Thursday, November 21, 2019

City Mini vs. City Mini GT – Which Offers More Bang For Your Buck?

Today we pit two of the best strollers in the market, the City Mini and the City Mini GT, against each other to see which offers more value for money.

It’s the battle of the Baby Joggers, the City Mini vs. City Mini GT. On paper, these two have quite a lot of similarities, because they have a common manufacturer (Baby Jogger).

Baby Jogger City Mini strollerThe City Mini came out first, and it was received well for its portability, quick-fold feature, narrow profile, and maneuverability. The City Mini GT was merely an improvement of the City Mini stroller.

Baby Jogger kept all the features that worked (the quick folding, the narrow, agile build, etc.) but also made a few improvements (better wheels, improved brake, adjustable handlebars, etc.).

How do the two strollers stack up against each other? We find out what makes each of them special in this comprehensive comparison review of the City Mini GT and City Mini.

Physical Differences between the Baby Stroller City Mini GT and the City Mini

Let’s talk about the weight and dimensions of each stroller first.

The City Mini weighs 18.4 pounds, while the City Mini GT has a weight of 22.5 pounds. In terms of stroller height, the Mini also comes out trumps because it measures about two inches less than the Mini GT, which stands at a maximum stroller height of 43.5 inches.

The City Mini is still the smaller stroller even when folded as it measures 9.25 inches in height while the City Mini GT measures 10.2 inches. Fortunately, both strollers meet Disney size requirements, so you don’t have to choose between the two based entirely on this criteria.

Baby Jogger City Mini GT baby toddler stroller

The City Mini is smaller and lighter than the City Mini GT. It’s not a big deal though, because none of the strollers are designed for jogging. However, sometimes those few extra pounds count.

Shared Features

Here are some of the things that the City Mini and the City Mini GT have in common.

Folding Mechanism

The folding mechanism is the same for the two strollers. All you need to do is to lift a strap, and the stroller will collapse into its folded design.

It’s the same mechanism right down to the padded strap, which serves as a carry handle once the stroller is folded. The one-hand fold is complemented by an auto-lock feature, which ensures the stroller stays folded for storage or transportation.

Recliner Seats

Both the City Mini and the City Mini GT come with seats that can recline to a near-flat position. Both strollers have seat-back vents too, which means your baby will be comfortable and cool in either one of them.

Aside from the canopy, there is another layer of protection: the retractable weather cover. This allows you to adjust the stroller setting to ensure your child is comfortable throughout.

Dual-Window Canopy

Baby Jogger have equipped both the City Mini and the City Mini GT strollers with their proprietary dual-window canopy. This means that they both have two peekaboo windows on the canopy, so keeping an eye on your child is a little easier.

Also, both strollers have canopies with a UV 50+ sun protection rating. The canopy can be opened in multiple positions. You can pull it back to allow your baby to enjoy the weather, draw it all the way down to keep them safe from the elements, and everything in between.

Travel System

Both strollers can transform into travel systems in just a few seconds. You need to have the right car seat adapter for this to work. Whether you settle for the City Mini GT or the City Mini, you’ll be able to turn your stroller into a travel system whenever you need to.

Differences

While the similarities between the two strollers are shared equally, the GT gets the lion’s share of new features. Being the later model, it comes with improvements that would have made the City Mini a better stroller. Let’s see how big a deal these differences are.

All-terrain Wheels

The City Mini GT has the same wheel setup as its older counterpart, but Baby Jogger have upgraded the wheels to all-terrain wheels. It is, therefore, a better fit for rougher, bumpier terrain.

The City Mini lacks all-terrain wheels, but it performs decently nonetheless. However, it’s hard not to see the advantage of having all-terrain wheels, especially when your path tends to get a little unpredictable.

Adjustable Handlebar

If you take turns pushing with your spouse, then having an adjustable handlebar might be beneficial. This is something the City Mini lacks but is present on the City Mini GT.

Its adjustable handlebar allows users of different heights to comfortably push the stroller. This is not to say that you’ll struggle with the City Mini. It’s just such an important feature to have when you’re 5’5”, and your partner is 6’4”.

Hand-Operated Brake

There’s nothing wrong with the foot-activated brake on the City Mini. I feel like the hand-operated parking brake on the City Mini GT is much better. It gives the user a better sense of control and is easy to reach.

It’s also located in a nice position—just below the handlebars—so you won’t have to look for it too hard even when your attention is diverted.

The City Mini vs. City Mini GT – Final Verdict

These two are almost the same stroller. They share a lot of features, but they also have quite a few differences. The City Mini is better in the sense that it is lighter, smaller (marginally), and cheaper. Not everything about it is perfect, though. It doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar, for one, and although its triple-wheel setup is decent, it doesn’t hold a candle to the all-terrain wheels on the GT.

The City Mini GT comes with everything that’s on the City Mini, and then some. It has all-terrain wheels, an adjustable handlebar, and a better parking brake. Does it matter that it’s about 4 pounds heavier than the City Mini? Probably, but not enough to ignore all the wonderful improvements it brings to the table.

The verdict? Get the City Mini GT if you can here on Amazon. It might be more expensive than the City Mini, but the features it brings with it are certainly worth the extra cost.

Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions.

City Mini vs. City Mini GT – Which Offers More Bang For Your Buck? was first published on: BestStrollersForYou.com

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