The Specialist Running Buggy That Got Us Back on the Road
We’ve always run as a duo. From toddler years in the Graco Relay to squeezing into a Thule Urban Glide 2 at age six, Joe’s been my co-runner for most of my running life.
But as he grew, things changed – and eventually, nothing off the shelf would fit anymore.
So this is our honest review of the Kool Stride Sports Stroller – the specialist running buggy that helped us get back out there, thanks to support from Freedom for Kids and The Sunshine Fund.
Our Buggy History
We started with the Graco Relay Jogger. Affordable, ran well, did the job – until Joe tore one of the harness straps. Amazon refunded us, but it had been discontinued. No replacements available.
We moved on to the Out’n’About Nipper Sport V4 – lightweight, handled well, proper fixed wheel setup. Worked great… until he outgrew it. Even Out’n’About’s XL line wouldn’t give us the space he needed.
Thule Urban Glide 2 was the last stop in the mainstream world. High weight capacity, good handling, and versatile. But by age six, the straps were tight, his feet hung off the front, and the seat depth just wasn’t enough.
At that point, we knew we needed something different.
What Changed
After some research online, we reached out to Freedom for Kids, who invited us to trial four specialist buggies they’d pre-built as demos.
Joe gave each one a glance… however he chose the Kool Stride himself by going over and climbing in.
We tried a short run with it, and we were sold – well sort of, we’ll cover funding later!
Real-World Use
We use this buggy weekly – club nights, local parkruns, and training runs. Here’s how it holds up:
- Smooth on the flat, surprisingly stable on uneven terrain
- Large rear wheels help it glide over bumps
- Comfort is spot on – Joe’s relaxed, upright, with space to grow
- Weight-wise, it’s 15KG empty. Manageable but not light.
Transport & Storage
Here’s the blunt truth: if you drive anything smaller than an estate, you’ll be rearranging your car every time.
I drive an Audi A3 Sportback. It fits, but only just. I have to drop the bigger side of the split rear seats, which means:
- No more than 1 extra passengers when we’re running
- No chance of forgetting it’s in the boot
We’re even considering a roof box just to keep the interior usable – but that brings trade-offs in fuel efficiency on regular daily use of the car.
If you want convenience, this isn’t it. But if you want capability, it delivers.
Front Wheel Tracking – Not Plug-and-Play
Here’s the bit nobody tells you:
The Kool Stride doesn’t track like mainstream buggies.
- With the Nipper Sport, you could fine-tune tracking by tweaking the fork wheel bolt angle before locking the wheel.
- With the Thule or Graco, the tracking dial made it idiot-proof.
- But the Kool Stride has fixed forks that point downward – and tracking is adjusted with tiny nuts and screws. You need tools. You need patience.
If the tracking is off? You’ll be correcting the buggy throughout your run.
Worth it once it’s dialled in – but definitely a learning curve.
The main wheels slide in and lock in place with a push button release, the front wheel come setup with a quick release arm system on the bolt. It also comes with a manual hex nut version you can use tools with if preferred. Getting the frame up and back down again is quick and slick in my opinion, with minimal fuss.
Let’s Talk Funding
This buggy wasn’t something we could just buy outright. We had a budget, we also had some money from NHS Wheelchair services in the form of a personal budget.
That’s where Freedom for Kids and The Sunshine Fund stepped in. They helped us secure a grant to cover remaining funding for the buggy – and without that support, we wouldn’t be back out running as a team.
It wasn’t easy to ask. But I’m glad we did.
Final Thoughts
This buggy isn’t just for walks in the great outdoors and casual jogs.
It’s for parents like me, who aren’t done yet — who still want to run, even when the standard gear says otherwise.
If that’s you? The Kool Stride might be exactly what you’re looking for.