Expedition.

What Other Jogging Stroller Should You Consider?

The BOB Rambler is a quality stroller that is much easier to run with and is lighter and smaller when folded than the Summit. It earned significantly better running test results and has a similar price. It makes an excellent runner and everyday stroller, which could save you money. If running is your bag, the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 is a potential solution that has a similar look and feel to the Summit.

Manufacturer Video

— Juliet Spurrier, MD & Carrie Vickers

Baby Jogger 2016 Summit X3 Single Jogging Stroller

Source: https://www.babygearlab.com/reviews/getting-around/jogging-stroller/baby-jogger-summit-x3

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