I'm often asked what, if any, strollers will work on the beach. The answer: Not many. The good news is, there are a few. And here are two of the newest contenders: the Joovy Zoom 360 and the Joovy ATS. The reason they can handle the soft sand is that they have the muscle of 16" wheels. Don't look for anything smaller. As an added bonus, the Joovy wheels have shocks, which really made the ride much softer on the bumpy pier. 
One of the unusual features of the Zooms is the long drop from the seat to the footrest. It's an astonishing 13"! If you take a look at some of my other reviews, you'll see the average is around 8" or 9". So this is a good choice for a leggy child.
Another wonderful feature is the canopy. It is quite generous, but when you pull down the front visor, there is even another 10" of coverage! Great feature to have in a beach stroller.
There is a pretty deep recline, which is done by a single back strap. And instead of a fabric back, there is mesh. This allows for air to circulate around your baby, and prevents overheating.
The Zooms come with a neoprene cupholder/parent pack, wrist tether, tire pump, and raincover. Excellent value!
There are two net pockets inside the seat, then a large net pocket behind the seat, and a generous sized basket. Plenty of room for sand toys, snacks, and sunscreen!
The toughest decision is..which Zoom to choose? I was surprised by how well the 360 performed, despite the smaller 12" front swivel wheel. Nevertheless, you do have to turn it around and drag it backwards to get from the shore to the sea. Whereas the 16" front fixed wheel on the ATS makes it possible to push it forward. This also has a handbrake, so is clearly the best choice if you want to run with it.
The fold on the Zoom is really easy, which is such a blessing at the end of a long beach day. After loading the kids, the towels, the bags and the seashells, the last thing you want to do is fiddle with a finicky fold. All you have to do is follow the tag that says "Fold." Lift the edge of the seat, push back the red lever, and grab the handle. The Zoom will collapse in half. You can quickly pop off the wheels if you need to. But you can see how both the ATS and the 360 fit in the back of an SUV. 
Joovy Zoom 360 Swivel Wheel Jogging Stroller
Weight: 27 pounds
Drop to Footrest: 13"
Seat Width: 14"
Seat Back: 18"
Seat to Canopy: 20"
Width: 25"
Length: 44"
Floor to Seat: 23"
Handle Height: 41" on Zoom, 42" on ATS
Thank you so much for this thorough review and the great pictures. I definitely bought the 360 online because of your review. Joovy should give you a cut!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review! I also bought joovy zoom ats. I was looking for reviews for a long time and you are one of the two that I found! I bought it to run with, but it is wonderful to know I am bring it to the beach and it will make the trip easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your review. I bought the Joovy Zoom ATS thanks to it!
ReplyDeleteHow did you feel about the back length? I just received my ATS and my daughter's head hits the canopy when closed or open, when the seat is fully upright. My daughter is small for her age too. This stroller supports 75 lbs (which is part of the reason I bought it) but there is no way a kid that large will fit in the seat height-wise. I'd appreciate your feedback :) ~MNmom
ReplyDeleteI am looking into the 360 for my almost 3 year old, I have another stroller but I want one to go on long walks with. I wanted one without a tray and one that would let him sit very upright. Do you think the seat sits pretty straight up when not in the recline position?
ReplyDeleteJoovy Zoom ATS is stellar. My son LOVES it. The sun shade is HUGE. The features are well thought out, and all accessories are INCLUDED in your purchase (rain hood, pump, cup holder). Overall, we are VERY please with this purchase.
ReplyDeleteTo cap it off, the Joovy customer service is amazing.
We had a chatter on the left side of our Zoom, and it was either the suspension or the bearing in the wheel. Made an appointment, got there at 9am, and I was out with a BRAND NEW stroller within 5 minutes because he said he wanted to research the issue. What a rare breed of customer service they have, and I am a loyal fan of anything Joovy from here on out!
WOW! I was looking for reviews on jogging strollers and stumbled across this posting. I didn't want to spend $400+ on a Bob Stroller and all the extras so I was researching Joovy Strollers. What GREAT information with pictures. Now I just need to decide which Joovy I will buy, I need it both for the beach and a smoother walk/fast walk on various terrain but alos would like to use it while shopping or touring on vacation so I think I will try the 360. I agree with the other comment, Joovy should give you a percentage of their sales!
ReplyDeleteLOL, thanks!
DeleteI agree with you. I bought this stroller 2 months ago and I've been everywhere with my son in it. The Joovy Zoom 360 is really thee perfect jogging stroller - Lets me keep jogging while i'm not neglecting my baby - he loves it
ReplyDeleteSo, I just noticed how old this post was, but hopefully I can still ask a question. I have been debating between the Joovy and the Bob. I really want the Joovy, but the Bob has a taller seat. That is the only thing keeping me from getting the Joovy. How long were you able to use your Joovy? My baby is only a year old, but she is tall, and I want to get at least a year and a half out of it. Thank you
ReplyDeleteMere, check out my measurements, that should help. You can see that the seatback is 18", which is standard, but the seat to canopy is 20", which is low. I wonder if they changed that on newer models? Maybe you can move it up? Because it is a pretty nice stroller.
ReplyDelete