the Graco FastAction Fold Click Connect Jogger - add it to your must-have list!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. I am honored to have the opportunity to provide a review of the Graco FastAction Fold Click Connect Jogger, which I received at no cost to me. All thoughts and opinions within this post are my own. 

As a new first time mom, I don't really know a whole lot about strollers. Ronin and I are just starting to really venture outdoors enough that a stroller (other than my beloved Snap N Go) is even necessary. However, I do know what features are important to me when choosing a stroller that I'll be using outside on a regular basis - storage space for all my crap, a place to put my bottled water (or beer... ya know, for those rough days), and a smooth, comfortable ride for the babe. 

Luckily for me, I was given the chance to test out the new Graco FastAction Fold Click Connect Jogger, which has ALL of those features, and many more. I was invited to attend a local blogger event in the DC Metro area held by Graco, and a few weeks prior to said event, this pretty package was sitting on my doorstep. 

I knew that Sean would put off assembling it, so I ended up doing it myself, and surprisingly, it was incredibly easy. I couldn't wait to get out and take it for a test drive. Of course, the day I put it together, it just happened to be raining out. So I did what any sane person does - I strapped Ronin in and rode him around the house in it, duh. 

When the sun reappeared, we took a little walk around outside. In fact, every walk we've taken outside since the end of March has been accompanied by this stroller. Why? Because I absolutely love it. 

I like to keep it real here, and I'll be honest in saying that I'm not a runner... or even a jogger, really. But I do love having the option to jog if I'm feeling like I want to pretend. That is NOT the case with my other "jogging" stroller, since you're not even supposed to jog with it. For those of you that DO like to jog/run with a stroller, you'll be happy to know that the front wheel locks easily for a seamless transition from walking to jogging and the air filled tires provide an amazingly smooth ride on any sidewalk or trail you choose to run on. It even comes with a handy tether you can strap to your wrist in order to keep the stroller attached to you at all times.

This stroller is one that provides so much convenience for the mom on the go. The cup holders are key here for me - we can take family walks around the block and be hands free, thanks to the two adult cup holders and the two kiddie cup holders. The tray for parents includes a little covered storage area for your keys or wallet, as well as a cradle for your smart phone or mp3 player (although, my Samsung Galaxy SIII does not fit in the cradle, but I just keep it in the cup holder). I mean... how smart, right? The storage basket is larger than average. As in, I wouldn't even need to use the stroller straps for my diaper bag, because the entire thing could just be placed in the basket... and I'd still have room to add some shopping bags in there, too.  

Although all of those features would be enough alone to sell me on this stroller, the FastAction fold and kickstand are the two things I love most about it. It literally takes me five seconds to take Ronin out of the stroller and have it folded up and ready to store. It's so easy to fold that I can do WHILE holding him, too. Just a swift pull of the strap is all it takes, and it's automatically locked and able to stand upright without falling over, thanks to the kickstand it rests on. 

The multi-position reclining seat and the 3 or 5-point harness ensure that your baby will have a comfortable ride, too. I found that Ronin seemed to enjoy his ride in the Graco much more than with our other strollers, simply because he could actually sit up and look around, while resting his hands (and banging them) on the kid tray. If your baby isn't sitting up yet, no worries - the Click Connect technology provides compatibility with the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat - it just snaps right in! 

Ronin and I had so much fun meeting up with other local bloggers and chatting about this stroller. It was so interesting to learn what other moms loved about it based on their preferences and lifestyles. We also found it hilarious to have 15 of the same stroller all lined up, like a motorcycle gang or something. Don't worry ladies, I'm having our "Sons (and Daughters) of Anarchy" leather vests made up for us. But seriously, how awesome is this?!

If you'd like to experience the unrivaled performance of the Graco FastAction Fold Click Connect Jogger for yourself, it is available for purchase at the following retailers:  Babies R Us, Target, Buy Buy Baby, Walmart, and Amazon. 

Graco’s NEW jogger is the ultimate crossover stroller, combining all the comfort and convenience features of a traditional stroller (FastAction Fold and Click Connect Technology) with performance and maneuverability of an all-terrain jogger.

As an added bonus, Graco’s innovative one-second, one-hand FastAction™ fold automatically locks & is self-standing.

This post is sponsored by the Graco.