Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Combo Review
Our Verdict
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This Product
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Combo | |||||
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Awards | Best Bang for the Frame Stroller Buck | Budget-friendly Full-size | |||
Price | $430 List $399.99 at Amazon | $110 List $109.99 at Amazon | $120 List Check Price at Amazon | $350 List $349.99 at Amazon | $90 List $89.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Versatile car seat options but the City Mini 2 is better overall for less money | Great frame stroller with parent console and easy carrier attachment | Hard to push and turn stroller with poor car seat attachment | Budget-friendly, multi-seater with easy car seat connections for up to two infant carriers | Relatively universal with multiple strap installation that has too much room for errors |
Rating Categories | Baby Jogger City Mi... | Chicco KeyFit Caddy | Graco SnugRider Elite | Evenflo Pivot Xpand... | Baby Trend Snap-N-G... |
Ease Of Attaching Car Seat (30%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (30%) | |||||
Weight/Folded Size (25%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Maneuverability (5%) | |||||
Specs | Baby Jogger City Mi... | Chicco KeyFit Caddy | Graco SnugRider Elite | Evenflo Pivot Xpand... | Baby Trend Snap-N-G... |
Weight | 18.1 lbs | 11.7 lbs | 13.3 lbs | 24.3 lbs | 10.9 lbs |
Folded Dimensions | 25.6"W x 11.2"H x 33"L | 19.8"W x 11.5"H x 33.5"L | 19.7"W x 10.3"H x 31.9"L | 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L | 19.5"W x 11.75"H x 37.8"L |
Capacity Limits | Minimum: Birth Maximum: 65 lbs/44" |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat. |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat. |
Minimum: Infant - Toddler When stroller seat is in infant mode: birth - 6 months Maximum: 55 lbs/38" |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 45 lbs |
Included Car Seat Compatibility | Baby Jogger City GO, City GO 2 | Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2 |
Graco all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat |
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax | Claims to fit most seats |
Click-in Car Seat Adapters | Baby Jogger City GO, City GO 2 Britax B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 2, KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, Cloud Q Graco Snugride Snuglock 35 Elite, Snugride 35 Platinum, Snugride Click Connect 35 LX Maxi Cosi Mico AP, Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Mico 30 Nuna Pipa Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Uppababy Mesa Clek Living |
Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2 |
Graco all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat |
Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30 Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, 35, SnugRide SnugLock 30, 35 Peg Perego Primo Viaggio |
None |
Strap-in Car Seat Adapters | None | None | None | None | Claims to fit most seats |
One-handed Fold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Locking Fold | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto | Manual |
Self-standing Fold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Handlebar Height - Min/Max | 38.5"/45.7" | 36"/42" | 37.25"/41" | 33"/44.7" | 39.75" |
Sandal-friendly Brake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Storage Basket Size | Large | Large | Large | Extra large | Large |
Included Accessories | City GO infant car seat adapter. | None | None | None | None |
Setup Time | 4:47 | 8:28 | 5:59 | 5:15 | 5:09 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Baby Jogger was the brain-child of two new dads who wanted to job with their babies. In 1984, the two struggled to find the right product and thus decided to create their own, launching the Baby Jogger brand of products. Baby Jogger also makes a variety of other products besides jogging strollers, including full-size strollers, car seats, and more.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Attaching Car Seat
This Baby Jogger is compatible with a variety of different infant car seat brands with the right adapter (sold separately); these include Baby Jogger seats, Britax; Chicco including the Chicco Fit2, Chicco KeyFit 30; Cybex including the Cybex Aton 2, and Cybex Cloud Q; Graco; Maxi Cosi; the Nuna Pipa; the Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, the UPPAbaby Mesa; and Clek. We tested our seat with the Chicco Keyfit 30.
The Chicco adapter is a loop style adapter (above left) the carrier sit in and clicks onto. The adapter requires some assembly but is straightforward and you don't need tools. It attaches to the frame at the fold points on the stroller (above right), which are typically hidden with elastic fabric. The carrier fits in the loop easily with some pressure required to get the click, but you also need to strap the carrier in place which isn't our favorite method of carrier connection as some parents will forget or intentionally skip this critical step. Once installed the seat doesn't feel as stable as some of the competing pairs.
Weight and Folded Size
The GT 2 is 18.1lbs which is a little heavy but not too bad considering the competition that often weighs over 20. However, for new moms, it might be a bit much, so it is worth considering how much you want to carry.
it is fairly small however compared to the full-size competition at 9,462 cubic inches when folded. Both the weight and the size are below the average for the group which includes frame strollers and strollers made for two.
Maneuverability
The GT 2 has rubber tires all the way around that never go flat (above left). It also sports all-wheel suspension which are two of the most significant upgrades from the smaller City Mini 2. the front wheel can also ock in place for straight pushing over uneven surfaces (above right). These design choices translate to easier to push and turn on flat as well as off-road. This doesn't mean it is great for gravel roads or getting off the beaten path, but if you need to pass a greenbelt or navigate a fair on grass every now and then you can do that.
This stroller sports an adjustable handlebar for slight customization for different height parents. The rotating design, unfortunately, places taller users closer to the rear axle which can potentially result in axle kicking while strolling.
Ease of Use
The GT2 offers better than average ease of use compared to the competition.
If you are using the toddler seat in the recline mode on the GT2, you should be aware that our test results show an potential for back tipping of the stroller. While the concern is less so in the new GT2 than it was in the older model, we still were able to get the stroller to tip back when the baby's weight moved close to the top of the seatback. We did not see this tipping issue in the City Mini, non-GT version.
Fold and Unfold
The GT 2 has a quick fold with a one-handed pull loop on the stroller seat. Once you unlock the frame snaps, you can quickly have the stroller folded in the blink of an eye. Once folded, it locks automatically closed, can stand on its own, and sports a carry handle.
Brakes
The GT 2 is one of the few full-size strollers with a handbrake, something typically reserved for jogging style products. The brake is foot-friendly but snaps into place when you release it in such a way that makes you think your finger will get caught, though ours never did.
Storage
The GT 2 storage basket is fairly large holding up to 10 lbs, but the new design makes it difficult to fit a full-size diaper bag through the opening point. Even with the new front access, it's going to be hard to get a bag of any size into the bin from either side. It also sports a pocket on the seatback with a 2 lb weight limit.
Sunshade
The canopy needs to be removed for this stroller to work with an infant car seat carrier.
Ease of Setup
This stroller is easy to set up with an assembly time of 4:47 minutes.
It comes in the box virtually assembled with only a few parts to snap on. It requires no tools and has a fairly easy to follow user manual.
Quality
The GT2 quality feels slightly less than the older model. Much of the changes are the same between this option and the Non-GT versions with softer fabric on the GT2 seat. The quality is average for the price range and what we typically see with Baby Jogger, so if you are familiar with them you will get what you expect. Unfortunately, compared to the competition some of the details are lacking like a poorly placed crossbar that inhibits storage bin access and toggle style seat recline that you usually find on cheaper products. The new frame feels strong and the shape lets the fabric look better.