New Wheels on a Gloomy Day: Joovy Groove Review

On Tuesday my playgroup had a Babies Who Lunch event at a local order-at-the-counter type of Italian restaurant. It was cute. We had about 10 moms and 12 kids. We had our own little room in the back of the restaurant, which was great since that many kids can get loud and messy...and fun! :)

I always take my BOB Revolution jogging stroller everywhere. Even if I'm not jogging. It's really easy to fold up and it's easy to maneuver. The downside? It's rather large. At the Babies Who Lunch event, I had to ask everyone move their children and highchairs out of the way so I could get through the aisle. Then, I parked it in the back of the room and took Baby J to sit on my lap while I ate lunch. Great stroller...amazing for jogging and outdoor activities, but not really meant for indoors.

BOB Revolution CE

That was when I realized it was about time for me to start using the Joovy Groove that was sitting in my son's room for the past 8 months (still in the box). My mom bought it for me while I was pregnant, and at the time I thought I wanted it in Green. I blame my flamboyant pregnancy hormones. Not that there's anything wrong with being colorful, it's just that *I* am not really into colors... even though Joovy makes really beautiful, vibrant colors. Joovy Groove comes in Green, Orange, Blueberry, and Black, I returned the unopened box to Buy Buy Baby with the green stroller in it and switched it for my beloved black! I'm boring, I know.

When we originally went shopping for the stroller, my sister, who is 4 feet 11 inches and weighs about *maybe* 100 pounds (yes, she's actually a full grown 26 year old adult) was with us and insisted on trying out every stroller in the store. Funny girl. She came to the conclusion that the Joovy Groove was the most comfortable and roomy umbrella stroller. Who was I to argue with her scientific process? I couldn't fit my big pregnant booty in my pants, never mind a stroller. So, that's the one we bought.

After I got the black one home, I couldn't wait to try out the new stroller. When I opened the box it was SO EASY to assemble. Took around 5 minutes, no tools required. Just pop on the front wheels and the canopy, and you're good to ROLL! :)

Baby J and I have both had colds for the past 2 days. Sore throats and stuffy noses. Nothing major, just a little bit germ-y. We both could use some fresh air so after I put the stroller together we hopped in the car and headed to a local park for a quick spin with our new wheels. It had just stopped raining. Today was a gloomy day in South Florida. The good news is a "cold" front is coming through! Yay!

Park near my house on an overcast afternoon

Anyway, The stroller handles very well. The front wheels can either be locked to only go straight, or can be unlocked to swivel. It has a wide wheel base and the tires are larger than most other umbrella strollers. In fact, most of the features it offers are much greater than other umbrella strollers. It has an extra large canopy, 2 cup holders, and an underneath storage bin that holds up to 5 pounds.

Large wheels - can swivel or lock

Parent compartments on the back to hold drinks, bottles, keys, etc.

The stroller itself holds up to 55 pounds, so it can be used for quite some time. The seat reclines pretty far back, making for an extra comfy ride for baby. There's also a little viewing window on top of the canopy so you can see your baby while you're driving the stroller.

I can see you :)

Folding the Joovy Groove is simple. You pull up a handle and fold it down...takes 2 seconds. It has an automatic fold-lock and a carry handle. Much easier than many other strollers I've tried out previously. It folds up into a manageable size and weighs around 17 pounds, so it's easy to lift into your car.

Handle to fold the stroller and storage compartment

At around $200 it's certainly on the upper priced side for umbrella strollers, but you quickly forget that it is an umbrella stroller with all of the awesome upgrades and features. Overall, I would definitely recommend this stroller to anyone considering an umbrella stroller.

I'm glad I finally started to start using this awesome stroller...now I won't have to run people over and get stuck in doorways. The only thing is, what is an acceptable number of strollers to keep in your car at any given time? If the answer is 2, then I'm set! You have to be prepared for lots of different situations ;)

As always, thanks for reading! :)