Customer Reviews

InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller (Blue/Chocolate)

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(101)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I got this stroller a few weeks ago and have walked plenty with it. It is so easy to maneuver and push. It is so agile! The seat backs do lay back a bit, which is a little weird for my almost 3 yr old, but is fine for my 6 monther. I had my heart set on the BOB duallie, but with a $500 price, it wasn't an option, this is a fine alternative. THe color combo is awesome-and the swivel wheel is incredible. I will never buy a jogging stroller without a swivel wheel after using this one!! It is a tad on the heavy side when folded, but it is still doable-

I do have some suggestions for InStep though, if anyone from there is reading my review!:

1. If you are going to continue to make a sun shade, at least make one that is functional that will actually

provide shade!! No sense wasting money producing the current shade version, it is practically useless. Charge a few bucks more and make a great one (I have a BOB single stroller and the shade is incredible!!!)

and

2. Provide some type of mesh pocket within the child's seat for them to put a water bottle/snack etc. There is great parent storage under this stroller-but nothing for the kids to utilize! (I ended up strapping the little parent console part onto to the bar in front of the kids so that my toddler can keep her snack there. It is an ok solution-but now I have nothing, and often her snacks/cups fall out.)

As the price suggests, this isn't a BOB. I've had a BOB Ironman for about a year and love it. But now that I have two kids, I needed a double stroller that could carry the kids on walks through the neighborhood and through the zoo. I wasn't ready to pay for the BOB Dualie.

The InStep Safari seems to do the job. It handles the rough sidewalks better than any umbrella stroller and my kids seem comfortable riding in it. Obviously, the design and construction are not as good as the BOB, nor does the material seem as comfortable. A BOB will come with pads for the shoulder straps: this one doesn't. For the price though, you have to expect that it's not going to have the BOB bells-and-whistles.

Two considerations:

(1) If you're seriously thinking about using a stroller for jogging/running, I would opt for a different, higher quality stroller. This one does not have a hand brake and does not seem sturdy enough for a speedy ride.

(2) Consider the height restriction: 38 inches. My two-year-old is 35 inches and her head nears the top of the seat and her legs almost hang over the foot rest. If you have a tall child, you may want to choose a different stroller.

I bought this stroller for my 6 mo old and 3 yo. My 3 yo daughter is tall for her age, and at 40 in her head comes above the back of the seat and she sits scrunched up when both feet are on the foot rest. When I take her out in it she usually lets one foot dangle over the side of the foot rest to be more comfortable. She is a better fit if reclined back a little, but even that is tough since her head is past the top of the seat. I don't see this stroller lasting us as long as I would hoped...like when we go back to Disney in 2 years. The weight max is 100lbs, but they must think kids are made short and fat, b/c it just doesn't accomodate taller kids. It would be nice if they made it so that the seat came all the way up to the hood...

The seats are close together, too, which I guess would probably be true of any stroller. It gives my 3 yo easy access to her 6 mo old brother, though, which he doesn't particularly like.

The seats are comfy, though, and I think it would be a GREAT stroller for twins or younger/shorter siblings. The front swivel wheel is awesome...so nice not having to pick up the front end every time to you want to turn.

AND it easily fits into my car, which is just a small Corolla...my single Baby Trend jogger didn't even do that!

I would recommend getting a sunshade extender, though...if you are facing the sun head on there is no protection at all.

So overall, if you aren't looking to spend $500 on a dbl stroller, I would get this one. Probably an older kid wouldn't mind SO much that he/she is a little tall...I mean, even though my daughter is she didn't complain about it, and was able to lie down on her side to nap...so it is really just me. It is a good stroller for the price, and older kids want to walk a lot of the time anyway, so it's good enough.

Hope my rambling review was of some help!

This is a great stroller for running or taking walks. I would not recommend it for the mall or other areas that require a lot of turning and weaving. None of the wheels turn directionally, which is why I mention that. A few people seemed disappointed with it's ability to navigate in tight spaces, but that's not what it's built for. This is the first time I've run with a stroller and it does add 15-20% to the effort, but if you're a runner and you have little guys, you know how hard it is to get in your miles!

Stability is excellent, easy to push, but the thing that gets me about running with a stroller is that you can't swing your arms with your stide. I never thought that would be so tough. I end up pushing it with one hand, which seems easier.

Since this double jogging stroller was one of the least expensive ones available, I tried to keep my expectations low. But all the positive reviews convinced me that maybe this was one of those rare occasions where you actually get more than what you pay for. A good deal, even. It's not. The fabric is cheap and the padding is flimsy. There is no separation between the two seats so both kids roll toward the center. There is no hand brake so if you're on any incline, you'll need to apply the foot break with is really stiff and difficult to use. It shouldn't be called a foot brake if you have to squat down under the stroller and yank it up and down with your hand to engage or release it. The canopy is a joke, barely shielding the kids heads when the sun is directly above and useless if the sun is anywhere else in the sky. The pushing handle is rubber, not soft foam. The handle is also wasit high for me, an average height person, so my wrists are always at an uncomfortable angle while pushing. The color of blue is ugly and generic looking. The seats won't sit up straight enough and my kids get tired of slouching. They can't reach the front bar of the stroller when they are fastened in so it ends up being just some other obstacle to putting them into the stroller. The fasteners on the belt are sharp and hard to fasten, pinching my fingers each time I use them.
I hope I can save someone the trouble of thinking this stroller is a good deal and then having to pay to return it.

I would really recommend this stroller and I use it for my 2 month old and 2 1/2 yr old for fast walks in and around our neighborhood. We live pretty close to a grocery store so I can even go there to pick up a few things. It is really not for packing in the car (although we have done that for some trips to parks like Sea World and Legoland). It is not very compact when folded. It is very light yet it seems durable. The canopy is not the greatest for sunblock as mentioned but that is easily remedied by purchasing a sunshade for double strollers. My friend has the bob double stroller which seems like an upgrade (very good quality) but in the end, mine is easier to push and a lot lighter with only 3 wheels (the bob has 4 wheels). I love it and it is an excellent price at $175.

I'm what ya' might call a "stroller hog." I currently have 5 strollers (including this one), however, this is the only Double Jogger I have. The others include (a Snap-N-Go for the carseat only, an umbrella stroller, a Jeep (Single) Jogger Stroller, & then a Baby Trend SitNStand) and although I really like my Jeep Single Jogger & the SitNStand, this one is by far my favorite. It's AWESOME!! I LOVE how EASY it is to push and manuver...the swivel wheel is a MUST. The only thing I have found so far that I think could use improvement is the sun shade...it's very short and really doesn't do any good at all (I have a 7 month old, so she still tends to take naps during my walks, and the sun gets in her face/eyes a lot). BUT...I fixed that problem by getting a Rayshade Sun Shade and now the stroller has no "flaws" at all. It was SIMPLE to put together...I did it by myself in just 10 minutes. Bottom line...I LOVE it and would HIGHLY recommend it! OH and I was suppose to get this in 2 days and I got it overnight...so that was a nice welcome surprise.

I am very pleased with my purchase of the Swivel Double Stroller. Both, my 2 1/2 year old daughter and my 6 month old son, love riding in it so I am finally able to get back to the exercise routine I had previously. I find the stroller's manuverability to be fantastic. I mostly run/walk trails and this stroller is holding up well over the rougher terrain. One of my fears was that the stroller wouldn't fit into the trunk of my car (Nissan Altima), but with the quick(and easy)release function on the tires, the stroller collapes nicely and fits fine. Although I haven't used it (because I just placed the order for one), INSTEP makes a travel bag that I believe will be helpful when packing for trips.

I had very high hopes for this stroller. I've had an Instep jogging stroller with a fixed front wheel for two years and needed a double stroller so I went straight back to Instep. This stroller had a structural FAILURE which caused the front wheel to fall off while I was jogging with my children. The stroller flipped over causing injury to both my children, 2 years and 5 months, and me. I advise all parents to look very closely at this stroller for any signs of structural problems around the front wheel. I will not buy this stroller again and advise all parents to look elsewhere.

UPDATE: 10/9/08
This manufacturer makes you return all products directly to them. I started trying to return this product on 6/16/08. It took two months to have them take it back. They would not give me a refund, only a replacement. I finally received a replacement on 10/8/09. I suggest going elsewhere. Even after a structural failure, the manufacturer (Pacific Cycle) only provides exchanges. They are also very slow. It took almost 4 months to get a replacement and I had to sign all types of legal paperwork just to get that. This has just been one hassle after another dealing with this company. They produce all Instep and Schwinn strollers.

This is officially my first ever review - hope it helps!
While I agree with some of the other reviewers that the shade is very inadequate (use sunscreen and a sun hat!) and there is no parent console (I throw my water bottle and keys in the basket underneath), I can't say enough good things about this stroller. I hesitated to buy it because:
A) I was nervous about putting my baby in with my toddler and
B) I didn't think it would fit in the trunk of my car (Nissan Altima)or if it did, I didn't want to have to remove the front tire to do so...
But, after splurging and buying it, it is better than I had hoped it would be. My husband, who said "How many strollers do we need?" now uses it more than I do! The ride is soooo smooth, even on our rough sidewalks and at the park, etc., where the ground isn't flat. It is so easy to maneuver, you can do it with one hand easily. Plus, I'm 5'3" and not that strong, but I can get it in and out of my trunk by myself and carry it to and from the house, and I don't have to remove the front wheel. The girls fit nicely in it and I don't have the problem the other reviewer had about them not sitting in it straight - must be a problem with their particular stroller. I love that you can have one child reclined, while the other is sitting up. The basket underneath is pretty standard - they are never easily accessible on any stroller - at least I can get into this one - some you can't get into at all if the kids are in it. I also have no problem with the brake - I just push it down with my foot and pull it back up with my toe to release it - not sure what was wrong with the other reviewer's brake, but mine is just like my single stroller's brake. I also like the window in the canopy so I can make sure my toddler is "playing nicely" with her little sister!
Over-all opinion: Buy it and Enjoy!