My son Our stroller was tiny, but my favorite stroller accessory was a little thing called a Rockit. It was shaped like a rocket and attached to the stroller handle to rock our baby to sleep while we shopped at the farmers market. This was especially helpful in the first few months of life, because our son (like all babies) hated being in a stroller when it stopped.
Now you can find strollers that have that functionality built in, rather than just a handlebar add-on. Cybex’s latest stroller, the e-Gazelle S, adds electric power to Cybex’s existing Gazelle design, offering both a rocking mode and power assist to help push the stroller over rough terrain or slow down on slopes. The e-Gazelle S is well-made, easily converts from a single to a double stroller, and you’d never know it was an electric stroller at first glance.
It’s a luxury item. It retails for $1,100. You don’t need this stroller (or any stroller; our top picks are half that price). But if you have lots of hills, this stroller will make things a lot easier. Given the choice between this stroller and the Uppababy Vista V2 ($999), I’d choose the e-Gazelle.
Power On
Photo: Nena Farrell
The e-Gazelle S has a motor built into the stroller’s frame and is powered by a lithium-ion battery that clicks into the edge of the storage basket at the bottom. To use it, there are two buttons on the handlebars – a power button and a rocking mode button – and four LED lights that light up to show battery level (and rocking mode level). Below these lights and buttons is a small thumb lever to activate forward or brake assist. Once it’s powered on, you have to activate assist or rocking mode within about two seconds, or it will power off. Cybex says the battery will last between five and 28 miles, depending on factors like temperature and terrain. I was using it at an amusement park on a hot day, and by the end of the day, three of the four lights were on.
If you’re worried about your stroller taking off, fear not: the e-Gazelle’s power assist only kicks in when the stroller is moving, so you (or your inquisitive toddler who loves buttons) can’t accidentally blast it out onto the road. When you’re walking, use your thumb to control the Smart Assist power level, pushing forward moves you forward (you guessed it), and pushing backwards engages the electric brake.
The most powerful mode of the forward assist required walking very fast on flat ground, and my thumb was usually in the middle unless it was a particularly steep incline. It was designed with inclines in mind, and Cybex says it can handle inclines of up to 14 degrees (about the incline of San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street). I didn’t feel like the braking range was very wide; the wheels either stopped frequently or barely stopped at all. Still, it was useful on steep inclines. Throughout my day at San Diego Safari Park, I found myself reaching for the power assist to control my speed up the park’s main climbs and down the sloping path in the gorilla exhibit. Both of these areas are similarly difficult with a lightweight travel stroller, but were noticeably easier with the e-Gazelle.
This video is about my movieCourtesy of Cybex
Rocking mode is a big selling point for me, having used a similar feature when my son was little, but it’s not as quick to use as turning on the Rockit. You have to lock the front wheel, press the power button, then press and hold the rocking mode button. There are three brightness levels to choose from, and as you hold the button down, you wait for the number of LED lights to brighten to match your desired level (one light for level 1, two lights for level 2, etc.).
The stroller does roll back and forth a bit in rocking mode, which is a bit odd to look at, but I and all my fellow parents have sat with the stroller rolling back and forth to please our babies. Let the stroller do the work for you. My child is too big for rocking mode, but I don’t think I’ll ever go higher than level 2. Level 3 felt a bit too jerky. I don’t like that you have to power it off and start over if you want to change the rocking level, but it’s not difficult.
With power assist on, you can also hear the stroller working — a high-pitched but soft humming noise similar to that of an electric scooter. It wasn’t loud enough to be a nuisance, but anyone walking with me could hear it.
Multiple Modes
Photo: Nena Farrell
The e-Gazelle S comes with an infant seat and shopping basket, but you can arrange it in a variety of ways with the right accessories. It’s available as a single or double stroller, with a car seat, bassinet or infant seat. The stroller comes in more than 20 different seat combinations, but you’ll need to buy a car seat adapter ($50), a separate infant seat ($240) or a bassinet ($200) from Cybex to use with the stroller.
