In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Baby Trend Expedition Review

While the fit and finish is subpar, it is hard to beat the price and straightforward design
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baby trend expedition full size stroller review
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Baby Trend
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Mar 31, 2024
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 18
  • Ease of Use - 40% 5.9
  • Maneuverability - 25% 7.6
  • Transport/Storing - 15% 7.0
  • Quality - 10% 2.7
  • Kid's Comfort - 10% 3.5

The Skinny

The Baby Trend Expedition might be a favorite full-size stroller, but it isn't a high scorer in this category. While we love the larger 3-wheel design and pneumatic rubber tires, it is a lower-quality option with some features that fail to match those of higher-scoring options. This stroller is an okay jogger that can move over various surfaces with ease and could be a good choice for those who often head outside to the park or on a trail. The bin is good enough for a day's supplies but not likely for grocery pickup. The canopy is small, and additional features like the child's tray and parent console are okay but don't perform as well as we'd like. Overall, this could be a potential option for those on a budget who don't want to hassle with pushing a heavy stroller with a small wheel on uneven terrain. However, if you want a smaller or lighter option or quality and features that are important to you, it might not be a good fit.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Easy to fold
Lightweight for a jogger
REASONS TO AVOID
Disappointing canopy
Poor fit & finish
Smaller storage
Editor's Note: We updated our full-size stroller review in March 2024 with a new lineup of compelling options.

Compare to Similar Products

 
baby trend expedition full size stroller review
Awards  Best Value Award  Best Value Award Best Value Award 
Price $150 List$650 List
$649.95 at Amazon
$450 List$350 List
$349.99 at Amazon
$173 List
$169.05 at Amazon
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Bottom Line The lower price makes the flaws of this jogger easier to acceptWhile it performs well on flat surfaces, this high-quality option struggles off-road if those are your goalsThe looks, features, and ease of use are compelling, but the weight makes this one a workoutA budget-friendly expandable stroller with good storage but limited other features and a heavier weightBudget-friendly jogger with off-road capabilities, but the quality is on par with the price
Rating Categories Baby Trend Expedition Cybex Balios S Lux Mockingbird Stroller Evenflo Pivot Xpand Baby Trend Expediti...
Ease of Use (40%)
5.9
7.8
8.1
8.0
6.5
Maneuverability (25%)
7.6
7.1
8.3
5.4
7.8
Transport/Storing (15%)
7.0
6.8
4.0
4.2
5.4
Quality (10%)
2.7
8.0
7.3
6.7
4.0
Kid's Comfort (10%)
3.5
7.6
8.1
7.3
5.4
Specs Baby Trend Expedition Cybex Balios S Lux Mockingbird Stroller Evenflo Pivot Xpand Baby Trend Expediti...
Weight 24.0 25.3 30.2 30.0 28.1
BGL Folded Dims. 23.1"W x 33.1"H x 16.3"L 24"W x 16"H x 31"L 25.4"W x 41"H x 22.5"L 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L 24.5"W x 16"H x 36.5"L
Capacity Limits Minimum: 6 months
Maximum: 50 lbs/42 in
Minimum: Birth
Maximum: 55 lbs
Minimum: 6 months
Maximum: 50 lbs/ 42 in
Minimum: Birth
Maximum: 55 lbs/43"
Minimum: 6 months
Maximum: 50 lbs/42 in
Mfr. Max Allowable Total Storage Weight 15 24 25 11 11
Car Seat Compatibility Baby Trend (All) Cybex (All)
Maxi Cosi Mico 30, Maxi Cosi Mico Max, Maxi Cosi Coral XP
Nuna Pipa lite
Baby Jogger City GO 2
Britax B-Safe 35, B-Safe Ultra
Chicco KeyFit and Fit2 (all infant car seat models)
Clek Liing, Liingo
Cybex Cloud Q, Aton M
Evenflo Embrace, Nurture
Graco SnugRide (all infant car seat models)
Maxi-Cosi Mico (30, Max 30, Max Plus)
Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite R, Lite LX, Lite RX, and RX
UPPAbaby Mesa (2020 model or newer), Mesa Max
Chicco KeyFit/KeyFit 30
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax
Graco all with SnugRide, SnugLock 30/35
Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35
Baby Trend (All)
Min./Max. Handle Height 41" 39.5"/43" 33"/43" 33"/44.7" 41.5"
Wheel Type Pneumatic Foam Filled Plastic Foam Filled Rubber Foam Filled Plastic Pneumatic
Brake type Double Single Single Single Double

Our Analysis and Test Results

For 26 years plus, Baby Trend has developed gear for juveniles. Since the beginning, the company has designed budget-friendly products for growing families. Baby Trend developed the first sit-and-stand stroller and the Snap-N-Go stroller. They make a variety of gear for babies, from a diaper pail and infant car seats to high chairs and strollers, and everything in between.

Performance Comparison



baby trend expedition full size stroller review - the expedition is not one of the easiest options to use, with...
The Expedition is not one of the easiest options to use, with features that are lower quality and more complex than competitors.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Ease of Use


The Baby Trend did not perform as well for ease of use as some of the competition, coming in below average for the group.

Folding the Expedition isn't difficult, but it requires 2 hands and creates an awkward package.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Fold and Unfold


The Expedition requires two hands to fold, which can be somewhat unwieldy as it closes. It has dual finger releases on each side of the frame near the handlebar to initiate the fold. You can remove the wheels if you need to make it smaller, but this would only work for stowing in a car or at home; it would not be convenient for public transportation. The snack tray sticks out awkwardly, but it does self-stand.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - the expedition has a good size storage bin, but it only holds up to...
The Expedition has a good size storage bin, but it only holds up to 5 lbs and the materials are somewhat flimsy.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Storage


The under-seat storage basket on the Expedition is a good size, but it has a 5 lb weight limit, which hinders what you can put inside. Unlike other joggers, it also lacks a cover to help things stay clean or avoid items falling out.

The Expedition parent console has two relatively shallow cup holders...
The Expedition parent console has two relatively shallow cup holders that would likely result in taller bottles toppling out.
Many parents hope for a parent console like that on the Expedition...
Many parents hope for a parent console like that on the Expedition, but it isn't as useful as you think with a covered compartment that is almost too small for modern-day giant smartphones and shallow cup holders.

The parent console and child tray can hold some more weight, but the items will need to be small. The parent unit has dual cup holders and a place to hold a smaller phone or snack. However, the cup holders are shallow and won't accommodate most modern water bottle sizes. The same is true of the child tray, but at least sippy cups and kid's water bottles are shorter and less likely to topple out when strolling.

The Expedition harness is very basic and uses inexpensive materials.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Harness


The Expedition harness can act as a 3-point or 5-point harness, though we wouldn't recommend 3 points.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - the expedition shoulder straps clip onto the hip straps and are...
The Expedition shoulder straps clip onto the hip straps and are intended to only be unclipped for adjusting the shoulder strap height.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The shoulder straps attach to the main buckle via hooks and are meant to be removed when changing the shoulder strap height, but we worry some parents will skip them if a child complains enough. The harness is as simple as it gets with canvas webbing.

The Expedition has double-action brakes that require pressing two pedals to set. The pedals are close to the back wheels and this could make the process more challenging with limited access to the space.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Brakes


Sadly, the Expedition has double-action brakes, so you must press two different pedals to engage the brakes fully. There are two pedals, one on each side of the rear axle. We don't care for double-action brakes, and while these are easy to set, you MUST do both to put the brakes on.

Car Seat Compatibility


The Expedition is compatible with Baby Trend infant car seats. You should not run with a child under 6 months old and should consult with your pediatrician and the manual before moving at any higher speed than walking.

The Expedition has confusing instructions and information on assembly for parts that come assembled, but the real downside is you need some kind of pump for tire inflation, and not every home will have this on hand.
Credit: Graham Faulknor

Ease of Setup


Putting the Expedition together is pretty easy and should take 5-10 minutes. The manufacturer's directions and pictures are mediocre, with half relating to something that came pre-assembled. We didn't need any tools to assemble it, but the directions will tell you otherwise because of the components that came assembled. We also needed a bike pump to inflate the front tire, and fitting in on the stem was challenging.

We pushed each stroller through various situations, including tight turns, doorway navigation, and threshold changes, to help determine how easy each is to maneuver. Th Expedition is shown here.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Maneuverability


The Expedition performed well for maneuverability, which isn't surprising for a jogger with rubber air-filled tires. While it wasn't the smoothest on hard surfaces, it excels off-road, which comes up more than you think.

The rubber, air-filled tire on the Expedition helps it move easily...
The rubber, air-filled tire on the Expedition helps it move easily over different surfaces.
The swivel front wheel on the Expedition locks in place for jogging...
The swivel front wheel on the Expedition locks in place for jogging or navigating uneven terrain.

It rolls easily on hard surfaces, but it can get tippy if you make fast turns, thanks to the 3-wheel design. The rubber tires squeak on flooring like vinyl and hardwood, which might dissipate over time but could be annoying for some. Rolling over cords or thresholds is no problem at all.

This stroller excels when you move off flat surfaces onto grass and gravel. It moves over most things with ease and has no problems with curbs and other obstacles you might meet. If you might be on trails or greenbelts often, it is important to consider how easy it is to push.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - even for a jogger, the expedition is bulky and takes up significant...
Even for a jogger, the Expedition is bulky and takes up significant space when folded.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Transporting and Storing


The Expedition is a bulky stroller when folded, but so are most of the joggers. The design and bigger wheels make it kind of big at 12,463 cubic feet. However, it isn't as big as other joggers and could fit in spaces some of the full-size strollers could match.


It weighs 24.00 lb, which is neither big nor small. It can be awkward to carry and is easier to manage without the child's tray.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - everything about the expedition is just a little "less" with lots of...
Everything about the Expedition is just a little "less" with lots of plastic or lower-quality components.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Quality


For the price, we think you get what you pay for here. It isn't an expensive stroller, and this is reflected in the quality score.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - the plastic components on the expedition child tray work fine, but...
The plastic components on the Expedition child tray work fine, but the lower-quality materials might result in degrading performance over time.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The material is a thick canvas, like a school backpack. The canvas is somewhat rougher than the seat, but neither is super skin-friendly. The peek-aboo-window has a wide-opening mesh that is loose and easy to snag. The basket is thinner canvas and mesh, which seems like a poor design decision since it will take a lot of wear and tear over time. The material is all very economical, and little thought seems to be given to the details.

The wheels are larger than standard strollers with spokes and tires like a bike, but cheaper. They are 16 in in diameter in the back and 12 inches in the front. They have a good amount of "play" in them, and they don't spin entirely straight, which is fine for a full-size stroller but is one of the reasons we don't love it as a full-time jogger.

The frame is rigid with little flex, but it has a lot of exposed fasteners and hinges. The overall fit and finish are disappointing, but this feeling is easily assuaged when you consider the price.

While the Expedition has the features to check the boxes, the features are not t he best, like this free-rotating small canopy with a useless mesh visor.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Kid's Comfort


Keeping kids cozy is essential to a smooth strolling trip. Having features that offer comfort and are easy to use is key. The Expedition has a reclining seat back with a stationary leg rest that is not adjustable.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - while the recline on the expedition isn't as deep as some...
WHile the recline on the Expedition isn't as deep as some competitors, it is enough for most kids to nap comfortably.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The seat back has infinite position options and can be lowered with one hand pinching the strap holding mechanism. However, it takes two hands to raise the angle because you need one to pull the strap and the other to hold the mechanism. The legrest is padded and flows down to a narrow plastic footrest. The padding behind the leg that rails down from the seat does not extend to the footrest; there is a gap.

baby trend expedition full size stroller review - while the expedition canopy rotates forward to help block the lower...
While the Expedition canopy rotates forward to help block the lower sun, it leaves the back open, which may not always be ideal.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The canopy is stupidly small and not attached to the seat back or frame. It rotates forward and back, which can help block some direct sun, but there is no full coverage, and we suspect kids will play with it once they are old enough to figure out what it does. It has a mesh bill, which is just perplexing and virtually useless.

The recline adjustment toggle on the Race Tec is a dated style that...
The recline adjustment toggle on the Race Tec is a dated style that can be adjusted down with one hand but requires two hands to raise.

Should You Buy the Baby Trend Expedition?


The Expedition is a good stroller for those on a budget or anyone who might jog occasionally or head on a gravel pathway. In the past, it has won awards in multiple categories for offering a lot for a very small price (comparatively). While we still like this troller, the newer "upgraded" version of the Expedition is an overall better stroller in every way. We think most parents will appreciate the additional benefit they get for a smaller price bump.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?


The Baby Trend Expedition Race Tec is the upgraded Expedition and is worth the higher price. Often, with sales, the price difference is negligible. While the two strollers are very similar, the Race Tec has a more comfortable seat, a bigger canopy, and more, making it our favorite. If you jog for fun, love visiting the park or festival, and want larger tires to move over uneven surfaces, this is the one for you. If you have a larger budget and are more concerned with features and quality than price, the Thule Urban Glide 2 can't be beaten in this genre of crossover options that can be good for everyday outings and running.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz