We’re excited to introduce a new company to the review world. Guava Family is a relatively new player in the baby products industry, but they are already making their mark on it. The Guava Family Roam Crossover Stroller is one of their first products and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on an early release model for testing purposes.
As we looked over this stroller and played around with it, it was quickly evident that the Guava Family had done their research on jogging strollers.
We will give you all the details about this jogging stroller that has been taking over parks around America! And, you can’t argue with the high marks this jogging stroller has received from countless happy owners of this stroller.
Adjustable Handlebar
For serious runners and running parents of differing heights, an adjustable handlebar is a must. Luckily, the Roam Crossover Stroller offers four positions. In actual inches, the handlebar can be adjusted from a range of 34″-45″ and 86.36-114.3-cm for you folks who are metric people.
When it comes to comfort, the Roam Crossover Stroller was designed with arm positions in mind. With 11 inches of adjustable range, users will find a comfortable position when they need it most- for long runs or when using it as an everyday stroller. And for taller parents, we’re confident that you will also find a comfortable position for your arms.
Remote-Lock Front Wheel
Since we just covered the handlebar, we had to discuss a first-of-its-kind remote-lock front wheel for jogging strollers. With a flip of a switch on the handlebar, you can lock and unlock the front swivel wheel. This means you will no longer have to crouch or bend over to manually lock and unlock the front wheel. For us older parents, it’s a blessing! Instantly your jogging stroller transforms to a standard stroller in seconds.
Suspension System and Wheels
The Roam’s wheels move independently with the assistance of the swing-arm style suspension. In combination with the all-terrain airless wheels, it helps this jogging stroller glide over uneven surfaces and rough terrain.
Seating
The spacious washable padded seat made of polyester can easily be removed and thrown in the washing machine.
The stroller seat has a nice five-point safety harness equipped with removable shoulder pads, a padded waist belt, and a padded crotch. All to ensure your child is comfortable and secure while you’re out on a run or walk.
As for the reclining seat, this may or may not be a major concern for you, but this seat only reclines to 65°. Ideally, most parents would like a flat or near flat reclining seat for their little one to take a nap.
Storage
The Roam has a large storage basket with a weight capacity of 10-pounds. It also has a zippered pocket on the inside. The storage basket is large enough to carry a diaper bag and the other essentials, or everything for a day at the park or beach.
On the backside of the seat, there’s also a large mesh pocket for anything from bottles to your jacket.
Canopy and Braking
The large canopy provides ample protection from the sun and the visor on the front edge helps block the sunlight when the sun is low (during your early morning or evening runs). Although a peek-a-boo window is pretty much standard nowadays, it’s still worth noting.
The foot brake (parking brake) is designed to engage and disengage with the flick of the foot. Again, like with other models, this is a standard feature on most.
Travel System
Similar to other strollers, the Roam Crossover Stroller can also be converted into a travel system, with an added purchase of infant car seat adapters. As of writing this article, Guava Family only offers car seat adapters for the following three popular brands:
Britax®, Cybex®, and Nuna®
It is unknown if they will expand their lineup of car seat adapters to include other popular brands such as Chicco®, Graco®, Maxi-Cosi®, and Uppababy®. It would be nice if they were able to add these names to the list.
Folding, Carrying, and Storage
Many brands tout a one-handed fold system, yet some just aren’t that easy to fold with one hand. This jogging stroller’s folding is simple and EASY.
Simply lift the cover of the stroller seat, grab the red handle and pull up. It truly is as simple as that. The stroller folds in literal seconds.
Once folded, the stroller can stand on its own, the handlebar acts as the base. Note: since the stroller is resting on the handlebar, we have reservations about the longevity of the padding. Over time, we feel the padding of the handlebar will get abused.
With the built-in carrying handle, it is just a matter of grab and go!
Most jogging strollers in this class, aren’t exactly known for their compact size. The Roam is 29″ x 15″ x 17″ when folded (Guava proclaims it folds smaller than any other jogging stroller on the market). If you have an SUV, the size might not make much of a difference, but if you own a compact vehicle, the stroller will surely eat up a lot of your trunk space.
To make a jogging stroller fold in a tight package, several brands have detachable rear wheels. Guava Family has put their spin on this idea. When folded, the rear wheels of the Roam fold inward at an angle. This keeps the large wheels within the stroller’s frame. We can’t say how much space-saving there is, but we do feel it’s a cool feature! In addition, you won’t have to spend time re-attaching the wheels to get going.
Accessories
We’ve come to the point in this review where the Guava Family stroller disappoints a little. Not the stroller itself, but the accessories, or lack thereof.
The only accessory available, other than car seat adapters, is a parent console/caddie. It has one zippered pouch and one cup holder with a magnetic cover. If they don’t offer a child tray, we feel Guava should have made a two-cup holder at the very least. On the bright side, Guava Family offers this item as a bonus ($29.95 value).
Guava Family calls this a crossover stroller, meaning it can be used as a jogger and traditional stroller. In this case, it’s quite puzzling that a child tray and cup holders are not available.
Updated: June 12, 2021
Strike that! As if they read this review, coming in August 2021, Guava will have a child tray available. It will have one compartment for snacks and one for a drink. It is on the smallish side, but I’m still glad it’s an option for parents.
The tray will snap on the side frame and can pivot away so it’s not in the way when you’re putting in or taking your child out of the stroller seat.
A few more accessories will follow the snack and drink tray. These accessories are on the horizon:
Rain and Weather Shield
Padded Roller Bag
Gate Check Bag
The lack of accessories has been Guava Family’s biggest weak point. We’re happy with these new additions to the accessory lineup.
Pros
- Adjustable Handlebar
- Swing-Arm Suspension System
- Integrated Remote-Lock Front Wheel on the Handlebar
- Large Airless Wheels | 12″ (30.48-cm) Front Wheel, 14″ (35.56-cm) Rear Wheels
- One-Handed Fold
- Large Storage Basket (10-pound Capacity)
- Generous Canopy
- Foot Brake/Parking Brake
- The Roam can be converted into a travel system with an additional purchase car seat adapters
- A Wrist Strap is Included
Cons
- Lacks a hand brake
- Does not have a child tray with cup holders
- The reclining seat does not recline flat
- Only available in one color
- The Roam Crossover Stroller is not offered in stores
Important Specifications
- Unfolded Dimensions: 39″ x 25″ x 43″ (99 x 63.5 x 109.22-cm)
- Folded Dimensions: 29″ x 15″ x 17″ (73.66 x 38.1 x 43.18-cm)
- Stroller Weight: 25-pounds (11.34-kg)
- Storage Basket Weight Capacity: 10-pounds (4.54-kg)
- Maximum Child Weight Capacity: 60-pounds (27.22-kg)
Safety
Guava Family has highlighted the fact that their stroller exceeds the federal standards for strollers. These standards include 16 CFR 1227 / ASTM F833-19 and CPSIA. If you are slightly aware of these federal standards, you know your child is safe.
Where Can I See a Roam Crossover Stroller?
Unfortunately, Guava Family only sells its products online. However, they have a 30 Day Worry-Free Guarantee. Look and play around with the stroller at home, and if you don’t like it, simply return it (the return shipping is on them!).
What Parents Say About the Roam Crossover Stroller
“This is the smoothest, most compact-able stroller we’ve used so far. A great purchase!”
-Stephen R.
“We love this new Roam Stroller for jogging and everyday use. It’s super durable, strong, high quality, and looks great! So glad we bought it!”
-Laura G.
Final Words
If a company spends four years designing a stroller, well, you have to assume that this stroller is going to be first-rate. If you answered yes, you are correct!
As jogging strollers go, the Guava Family Roam Crossover Stroller is just plain sexy! You can feel the high quality of the materials. You can see the modern streamline design.
The Roam Crossover Stroller is a good investment if you are in the market for an elite jogging stroller. Guava Family is the new kid on the block, but they give more well-established brands like BOB Gear and Thule a run for their money.
Additional information for jogging strollers can be found in our “How to Choose the Right Jogging Stroller” article. It is packed with general jogging stroller information.