
Our Verdict
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.
Ease of Use
The Ridge is one of the easiest options in the review to use and earned a high score in this metric
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.
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.
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.
Brakes
The Ridge has two kinds of brakes: a foot parking brake and a handbrake.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.