Cruise the town with the Joovy Groove Ultralight

As a mom constantly on the go, I just can’t afford to drag around a heavy stroller for my boys. I’m a die-hard umbrella stroller lover. I like that I can open it with one hand while the other is grabbing the baby that just ran away (yes, I see you shaking your head as you picture this scene from your own life). I like that I can carry the stroller under one arm, and a bag and baby in the other, but your basic umbrella stroller has some draw backs. That’s where the Joovy Groove Ultralight comes in.

This sexy little lady is five pounds lighter than its big sister, making it an easier stroller to travel with and explore new lands… or just the farmers market down the street.

Here’s the dirt on the Joovy Ultralight Groove

• Stroller Weight: 12.78 pounds
• Stroller Dimensions Folded (inches): 12.5 H x 13 W x 40 D
• Stroller Dimensions Assembled: 40.75 H x 21 W x 33.5 D
• Min.Age: 3 Months / Max.Weight: 55 pounds
• Safety features: Five-point harness and reflective safety package
• Colors: Blueberry (as pictured), Purpleness, Triple Black and Charcoal

Stash your stuff

Storage is what you sacrifice when you go for the cheap umbrella stroller. When you are constantly on the go you need a spot to stash your purse, an extra bag of snacks, loose toys, lovies and that left shoe that the baby keeps throwing into the street. You also need to give your back a break. The Joovy Groove Ultralight has enough space to stick all of your kids stuff plus a large purse, diaper bag or camera bag. I even managed to throw the kids’ coats in the storage below the stroller with my Big Buddha purse.

Nighty-night baby

With your standard umbrella stroller you also lose the ability to recline your tired baby or toddler. This has come to bite me in the bum more than once. The Joovy easily reclines up to 149 degrees with the pull of a tab. The adjustable leg support means even longer babies can relax without their feet falling over the edge. An oversize canopy will block the sun allowing your little bundle of joy to snuggle up without any bright lights blinding him or her as you move about town.

Stand up straight woman!

If you are a savvy mama of a taller stature, you know how hard it is to find a stroller with handlebars high enough that you don’t have to slouch while you walk to reach them. The aerodynamic design of the Joovy handlebars lets you stand tall while you shop and explore the city. The two separate handlebars also make it easier to maneuver your stroller one handed.

Getting ahead of the curve

One last drawback of your standard umbrella stroller is the wheels. The tred isn’t very good and you can’t cut those corners very easily. Joovy’s wheels spin around allowing you to tackle those tough curves, even one-handed. You can steer around tight spots, avoid pedestrians cutting you off and sprint to catch the train. The handling on uneven ground is similar to other non-jogger strollers. Without heavy-duty wheels you are bound to hit a few bumps in the road, but you won’t be any worse for wear.

Let’s wrap it up

There is only one spot that your basic umbrella stroller will have the Joovy beat, but not for long with a little practice. Your basic stroller is easier to open and close one-handed, and tuck under your arm. The way to conquer this is to try opening and closing it at home a few times. The auto fold lock is great, but you will need both hands to unlock the stroller until you get the hang of it. You will also have to unlock the wheels before you start rolling, which you can do with your foot.

Closing the stroller also takes a flick of your foot, but you need to do it in two spots — the most obvious being the step tab in the back, but I found I also had to wiggle my foot to the side to make the mental frame collapse all the way. I could still do all this with a baby in one arm, but not as easily. I have a few more test runs to do before I’ve perfected my technique.

What do you think makes the ultimate travel stroller?

Disclaimer: I was sent the Joovy Groove Ultralight for review. The above is my own savvy sassy opinion

Meet the Author | Keryn

Keryn is an East Coast native living life as a freelance writer in Seattle surrounded by her two little boys and one incredible husband. When not dragging the men in her life across the globe you can find Keryn writing on her blog Walking On Travels, a site that gives hope to today’s modern parent that doesn’t see kids as a roadblock to travel, but an excuse to get out the door and explore. Keryn has laughed at the naysayers by bringing her boys to far off lands like China, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, back and forth across the USA, Mexico, Canada, and even across Europe. Keryn loves to encourage families to take that first step out the door, the hardest step of all.

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