In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Review

Difficult to push and turn with the worst run-ability
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Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Review (The Graco jogger has a swivel front wheel that locks for fixed wheel running)
The Graco jogger has a swivel front wheel that locks for fixed wheel running
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Price:  $190 List
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Manufacturer:   Graco
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Carrie Vickers  ⋅  Sep 30, 2019
46
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Run-ability - 35% 2.0
  • Ease Of Use - 25% 7.0
  • Maneuverability - 20% 5.0
  • Quality - 10% 6.0
  • Weight/Folded Size - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

The Graco Fast Action Fold Jogger earned one of the lowest scores in this review. In our opinion, this easy on the eyes stroller only has that going for it. With a swivel wheel that locked when we didn't want it too, combined with an inability to track straight and a consensus that we'd like to burn it instead of push it, this is a stroller we don't recommend. Despite the Graco brand offering budget-friendly options that are okay quality, this model fails to bring anything useful to the table no matter what your goals are. Also, if you are a serious runner, we suspect its lack of tracking and suspension will have you leaving it by the curb and carrying baby home.
REASONS TO BUY
Nice looking
Easy to fold with self-stand capabilities
REASONS TO AVOID
Hard to run with as it doesn't roll straight
Front wheel randomly locks

Our Analysis and Test Results

Graco makes a variety of baby gear popular with budget-minded parents across the globe. The company began in 1953 when the metal product designer hired an engineer to create juvenile products. Graco created the first baby swing launching the company into baby gear history. The company continues to create swings and also includes car seats, stroller play yards and more in their product album.

Performance Comparison



graco fastaction fold jogger - we've tested more than 30 jogging strollers, putting them each...
We've tested more than 30 jogging strollers, putting them each through a rigorous side-by-side comparison process, to find the very best.
Credit: BabyGearLab

Run-ability


The Graco is the most difficult option for running. Attempting to take this stroller for a run, in our opinion, is a patience lesson and a strength training workout. This stroller doesn't have tracking adjustment, so you are at the mercy of whatever alignment it has standard.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the push button on the front wheel locks the graco wheel in place...
The push button on the front wheel locks the Graco wheel in place. Ours randomly engaged on its own when we didn't want it to
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Ours wasn't good, and we tried multiple times to adjust the front wheel and ensure we had it assembled correctly. It tracks relatively straight when walking, but when you pick up the pace, it pulls dramatically to the right. Once the pull started, it required all our strength to keep it on a course, and it is fatiguing to wrestle. This product's front wheel randomly locks itself without warning. One of our runners felt that this stroller is “unusable” as a running stroller.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the graco is exceedingly difficult to push and this problem only...
The Graco is exceedingly difficult to push and this problem only increases as you pick up your pace
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

If that isn't enough to turn you off, it has no suspension, so you feel every bump in the handle and up your arm. Increased rolling resistance, jarring vibrations, and wrestling the beast straight make it a product we loathe.

Ease of Use


The Graco is similar to much of the competition for ease of use with more straightforward features than some of the competitors.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the fast action fold is one of only two strollers we looked at that...
The Fast Action Fold is one of only two strollers we looked at that self-stands
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Fold and Unfold


It has a quick and easy one-hand fold with a kickstand for self-standing. Unfolding is also effortless, but it takes two hands to manage it with any grace.

graco fastaction fold jogger - double action brakes require both sides to be engaged independently...
Double action brakes require both sides to be engaged independently for proper safety. Each rear wheel has a quick release button for a more compact fold
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Brakes


The brakes are double action which requires setting each side individually. We aren't big fans of this because parents may forget both sides, or become complacent that one is enough.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the graco jogger offers one of the largest under seat storage bins...
The Graco jogger offers one of the largest under seat storage bins in the group
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Storage


The Graco's large bin has access from the sides and back and fit our extra-large diaper bag with some wiggling. It is one of the most useful in this review. The parent console is disappointing with cup holders too shallow for water bottles.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the cup holders on the graco fast action fold jogger are too shallow...
The cup holders on the Graco Fast Action Fold Jogger are too shallow for most water bottles and the phone holder will not hold the new larger smartphones
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The bottles fell out over each bump and landed on our “baby,” raising a significant safety concern, suggesting parents shouldn't use them. The center tray doesn't hold larger phones. The child tray is also disappointing with shallow and narrow cup holders. The storage bin's weight allowance is 13 lbs, and the parent tray is 2 lbs.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the child's tray on the graco has cup holders that are too narrow...
The child's tray on the Graco has cup holders that are too narrow for sippy cups and too shallow for taller bottles. It does rotate easily to the side so children can climb into the seat with ease
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Sunshade


The Graco has an average size sunshade that covers your child's head, but it won't cover to the knees. It sits high on the frame so that the sun will peek in underneath. It has good ventilation, but this means little wind protection. The design is similar to other inexpensive products, but it seems like less protection. The peek-a-boo window is part of the ventilation system.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the 5 point harness can be adjusted to a 3 point and we had trouble...
The 5 point harness can be adjusted to a 3 point and we had trouble with the shoulder straps falling off by themselves. In addition, it was difficult for us to adjust the harness for smaller riders
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Harness


We have some concerns about the harness system with shoulder straps that seem too loose for smaller riders. When buckling the shoulder straps, they continually slip off of the waist strap at the buckle. We think parents will find the design frustrating, but it comes with an adjustable crotch strap not found on most of the competition.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the graco definitely checks all the boxes for features parents may...
The Graco definitely checks all the boxes for features parents may be looking for, but only the storage bin didn't disappoint us compared to the competition
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Seat


The seat is strange because it tilts forward like it is trying to dump the baby out. We can't come up with a single reason why a forward tilting seat is a good idea, and the majority of the other products have a slightly reclining seat.

Ease of Setup



This stroller took just over 7 minutes to get from box to ready to roll. The instructions are clear with everything in the illustrations shown in blue and only the relevant step in red. It is intuitive and requires no tools.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the baby trend expedition is a good choice for those on a tighter...
The Baby Trend Expedition is a good choice for those on a tighter budget who are not serious runners.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Maneuverability


This Graco is challenging to maneuver earning a below-average result for tests in this metric.

graco fastaction fold jogger - disengaging the lock on the front wheel of the fast action fold...
Disengaging the lock on the front wheel of the Fast Action Fold Graco is fast and easy
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

This stroller is hard to turn on the pavement, especially with one hand. It managed our obstacle course without running into anything, but it was tight and slower than the competition. Some testers feel it is almost as difficult to maneuver as a fixed wheel product because of its size and randomly locking wheel.

For pushing on grass or off-road terrain, this stroller is the hardest to turn and the heaviest to push. We were able to push most of the other products with one hand, but not this one. Overall, we find the Graco is so difficult to maneuver that we were thankful when testing was complete.

graco fastaction fold jogger - even in a compact fold the graco is larger than most of the...
Even in a compact fold the Graco is larger than most of the competition
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Weight and Folded Size


This stroller is heavy, and there is no way to sugar coat it. At over 31 lbs, it is one of the heaviest strollers in the review. If you weren't already planning to avoid it, we suggest you let its weight dissuade you. When folded, it measures about 19,550 cubic inches which is larger.

Quality


Graco is known for offering an average quality product at a reasonable price. The Fast Action Fold is consistent with this history.

graco fastaction fold jogger - the mesh on the fast action fold is flimsy and looks like it will...
The mesh on the Fast Action Fold is flimsy and looks like it will not wear well over time
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The fabric feels flimsy with a center stripe that is rough and likely to chafe bare skin. The mesh components feel like they will snag. The frame is sturdy, but the joints have some wiggle, and it rattles and flexes when you wrestle it to stay straight while running. The seat has thick padding, but this is likely a failed attempt to make up for the hard seat bottom that is uncomfortable. We suspect, given these issues and a lack of suspension, that little ones aren't going to like being in the Graco for long.

The handlebar has a rectangular profile that is not ergonomic. The handle is flat and covered in foam, but we think most serious runners will find the design and height extra fatiguing because it doesn't conform to a runner's natural position. The overall fit and finish of this stroller aren't bad. It has a better look than most Graco strollers, with a more contemporary edge.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & Carrie Vickers