Baby Trend Expedition Review

Baby Trend started over 26 years ago, creating products for the juvenile industry. Since their inception, they have been designing innovative products for growing families. Baby Trend was the first to make "sit and stand" style strollers and the Snap-N-Go stroller that converts an infant car seat into a lightweight stroller. They make the Diaper Champ diaper pail, infant car seats, infant swings, and bouncers, high chairs, walkers, favorite strollers, and a variety of other products for growing families.

Performance Comparison

Run-ability

The Expedition isn't the best runner, according to our tests. It is almost like it is cosplaying a jogging stroller and hoping no one will notice he is missing important features.

While this stroller has rubber, pneumatic tires, wire-spoke wheels, and a locking front wheel designed for jogging, it is missing some key components dedicated runners will need.

The Expedition doesn't have adjustable tracking or suspension, and the handlebar is stationary. So, while you can run with it, we suspect dedicated or serious runner will grow frustrated with what is lacking and experience more body fatigue as they work to adjust their body to the stroller instead of the stroller to their running style.

In our test for rolling resistance, which could translate to a more fatiguing run if it exists, it performed well. This stroller rolled further than many competitors, indicating it has less resistance and could theoretically be easier to push.

The handlebar reaches 41 inches from the ground and might suit average-height parents but could be problematic for shorter or taller parents. It has a rubbery cover, which doesn't feel good in hand and leaves a black residue on our hands after a sweaty run. The suspension is non-existent, which feels like a failure for the passenger, if nothing else, and forces reliance on the rubber wheels.

The Expedition lacks adjustable tracking, so you are stuck without whatever the stroller comes with. The stroller mostly tracked straight, but it continually pulled to one side and repeatedly would hook a curve if we let go of the stroller and let it follow its own path (no baby on board, of course).

While you can run with this stroller, we think it will create more fatigue quicker than higher-ranked competitors. The lack of suspension resulted in vibrations translating to the handle, and with nothing being adjustable, it started to feel like a slog near the end of the run and lacked any chance of using a natural running motion like many competitors offer.

Ease of Use

The Baby Trend is harder to use than most competitors.

Storage

The Expedition has a parent console and a child tray, but neither is all that useful. The parent console has two cup holders that are not very deep and are not wide enough for insulated parent water bottles. The center of the console has a covered tray that we think is for items like smartphones or keys, but it is too small to be really useful, as our test phone did not fit in the tray. The Expedition has been around for at least ten years, and it feels like it hasn't kept up with these times of giant water bottles and smartphones.

The child tray is marginally better with a cup holder that can hold some kids' water bottles and sippy cups that aren't too wide.

The under-seat storage basket is very easy to access, and we fit our extra-large diaper bag inside. Unfortunately, the maximum capacity is only 5 lbs, which is less than what we think the average diaper bag weighs. This defeats the larger size and means it is really not the best for running errands that include goods.

Fold/Unfold

The Expedition has a two-handed fold and a manual lock. Folding is average and not hard, but it feels dated and can't compete with the easier one-handed options we tested.

Harness

The Expedition 5-point harness is bare bones, and the webbing is not all that skin-friendly. There is no strap padding, and the straps need to be manually pulled out when pressing the buckle. The shoulder and crotch straps are adjustable.

Brakes

The Expedition has no deceleration brake, and the parking brakes are double-action. Double-action means you need to press two brake pedals to fully engage the brakes. We prefer single-action brakes because we worry parents will forget both pedals or assume one is good enough, but it is not. The pedals are stiff but still foot-friendly, and we encourage parents to double-check they are set because it can feel like they are when they aren't fully engaged.

Ease of Setup

The Expedition took us about 5-10 minutes to assemble. It isn't a challenge, but the manual isn't great. Luckily, it is fairly intuitive to set up. We did need a bike pump for the tires.

Maneuverability

The Expedition's maneuverability is also below average. While it is good enough not to be frustrating, it isn't as good as that of higher-ranked options.

The Expedition has a swivel front wheel and large rubber tires that help it navigate tighter spaces. However, the lack of suspension and adjustable handlebar means it isn't the most comfortable to push, and there is some flex in the frame you can't do anything about.

The Expedition performs well on flat surfaces. It was easy to handle and, as one tester put it, “absolutely cruised the course!” It has a quick reaction time and doesn't require too much advanced planning. It is light and responsive but can get bouncy if you move too quickly or abruptly.

Off-road is where things went south. Pushing isn't hard because it is lightweight, but it doesn't feel as solid on uneven surfaces. We worry the durability isn't good enough to take on trails regularly, and we suffered frequent low or flat tires after adventures on off-road hiking trails. The front wheel tends to tip back unexpectedly when bumping along.

Transport and Storage

This is one metric where the Expedition shines. It is relatively lightweight and smaller when folded than most of the competition.

In our tests, this stroller weighed 24 lbs, slightly more than the manufacturer's listed weight of 23.6 lbs. However, this is lower than the average weight for a jogging stroller, with some reaching weights closer to 30 lbs.

The folded size is also smaller, at 16.3" x 23.5" x 33.1" and 12,679 cubic inches.

With an average fold size closer to 14,000 and a competitor closer to 20,000, it hits an acceptable size. If you have concerns about lifting and stowing a jogger, the Expedition is easier to manage than most.

We measure and weigh each stroller because this style of stroller is bulky and some are very heavy, heavier than some parents will want to lift regularly. Knowing how much a stroller weighs and whether it will fit in your car can help you narrow down your options.

Quality

Quality is not a standout feature of this stroller. However, we think what you get is what you pay for, and arguably, it is more than you might expect from a stroller this cheap.

The Expedition has rubber tires, a sling-style seat, a child tray, and even a parent console. While none of it is put together all that well, and the design hasn't changed in as many years as we've been testing it, it is good for enough for the price.

The overall fit and finish are below average, with many exposed fasteners and connection points. It lacks a sleek finished look, and the materials are only good enough. It almost looks like the parts don't go together perfectly.

The handlebar has a rubber cover of some kind that left black flecks on our hands, something we didn't experience in higher-priced options.

While it has aluminum wheels and rubber tires, our tires were unreliable and slowly deflated often enough that we had to refill them frequently during testing. The valves are short and stubby, making it challenging to attach the air pump. The spokes are in the way, which feels like an oversight or simply poor design. Online users also report that the spokes can rust over time.

Kids' Comfort

This Baby Trend is not the best for kids' comfort, with one of the lowest scores in the group.

The Expedition's sling-style seat has a plastic toggle that reclines and requires two hands to raise.

It feels and looks pretty flimsy and outdated. There is minimal padding and back support, and it relies on the sling design to provide support and comfort. It reclines deep enough for napping.

It has a large plastic footrest that is bigger than most, with an extended part past the footrest for longer legs. The legrest has a gap between the seat and the footrest, which probably keeps down the weight and cost but is unlikely to be as comfortable as others that extend all the way down.

The Expedition's canopy is one of the smallest. While it can rotate forward and backward to help protect from the direct sun, depending on where it is in the sky, you are never going to get full head-to-knee coverage like most of the competition. Depending on your outing, a sunhat and glasses could be in order.

Should You Buy the Baby Trend Expedition?

The Baby Trend is not the best jogger, and we had trouble running with it for long distances. With no way to adjust tracking or handlebar height, it could be a struggle to run with, and we think dedicated runners should look elsewhere. However, if your budget is tight, it is hard to ignore the low, low price and what you get for that price. This three-wheel rubber tire option moves smoothly over most surfaces and is suitable for running even if you won't want to jog more than casually or occasionally. We think it is a good choice for those who move off-road often or want to explore trails or parks and need better tires to make the trip without trouble but lack the funds for a higher-quality stroller.

What Other Jogging Strollers Should You Consider?

If your budget can stretch, we think the Guava Roam Crossover should be on your shortlist. While it costs significantly more than the Baby Trend, it isn't as costly as other competitors, and you get a lot more. If there is some way to manage the better option, we don't think you'll be disappointed, and if you use it as your only stroller, it could save you money in the long run. This stroller performs well in every metric and has the smallest fold in the group. If your budget just can't be stretched and you worry less about money but want something slightly higher quality, then the Baby Trend Race Tec could be the one for you. While not an award winner and a harder-to-run-with option, it does have nicer materials and looks sleeker than its cheaper counterpart.

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