Best Beach Stroller

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best beach stroller is, I’d recommend the Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller.

If you’re thinking about taking your kids for a fun day at the beach, then you might want to take a look at getting a good beach stroller. That way, you get all of the sunshine and scenery, while also reducing the hassle factor. After all, if you want to set the tone for a fun filled day, you’ll want to make sure you’re well equipped.

In this article, I am breaking down the best beach strollers, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the beach strollers I will be reviewing:

• BOB Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller
• Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller
• Thule Urban Glide 2.0 Jogging Stroller
• Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller
• Pacific Cycle Schwinn Turismo Swivel Single Jogger

What Kind Of Stroller Should You Get For The Beach?

In an article about beach strollers, you might expect me to say that a specialized sand stroller is an absolute necessity. The reality though, is that there are a lot of good jogging and off-road strollers that can work well.

In fact, I would argue that if you love jogging with your child, you’re better off getting a jogging stroller that is well suited for the beach vs. getting a stroller that you can only use at the beach. The same goes for off-road strollers if you like hiking on all sorts of different terrains.

Just as important as the type of stroller to consider for the beach, is the type that you should avoid. If you try to bring a regular stroller or an umbrella stroller to the beach, you’re going to be fighting an up hill battle. For starters the wheels are too small, and the tires aren’t filled with air, so it’s almost impossible to push them through the sand.

Now, just because there are some jogging strollers and all-terrain strollers that work well at the beach, it doesn’t mean that any of them will do. For that reason, I’ve outlined all of the features that you will want to look for when you’re trying to find a good stroller for the beach.

What To Look For In The Best Stroller For Sand

When it comes to picking out a stroller for the beach, there are a few features that rise to the top of the list. You will want to check each of these before making a purchasing decision.

A Three Wheel Design Is Best For The Sand

It’s easiest to navigate through the sand with a strollers that has two wheels in the back and one in the front. This is particularly true when your stroller is loaded down with a passenger and other beach gear.

While four wheel strollers work great on smooth terrains, they have a really tough time in the sand. One of the front wheels is always sinking in or getting stuck. So, it can get really frustrating. There is a reason that I listed this feature first. It’s pretty important.

Wheels That Lock In Place

While swivel wheels can be great for making sharp turns on smooth terrains, they really tend to get bogged down in difficult terrain. So, if you want to move smoothly through the sand, you’re going to want to get a set of wheels that lock in place. That way, they don’t end up swiveling and turning on you as you move through the sand.

By the way, some strollers have wheels that can either swivel or stay locked in place. As long as it’s easy to switch between swivel mode and locked mode, this can offer the best of both worlds.

Large Air Filled Tires

Strollers with small wheels tend to get stuck in the sand pretty easily. In fact, if your stroller doesn’t have large air filled tires, you won’t be able to push it on the beach without a great deal of effort, and that’s pretty much a deal breaker.

On the other hand, large air filled tires with greater surface area tend to ride along the top of the beach instead of sinking in. This means you’ll be able to car your little one around with relative ease even if the stroller is loaded down with other gear as well.

Large Canopy

Hopefully, the sun will be shining whenever you head to the beach. Sunshine can be a wonderful thing, but if your child is wearing a bathing suit, their sensitive skin may be exposed to the elements. For that reason, it’s a great idea to get a stroller with a large canopy that provides great coverage and protection from the sun.

Sometimes, when we go the the beach, we don’t put on sunblock until with arrive. So, it’s nice to know that the canopy provides protection for those first 15 – 20 minutes before we get settled.

Large Storage Space

There are a whole bunch of things you need to take with you when you go to the beach. Towels, tents, extra clothes, beach toys, sunblock, the list goes on and on. That’s not even counting diaper bags that are stuffed to the brim with all of the things that you normally need to take with you when you have kids.

For this reason, storage space is extra important. If you can lighten the load of things that you need to carry by putting them into your stroller, the trip to the beach will go a lot more smoothly. This is often overlooked. But the reality is that you might end up parking your car pretty far away from your final destination in front of the ocean.

Cup Holders For Beverages To Keep You Hydrated

Spending a day at the beach is a great way to get dehydrated. After all, it’s usually hot outside when you go to the beach, and you tend to spend a lot of time in the sun as well. Combine that with the fact that you might be running around, jumping in the waves, and you’re sure to get thirsty. So, having a place to store a few extra beverages is key.

Zippered Storage Space

It’s an added bonus if you have some zippered storage space on your stroller. That way, you have a place to put your smartphone, wallet and other valuables when you run down to dip your toes in the water. This might not provide a ton of security, but it’s a lot better than leaving everything out in the open.

I know some people would never dream of leaving their things unattended. But, at least this way, you have the option.

Durability To Stand Up To The Sand

Sand and salt water can be really hard on a stroller. So, you’re going to want to look for one that is really durable. This is especially important if you plan to hit the beach with your baby or toddler on a regular basis.

The good news is that most good jogging strollers and off-road strollers tend to be fairly durable. So, this should be an easy feature to check off the list.

My Top Beach Stroller Reviews

All of the strollers included below are great for going off road, and will handle the beach quite well. I have included strollers at several different price points. Some of the higher end ones work really well on any terrain, including the beach. Some of the less expensive ones would make great dedicated beach strollers, and will also work decently on harder terrains.

BOB Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller

This stroller handles really well on all different types of terrains, and it handles sandy beaches with no trouble at all.

A big part of the reason that this one performs well on the beach is that it has large air filled tires. It also has a built in suspension system to provide a smooth ride for your little passenger.

It has a large canopy that will protect your child from the hot sun. So, you won’t need to worry as much about overheating or sun burns.

The storage basket underneath is fairly large. So, you will have a place to put beach towels, toys, and whatever else you want to bring to the beach. This comes in really handy, and can save you from having to carry a beach bag or two.

The seat reclines easily with one hand. So, you’re little one can listen to the waves and take a nap, while you do a little reading. A lot of kids get tired after being outside in the sun for a little while. So, this is a great feature if you want to stay at the beach for an extended period of time.

The biggest negative with this one is that it’s fairly expensive. So, if you don’t go to the beach that often, it might not be worth it. On the other hand, it’s a great all terrain stroller and jogger as well. So, if you do a lot of hiking or jogging, you might actually get a lot of use out of it.

Even though this stroller is on the expensive side, it doesn’t come with any accessories. So, you will have to purchase a parent tray and cup-holders separately if you want them.

Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller

This is a jogging stroller that comes with a couple of features that make it particularly well suited to the beach.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this one is that it has an extra large seat that rests fairly high. So, your little passenger will have a great view and be able to soak in all of the beautiful beach scenery. The seat reclines, so it’s great for napping too.

When it comes to accessories and features, this one is fully loaded. It has a parent organizer that carries two cups and has a zipper pocket. This is a nice place to store your keys and other valuables, especially if you want to go and dip your feet in the ocean for a few minutes. It also comes with a running leash, and tire pump as well. So, you’ll be well prepared if you want to go for a jog or if you get a flat tire.

It has a large storage basket underneath. So, you’ll be able to carry a whole lot of beach gear with you.

Some parents report that this one isn’t super durable. Parents have also noted that the wheels tend to loosen over time, and in some cases they can even fall off. This isn’t a huge issue if you just use this stroller occasionally for the beach. But, if you plan to use it on harder terrains or for frequent jogs, you might want to look at other options.

One thing that’s worth pointing out is that while the name implies this is “ultra light”, it’s actually in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a negative, since it’s not overly heavy. It’s just no light as you might have assumed.

Thule Urban Glide 2.0 Jogging Stroller

Thule is well known for making ultra high quality all-terrain strollers. This one is a high end stroller that works quite well at the beach.

With air filled tires and a top tier suspension system, this stroller is capable or handling the roughest terrains. It’s also more than capable of handling sandy beaches.

The storage basket underneath has plenty of space and also has a zip top cover. So, it’s a great place to put your valuables when you want to run down to the water.

It also comes with a rear mesh pocket and two mesh compartments for snacks and toys. However, it doesn’t come with a cup holder or parent tray. So, you might want to pick up a separate parent organizer to go along with it.

The canopy can be adjusted to several different positions, so you’re little passenger will be well protected from the sun. It also has ventilated side windows to let in the nice ocean breeze.

It can be folded quite easily with one hand. So, when you’re exhausted after a fun day in the sun, you can effortlessly fold it and pop it in the trunk.

It’s a bit wide and bulky. While that’s not an issue for the beach or other off road excursions, you probably wouldn’t want to use this as your everyday stroller.

The biggest issue with this one is that it’s quite expensive. So, if you only plan to use if for occasional trips to the beach, it’s probably more than you need to spend. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a fantastic all-terrain stroller that handles the beach beautifully, and also works well for jogging, then this could be the one for you.

Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller

This is an affordable stroller that stacks up really well against higher priced competition. In fact, it’s my favorite beach stroller.

This stroller has large air filled tires that let you navigate through a sandy beach with ease. The tires work well across other terrains as well, but have been known to occasionally go flat on more difficult terrains. Still though, for the beach, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.

The parent and child trays each come with two cup holders. So, everyone will stay well hydrated, which is really important when you’re spending the day in the sun.

The canopy is adjustable and has a covered sun roof that ratchets to block the sun and the wind. The fact that it’s easily adjustable is key, since it means you’re all set for all sorts of different weather conditions.

It has an effortless trigger fold. So, when you’re done for the day, you’ll have no trouble folding and packing this one into the trunk. This might sound like a small thing. But, I’ve used plenty of other strollers that are really hard to fold up and it really makes a big difference.

An extra large storage basket underneath means that you will have a place to put all of your beach gear.

The seat reclines easily. So, you’re little passenger can sit upright and enjoy the view, or lean back for a nap whenever the mood strikes.

Some parents have reported issues with front wheel, noting that it is prone to locking up. This hampers mobility quite a bit when it happens. But it’s actually a bigger issue when you’re using the stroller around town or on a jog, than when you’re using it at the beach.

Overall, if you’re looking for a dedicated beach stroller this is a great choice, particularly since it’s affordably priced. This is also a good option for taking off road in general, and for going on hikes. Though, if you’re a really serious hiker and go on difficult terrains often, there are better (and more expensive) options out there.

Pacific Cycle Schwinn Turismo Swivel Single Jogger

With air filled tires, and an exposed spring suspension system, this stroller performs well on sandy terrains.

It comes with a floating retractable canopy that features both sun visor and a viewing canopy.

The parent tray has two cup holders. So, you can easily bring a couple of water bottles with you. There is also a child tray that flips down and has two cup holders.

The underneath storage space in this one is decent, though it’s a little on the small side. It also has a bar right in the middle that will prevent you from putting anything too large inside. That said, it works fine for towels.

One the more interesting features that this one offers is a set of canopy mounted speakers that work with most MP3 players. Ultimately though, this feature is a bit of a disappointment since the speakers are low quality. A lot of parents just turn the volume up on their smartphone to play music rather than plugging it into these speakers.

Some parents find this one a bit difficult to fold up. That can be frustrating, and is the last thing you want to deal with after a day at the beach.

Bringing Home The Best Stroller For The Beach

In my opinion, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller is the best beach stroller for most parents. It has plenty of storage space, including multiple cup holders for both parents and kids. It also has large air filled tires that make navigating through the sand a breeze. Perhaps best of all, it’s quite affordably priced relative to the others on the list. So, it can still provide a lot of value even if you don’t make it to the beach all that often.

As an added bonus, it happens to be a great jogging stroller as well. So, you can use it at the beach or whenever you want to get a little exercise.

Having said all that, there are some other excellent all terrain strollers listed above that work really well for the beach as well. Some of these are perhaps a bit too expensive to justify as a “beach only” stroller, but work well if you go off road hiking as well from time to time.

It’s worth noting that I would feel good recommending any of the strollers above. The strollers on my list have been carefully vetted and only high quality options made the cut.

By the way, if you’re interested, here are some of our favorite beach wagons.