Best Beach Stroller: The Key to Navigating a Sandy Shore

Taking your child to the beach can be one of the best memories you and your family have. The sand can be daunting though, and children get tired after playing in the water and sun all day.

Children need an efficient beach stroller, but it’s hard for parents to make the best choice when the market is full of options.

To aid your decision, we’ve reviewed five of the best beach strollers to make beach vacations easier for you and your family.

Here are our top picks for baby beach strollers.

Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger

We chose the Baby Trend Expedition stroller because of its design and ease of use when you have two children.

This stroller is a side-by-side double stroller. While it doesn’t have reversibility options, the Baby Trend Expedition has multiple position seat reclines so your children are as comfortable as possible when they face forward.

The seats include a 5-point safety harness, so your children are safe on your beach journey. The ratcheting shade canopy protects your children’s heads and torsos from the harsh sun.

The wheels are 16 inches in the back and 12 inches in the front, making them great all-terrain wheels that can handle beach sand. The wheels also lock with a foot-activated rear brake, so your stroller won’t roll off anywhere when you’re not looking.

With the Baby Trend Expedition’s quick, compact fold, you don’t have to struggle to take the stroller down. Shake off all the sand, engage the trigger fold, and you can easily store the stroller in the back of your car, put it in an RV, or place in the back of a pick-up truck.

Things We Like:

• Large canopy
• Removable padded bars in front of children
• Folds into a very compact form
• Two cup holders for parents
• Large wheels

Things We Don’t:

• Doesn’t fit through a doorway (although the added width gives more space to your kids)
• Not a lot of growing room

Baby Jogger 2016 City Mini GT Single Stroller

Another three-wheels jogging stroller, except this one’s built for one kid.

The Baby Jogger City Mini GT patented quick fold technology makes setting up and taking down this stroller a breeze. It’s lightweight, so you can fold and unfold it with one hand.

When your kids get messy or the stroller gets dirty, the seats can be washed with cold water on your washing machine’s delicate cycle, then attached back to the stroller to dry.

The padded seats recline with a near flat position, allowing your kids to take a nap if they’ve tired themselves out at the beach. The deep UV 50+ canopy on top protects their head from the sun while also providing a dark environment to help them nap.

The canopy has a peek-a-boo window so you can check in on your child when walking. The stroller’s adjustable handlebars accommodate people of all heights — which is especially useful if you and your husband have a considerable height difference.

The Baby Jogger City Mini GT holds up to 65 pounds, allowing your child to grow with the stroller for the first few years of their life. The stroller accepts infant car seats when you want transporting your child to not include unstrapping and strapping them back into their seat or stroller.

Things We Like:

• Rugged all-terrain wheels good for city life and beach vacations
• Adjustable handlebars
• Large UV 50+ canopy with peek-a-boo window
• Lightweight with one-handed fold and unfold
• Holds up to 65 pounds

Things We Don’t:

• Seats incline back rather than stand upright; your child will have to lean forward to see sights
• Storage basket underneath is small
• Difficult to fold or unfold one handed when the baby is in your arms

Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System

The Baby Trend Expedition LX has the same high-quality build as its Double Jogger counterpart but with the functionality of a travel system designed for one child.

The Expedition LX comes with the Baby Trend Flex Lock infant car seat to use with your 3-wheel base. Easily slip the car seat into the stroller when you head to the beach so you don’t have to unstrap your child only to strap them back in again.

The stroller can be folded easily with just one hand. There’s a small red lever on the side of the jogger that you pull to collapse the frame. Then just bend it down, lock it in place, and you’re good to pick it up while still holding your child with the other arm.

The Expedition LX has a convenient parent tray near the stroller’s handles. There are two cup holders for water bottles and a covered pocket in which you can put your phone, keys, and other necessary items. Items in the pocket are covered and out of site, protecting them from beach sand, salt water, and theft. The stroller comes with a child tray as well.

The front wheel locks in place, so you don’t have to worry about deep sand snagging it. The back wheels are large and air-filled. The wheels will masterfully glide along the tops of sand.

The deep canopy protects your kid from the sun up top, but can also be adjusted to protect directly in front of your children. A front canopy would be useful on a windy day that blows a lot of sand at your child, so the canopy can protect sand from entering your children’s eyes and mouth.

Things We Like:

• Quick one-handed folding mechanism
• Deep canopy that protects up top but also in front of children
• Parent tray and cup holders along with child snack tray included
• Large wheels; the front wheel can lock in place

Things We Don’t:

• Stroller or car seat back not cushioned well
• Child tray doesn’t remove completely
• Must recline stroller seat back when folding it or putting a car seat in it, or else it will snap the seat back

BOB Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller

This stroller from BOB has a locking swivel-front wheel that will stabilize your journey over sand. You can quickly unlock it again if you decide to travel along a hard-surfaced boardwalk or shopping center.

The air-filled tires are in the mountain bike style suspension system. No matter what terrain you encounter at the beach, you can quickly glide over it.

The handlebars are adjustable and accommodate parents of all heights. You can easily recline your child’s seat back with just one hand, and the two-step fold allows you to stow the stroller once the beach journey has finished.

The ventilated, padded system keep your kids cool and comfortable. The extra-large UPF 50+ protect them from the dangerous sun.

The BOB Revolution Flex Jogging stroller accommodates children up to 75 pounds, giving you plenty of grow room on this stroller.

Things We Like:

• Huge canopy to protect kids from the sun
• Air-filled tires and mountain bike style suspension system; the front wheel also locks
• Good padding and ventilation system so children stay comfortable
• Ample grow room for your child

Things We Don’t:

• Shock absorbers can get squeaky
• Tires deflate rather quickly, so bring an air pump

Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller

This lightweight stroller from Joovy Zoom is made from aircraft aluminum, providing a 10% lighter frame than the stroller’s predecessor.

The swivel wheel can lock in place for safety while jogging and on the beach. The stroller’s suspension system smooths out any bumpy ride and provides a comfortable experience for your little one.

The lightweight mesh not only further reduces the stroller’s weight but keeps your child cool and ventilated while on the beach. The mesh on the footrest prevents the area from getting soggy or sticky with the child’s sweat.

The updated canopy with a covered window offers great sun protection, and the stroller has plenty of in-seat and other storage areas to hold any items necessary for a beach vacation.

Things We Like:

• Incredibly lightweight stroller
• Huge canopy to protect kids from the elements
• Lots of pockets for snacks, food, and water
• Well padded and ventilated carriage
• Locking front wheel

Things We Don’t:

• Folding mechanism is a little more cumbersome in person.
• The back seat comes shorter than described online. The company says it’s a 20 inch back, but it measures in at 18 inches, which can be a problem for larger children.
• Confusing directions make it hard to set up at first.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Beach Stroller

You probably have a regular day-to-day stroller at home, so you’re wondering why you need to get a beach stroller. Here’s more information about why beach strollers are important.

Why Are Beach Strollers Necessary?

Beach strollers are just as important on the beach as they are in daily life. With small kids, you have a lot of items to carry around for their needs: food, diapers, changes in clothes, small toys, and more. Rather than holding your child and carry all their items in bags, you can put your kids and their things on a stroller and push them along.

Strollers free up your hands and body and reduce straining your muscles because of the added weight. Parenting can damage your body because of the repetitive arm movements and back usage. Strain is exacerbated on the beach since sand is harder to walk on and you wind up exerting more energy to move through it.

Not all strollers are made equally for the beach, though. Some strollers jam up and won’t move because of the sand. Others don’t have canopies deep enough to shade your kids from the harsh beach sun, which can put your kids at risk for sun-related illnesses such as sunburn, sunstroke, and even skin cancer.

Strollers designed for a variety of terrains save you and your kids headaches while you’re supposed to relax on the sunny beach.

What Does a Stroller Have to Have to be Ready for the Beach?

It’s all in the wheels, as sand will be a stroller’s biggest enemy. Otherwise, you’ll use your stroller to carry your child and items normally.

Most stroller front wheels swivel as they turn. When on flat ground, this gives you more control over where the stroller goes and lets you more agilely move your child through your surroundings.

Swivel wheels will be annoying on the beach. Sand isn’t as accommodating to swivel wheels than concrete or tile floors are. It’s very likely that the sand’s bumpiness can cause one wheel to turn one way, another wheel to turn another way, and prevent the stroller from moving forward.

To reduce the chance of sand ruining your stroller usage, find a stroller that allows you to lock the front wheels in place while still letting the wheels roll. Without the swivel, you’re less likely to get bogged down in the sand.

Another important aspect is the stroller’s wheels, but I’ve dedicated a whole other section to explain this.

What Kind of Wheels Are Important in a Beach Stroller?

The 3-wheel design means less weight is distributed among two opposite corners. With one wheel in front, with the back to wheels larger, the children’s weight is distributed down so it can cut through the sandy terrain.

The larger wheels also mean that they’re less likely to jam up. If you’ve ever tried to move a locked shoulder wheel, you know how frustrating it can be to have the stroller wheels skid across the floor rather than glide across it. When you enter sandy terrain, there’s a greater chance of the wheels locking up and not going anywhere.

This can be frustrating for parents who are then forced to drag their stroller, children and all, around the beach, exerting more effort than if wheels would work and simply roll across the sand. Wheel design is crucial for beach strollers.

Large, air-filled wheels are the best option for the beach. The air keeps them light and float on top of the sand rather than sink into it. Most air tires have good traction on them too, which further prevents your stroller from getting bogged down in the sand.

The wheels make the stroller. To how stroller wheels affect how strollers can maneuver different terrain, check out this article.

What Other Safety is Important in Beach Strollers?

Aside from sun safety for your children and muscular safety for you, another huge issue on the beach is having enough water for everyone.

Dehydration is a big issue on the beach. Not only is the sun beating down on you and you’re likely going on a hot day, but entering salt water dehydrates your skin. You and your children can accidentally swallow small amounts of salt water, which makes the water in your body go to the salt because of osmosis.

While you know when you’re thirsty, it might not be as obvious for your children. Dehydration can seriously harm your kids during or after the beach trip. Have a stroller that gives you plenty of cupholders to replenish your children’s water levels and prevent them from getting dehydrated while at the beach.

Learn to spot the signs of dehydration in toddlers. While a trip to the beach is fun, it shouldn’t harm your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve asked, we’ve answered.

Are Jogging Strollers Okay for the Beach?

Yes. Most of the strollers recommended for the beach will be all-terrain jogging strollers. Jogging strollers usually come with three wheels, and the all-terrain wheels mean that the stroller will be able to handle sand much better than non-rugged wheels. Put together, jogging strollers are better than non-jogging strollers for beach use.

Will Sand Damage My Stroller?

You’ve likely heard that sand can damage your car or other big vehicles. While a stroller is certainly a vehicle of its own, it’s not likely that sand will damage your stroller joints.

Strollers are usually made with rubber tires and aluminum frames. Enough sand rubbing together can definitely damage the frame, but it would take years of consistent use before any noticeable damage to the stroller occurs. If anything, the sand will fall away if you don’t live near a beach.

Still, it’s best to rinse off the sandy parts of your stroller wheels to prevent any sand damage.

The Verdict

While each stroller has its own strong points, I’m going with the BOB Revolution Flex Jogging stroller as the best beach stroller. If you had your mind set on a double stroller, though, the Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger is another fantastic choice.

The BOB Revolution Flex has got everything you need: a lightweight design, great canopy, locking front wheel, air-filled tires with a great suspension system, and an overall great look. The BOB stroller doesn’t break the bank, so most parents can afford one.

Your child not only sits fully upright but can decline to a nearly horizontal position. The foot brake makes it easy to keep the stroller in place while you check in with your little one. And you can’t beat the all-terrain air-filled wheels.

The BOB stroller will be perfect for everyday use or a weekend getaway to the beach. You can buy the BOB Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller here.

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