Customer Reviews

InStep Quick N' Lite Bike Trailer and Stroller Combination

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been researching bicycle trailers from brands like Safety 1st, Instep, to Schwinn, for my 14mo. boy. I noticed right away that the InStep trailers have really good reviews and tested one at the local Target store. I was concerned with safety and comfort for the child, so I based my decision on the customer product satisfaction and reinforced it by physically inspecting the store floor model. My initial reaction is that it is very noticeable from afar with its bright primary colors, especially that orange flag - very important when there are cars around to think about. Seems like this is the newest model (Quick N Lite) they have. The strong aluminum frame looks and feels very sturdy and the spoked wheels with pneumatic tires are noise free (keep the tires under inflated for a softer ride). And its so light! Actually so much lighter than our Even-flo double stroller! Assembly took about 10 min for the 1st time, but once you get used to it, it becomes faster. It folds up to fit in the trunk. Even the stroller mode (handle bar and removable front wheels) should be perfect for the park and and semi-offroad environment. I wouldn't suggest off-road, for obvious safety reasons (think shaken baby syndrome) - however, I am planning on using it also as a trainer, by placing some 20-50lbs weights (it has max weight of 100 lbs) in the passenger cabin for a good workout! It has an insect netting on the front and a clear plastic cover for rain (Make sure your bike has a rear fender - you don't want dirt and gravel to kick up to the passenger(s) - if you decide to ride fast or if there are puddles. This is the only reason why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but other than that, it gets 2 thumbs up! You can also roll open the back cover for air circulation. There are small storage compartments inside for juice and snacks and storage "trunk" behind the hammock child seats (with 5-point seatbelts) for diapers and other baby items. In the safety department, the trailer is so low to the ground that I am not worried about tipping over, unless you're Lance Armstrong going 70mph on the turns. Please practice and get used to riding with the trailer first before using your "live subject". The physics changes, the moment you add a trailer on your bike. The manual suggests child bike helmet, but I find it more of a hassle and could put a strain on his neck since these helmets tend to be a bit heavy and the styrofoam pad inside is hard, that I question the whole safety reason behind it. In this case, getting too overly concern about protection might be more detrimental for the child. Use your own judgement with this one. Ride safely and take it easy first. So far I am happy with this purchase, but hopefully in a few months I will give an update on its durability and my little guy's satisfaction - but that's another story.

UPDATE!! I had no complaints until I used it the second time. The part where the bar extension that connects the bike and the carriage, (carriage part) snapped off. I was very disappointed because the two welds just snapped off out of the blue - no bumps, no shakes, just normal riding - my 14mo inside was startled and we pretty much had to drag that thing home. I called to return it but the store had nothing in stock, so I did what I had to do - drilled 2 holes and used screws - now everything works - plus its sturdier....I don't know why they would weld the most crucial part of the trailer so weakly...I still like it because its ultra light and quiet and comfortable, but the company needs to address this issue ASAP.

Though the finished product is quite what I expected of it, the assembly process for the Quick N Lite Aluminum Bike Trailer And Stroller will prove challenging for those not too comfortable with certain "mechanical" terms, because the pictures that show the assembly steps are in B&W and are of very poor quality. However, the trailer (haven't used it as a stroller yet) delivered on its promise. It's flexible and sturdy at the same time. It makes our baby happy while giving us the piece of mind that he's safe inside the little tent that the trailer provides him with for the ride. Highly recommendable.

After careful research, my husband and I bought the Quick N' Light because we thought would be perfect for our needs (light weight, doubles as a jogging stroller, relatively inexpensive, etc.). We used it in the city on paved roads, side walks, and paved bike trails but found our child COVER WITH ROCKS AND DIRT after returning from our ride. The mesh screen in the front allows rocks for fly though the screen and hit the child. If you put the plastic rain guard down over the front it allows for no ventilation inside because the side windows are only plastic. It's aweful. Our child got small rocks in her hair, eyes, and all over her body. I would never recommend this item to any one.

This is the first trailer I've purchased, so I may be biased, but it is wonderful -- it was simple to put together, it's extremely light and easy to tow, and it seems comfortable for my kid. (It even has pockets on the inside that hold toys and sippy cups well!)

Assembling the trailer took me (a twenty-something female) about 10 minutes. Attaching it to the bike was a snap for the bike with quick-release wheels -- the one without requires unscrewing the bolts to attach the coupler, but was still rather easy. HINT: If you plan to switch the trailer between bikes, just buy an extra coupler ... it's totally worth the $10 to be able to just unclip the pin and swap the trailer.

My 1-year-old enjoys riding in the trailer, although we have had some trouble keeping a helmet on her head because of the way the seat slings (back of seat pushes helmet forward off her head).

What else I like about this trailer: the "trunk" space behind the seat for hauling stuff to the park; the easy conversion to a stroller; the large wheels that make it easy to ride through grass or over big bumps.

What I don't like about this trailer: the lack of ventilation -- even on a pleasant, 80-degree day, my kid sweats because the front mesh window is the only way for air to flow in. The side windows are plastic, and although the back has a small mesh window, it's blocked by the solid nylon seat.

Amazon delivered the trailer within days, and it was MUCH cheaper than buying it in the store. (Target and InStep's website retail this trailer for $169, not including shipping or tax.)

Hope you found this helpful! Good luck on your search for a trailer!

We got this tow-behind for my 20 month old twins. They did not like getting strapped in, but once they got moving they were fine. It is light and assmebly was EASY. I also like the removable push bar to use it like a stroller. The only negative is I think the seats could have been better. The twins kind of slup towards the middle. If you are thinking about this model, shop around. I got it on clearence at Target for less than $100.

WE got this trailer for our 2 year old son. He loves it. It seems to be built well. It wasn't hard putting together, because they give you real pictures. I love that it has the hitch that rotates if the bike flips over so the trailer doesn't also.

I researched bike trailers before I bought this one. It's light, very easy to attach and detach from your bike, and doubles as a jogging stroller. My daughter is 13 months old now and she likes going for bike rides and jogging with mom. She usually falls asleep! I also like the "trunk space" it has in the back. I pack her diaper bag and we go for long rides, so I'm prepared if she gets hungry or dirty. Since I've purchased this bike trailer, I have not used my original jogging stroller because this trailer is lighter and easier to maneuver. It also protects her from the wind and cold because you can put down the clear plastic flap. The only problem I had with this product is that on a hot day when all you have is the mesh screen down, little pebbles and rocks get kicked up by the rear bike wheel into the trailer. My daughter was covered with little pebbles and sandthe first time we used it. She didn't seem to mind, but I did. Overall, I am very satisfied with this bike trailer.

I love this thing!!! I only wish I had gotten one sooner--it is super light, and the boys seem to be comfortable and safe. This is much easier to maneuver than my one person jogging stroller, so I use it for that too now.

I can take my dog to work with me and I love riding my bike to work! With this trailer, I have best of the two worlds! My commute is 16 miles round trip with a number of hills on the path but this trailer is so light that the ride is a piece of cake. Smokey runs along the bike for as long as he can and when he gets tired, he just kicks back and enjoys the ride in his trailer :) He is a big dog (57 lbs), so first I had my doubts about dragging him along in a trailer but this product is very light! I love it.

If you plan to use this trailer on weekends and once in awhile, it's fine, esp because it's not too hard to break down and throw in the back of a car. But it is NOT a commuting workhorse. We bought it because it doubled a a stroller AND was cheap, but I wish we'd bought a better one. Spring for an expensive trailer if you plan to use your trailer a lot.

We used this thing to take our son to preschool every day, and used it as a stroller on weekends, and one year later it is useless and I can't even give it away: it has holes in the bottom (I stopped using it when my son could "brake" with his feet -- not fun!), I have to add a tarp when it's raining because the plastic rain shield has curled and peeled away from its seams at the sides, the snaps have all broken, it lets in a LOT of wind so is not cozy in cold weather, it's very faded. Also, after one year of approximately weekly use as a stroller, the plastic wheels that attach to the connector bar (which do not roll on the ground when the connector bar is attached to a bike) completely broke; they were not ever very good for going over the usual urban obstacles: curbs, railway tracks, etc.

If you like jogging and are hoping to do a two-for-one and buy this instead of a jogging stroller, I don't recommend it. By necessity, the front wheel is off to the side a little so that the connector bar can attach to your bike on one side. That means the trailer pulls to one side a bit when you use it as a stroller, and you have to correct for that with your muscles, which gets tiring and irritating.

Having said that, it's SO convenient to ride downtown to the farmers' market, unhitch the trailer and use it as a stroller. I loved that. It's PERFECT for that. It's just not perfect for long walks or jogging. I should note that my son's dad, who is 6'5, found the stroller difficult to walk behind -- he kept running into it with his shins. I did not have this problem (I'm 5'6).