The Joovy Groove is an umbrella stroller that is designed for busy on-the-go parents. It was recently redesigned and now has new improved wheels, a huge canopy, and a slick aluminum frame.
It has a roomy seat made out of very durable 600D fabric. You will need only one hand to recline the seat and bring it back up. Easy! The canopy is not only large but also can convert into a ‘floating canopy’ that will completely shade your child.
Unlike many umbrella strollers, the Groove is full of storage. Aside from the basket underneath the seat, there are two pockets inside of the seat, and three pockets in the back of the canopy for small mommy items. The Groove also features an adjustable leg rest, tall handlebars, an automatic lock, and an easy fold.
You can use it from 6 months and up to 55 lbs. It does NOT convert into a travel system. The maneuverability is really great, you can easily push it with one hand.
If you lock the front wheels, it can even handle some of the mommy terrain like playground mulch, grass, or uneven sidewalks. The 6.5″ wheels and all-wheel suspension will provide your child with a smooth ride.
OVERALL
I gave this stroller 5 out of 5 stars because it’s almost perfect. I would like to see a lower weight especially because it does NOT take a car seat.
At 17 lbs it enters into a different class of strollers (like City Mini) that are closer to a full size and have travel system capability.
Other than that, it’s a great option! This stroller retails for around $195 and comes in four fun colors.
Features
CANOPY
I really like the canopy on the Groove model. It’s a large canopy that converts into a ‘floating canopy’. It will provide your child with full sun coverage any time of the day. There is also a large peekaboo window in the back with a Velcro closure (I would like to see a magnetic closure instead).
There is one large zipper pocket and two mesh bottle pockets in the back of the canopy that you can use for storing water bottle, keys, wallet, sunglasses, or cell phone. Plenty of storage!
HANDLEBAR
It has two tall non-adjustable handlebars that are located 42″ from the ground. It’s great for taller parents, but if you are much shorter, try it first.
SEAT
It’s 14″ wide with a 19″ seat back and a measurement of 26″ from the bottom of the seat to the top of the canopy. The canopy is located really high up on the frame which is great for older children, but I wish it would be adjustable, so I can bring it down while my baby is little.
The seat is made out of very durable 600D fabric. It has a one-hand recline that is operated by a strap system and the cool thing about it is that you will need ONLY one hand to bring the seat back up. How great is that?
Because the seat doesn’t go all the way to a flat position, it is not recommended for a newborn. On the Joovy site, they say you can put a 3-month-old in the seat, but I would wait until your child is at least 6 months. The maximum weight is 55 lbs.
There are two mesh pockets inside the seat that can be used for toys, snacks, or sippy cups. Very convenient.
LEGREST
The leg rest is a part of the seat and can be adjusted, so the smaller babies can stretch their legs. The only thing I don’t like is that every time you unfold the stroller, the leg rest ends up in the upright position and you will need to bring it down manually.
HARNESS
It has an adjustable padded 5-point harness with a hard-to-unlock buckle.
WHEELS
Recently, Joovy upgraded the wheels to 6.5″ hard rubber double wheels. Before, there were a lot of complaints from parents about the wheels being squeaky, but not anymore! The front wheels are swivel, but can be locked straight.
The all-wheel suspension helps to absorb some of the bumps and makes the ride much smoother.
BASKET
The basket is a great size for an umbrella stroller. You will be able to fit a medium size diaper bag in there. Like in many other umbrella strollers, the crossbar really gets in the way and it’s hard to get anything from the basket once the seat is reclined.
BRAKE
There are two-foot brakes, one on each rear wheel, that lock each wheel individually. They are not flip-flop friendly.
FOLD/UNFOLD
It folds like most umbrella strollers. All you need to do is unlock the frame, push the crossbar up with your foot, and fold it forward. Done! The folded dimensions are 16.5”H x 13.5”W x 42”L. There is an automatic lock, but it can’t stand on its own when folded.
Like most umbrella strollers, the Groove model has a carry handle, but no shoulder strap.
Cons
-Weight. The 17 lbs is a little heavy for an umbrella stroller. With this weight, it enters a different stroller category that is somewhere between a full-size and an umbrella stroller.
I think it is harder to compete in that category because you have strollers like City Mini or B-Agile that both weigh under 17 lbs and are full of features. Another interesting model is Valco Snap which looks similar to City Mini, but weighs ONLY 13 lbs! I think that Joovy needs to bring the weight down to 11 – 12 lbs.
-Basket. The basket is very hard to access like in most umbrella strollers. I don’t think it can be changed because of the way it folds.
Video Review
Baby Gizmo has a great video review.
Specs
Stroller weight: 17 lbs
Weight limit: 55 lbs
Folded dimensions: 16.5”H x 13.5”W x 42”L
Handlebar height: 42″
Seat to canopy height: 26″
Wheels: 6.5″
Overall length: 30.5″
Overall width: 20.75″
Warranty
Joovy provides 1-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner.
Available colors
For 2013 this stroller is available in four main colors: black, blueberry, orangie, and greenie.
Where to buy it
You can get Joovy Groove in one of the four beautiful colors for around $195.
I love the Joovy Groove. My son is tall for his age (2 years old) and this stroller is a perfect fit. My only issue with this stroller is the leg rest. One of them has broken which renders thec stroller useless. Is anyone else having this problem?
Hi Shaun. Buying a stroller is like buying a car, you never know when something will break. But I think that high quality strollers beak less often just like high quality cars. Joovy fall into high quality stroller category so I think you were just unlucky. I did not hear anybody complaining about the leg rest. I would recommend contacting Joovy.