Strollers for Tall Parents: Handlebar Heights Compared

Handlebar heights compared

These are the handlebar ranges the brands publish, in inches from the ground. The lowest and highest settings are both listed, because the low end matters when a shorter adult shares the stroller.

The two BOBs have the biggest range by far. The Alterrain Pro moves 17 in from lowest to highest. The Revolution Flex 3.0 moves 13.5 in. The Fox 5 Renew moves 6.3 in, the Zoe Twin V3 3.5 in, and the Donkey 6 2.7 in.

More strollers with a handle that adjusts

These strollers have an adjustable handle too. Push one in a store at your own height before you buy.

How to find your own handlebar height

You don't need a chart for your body. You need one number: where your hands want to be when you push.

1. Put on the shoes you walk in most. Sneakers and boots change your height.
2. Stand up straight and relax your shoulders.
3. Bend your elbows as if you're pushing a shopping cart. Your forearms should point forward and a little down.
4. Ask someone to measure from the floor to the middle of your palm.

Write that number down. Now look for a handle range that includes it. Pick a range with room above your number if you'd like to stand tall on long walks.

If two adults will share the stroller, measure both. The range needs to cover both numbers. That's where a wide range like the Alterrain Pro's 31–48 in helps.

Why the top number isn't the whole story

Don't use the stroller's overall height as the handle height. The top of the canopy or frame isn't where your hands go. Compare the handle settings themselves.

A tall handle fixes your arms. It doesn't always fix your feet. Tall parents with long strides can kick the rear axle or the basket with every step. Then they take short, choppy steps without noticing. Walk fast behind the stroller, at the pace you'd use to catch a bus. If your toes hit the frame, the handle height isn't the problem. You need more room behind the wheels.

Reach matters too. If the handle sits far out in front of you, you'll lean forward to steer. Your back will tell you about it after a long walk.

Test turns, reach and your shoes

Walk a straight stretch, take a tight turn and step around the stroller as if you're opening a shop door. Notice whether you lean over the handle to steer. Notice whether you keep shortening your steps to avoid the rear axle. Try the lowest and highest settings before you settle in the middle.

Keep your usual bag in the basket during the trial. Bags should stay off the handle, because they can tip the stroller backward. (AAP) A handle that only feels right with a heavy bag on it isn't the fit you want.

Can't get to a store? Push a shopping cart at the height you measured. It's a rough test, but it tells you whether that number feels right in motion.

Parents of the same height can disagree

One parent who was 5 ft 4 in chose a Chicco Bravo because the Corso felt too tall. They also knew friends of the same height who liked the Corso. That's a good reminder to try the fit yourself rather than copy another parent's height-based choice. (What to Expect)

Another parent had both a Rambler and a Revolution Flex. Their 6 ft 3 in husband liked the Flex's handle, which he could adjust. (What to Expect)

When two adults share one stroller

Have each adult set the handle and take a full walk, then swap. Look for a setting each person can change in a few seconds, without taking anything apart. One-hand adjust, like on the Fox 5 Renew and Vista V3, makes the swap quicker.

If one person does most weekday walks, give their comfort more weight. The other adult can live with a slightly low handle on Saturdays.

Before you buy, check the folded size against your car with the trunk fit checker.

Tall parent with a jogging plan?

The two highest handles in the table are on joggers. That's handy if you want to run. Joggers come with their own age rules, though. Read when your baby can ride in a jogging stroller before you run with a little one.

Use the stroller finder to narrow your list. Wheels and terrain helps with the ride. A handle that fits is one part of a good push. Try it on rough ground as well as the smooth shop floor.