Baby Jogger Summit X3 Review

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

We've tested more than 30 jogging strollers, putting them each through a rigorous side-by-side comparison process, to find the very best.

Credit: BabyGearLab

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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