Kelty Joyrider 16 Jogger Stroller

First let me tell you, I agonized over my jog stroller research. I spent a good 20 hours on research, seriously. I didn't have a lot of money to waste, so in order to potentially spend a sizable chunk of my precious cash, it had to be the absolute best buy; the best investment that I could find. Since I was just starting out jogging, I needed for my stroller to help me out, and not make jogging harder. I am 100% happy with this stroller. I think it is great. I have owned my Joyrider for about 6 months, and I will be sure to update this after it's been about a year so that you can see how it's held up. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this review and I hope it helps you decide if a Kelty Joyrider is right for you.

First the specs on the Kelty Joyrider (16"):
Wheel size: 16"
Weight: 22.25lbs
Length: (front wheel to handle) 51"
Width: (wheel to wheel) 25.5"
Height (ground to top of handle) 43"
Folded with wheels: (L. x W. x H.) 47"x17.5"x20"
Folded w/o wheels: (L. x W. x H.) 39.5"x14"x15"
Cockpit: (L. x W. x H.) 9.5"x9.5"x20"
Seat to Fender: 13"


Here are some of the features that I required & how the Joyrider compared:

I wanted it to be relatively light weight.(I didn't want to be jogging along, knowing I had a bigger, clunkier stroller than the people passing me on the jog path. That kind of knowledge would psych me out!)
--The Kelty is one of the lighter models on the market at 22 lbs, 5 oz. The lightest is the Baby Jogger City Jogger Deluxe (14 lbs with hood but it's not a real jog stroller). The heavier (single) jog strollers go up to 30 lbs. (Mountain Buggy, Instep) The Kelty Joyrider is on the lighter end of it's class. So that was definitely a plus.

It had to be easily-maneuvered. Everyone knows, jog strollers are harder to steer because they have a non-pivoting front wheel. I wanted my stroller to be able to handle curves really well, relatively.
--Well, the only other jog stroller I have used extensively was a basic Instep jogger. The Kelty handled 1,000 times better than the Instep. I had no trouble turning it at all. It isnt something you'd want to take on the subway or in a mall, but it works outside on trails, on the beach, around town. Piece of cake.

It was important that it fold compactly. And it must be at least somewhat easy to fold. I drive an Acura Integra. It's got a pretty good-sized hatch back, but it's no mini-van. I didnt want to have to fold down back seats for my stroller to fit back there.
--Folded with wheels the Kelty is 47"x17.5"x20"
Folded w/o wheels it's 39.5"x14"x15" I can fit this entirely in my hatch back without removing the wheels!

It needed to have at least 16" inflatable tires for serious joggers. The tires needed to be real inflatable tires which I suppose goes without saying. Also mandatory were real metal spokes because make a better wheel. (Some stroller companies (InStep for one) actually make some of their joggers with plastic wheels. Not sure why!)
--The Joyrider comes with either 16" or 20" (diameter) aluminum alloy wheels with stainless steel hubs (they won't rust!). I chose 16" because I didn't think I needed the larger size, since I was just jogging (slowly) 3-5 times per week. (barely!)

It had to come with a wrist strap. (a safety feature)(You know, in case you trip & accidentally let go of the stroller while it's rolling...this tethers it to you. Since there's no hand brake for the baby, it's pretty important to use this feature!)
--Yes the Kelty Joyrider comes with a tether which is fully adjustable for your comfort!

It needed to come equipped with good water bottle pockets. I knew I'd hate to have to stop every time I needed a sip of water. The stroller I had been using (an Instep) required that I take time to pry my water bottle from it's too-tight pocket. Other strollers I interviewed seemed to have too-low pockets, or none at all. I wanted my water close to the handlebars.
--Well they're just below the handle bars, there are 2 bottle pockets on either side, near the top. They are roomy enough for a sippy cup, or a sport bottle. They hold drinks snugly, but not so snugly you have to struggle to access them. It is such a luxury having 2 pockets!! I put my 20oz Poland Spring in one, and my 2-year-old's in the other. That way she can be "just like mama." I am very happy with the pocket placement!

It had to come with high enough, well-positioned handle bars. I had to be able to run w/o reaching down or stepping on the wheels. I am 5'7".
--This stroller has a height of 43" from the ground to the very top of the handlebars. One side of the handles is
slightly lower than the other, which is very useful when you're running and switching hands! It's a great design
because it is ergonomical for a range of heights and terrains. Before I forget, the handlebars are very nicely padded with non-slip spongy stuff. The handbrake is easy to use. You can easily push & steer with one hand.

This needed to be comfortable for my 2 year old daughter. I knew we were not going anywhere if she refused to get in it.
--The seat is very luxe. It is apparently at a very comfortable angle for sitting or napping. The seat does not recline, but my child manages to sleep soundly in our Joy Rider nearly every time it is used. The entire seat is fully padded, covered in durable fleece. The fabric is rip-stop, and has a lifetime warranty (excluding natural wear and tear). Comes in blue or green. I got the blue one in case you were dying to know. The seat is totally removable for cleaning.

It had to have a harness with shoulder straps. (Not just a lap belt.)
--This harness has exceeded all my expectations. Kelty really has mastered straps and buckles. The harness adjusts to hold a 3 month old baby, or an 75-85 lb child! It is well-padded, easy to adjust (well, not at first, not unless you've got prior Kelty strap experience.)

I wanted a really nice sun/wind hood. You see, I live & jog in MAINE, near the ocean and we get some amazing weather here. In order to jog 3 seasons, my daughter needed some serious protection from the wind & sun.
--This hood comes down accordian style, almost completely enclosing her if need be. I have already been thankful for this feature. There have been times when we've been out and my daughter has fallen asleep and it got really windy, so I pulled the hood all the way down and it totally shielded her from the waist up. And as a perfection-seeker, this hood really made me happy, because it has 2 official "stages" where you can set the canopy. There are velcro tabs and window covers that you can adjust to set it neatly 2 ways. Or, you can adjust it any way in-between. It is sturdy, it stays put and holds up really well. The hood is also removable.

I wanted a high weight limit. I got my jogger late in the game. My daughter was 2, and she is a big healthy girl. I wanted something that we could use for years. Being a single parent, if I am going anywhere, odds are good that I'll be taking my daughter.
--The Kelty Joyrider has a weight limit (including all cargo) of 85 lbs! Most jog strollers only go up to 40 or 50 lbs including cargo. This may be enough for you, but I wanted something that *I* could ride in (almost) if need be.

Bottom Line: I wanted super durable, long-lasting, comfortable, and highly functional. And that's what I got.


Things I didn't know I needed until I saw them on the Kelty Joyrider:

*Front fender*
It keeps their feet off the wheels & it keeps mud from splashing onto your kid!

*Easily detachable wheels*
(especially the front wheel which just pops off when needed)Without this, the stroller wouldn't go happily in some of the trunks we know.

*Aluminum alloy frame*
(With a lifetime warranty!) I have heard horror stories about the frames of various strollers becoming bent from rugged use, and then the alignment is never good again & you have to buy a new one. Not so with the Kelty! They will replace it if it gets bent. (heh)

*Bike style caliper hand brake with parking lock.*
The parking lock is really sturdy, easy to operate, and is very important! This jogger glides so easily that it should be locked unless an adult is holding onto it.

*No tool assembly.*
This thing was so easy to assemble, it is SILLY. I did have to take it to a bike shop to get the brakes working, however, because I could not understand the directions. Most bike shops will help you out for a small fee. I was charged only 3$ to get my jogger brakes set up & my tires filled with air!

*360 degree reflective tape for nighttime visibility*

*Basket under seat*
Well, my rationale, what am I gonna carry, it's a jog. You got your water, your kid, the kid's beverage, and your car keys, you don't need a basket. Well in Maine you need a basket. After August 30th or thereabouts, it becomes necessary to bring a wool blanket to cover up the kid! Where was I going to put this blanket? Carry it under one arm? No, the basket is perfectly large enough for a thick blanket for the child. And some toys. And snacks. There is also a back pocket which holds other important things I never considered hauling around on my jogs. Such as my wallet, my cell phone, my gloves, a bag of goldfish crackers, etc etc etc. This stroller has great storage space.

Can't live without it. :-)