Performing a jogging stroller test drive, is probably the most important step in the selection process. We cannot stress this enough.

Regardless of the reviews that you read, second-hand stories, or manufacturers’ claims, nothing can replace the first-hand experience you'll get from a jogging stroller test drive. Try to test-drive as many models as you can.

You are better off trying to borrow a stroller from a friend and take it for a real run. You'll undoubtedly learn more on paths and trails, but if you can't manage that, the parking lot of the mall will do!

To arrange a jogging stroller test drive:

• Visit the retailers and request a parking-lot or mall-way test-drive.  Call around to local bike shops to ask what they have available.  Borrow one from a friend for an afternoon (especially if you are a serious runner).

To conduct a jogging stroller test drive:

• Give the jogging stroller a quick once-over. Check the frame for sharp edges and wide gaps.

• Assess the handlebar. Is it adjustable? Are you forearms parallel to the ground when you grasp it?

• Place your infants and toddlers in the stroller and strap them in. (Is the harness easy to secure? Can you fasten it with one hand?)

• Observe how your child fits inside. Is she cramped? How far does the seat recline? Is the seat back high enough? Are her knees scrunched up to her chest? Is her head touching the inside of the canopy?

• Check out the canopy. How many positions can you adjust it to? How low can it extend? Point the stroller into the sun and note the extent of coverage. Are your child's eyes shaded at the lowest extension?

• Do your little ones like it? Walk and run with them for a good long time to see if they are comfy. You may even find that your child hates being in the jogging stroller and screams the whole time, which is a useful thing to know before you shell out for the purchase.

• Push the stroller through the store aisles, into the bathroom and out into the mall concourse. How easy is it to get through doorways and tight spaces? Does the swivel wheel really 'turn on a dime' ?

• Load up the stroller with additional weight (packages & shopping bags) and sit your child inside. Push the loaded jogging stroller around the store and out into the mall parking lot. Note how easy it is to maneuver. Does it turn easily?

• Run a lap around the parking lot, and go up and down curbs. Note how easily it turns and how much effort is required to push. Does it track straight and hold a steady line? Can you push it with one hand?

• Test the brakes. Does the loaded stroller stop quickly? When you press the parking brake, does the stroller continue to roll or does it stay put?

• Check out the folding mechanism. Is it collapsible with one hand? Do your fingers get pinched in the frame?

• How easy is it to disassemble? Are the quick release wheels simple to operate? Can you fit it into your car trunk? Do you need to remove the front wheel to fit it into the car?

When arranging a jogging stroller test drive, don't be shy at all - and don't take any attitude from the store employees either. Be polite, but be firm! Your main job as a parent is to keep your little ones comfortable and safe. Take the time to get the answers (and peace of mind) that you need before you buy.

Last of all, make notes about what you've learned, and take your learnings on to the next test-drive!