The Baby Trend Xcel Jogger Stroller is indeed one of the most affordable jogging strollers on the market today. But is it really worth it or will you just end up wasting your money on this?
It is quite normal for us to have second thoughts on cheap items these days. Most of them tend to break down easily after weeks, or even days, of use.
In this review article, we will get into details about this product line from Baby Trend. You’ll also get to know why we have considered this Baby Trend Xcel as one of the cheapest yet durable models available these days.
Baby Trend Xcel Jogger Stroller Review
Like any other jogging strollers, the Xcel models from Baby Trend have three bicycle tires that help to soften the ride on uneven surfaces. The front wheel can be locked for jogging or unlocked when moving at walking speed.
It has a reclining seat, a child tray and storage bin underneath the seat. However, compared to other models, this jogger costs only less than 100 bucks. It is the best choice for those who are tight on their budget but would love to start getting active again.
In the following sections, we will be going into the specifics of this model. Is it compatible for use with car seats? Is it easy to fold and store in the car’s trunk? We will be answering more practical questions along the way.
Who Can Use This Jogging Stroller?
This section will help you determine if your child can actually use the stroller. This will also help you check if this is something you can comfortably push while running or jogging.
Babies and Toddlers
The Baby Trend Xcel can accommodate a child 6 months and older, weighing up to to 50 lbs. According to Baby Center, the average weight of a child who is 7 years of age is around 45.6 to 56.8 lbs. This means most 6-year old children can definitely ride this jogger.
This model can take in children who are taller than usual. In fact, it can accommodate a child up to 43 inches tall (the average height of a 5-year-old boy).
The seat is not built for babies less than 6 months old. If you want to bring your baby along with you, you can use a car seat instead and attach it to this jogger. However, you can only use Baby Trend infant car seats. This is an important factor to keep in mind especially if you have a car seat from a different brand.
You can actually purchase this jogger as a complete travel system to make sure you have a compatible car seat. In fact, this is one of our recommended jogging strollers that include a car seat in the market today.
Parents
Most premium jogging strollers have adjustable handlebars for parents of different heights. Unfortunately, this Xcel jogger doesn’t have this feature. This may seem to be a big drawback but to tell you the truth, even most mid-range joggers don’t have an adjustable handlebar.
However, the height is specifically designed to accommodate even taller parents. If you’re around 6’3” tall, you’ll find this jogger quite comfortable to push without hunching over.
When you want to park this jogger, you will have to step on the foot brakes on either side of the rear wheels. It may not be as easy as having a handbrake, but unless you’re planning to go jogging on hilly terrains a foot brake should be alright.
How Comfy Is The Ride?
Even if your child can fit the stroller, it must comfy for him or her to ride on. Additionally, the push factor should also be considered. You certainly don’t want to get too tired pushing the jogger and end up not doing the entirety of your scheduled workout.
Tires
The Baby Trend Xcel jogger stroller has 2 large tires at the rear and one small at the front. All of these tires are made of rubber and filled with air, similar to bike tires. Although there is no additional suspension, the large rear tires are already great shock absorbers on their own.
The front wheel can be locked or unlocked easily with a switch located directly above the wheel itself. Pushing the button down will unlock it while pushing it upwards will engage the locking device.
Locking the front wheel allows this stroller to be easily maneuvered while walking at the park, or to stay in place while you’re jogging or running.
You can easily push the stroller through rough surfaces like grass, gravel, or even dirt trails. If you’re planning to bring this to the beach, though, you’ll certainly find it challenging depending on how loose the sand is. It is certainly better than a regular stroller, but it’s still not as effortless as the high-end models.
Reclining Positions
The seat is equipped with a 5-point harness for your child’s safety. It has good padding underneath and at the back so your little one can enjoy the long walks without getting uncomfortable.
The seat can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the strap on the back. For instance, if you want to adjust it to a more upright position, you can pull the strap while pressing the seat upward. There is no set reclining position, so you can adjust it freely.
However, it can not recline all the way down to make it flat nor can it be made to go fully upright at a 90-degree angle. It can go nearly all the way down or up, though.
Canopy
The canopy is not as wide or big as other brands, but it still does well in keeping your child protected from the sun and the wind. You can adjust it to move to the front, all the way down to the child’s tray. You can jog early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is low on the horizon.
If you want to quickly check your child while you’re pushing, you can do so easily with the peekaboo window. This small window is located on the top of the canopy and can be kept open for your convenience.
What Are The Additional Features and Designs?
In this section, you will learn about the available designs and colors for the Xcel product line. We will also be pointing out the additional features that are exclusive to this model only.
The fabric cannot be removed for cleaning, but fortunately, you don’t have to do at all. This jogger is designed to have minimal nooks and crannies for food to get stuck on. Simply wiping or hosing down the jogger will do, which makes it very easy to clean.
Parent Tray/Baby Tray
Perhaps one of the biggest shortcoming for this jogger is that it doesn’t come with a full parent tray. Instead, there is only a single cup holder attached at the middle of the handle bar.
If you want a tray to hold on to your keys or phone, you will need to buy a separate stroller organizer bag.
The child tray is a different thing, though. It is a full tray that can be easily removed. It has 2 cup holders on either end as well.
Storage
The storage basket underneath the seat is big enough for a small diaper bag and other small toys. Its dimension is around 18 x 24 inches.
It can safely carry a weight of up to 5 lbs. Going beyond this weight limit may cause undue stress to the jogger and may affect its performance.
How Bulky Is This Jogging Stroller?
This is another important factor to consider, which often overlooked by a lot of people. The jogger must be easy to fold and must fit your vehicle in the first place.
Folding and Unfolding
The Xcel jogger has a dimension of 21 x 47 x 41 inches (W x L x H) when unfolded. The stroller weighs around 29 lbs, which is equivalent to around 13 kgs only. This makes it easy to lift in and out of your trunk.
Folding this jogger requires you to use both of your hands. You essentially need to simultaneously pull the trigger mechanism on both ends of the frame where the handlebar is attached.
It does fold easily but does not give you the convenience of doing it with just one hand. You will have to put your little one down to be able to fold this jogger.
Storing and Transport
This jogging stroller may weigh no more than 30 lbs but it’s definitely bulky. It can definitely occupy a lot of space in a sedan’s trunk. Some people ended up having to put it in the backseat when traveling. Expect it to occupy about 1/3 of space of a normal-sized SUV.
If you want to have more trunk space for your other things, you can remove the rear wheels to make this jogger more compact. They can be removed or attached without no additional tools needed, they just snap in place.
Consumer Ratings
The Xcel Jogging Stroller from Baby Trend has a high rating on Amazon from customers who bought and left a review. Around 85% of these reviewers gave it 4 to 5 stars. They are mostly satisfied with how easy it is to push the stroller, aside from the very affordable price.
Most customers who gave 1 to 2-star rating are dissatisfied because of a defective unit that they received. The good thing about getting this item from Amazon is that you can easily return it if it’s defective.
If you want a second or third opinion before buying this jogging stroller, we recommend that you check other Amazon customer reviews as well.
Pros
- Very affordable, if not the cheapest jogging stroller
- Can be pushed easily across gravel and dirt roads
- Large rubber tires offer ample suspension
- Canopy can be adjusted fully forward
Cons
- Handlebars are not adjustable
- Does not include a standard parent tray
Final Words
There are certainly a lot of jogging stroller models out in the market today, but if you are quite short on your budget this is definitely a good choice. It is one of our most affordable joggers to buy that you can get these days.
The Baby Trend Xcel Jogger Stroller is a cheap yet durable jogger. Its design allows you to effortlessly push it through rough surfaces while your child enjoys the smooth and comfortable ride. It folds and cleans easily as well. In our book and a lot of satisfied customers as well, this jogger is quite a steal.