Baby Jogger City Select 2 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Baby Jogger City Select 2 | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Full-Size Stroller | Best Double Duty Jogger | Lower Price Impressive Full-Size Stroller | Budget Full-Size For Growing Families | |
Price | $670 List | $700 List $699.99 at Amazon | $650 List $563.62 at Amazon | $650 List $552.76 at Amazon | $350 List $299.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This city-friendly stroller is better for two, given the weight, which makes it harder to push if you only have one child | A quality choice that uses thoughtful design to create an easy-to-use option, but it has a higher price and a larger fold | This jogger is a dual-purpose choice with better storage and easy maneuverability over most surfaces | While it performs well on flat surfaces, this high-quality option struggles off-road if those are your goals | A budget-friendly expandable stroller with good storage but limited other features and a heavier weight |
Rating Categories | Baby Jogger City Se... | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand |
Ease of Use (40%) | |||||
Maneuverability (25%) | |||||
Transport/Storing (15%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Kid's Comfort (10%) | |||||
Specs | Baby Jogger City Se... | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand |
Capacity Limits | Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 45 lb/40 in |
Minimum: 3 months Maximum: 50 lbs |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 49 lbs/ 44 in |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs/43" |
Measured Weight | 27 lbs | 25 lbs | 26 lbs | 25 lbs | 30 lbs |
Measured Folded Dimensions | 24.25"W x 12"H x 33"L | 22.9"W x 16.5"H x 33"L | 27.2"W x 15.5"H x 36.5"L | 24"W x 16"H x 31"L | 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L |
Folded Volume | 9,603 cu in | 12,469 cu in | 15,388 cu in | 11,904 cu in | 16,790 cu in |
Handlebar Height Min/Max | 41"/43" | 40"/43" | 30"/46" | 39.5"/43" | 33"/44.7" |
Mfr. Max Allowable Total Storage Weight | 17 lbs | 30 lbs | 14 lbs | 24 lbs | 11 lbs |
Car Seat Compatibility | Baby Jogger City GO 2, City G) 3, City GO Air Britax B-Safe 35, B-Safe Ultra, Endeavours Chicco Fit2, Fit2 LE, KeyFit, KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit 30 Zip Air Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, SnugRide Click Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect 35 LX, SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite, SnugRide SnugLock 35 Platinum, All other Click Connect Nuna PIPA, PIPA Lite LX, PIPA RX, PIPA Lite, PIPA Lite R UPPAbaby |
Chicco KeyFit 35, KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit 30 Zip Air, Fit2, Fit2 LE, Fit2 Air Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, Aton M Clek Liing Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Mico AP, Mico Max Plus Nuna PIPA, PIPA lite, PIPA lite lx, PIPA lite r, PIPA rx, PIPA lite rx, PIPA urbn UPPAbaby Mesa |
BOB Unity Britax Affinity Unity, B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone, Unity, Unity ISOFIX Compatible Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30, 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 Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Pebble Nuna Pipa 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 |
Cybex (All) Maxi Cosi Mico 30, Maxi Cosi Mico Max, Maxi Cosi Coral XP Nuna Pipa lite |
Chicco KeyFit/KeyFit 30 Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Graco all with SnugRide, SnugLock 30/35 Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 |
Wheel Type | Foam Filled Plastic | Foam Filled Plastic | Pneumatic | Foam Filled Plastic | Foam Filled Plastic |
Brake Type | Single | Single | Single | Single | Single |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Baby Jogger launched in 1984 with a desire to go jogging with babies. With a lack of potential jogging options, a couple of parents designed one of the first best jogging strollers. The Baby Jogger company has offered various strolling options for versatile activities, even those outside of jogging. In 2015, the company was bought by the Newell Rubbermaid company, and they continue to create popular strollers, though very few you can still use for jogging.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
The Select earned an average performance result for ease of use. It is not an inspired stroller, but it isn't likely to make you cry in a parking lot, either.
Fold and Unfold
This stroller requires two hands to fold because of the double-sided fold handles. It is also cumbersome and harder to manage (even more challenging if you have a baby). It doesn't self-stand when folded, which means you have to bend to the ground to pick it up, and this could be hard for new moms if they undergo a C-section.
Storage
The storage on the Select is better than most. We could fit a large diaper bag inside, and the maximum allowable limit is 15 lbs.
Access isn't a problem, and there is a zipper you can use to make things better. The seatback has a pocket that can hold two pounds but isn't large enough for thicker items.
Harness
Like the other Baby Jogger harness we tested, this one also is more challenging to make big adjustments to the shoulder portions. It isn't impossible; it's just harder than competitors. Smaller adjustments are similar to others and easier to accomplish.
It has padded sleeves on the shoulder straps and the back of the crotch strap. The shoulder straps and hip straps come together before snapping into the crotch strap, which could be harder if your baby doesn't want to be buckled.
Brakes
The Select has single-action brakes that are easy on the foot, even when lifting with the top of the foot to release the brake. Because it requires lifting from underneath with the top of the foot, open-toed sandals might be more challenging, or they could mar the top of the shoes.
Car Seat Compatibility
The Select comes compatible with some Baby Jogger car seats. It can also be paired with some seats from other brands, including Britax, Chicco, Graco, Nuna, and UPPAbaby.
Ease of Setup
If you're comfortable assembling things, the Select takes 5-10 minutes to assemble. It requires no tools, and the documentation is straightforward and unconfusing.
Maneuverability
The Select is a bigger stroller suitable for multiple seats, and this makes the frame larger, so it has a little frame flex but not as much as some others. It moved well on hard surfaces, cords, and thresholds without a hiccup.
It continued to perform well when moving on grass and gravel as well. While not as much of a standout as strollers with pneumatic rubber tires, it did surprisingly better than we thought it would, given the smaller wheels.
The adjustable handlebar makes pushing somewhat easier since you can adjust it for height. It is a telescoping bar that puts taller pushers away from the stroller, which is what we prefer.
Because the wheels are on the small side, especially when you consider how much weight you might be pushing, we had to do a lot of pop-ups to get it over some transitions and curbs. It is going to struggle with more weight in the seat.
Transporting and Storing
The Select is just above average in size and folded weight. This is not surprising given its ability to expand for a growing family.
It weighs 27.19 lb with one seat in place. This makes it one of the heavier options in the group. Again, it is somewhat lighter than other strollers that can be double strollers; it isn't light and could be a deal-breaker if you only plan to push one. Why bother with the added size? It is smaller when folded than most at 9,603 cubic inches. It folds fairly flat and could fit where other options don't.
Quality
The Select is not a high-ticket item for this kind of stroller, but the quality is somewhat better than its cost implies, comparatively.
The wheels are foam-filled plastic, which can dent. They seem small for a stroller of this size and are not grippy. The front wheels are a bit wider than others, which should help it navigate grass and other uneven terrain, but they still aren't impressive overall.
The Select has soft microfiber material on the seat with the same on the shoulders and crotch pad sleeves. The canopy is more like a rainjacket-type material on the inside with softer material outside. The seating area is a sling-style seat with some padding for comfort.
The overall fit and finish are pretty good, with few exposed fasteners and an extruded aluminum frame. There is not much flex (surprising given the size, and the metal frame is integrated into plastic joints that include folding hinges.
Kid's Comfort
The Select performed well for kid comfort in our tests. The canopy is large with a mesh peek-a-boo window suitable for ventilation, chatting, or peeking. It has a magnetic closing cover.
The seat reclines enough for comfortable sleeping and adjusts using a button on the back with one hand up and down. It has four preset positions, and the entire seat recline, including the leg rest, which might be more comfortable for some children. The seat is one piece with a hingeing leg rest that is also adjustable. It has five positions, is lightly padded, and has a frame that can help keep legs on the rest.
Should You Buy the Baby Jogger City Select 2?
The City Select 2 is an attractive option for parents considering family growth or the need to push multiples. Compared to higher-ranking competitors, it has a significantly lower price and rolls well on flat surfaces. The problem with this stroller is it struggles to keep up with the competition in key areas. It doesn't move on uneven surfaces as well as some of the competition, and it's heavy and large when folded with the seats in place. It is not a good choice for those with a single child or those who plan only to push one. If you have a growing family or multiples, it still isn't the best choice as others are cheaper or move better.
What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?
If you think the City Select is a potential option, the Mockingbird Stroller is also one for your shortlist. With the same overall score and similar metric test results, the Mockingbird is a great competitor that also grows with your family. The best part is it costs less. While it is heavier and larger, it could still be a better fit if your budget is smaller. If you only need a stroller for one, we suspect you'd be more pleased with the UPPAbaby Cruz v2, which scored much higher and has a similar price.