UPPAbaby Ridge Review

UPPAbaby is a family-owned business started by the Monahans in 2006. After becoming new parents, they felt there was a gap in the baby gear world, as they were unable to find the right gear to suit their needs. They believed they could create and offer better, less complicated, and well-made products. They have experienced organic growth and success and now employ more than 175 people.

Performance Comparison

Run-ability

The Ridge did not perform well in our tests for run-ability, earning one of the lowest scores in the group. We test for running, suspension, tracking, ergonomics, and more.

Unfortunately, it is really bouncy overall, and this made the experience more of a pain than a delightful outing. While we think it is fine for a casual jog on most flat surfaces, it doesn't feel like the best fit for sprints or long workouts. The heavier weight and bouncy feel take more effort than most will want to expend regularly.

The Ridge has suspension and an adjustable handlebar, which help keep fatigue at a minimum and reduce the vibration of the handle when running. The handlebar has 4 possible adjustment points with a range from 41.25 to 45.5 inches. While not the tallest in the group, it should be good to go for most parents. The adjustable handlebar is comfortable, and the handbrake is well placed, so it doesn't feel in the way and isn't hard to squeeze. The handbrake was responsive downhill and helped give more control to keeping the stroller on track.

This stroller has a locking swivel front wheel. When locked, it offers adjustable tracking, and the front wheel runs straight in this configuration without much adjustment over time.

While the Ridge is designed for running or the occasional jog, we think it might be better suited as an all-terrain stroller than it is a jogger for dedicated runners.

Ease of Use

The UPPAbaby is very easy to use and earned a score in this metric, one of the highest in a competitive group.

Storage

UPPAbaby again has one of the largest weight capacities in the group, with ample storage limits of 20 lbs. This is way above the average in the group of 10 lbs and much higher than some that only hold 5 lbs. Access to the bin is very easy, and we fit our extra-large diaper bag inside. The bin has a cover that zips partially closed and can be removed. The front is a mesh window that can also lift for easy access to smaller items. There is a tab to hold it in place. The bin has a metal structural liner to help it keep its shape. The bin has three pockets to help keep things organized.

It also has a slim zippered pocket on the canopy that's perfect for a smartphone! It is easy to use and doesn't bounce when running.

The Ridge has a unique water bottle holding sleeve we love and wish came with all strollers. Keeping hydrated while running has never been easier with the dedicated sleeve. While some competitors offer somewhat useless parent consoles with shallow cup holders, the UPPAbaby provides something far better.

Fold and Unfold

The UPPAbaby has an intuitive, easy-to-accomplish folding and folding design. It is a one-hand operation with an automatic lock that self-stands.

The legrest on the seat folds up to reveal that twist folding mechanism. All you need to do is twist and lift, and it collapses in half.

Harness

The harness is easy to operate with smooth webbing and adjustment that requires no effort. The buckle is firm but releases the sides without being pulled on. The shoulder straps slide up and down for height adjustment, and the shoulder and hip straps are both padded for comfort.

Brakes

The Ridge has a deceleration handbrake and a parking brake. The handbrake works well at slowing the stroller and is very responsive without any hand fatigue. The parking brake is color-coded and is press to set and press to release with two different pedals.

The Ridge has unique disc brakes in this category. They look really cool and are more like bicycle brakes than stroller brakes. The disc is located close to the pedal, and we wonder if larger feet could rub on the brakes.

Ease of Setup

The UPPAbaby takes 5-10 minutes to set up. The process is straightforward: snap on the wheels using a quick start guide. A lot of packaging keeps the stroller safe during shipping, but it is a lot to unpack.

Maneuverability

The Ridge has a swivel front wheel that allows it to move more easily in tight spaces or crowds.

However, it struggled with maneuverability in our tests compared to the competition. While it earned a better score than the traditional full-size strollers we tested, it couldn't compete with the jogging strollers.

Pushing and turning indoors was great. The Ridge handled our obstacle course like a dream, easily making flooring transition changes.

We could comfortably push it with one or two hands and didn't need much lead time for turning. It feels shorter and more nimble than the more traditional, well-known joggers in this lineup.

Moving off-road is a stark contrast to the indoor experience. It occasionally felt inconsistent in its performance and was rough when the terrain got bumpy. It got tippy in our grass testing, and the flex in the frame made things worse as we moved on to other terrains. It also took more force to pop it up on the curb, but you don't have to lift it very high.

Transport and Storage

The Ridge is one of the heaviest and biggest options in the group, giving this stroller one of the lowest scores in the group for transport and storage.

The Ridge weighed 30.5 lbs with all the parts in place, over 3 lbs heavier than the manufacturer's claimed weight of 27 lbs. It is one of the heaviest in the group, with very few packing such a heavy punch.

The folded size measured 37.3" x 26.3" x 17.0", which is 16,677 cubic inches.

This folded size is bigger than average and could be a deal breaker if your space is limited since at least one is less than half this size.

The Ridge is heavy and larger when folded than the average stroller. If your space is limited or you don't want to heft 30 lbs, it might be best to consider alternatives.

Quality

The Ridge performed well in our quality tests compared to the competition. It isn't a surprise, as most UPPAbaby gear is high quality with an eye for thoughtful design and construction.

The fabric on the seat and the sunshade is a tight-weave canvas. The sling seat has nice padding, and we loved the shoulder and waist padding. The handlebar has a foam cover that feels good in the hand and doesn't leave residue on our hands like some competitors. It is easy to grip and works well with the handbrake. It all works so well together, and it looks intentional instead of just checking a box of features.

We like the foam-filled rubber tires that translate to no flats, no matter the terrain. This is a big deal for parents who lack tire tube changing savvy, and we love that someone stuck with a flat insisted on this added nod to quality. The frame is of nice quality and sleek, with components that fit it well. It doesn't have much flex, and there is no wiggle or rattle. The overall fit and finish are impressive and look impressive compared to much of the competition, with an attention to detail that is largely unsurpassed.

Kids' Comfort

UPPAbaby designed the Ridge with babies in mind, earning one of the highest scores in the group for passenger comfort and features.

It features a padded sling-style seat that folds flat enough for napping. It has a two-step single toggle adjustment for reclining that we see on a lot of jogging strollers but wish we didn't. It is easy to use but requires two hands to raise and feels dated. The leg rest is padded and travels all the way down to a hard footrest. The rest is somewhat narrow, so bigger feet might end up dangling off the side, but it is easy to clean after muddy adventures.

The sunshade has an SPF 50+ rating and is large enough to protect even during napping. It has two small mesh windows for ventilation and peeking. The canopy also extends open with a zippered extension panel.

Should You Buy the UPPAbaby Ridge?

Yes, maybe, it depends. The Ridge just missed winning an award by a hair. This stroller is thoughtfully designed by people who use strollers, and we like some of the unique features, such as the ample storage and the disc brakes. Overall, it performed well, but it wasn't the best runner. If you want a crossover and love UPPAbaby or value quality over other things, then the Ridge could be a good choice. If you are an avid runner and hope for a great running experience in a cross-over stroller, then it might not be the best fit.

What Other Jogging Strollers Should You Consider?

We prefer the Guava Roam Crossover to the Ridge. In our tests, it was easier to run with, and we loved the ability to switch from swivel to locking wheel without bending over and relatively on the go. It is easy to use, easy to maneuver with the swivel wheel, and has the smallest fold in the jogging business. While we wish it had a slightly bigger canopy, there isn't much to dislike in the Guava, and it edged out the Ridge in run-ability, maneuverability, transporting and storage, and Kid Comfort with a similar quality score. The Guava is also slightly less expensive.

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