Baby Jogger - city mini® GT3 stroller

See if you can find a used Baby Jogger City Mini to use for your trip and resell afterwards (or keep!). I got one for free second hand from a coworker. Didn’t think much of it, but MAN can that thing handle all the bumps and crazy tree roots in our neighborhood. We can take it on trails even. It’s slimmer than our main stroller (Nuna Tavo), less storage space, but handles amazingly well. Our Nuna is actually terrible at getting over tree roots or uneven sidewalks.

Baby jogger City Mini GT seemed to be best happy medium of price and performance… and we lived in an urban environment with lots of walking, often uneven sidewalks of a gentrifying area.

I’m just going to be honest, I think the bassinet attachments are a waste. Most strollers will take a bucket car seat with an adapter, and the stroller bassinets are so expensive to only use for a few months. We got the Chico key fit bucket car seat and a baby jogger city mini stroller. Love it. I also suggest checking out wirecutter reviews for baby gear. You’ll get 100 different opinions on here, and it’s nice to see a neutral review of things like durability and price point.

We got a secondhand Baby Jogger City Mini for a trip to Florida – definitely not rugged terrain, but the stroller was durable and comfortable (and I read that these are the ones Disney rents out at their parks for those reasons, but can’t confirm 100%). More importantly, I’d suggest going secondhand because it’ll likely get beat up in transit. You can also get a travel bag to pop it in at the gate to help keep it clean.

GT city mini! Got mine used for $90 with snack tray & it was perfect for Disney. My son was almost 2 but he’s 38lb so he’s huge!

I'm just a mom who never left this sub with a 5 and 7 year old. I've had the Citi Mini jogger since my daughter was born. Now admittedly it never got particularly heavy heavy use. But it's still holding up. I just used it in Universal with my 5 year old. I thought the wheel was busted but turns out im dumb and it was just locked. I personally used convertible carseats from the start; but there are adaptors you can use to click into this stroller. It lies flat so I just kept it flat when they were tiny; i may have used some kind of cushioning when they were peanuts but I dont remember. Solid stroller, not crazy expensive.

I know it’s not exactly what you asked but we heard about lots of people being told they must gate check their tiny, expensive stroller, which seems like a recipe for damage. We didn’t want that stress so we bought a used baby jogger city mini, wheel it up to the gate, then gate check. It’s not precious because it was only $50 and it is very sturdy. We’ve gate checked it about 10 times with no damage. The nice thing is if you’re not trying to hide an expensive folding stroller from the gate agents, you can actually USE the stroller around the airport and right up to the gate.

We did something different and got a second hand baby jogger city mini. We rolled it right up to the place, gate checked it, and then picked it up on the other side. Because they are cheap second hand (ours was $50) we weren’t too worried about damage and then you get a solid stroller to use on your trip. It folds easily with one hand which made it easy to navigate steep and narrow stairs in the Netherlands. It’s my understanding that travel strollers often have a complicated fold and it’s not uncommon to be told you must check in anyway, which potentially puts a fragile and very expensive stroller in the hold without any protection.

We use a second hand baby jogger city mini as a travel stroller (our day to day stroller is a vista). The city mini has a pretty wide wheelbase at the back but is much narrower than the vista at the front. It’s not small but it folds super easily (one hand) and is sturdy. My main complaint is the basket under the seat is tiny compared the vista. It was only $50 so we’re not precious about it and it can be thrown under a plane or bus without much worry.

Ok, not what you asked but here is what we did for a one month Europe trip with a one year old. For context, we traveled to France, Italy, the Netherlands and England with 7 major cities plus numerous day trips. We traveled entirely by mass transit (plane, train, metro, bus and boat) and did not bring a car seat. We traveled with only carry-on luggage to make all this possible (this took discipline but made it so much easier to go anywhere and everywhere). We took a second hand baby jogger city mini purchased for $50 off facebook marketplace and had no regrets. It’s not a travel stroller but I think it worked well for our trip and avoided many of the compromises you need to make with tiny travel strollers. Benefits: - lie-flat seat for on the go naps - decent cargo space (nothing like the vista, which is out at home stroller, but better than many travel options) - excellent sun shade. Depending on when you’re traveling to Europe, this is important. We were there in September in October and the weather was as hot as 30c and without the shade the baby would have been cooked. - super easy one hand fold when needing to get on public transit or into non-stroller accessible accommodations. We encountered metro stations in Paris with only stairs extremely narrow gates that would not allow any size stroller through so the only option was to fold. We stayed in a 4th floor walk up apartment in Rotterdam that would require folding any stroller to bring it in and out of the apartment. This is also super nice when gate checking the stroller. You can roll up to the gate and onto the bridge and fold instantly when you get to the plane doors. - sturdy enough to use as a luggage cart when the baby was fussy and needed to be carried. - not precious or expensive, and ok to put in a plane hold. While some of these other options could be folded small enough to be used as a carry on bag, there is always the risk there won’t be enough space for carry on luggage and you’ll be forced to check it and then your expensive tiny stroller may be damaged. - big wheels that handled cobblestones without issue Drawbacks: - cargo space is limited compared to the vista. We ended up hanging our diaper bag from the handle for easy access (it says not to do this lol). With weight on the handle it can be tippy if there’s not baby in the seat to weigh it down. - in a few instances we gate checked the stroller and then it wasn’t returned to us at the gate so we had to go to the baggage carousel to pick up the stroller. In Rome, the carousel was super far from our gate so it was a long trek with the baby and our carry on luggage. - it was occasionally a bit big for narrower shops, though this was seldom a problem. We weren’t on a super strict budget but it was also nice to save hundreds of dollars on the stroller when traveling for a month in Western Europe. We spent part of the savings on a super portable baby carrier (Tula lite - highly recommend though your baby may be on the big side for it now).

We got a stroller that could clip to our car seat. We looked at travel strollers but a lot of them are not super sturdy, have little space for cargo, don’t lie flat, and they can be tricky to fold. In the end we settled on a used baby jogger city mini as our travel strollers. It’s not compact, but the one handed fold is awesome for when you need to collapse your stroller for public transit or to carry up the stairs (hello Netherlands). It has space to carry the diaper bag, it lays flat and has an awesome shade for naps, and it has big wheels so is good for a variety of terrain and longer walks. We got ours used so it’s not precious and we just gate check it without a bag or cover.

We took a totally different approach, which was to get the stroller we wanted for at home and to get a rugged stroller for cheap second hand for travel. We got a baby jogger city mini for travel for $50 on marketplace. It’s large but it folds so easily with one hand and it has some other features that are great for travel like a very good sunshade and a decent cargo basket. We were also able to get an adapter for our baby bucket car seat which was awesome. We gate check it without a bag. It’s flown around 10 times and is so far still going strong.

Nicer strollers tend to be roomy for the baby but still light weight and easy to maneuver and fold/unfold for the adult. The Graco stroller that came with our infant carseat had these stupid plastic wheels that were terrible for any terrain. The shade didn’t come out far enough or stay in place. We got a hand me down baby jogger city mini gt, which I think is a mid range stroller, and it’s so much better. It doesn’t fold quite as small but is still compact. It’s very smooth and easy to push. I like the rubber coating on the handle (as opposed to foam). It’s fine on gravel/dirt/grass. The difference between mid range and fancy is probably design snd status

I have a Baby Jogger City Mini GT which is only slightly more expensive than the Bravo. I got mine on sale for $350. I prefer it to my friend's uppababy, it doesn't look as fashionable but it handles just as well and it's comfortable. So I'd check it out if you're looking for an upgrade but not to spend luxury money.

I used a baby jogger city Mini gt for 2.5 years. I had infant seat adapters for it and several baby carriers for different ages and circumstances and we were just fine. I only upgraded because I started babysitting another toddler and sometimes need them both contained while on the go.

Jogger is the way to go when your baby is a little bit older!! I use it as our everything stroller. It fits in aisles for shopping, has storage in the bottom, comfy for my now toddler, super easy to push!! It also lasts for many stages after the little baby stage. Gravel or trails are no problem either. I wanted one stroller that fit every need and found it in a jogger.

One thing I'd note before going all in on a $$$ stroller is: do you even need one? There is a lot of stuff we're told we need, but a lot of it depends on lifestyle. Baby wearing may be an option and was what worked well for my wife and I. We love hiking and there was no way a stroller would have kept up with \*where\* we wanted to hike. We'd take turns wearing the little one while walking through the woods. So many times she'd be sleeping on us, and people walking by would comment on the little legs hanging out. 🤣 As she grew older and more aware, we'd face her out and let her see/touch everything. I'm not against strollers though, of course. They work for many people. We got a Baby Jogger City Mini (or something like that) because it had available adapters to hold our car seat. It did the trick in those early weeks. We'd walk the bike path near our house and it was a guaranteed nap. We also went through some shit and ended up at my in-laws and there were no trails, so we'd go up and walk around the school with the stroller. Once we found a new place near nature though, the stroller sat folded up in a corner for a few years before we finally sold it.

If I had to have one stroller, I would stick with my Baby Jogger City Mini GT. We have the 2. The 3 is out now. It’s one handed fold is great and it doesn’t take up too much space. It’s not very heavy and a nice push. It has a lot of features similar to the luxury strollers without the luxury price tag.

I worked at a baby store in college so I used to sell strollers to all types of people. I’m also a FTM and recently purchased one for myself. I will say that it’s an extremely personal choice - what works for you and yours may not work for me. For example, I live in a city with rough brick sidewalks - so good wheels and suspension were important to us. We also haven’t met our baby yet and don’t know what their temperament will be, so shelling out $800+ for a stroller seems risky. I have plenty of friends/family who have expensive strollers collecting dust in their cars/basements. We looked at the UppaBaby, Nuna, and a lot of the other popular systems on the market and decided they wouldn’t work for us. We loathed the Doona (my husband is 6’5) and weren’t overly impressed with the Graco / Chiccos we saw at Target. We found a boxed and brand new Baby Jogger City Mini at a discount store and bought it for a great price. My husband is obsessed with it already. It’s a brand I used to sling at the store and it’s very functional / in line with what we were looking for. I suggest testing out as many as possible, if you can. There aren’t many baby stores left, but Nordstrom has some on display. Rei might as well. Target as a few. Unsure about Walmart. And I think talking to parents who are out and about when you see them pushing strollers can be helpful. But default on your own judgement and prioritize your needs. Also, if your baby is going to be born in colder months, or if you’re not ready to commit to a brand/type, you may want to hold off or just get a snap n go system.

Baby Jogger City mini gt or Thule Spring 🫡🫡🫡

I have a stroller problem, and currently have 5. Don’t be me. Uppababy vista v2 - love it for walking around our neighborhood, so smooth, great on grass, good on gravel, daily use. It’s just HUGE. I hate bringing it anywhere as it takes up my whole trunk and then the bassinet didn’t fit in the trunk and had to go on my back seat. Summer infant 3d lite - love it! Stays in my hatchback, great for traveling, lightweight, small foot print, comfy for toddler. It’s not totally flat so we got this one when babe was 6/7 month old. Not intuitive to fold. Baby jogger city mini - bought for $20 on Facebook marketplace for a month long trip. My husbands favorite stroller. Easy to fold, good steering, big sun canopy. I Hate the basket. I don’t like that you can’t adjust the handle. It stays in my husbands car. Chico bravo - got with our car seat, it’s fine. I only got it because the set was on clearance and was $250 for the set, vs $300 for the car seat. Easy folding and fits in my car. Phil & Ted Vibe - air filled tires. Easy steering. Good for jogging. Hate the break, we accidentally hit it all the time. Also complicated to fold. But comfy for babe and easy steering. Also huge when folded. So I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have 3! You do you.

Yes - I got a baby jogger city mini (which isn’t even that big), sold it and exclusively used the Yoyo.

Citi mini GT is ours and folds flat. Have taken it on several planes, right up to the plane then placed in the hold. I’ve never had anyone weigh in but I’ve never flown AA either.

I have 2 strollers, one is a jogger for the farm and the other is a travel one that goes everywhere with us. I do own 2 others but they're at my mom's and they were free. People basically just gave us strollers. I absolutely love the City GT Mini we have (I think that's the name), it's the best, I got it for $80 on marketplace. It fits my car and is very easy to use on the go.

Some people end up with four strollers to meet specific purposes. I did not want to be that person. We got a City Mini Baby Jogger GT. It was not that expensive. It is sturdy enough to gate check at the airport, fits in our trunk with other things no problem, and folds easily.

Definitely look into the Zoe or the Baby Jogger Citi mini (not sure where you’re located but I can easily find a used double Baby Jogger in my area) Wagons aren’t worth flying with because most airlines won’t count it as a stroller and won’t gate check it for you, and will charge you for it as well. I also highly suggest bringing the baby carrier with you as well.

City Mini. Turns on a dime, slender frame good for shopping, lives in my minivan but fit nice in a car trunk. Mine is used (3rd lady to use it in the friend group). Doesn’t fold completely upright, but it has a following among moms.

So question: What kind of backpacking? Like walking around cities and taking trains or planes between major urban centers? If so, a Babyzen Yo Yo. Caveat that my experience in this department is about four years old, so there may be new developments in stroller technology, but I loved my Yo Yo. 1. They are the right size for Europe. I arrived here some years back and brought the Citi Mini that was all the rage as a lightweight stroller in Brooklyn. It was way too big for Europe. Didn’t fit in elevators. Couldn’t navigate between cafe tables. Everything is smaller here if you’re coming from North America. 2. They fold up and fit into overhead bins on planes. And ground staff all over Europe recognize the brand and won’t question whether you have to gate check it. This will come in handy on trains as well. 3. They fold up small and are relatively light. They are not the absolute lightest strollers out there, but they balance weight and durability well (they won’t break on you). And they fold up small, with a carrying handle. 4. They will handle cobblestones. These are definitely not all terrain strollers, but Inhave taken them all over Europe and they stand up fine to cobblestones, high sidewalks, etc. They’re not good on gravel or off road. 5. They are expensive but have re-sale value. These strollers aren’t cheap but you may be able to find them on sale used or re-sell them yourself if you buy one new. If your backpacking isn’t primarily urban but will include more hiking, etc, then I’m not sure. I haven’t looked into good trail strollers and you’ll need something more robust than a Yo Yo.

The BabyJogger CityMini is suitable from birth (I believe, it was when my preemie niece was in hers in 2014). We have a BabyJogger CitySelect and love the brand, but we had to use it with car seats until 6 months!

Highly recommend biting the bullet and planning on two strollers, or you will end up compromising way too much on ideal qualities of either. We got a Bob stroller with infant attachments and I love that thing still 2.5 years later. It's great for hikes and tougher terrain compared to a standard stroller. I even prefer it for grocery store runs. Any big day trips where I can take up most of the trunk with it, I enjoy using it. We also got a very compact Baby Jogger stroller (note: not a jogging stroller, just the brand name) for longer travel and other tight spaces. It also has infant attachments and we found it useful from early on. For airport travel, I would never want to deal with my Bob. Even for outings at restaurants I highly prefer bringing the compact one, in case little one needs a spot to sleep. I've seen our friends try to bring their unwieldy larger strollers and they are such a hassle in many cases. Also, in general, it's just the more practical way to throw in a stroller "just in case".

We got car seat adapters so we can attach our cyber car seat to our one-hand-fold baby jogger stroller. We decided on this over the doona as: - I heard babies grow out of the doona quickly. This way we can swap the car seat if that happens. - I heard that the doona was very heavy. This way we only have the car seat to carry. - you don’t need to detach a chair from the stroller in order to attach the car seat, so you only need to carry one item if wheeling it anywhere (this is specifically why we got a baby jogger) From an engineering perspective the doona does look super cool, but it seemed a high price for something that may only be used for a short time and will be hard to sell/buy second hand (as a car seat).