Travel Stroller for Beach

I'm wondering what the best travel stroller for beach destinations is. I want one that I can push on the sand, that is fairly easy to collapse and is compact (both for gate checks and taxi or small rental car trunks). I have read good things about the kool stride strollers, but am wondering how they collapse. Do you have to take the seat off of the chassis? How easily do the wheels come off and do you have to take them off for a gate check?

Any leads on other strollers?

Thanks in advance,
Elizabeth

[psych]

I lived 18 years in the Caribbean, and have visited many resorts on different islands. I have *never* seen parents pushing strollers on the beach. Besides the sand, many beaches are at a slant (degrees vary). I think it would be a lot easier to carry a baby that can't walk, or to walk slowly with a toddler, than to try to push a stroller in the sand.

Plus, the damage to the stroller would be substantial. I would imagine sand would get in the wheel mechanism and the would not ride the same afterwards. Additionally, a beach environment speeds up corrosion, even without getting the stroller wet. Why? Because ocean breezes push tiny particles of salt water inland, and they will fall on the stroller. Salt water is very corrosive.

Now, if we get rid of the "push on the sand" part and focus on the "compact" stroller requirement, then any lightweight, umbrella-type stroller would work.

I would focus on protecting your kid from the sun, which is much stronger than in the US. Bring lots of sunscreen, beach toys, umbrella/sunshade, hats, etc.

This is just my opinion, trying to save you quite a bit of hassle. :-)

ITA w/the previous poster. If your kiddo is too small to walk, bring a sling or Baby Bjorn for the beach and a lightweight umbrella style stroller for everything else.

If they're old enough to walk, let 'em walk on the beach and still bring the stroller. We've travelled quite a bit w/DS and used a cheap Graco Citilite stroller for most of our travels. It's small, lightweight and folds compactly. Plus it was only about $60 so if the airline destroyed it (entirely possible), I wasn't crying over my $275 P3! LOL

[strollerqueen]

Well, here in SoCal, joggers are very popular on the beach. You probably read about the Kool Stride from me! The 20" cambered tires are the best I have found for soft-packed sand. My frame is all aluminum, and my wheels are alloy. Salt air will cause steel frames to rust. Also, Mine has sealed bearings so sand can't get into the wheel mechanisms. Many of the lower end brands, like Baby Trend, don't have this very important feature.

All that said, for travel, I would probably get a MB Terrain. No, it won't push as well on really soft sand. But the ease of fold and transport makes up for it.

I say go for it! There is something so lovely about strolling along the edge of the tide, with your children in a nice jogger. They love to go for long walks that way. Get out and run and splash in the waves, then climb back in when they are tired. (One or both usually fall asleep in it, too.) I have a lot of nice memories from these "tide strolls", which I will always cherish.