Baby Boot Camp Speedster Deluxe by Kelty: Ding, ding, we have a winner!

Imagine you're in the market for a jogging stroller, and you happened to have a girlfriend who had used -- at some point -- just about every available model on the market.  Imagine she'd logged hundreds of miles with these strollers, knew their strengths and weaknesses, knew how they were made, and by whom, having studied every nuance, from the safety features to the size of the basket underneath.  You'd want her input before you pulled the trigger, right? 

Good news!  You didn't realize it, but you already have that girlfriend in Kristen Horler.  The founder of Baby Boot Camp spent more than two years testing countless jogging strollers and when it came time to choose a stroller which would bear the BBC brand, she chose the Kelty Speedster.  It's a hardcore jogging stroller for serious runners, but at a manageable size and with user-friendly features that make it just as appealing for non-jogging, everyday use.   

Click 'continue reading' for the full review.

We received our Baby Boot Camp Speedster Deluxe (which also comes as a double, called the Speedster Deuce) single jogging stroller a little over two weeks ago, and it's been in continuous use ever since.  I try to run at least 2 miles each day with our 17-month-old, and I used the Speedster Deluxe in a variety of settings -- including a relatively straight jogging trail and around our neighborhood, which features lots of steep slopes and turns.  The Speedster Deluxe exceeds my expectations, each and every time I use it.

The first thing I noticed was how light the Speedster Deluxe is.  For anyone who has ever attempted to run uphill with a baby in tow, you know how important the weight of your stroller becomes.  At 23 lbs, the Speedster Deluxe pushes very, very easily.  The aluminum frame folds up quite nicely by way of a patented pulley-assisted mechanism, and because it's so light, transporting it to and from the car is easy.  Speaking of easy, setting up the Speedster Deluxe was simple.  My husband swears it was the most straightforward piece of baby gear he's ever been asked to assemble -- he had us up and running in about ten minutes.

Sam is as comfortable while riding in the Speedster Deluxe (see photo at left) as he is while being transported in his Kelty FC 3.0 backpack carrier (read our review here).  Which is no wonder, since the five-point harness employed with the stroller is modeled after the very same harness found in the FC 3.0!  The padding on the harness is substantial, and it's easily adjusted to ensure the perfect fit.  The deep, padded seat also reclines, which is great for smaller babies who aren't yet able to sit up on their own and the stroller can accommodate a child all the way up to 70-pounds -- guaranteeing you years of use.  The Baby Boot Camp version we tested comes in a vibrant mandarin orange nylon, with the Baby Boot Camp logo on the stroller's extra-long, adjustable sun/rain canopy.  3M reflective tape means that you'll be able to be seen by drivers even if you find yourself trying to outrun the setting sun.  Also, there's plenty of storage space including an underseat storage bin, a seat-back storage pocket with key fob and a water bottle holder.

The ride itself is incredibly smooth, even while passing over some pretty serious potholes, courtesy of the Speedster Deluxe's quick-release 16-inch wheels.  Like most serious jogging strollers, it is intended for straight tracking.  An adjustable handlebar comes in quite handy, however, if you find yourself running along a twisting, turning path.  While its main purpose is to allow runners of different heights to find a comfortable resting place for their hands, the handlebar -- which adjusts from 34-45-inches -- is also where you'll need to push to get leverage to lift the lead wheel in order to successfully navigate turns.  By enabling runners to raise or lower the handlebar just a bit, the Speedster Deluxe makes gaining that leverage a bit easier ... and every bit helps! 

The Speedster Deluxe was the only stroller to receive a grade of 'excellent' for safety in the 2007 Consumer Reports survey of jogging strollers.  We can certainly see why: It boasts numerous safety features, including a bicycle-style caliper brake, rear-wheel brakes, a runaway leash and a bell to alert others on the trail that you're approaching.  Of course, our 4-year-old thinks that the bell is pretty darn cool for alerting us that he'd like to go for a spin, himself.  We're often clued in to his whereabouts when we hear the 'ding, ding, ding' coming from the laundry room, which is where we keep our Speedster Deluxe -- and where we find him ringing the bell with reckless abandon! 

The Baby Boot Camp Speedster Deluxe makes a great gift for an expectant mama and exercise enthusiast who might be feeling anxious about her return to pre-baby form.  As an added motivator, Baby Boot Camp includes two resistance bands (called 'xertubes'), a water bottle, a tee-shirt and a week of free classes with each stroller.   

To search for a class near you, click here.  To purchase the Baby Boot Camp Speedster Deluxe for yourself or for a friend, click here.         

 

 

Comments

[Christy Barnes]

I have used Kelty products for years. Excellent quality and features. I'm thrilled to see the orange jogging stroller and just ordered it from baby boot camp. Can't wait to get it!!!