May 8, 2023

Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Travel System

Living in town with only one car, we rely on our stroller a lot to get around.  Whether for a quick walk to preschool or the park, or a longer stroll around town, our strollers get a lot of use in our family, especially that Jude is too heavy to carry now.

One challenge of living in town is the number of sidewalks we have to navigate.  Considering that most of them are at least 20 years old, that means that there are lots of cracks, ruts, and un-sloped curbs to deal with.  And even the dreaded train tracks, which bother small-wheeled strollers.
While our previous strollers have done ok with these challenges, it wasn't until I tested out Graco's new FastAction Fold Jogger stroller (their first jogger) that I realized how easy it can be to get around town with a stroller, even in difficult terrain (hello damp, unmowed t-ball field).
The FastAction Jogger is the easiest, smoothest stroller I've ever owned.  It's air-filled, rubber bicycle wheels are comparable to other joggers, but are great at navigating all kinds of surfaces.
The front wheel swivels for smooth turning while walking, but can be locked for jogging for more security.  It also has reflectors on its wheels and body, promoting safety.
I like that the handlebar is high and comfortable, especially for jogging or running.  There's a tether that is stored in the lower basket, so if you are out running you don't have to worry about the stroller getting away from you.

Other features I like include the smart phone/mp3 player holder, which adjusts for various models and configurations and keeps your device secure and close by when using the stroller. It's especially helpful when you want to jog and listen to music, since your mp3 player is accessible and stable.
Underneath the holder is a secure storage container for items like keys or your wallet.
You can also see two cup holders alongside the storage unit which are helpful for bringing along a water bottle.

From this "parent command center", you get a good view of your child when the canopy is up via the mesh "window" in the material.  This can be closed off too with a fabric panel that rolls up and attaches to a velcro tab on the canopy.
I do wish that the canopy did come over the child a little further, like my other Graco stroller (you can pivot it enough that it touches the child tray in the front);  it doesn't shade my son's eyes when the sun is low in the sky.
It's possible that a canopy that goes too low may be a danger when jogging--I'm not sure.

Another feature I like: the generous basket underneath the stroller.
It's held a diaper bag, jackets, drinks, all simultaneously.  I'd say it's the roomiest basket on a stroller that I've owned, and easy to access too.  And unlike other strollers, there is plenty of clearance above it and the ground, so it doesn't wear away the fabric, which happened with another stroller we own.

Like many Graco strollers, the FastAction Jogger has built-in ClickConnect technology that allows parents of infants to easily pop their infant car seat into the stroller. 
The FastAction Jogger comes with the Graco Travel System, including a matching SnugRide ClickConnect 35 car seat
and base to be installed in the car.
New parents then equipped to burn calories and enjoy some beneficial fresh air with their baby.  Though I didn't use this with Jude, since he's nearly 2, I appreciated how easy it was to snap the seat securely into the stroller.  And if you happen to have another Graco ClickConnect car seat, it's also usable in the FastAction Jogger.
Graco® Click Connect™ infant car seats

If your baby is napping, simply close the canopy on the car seat and the canopy on the FastAction jogger to give your baby darkness and minimize distractions.
From the child's point-of-view, the FastAction Jogger is well-designed.
The cup holder and snack tray keep food and drink conveniently accessible for children.  The 5-point harness system keeps them safely inside the stroller, and the reclining seat allows you to customize the angle that your child is comfortable sitting or napping in.  The tray swivels up so you can easily get your child out of the stroller when the time comes.

As for folding the stroller for storage, it doesn't get any simpler.  I've long admired Graco's ease-ful designs for folding strollers (our reliable Quattro Tour stroller is so easy to store), so naturally I expected that the FastAction Jogger would be easy to travel with.  I wasn't disappointed, as the stroller folds with one hand in a few seconds. 
Plus it stands upright on its own without falling over.  It can be a little large for transporting in a trunk, but with some effort it does fit into our small Ford Focus.

If I could go back to when I was pregnant with my first child, I would have chosen a stroller like the FastAction Jogger one to get me through the infant and toddler years.  It's so much easier to use than a standard stroller, and convenient for accepting an infant car seat.  I think this stroller could have made those early, difficult days as a new parent a little more bearable, knowing I could go anywhere easily with my baby, and possibly have those cushiony tires put him to sleep (remind me to share the traumatic stories of the literal bumps in the road and my eldest's screams during walks).  For $300, you could be done with strollers and travel systems in just one purchase.

You can get more info via the Graco website, and can purchase the Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Travel System at retailers online and in store.  The Piazza design, which is highlighted in this review, is exclusively found at BuyBuyBaby.  Follow @GracoBaby on Twitter or on Facebook.
Disclosure: As a member of the Graco Nation Ambassador Program, I received a FastAction Jogger Travel System for review.  All opinions are my own.

3 comments:

  1. I just bought the same stroller, the orange one actually.. and took it out for the first time today. I love it- it's so easy to push, the kickstand and one-handed folding are awesome! You wrote everything I was thinking about it myself. I have the same phone, which went right in the holder. Aand.. actually, the same car (although I don't know which model of Focus you have).. I found it fits well, but I had to take one of the back tires off in order to get the trunk to close.

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  2. This looks like a great system! It is hard to find strollers that can handle "off-road" moments :)

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  3. I'm impressed with how easily it folds and how sleek it is for a reasonably-priced stroller.

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