Baby Trend Navigator Review

Baby Trend has been around for about 26 years designing and creating various baby gear items from walkers to car seats. The Baby Trend company's goals include making safe and affordable products for parents and children. Baby Trend was the first manufacturer to create a Sit and Stand style stroller, and their Diaper Champ diaper pail was the first diaper pail that didn't require brand refills.

Ease of Use

The Navigator isn't very user-friendly due to a two-handed fold, lower-capacity storage basket, hard-to-push harness buttons, cup holders unsuitable for tall items, and stiff brakes.

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Fold and Unfold

The Navigator is a two-handed fold with what Baby Trend calls “trigger action,” which requires simultaneously pulling up on dual-side release points. The fold is three steps, has a manual lock, and self-stands. Folding the Navigator is easy, and unfolding is average compared to the competition. The overall size of the stroller could make unfolding harder for smaller users.

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Storage

The Navigator has an under-seat storage bin that spans the width of the stroller. The basket is large and fits our large diaper bag inside, but the maximum allowance is only 5 lbs, so it may not hold supplies for two children. The bin has access from the back and sides, but both have frame bars that prevent unobstructed access.

This stroller has pockets on the back of each seat, a parent console (above left), and child trays for both passengers (above right). The parent console has two cup holders and a covered center compartment. During testing, taller items fell from the holders while strolling, so parents should use caution when using the cup holders. The child trays both have two cup holders and a snack depression. The cup holders held most test items, but taller items are likely to topple out. Both trays swing out to the side for seat access.

Harness

Both seats have a 5-point harness with a rethread height adjustment that threads through two external loop straps sewn to the seat back for three possible height options. The harness is easy to get on and a little harder to get off, and better than average at adjusting for size and height. The crotch strap has a single position, but the length is adjustable. The buckle buttons are stiff and take extra pressure to press, but the straps spring out independently.

Brakes

The brakes are double-action and require pressing two pedals for full brake engagement. Setting the brakes is average, and releasing them is difficult. The pedals are very stiff, and pulling them up is not foot-friendly.

Maneuverability

The Navigator has air-filled rubber tires, but its four-wheel design and larger size hurt its turning capabilities, unlike the three-wheel strollers, which can take tighter turns.

This stroller is really wide, and we had trouble fitting it through a 32-inch doorway. It handles okay, but it isn't as nice as the three-wheeled Baby Trend Expedition Double, and the wider width causes trouble in tighter turns and crowded spaces. Pushing over the grass and gravel is relatively easy, but turning on these surfaces is challenging. The front wheels will lock in place with the flip of a switch, which helps over uneven terrain and jogging, but it doesn't improve turning, which is the real problem here.

The Navigator has a stationary handlebar and two-wheel front shocks. The sling-style seat and padded seat bottom will provide some comfort for passengers, but the all-wheel suspension is ideal for comfort, and we think all joggers should have it. This stroller probably isn't the most comfortable ride for passengers or pushers.

Transporting and Storing

The Navigator isn't the best to store and transport due to its size and weight.

Weight and Folded Size

This stroller is one of the heaviest double strollers we tested at 39.7 lbs. Given that the Baby Trend Expedition Double is 10 lbs lighter, it is hard to justify the added weight that makes pushing and carrying more challenging.

The Navigator's folded volume is 21,753 cubic inches. The fold is larger than the compact doubles, but it isn't as oversized as the biggest options that approach 33,000 cubic inches.

Kid Ride

The Navigator offers some basic comfort features. While they are sufficient, they are not exceptional when it comes to kid comfort.

Seat

Each seat moves independently of the other for individualized comfort, and unlike tandem strollers, each passenger has the same experience. The Navigator has a padded leg rest, but it isn't adjustable, and there is a gap before the footrest. The footrest is wider than the Expedition stroller and is hard plastic, so it is easy to clean. The seatbacks recline using a plastic buckle with a one-sided adjustable strap length. Operating the buckle requires two hands and is stiff. The strap can be difficult to move; one hand has to hold the plastic end while the other moves the strap through the plastic threading. Both seats slope back, but not far enough to be perfect for napping. Other jogging style options offer cozier napping.

Sunshade

The Navigator has smaller individual canopies for each seat that lock open and can ratchet forward to block the lower sun or the wind. Both shades have a medium-sized mesh peek-a-boo window with a hook-and-loop closure cover. The two canopies are better than those on other Baby Trend joggers, but the smaller size is disappointing. When fully open and upright, the canopies only provide partial protection from the sun and do not cover the knee, unlike the giant canopies on some of the competition.

Quality

The Navigator quality score is better than the other Baby Trend strollers we tested in this review, which we would expect, given the higher price tag. However, it isn't as high as other strollers with similar prices.

The materials used on the Navigator have a slight edge over those on the other Baby Trend strollers; the fabric has a tighter weave, the piping is better, the stitching is nicer, and the padding is thicker. The overall appearance is better with solid connections and less flex than the cheaper Baby Trend options. However, it is only average compared to the competition.

Car Seat Compatibility

The Navigator only works with Baby Trend brand car seats, but it will accept two infant seats, including some in our infant car seat review. The car seats rely on child trays for installation, and no other adapters are available for seats from other brands. The Baby Trend compatible seats include the Flex-Loc, EZ Flex-Loc, EZ Flex-Loc 32, EZ Loc, Inertia, Secure Snap Tech 32, and 35. The seats lock into the tray cup holders with a click sound and face the back of the stroller seats. The stroller canopies can be used in conjunction with the car seats when you move the car seat handle back over the head of the car seat. Installation of the seats also requires an elastic strap on the sides as a secondary attachment, and we worry parents may forget or skip this step.

Thanks to the second step, the seats are below average for ease of attachment and removal. Once connected, they don't feel very secure, which is a disappointment for a native brand seat that, in our opinion, should feel like part of the stroller and not an afterthought.

Ease of Setup

The Navigator is difficult to assemble and took us over 15 minutes to complete. The user manual is poor, and assembly requires two different tools.

The front wheels are particularly complicated, and we wonder why more of it doesn't come pre-assembled. The manual directions are too simplified, and the illustrations are useless.

Twins

The Navigator would work well for twins because it has equal seating for both children and accepts two infant car seats simultaneously. However, this stroller did not score well in our tests, and we think better options are available for most parents. While it is the only jogger that accepts two car seats, it is not advised to jog with children under eight months of age anyway, so it isn't as if you can jog with two infants on board. We think parents are better off choosing a higher-scoring stroller even if it doesn't work with two car seats. Alternatives to two infant car seats include babywearing and one car seat or combining a different double stroller with a car seat frame stroller that accepts a variety of brand car seats and has a low cost. Plus, you can buy them in stages, which could help with tighter budgets.

Should You Buy the Navigator?

We don't think this is an ideal jogger or full-size double stroller for most families. It is harder to use than most competitors and heavier than comparable joggers. While the price is attractive, we also think there are less expensive double options that most parents will find easier to use and push.

What Other Double Stroller Should You Consider?

If you love Baby Trend or want an inexpensive double you can take off-road or occasionally jog with, we think the Baby Trend Expedition Double is the better choice. This alternative Baby Trend option is lighter and smaller, and earned better test results for maneuverability. Given that it has similar features and seating to the Navigator, we think the better scores and lower price make the Expedition a no-brainer.

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