In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

UPPAbaby Ridge Review

A high-quality jogging stroller that has the looks to go with it, but it is heavier, bigger, and a little tippy
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UPPAbaby Ridge Review (The Ridge handled like a dream indoors but struggled on casual walks, with some noticeable wobble in the front wheel.)
The Ridge handled like a dream indoors but struggled on casual walks, with some noticeable wobble in the front wheel.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Price:  $850 List
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Manufacturer:   UPPAbaby
Wendy Schmitz
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  March 31, 2024
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
73
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 18
  • Ease of Use - 40% 8.8
  • Maneuverability - 25% 6.2
  • Transport/Storing - 15% 4.1
  • Quality - 10% 8.7
  • Kid's Comfort - 10% 7.4

Our Verdict

The UPPAbaby Ridge is a jogging stroller included in our full-size stroller review. It is a high-quality option with foam-filled, flat-free rubber tires, zippered storage, and a large canopy. This stroller features ample storage limits at 20 lbs for the bin and one of the best water bottle sleeves we've ever seen. The sleeve is perfect for taller bottles and tumblers, and it prevents items from falling out while moving. The materials fit together well, and it has cool features like disc brakes and a phone holder with a hole for corded earbuds. Unfortunately, this jogger is slightly more expensive, and we struggled with pushing it off-road and in tight turns where it tended to get tippy. It is also heavy and large when folded, which meant it couldn't compare to some of the other joggers we tested. We get the appeal, but we think some performed better in our lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Cool disc brakes
Impressive build quality
Super easy fold
REASONS TO AVOID
Higher price
Big fold
Very heavy
Somewhat tippy

Our Analysis and Test Results

UPPAbaby is an American company that has been making strollers and car seats for more than a decade. Their gear is typically high-quality and thoughtfully designed with performance and comfort in mind.

uppababy ridge - the triangle shape storage bin will limit what you can put inside...
The triangle shape storage bin will limit what you can put inside, but we did fit our large diaper bag and were able to close the top.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Ease of Use


The Ridge is one of the easiest options in the review to use and earned a high score in this metric

The Ridge has a twist and fold handle under the leg rest.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Fold and Unfold


The Ridge has a one-hand fold and self-stands with an automatic lock. It is very easy to start and easy to unfold.

A press and twist handle under the leg rest is all you need to fold the Ridge.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

There is a folding handle under the legrest of the seat you access from a stiff flap on the front. The handle twists to fold, and then you lift it to bring it together to lock it in place.


Storage


The storage bin is smaller but still holds our large diaper bag. It has a triangular design similar to a jogging stroller bin. It has a zippered cover that we could still close over the bag. The basket has a 20 lb weight limit, which is one of the highest in the group and likely the highest for a 3-wheel choice.


The Ridge has an excellent water bottle holder hanging off the stroller frame's side. It is deep, somewhat flexible, and the best bottle holder in the group, hands down. The storage bin also has a few small pockets, and there is a phone pocket on the back of the canopy with a hole for wired headphones.

uppababy ridge - the webbing on the ridge harness is soft and skin-friendly while the...
The webbing on the Ridge harness is soft and skin-friendly while the buckle is easy to use but stiff.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Harness


The harness has a simple sliding shoulder height adjustment. The hips and the shoulder straps have padding and use the same buckle insert. The buckle is large and has a stiff button to prevent younger children from freeing themselves.

The handbrake on the Ridge is easy to use and helps slow the stroller downhills and while running.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Brakes


The Ridge has two kinds of brakes: a foot parking brake and a handbrake.

uppababy ridge - the adjustable handlebar on the ridge makes it easy to position the...
The adjustable handlebar on the Ridge makes it easy to position the bar where it will be easy to use the handbrake lever.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The handbrake is located on the side of the handlebar and is used to slow the stroller when running or heading downhill.


The Ridge parking brake is single-action and color-coded, with one pedal to set (green) and one to release (red).

The Ridge brakes work swiftly with little to no movement when set.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The disc brakes are unique for a stroller and have a flashy look that resembles something you see on a bicycle. The disc is near the pedal, and we worry that bigger feet might rub the disc and potentially damage the shoes.

Car Seat Compatibility


The Ridge is compatible with some infant car seats from UPPAbaby, and if you purchase an adapter, you can also pair it with some seats from Maxi-Cosi, Nuna,

Cybex, and Clek.

The Ridge is a quick build, but there are no words in the manual, which is not our favorite instruction style.
Credit: Graham Faulknor

Ease of Setup


The Ridge is super easy to set up, with above-average documentation and a setup time of 5-10 minutes. It has a quick start guide and a lot of packaging. You snap the wheels on and go.

The Ridge should navigate easily, but it struggled to avoid tipping when the grass is long, and the turns are tight.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Maneuverability


The Ridge is a jogging stroller with pneumatic tires, and for this reason, we assumed it would perform well in our maneuverability tests. However, it only performed about average for the group.

uppababy ridge - the rubber tires on the ridge help it transition from surface to...
The rubber tires on the Ridge help it transition from surface to surface.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

There is a lot of flex in the frame of this stroller, and it rears an ugly head when making tighter turns. It rolls well in a straight line on flat surfaces, but we almost had to do tight turns with one hand so the back wheels didn't run over our toes.


When you move onto uneven terrain, it gets tippy in the thicker grass. The chassis continued to flex, and the trippiness got worse. Our experience is a disappointment compared to the other joggers in the review. It took more force to lift the front up and onto the curb than competitors, but the bigger real wheels meant we didn't have to lift it as high.

uppababy ridge - the ridge is bulky, even for a jogger.
The Ridge is bulky, even for a jogger.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Transporting and Storing


The Ridge is bulky when folded and heavier than most, even other joggers. This resulted in earning one of the lowest scores in the group for transporting and storing.


The Ridge weighs 30.50 lbs, where the average is under 25 lbs. It is a hefty beast, which could be a deal breaker, depending on your goals or physical prowess. It measures 16,677 cubic inches when folded, which is also bigger than most of the competition. Like many joggers with bigger wheels, it folds in half and creates an awkward shape that might struggle to fit where you want it to go.

uppababy ridge - the ridge has cool disk brakes, but they might be a problem for...
The Ridge has cool disk brakes, but they might be a problem for shoes as they are close to the brake pedal.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Quality


Like most UPPAbaby gear, the Ridge performed well in our quality tests. The material on the seat and canopy is a tighter weave canvas that feels like it would easily wipe clean. The seat has some padding, and the harness shoulder pads are soft. The handlebar is wrapped in a soft foam material that makes it comfortable to hold and improves grip.

The Ridge's wheels are foam-filled rubber. While you won't get a flat tire, they don't perform as well as air-filled rubber. They easily navigate most things and the front wheel locks for running. The Ridge's frame is high-quality construction and does not have a lot of flex. The overall fit and finish are nice, with good lines, a sturdy frame, and durable material choices.

uppababy ridge - the ridge seat recline is deep enough for napping, but like many...
The Ridge seat recline is deep enough for napping, but like many joggers it is not fully flat.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Kid's Comfort


The Ridge performed better than average in terms of features that were related to passenger comfort.


The seat back reclines in infinite positions with the standard plastic toggle and two-strap attachment mechanism we see on many 3-wheel options. The leg rest is nicely padded but not adjustable. The footrest is hard plastic and easily wipes clean from muddy adventures.

The Ridge has a large canopy with an SPF 50+ rating. It has two smaller mesh windows, and the front window has a canvas flap cover. The canopy has an extension that zips open, and the canopy covers enough area to encourage napping.

Should You Buy the UPPAbaby Ridge?


We generally love UPPAbaby, and there is much to love about the Ridge. However, it falls somewhat short in our testing, which makes it one we think is not for everyone. The Ridge is about average for the group and didn't offer enough to compete with the other joggers we tested as potential cross-over options. While we like the disc brakes, storage bin, and easy fold, it is heavy, bulky, and oddly tippy in testing. It is also more expensive than higher-ranking choices, making it hard to recommend it over competitors. However, we suspect anyone who gets one will love it.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?


The Thule Urban Glide 2 outperforms the Ridge in most ways, and side-by-side, we think this decision is a no-brainer. The Thule is much easier to push and easily moves over almost anything in its path. It has a covered storage bin, a giant canopy, and a super quick fold. It is also smaller when folded and lighter to carry than the Ridge. If you pair all of these factors with a lower price, we think it is the better bet. It is also a well-established runner that professional runners love.

Manufacturer Video



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Meet Your Review Team

Wendy Schmitz
Wendy Schmitz
Senior Review Editor
Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and... read more
Juliet Spurrier, MD
Juliet Spurrier, MD
Mom-in-Chief
Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science... read more