Customer Reviews

Mountain Buggy Swift Compact Stroller, Flint

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love my new Mountain Buggy Swift and I have owned many other high-end strollers. It is the perfect AT stroller for the city because it is light and narrow!

I've never owned Mountain Buggies before because they have always had a tiny canopy. Well, the new MB Swift has an extended canopy!!! The best part of the new canopy is that the extended part is a mesh sun shade so the kids can still see what is in front of them!

The stroller weighed in at 22 pounds and the quality seems fantastic- really well made. I am now getting a taste of the renowned MB steering!

What I like:

awesome steering (can push with a finger)

so lightweight for an AT stroller! (I can actually lift the whole stroller without a problem)

pretty good canopy (as larges as the Baby Jogger City Mini canopy)

rugged but sophisticated look

metal footplate (no dirty mess in the footwell area)

easy fold

harness is super easy to adjust

belly pad for crotch buckle

great brake

comes with drink holder

adjustable handlebar

very solid frame - excellent quality

narrow frame for an AT (23 inches wide)

What could use some improvement:

small basket

tire pump, rain cover, other accessories sold separately

wish the seatback were a tad taller and the legrest adjustable

My 41 inch tall 3 yo fits in it but his head does hit the canopy when it is closed. He fits great in it with the canopy open. He definitely has a lot more room in our Baby Jogger City Classic Double.

Overall, I am very happy with it. I think the MB Swift is the AT we were looking for. One that can be used indoors as well and that will fit in our trunk without taking it over.

We use ours with a Valco Hitch Hiker so it works as a double too!

So far we have used it in grass, dirt, rocky paths and sand. The steering and push are superb!

When I was researching the Swift, I really didn't see to many reviews that were helpful, so this (I hope) will be a comprehensive review.

Even though it has some flaws, I gave it a five since they were mostly things I knew about. Overall I'm thrilled with the stroller and it's a great product, and there's no such thing as a perfect stroller. *Disclaimer: I've only used it with the car seat adapter so far, so I'll update when baby is big and I use the seat.

So, let's start with the flaws:
1)small basket (again I knew about this so I can't complain)--I can fit about two bags of groceries in the basket, so that's not roomy at all, but it's easily accessible which is nice. I didn't get my mommy hooks yet, but they should come next week and then that will help with my shopping to put lighter, bulkier items on the handlebar. There are pockets on the outside of the basket, but I'm not sure how practical they are, I would be to nervous that things would fall out of them since they're kind of floppy. If you're the main grocery shopper in your family and you don't have a car, then this stroller won't do it for you. If you just do the occasional small shop to fill in what your spouse buys, then it's not such a problem.

2)The sides of the handlebar (made of plastic) kind of shake when bumping the stroller up and down stairs, but that doesn't mean it'll break, it just makes me nervous that one day it could snap in half. But, I'm confident that it's designed well and that won't happen.

3)The one year warranty. I would like something more like 2 or 3 years.

4)I like the idea of forever air tires, like Baby Jogger or Uppababy, over the air tires that can pop/deflate. But, oh well.

Pros:
1)The push is AMAZING! It just glides along and is a breeze to push. I've only used it with a car seat adapter so far and the car seat does kind of seem like it gets banged around on uneven pavement (like the push could be a bit smoother with some suspension or something), but again it's really great and I could forget I'm pushing something. It's not as easy to do up a hill as I thought it would be, but I think that's due to my unrealistic expectation and I don't know if any stroller would feel like it's pushing itself up the hills where I am. I also like the wrist strap it comes with, it makes me feel more secure downhill.

2)It bumps up and down steps very very well. (going up steps has to be done by bumping the back tires up the steps and I walk backwards), because of the air tires it doesn't take so much effort

3)The width and weight are great. I really notice it's thin when trying to fit in small spaces, and it's not to hard to pick up. It's a bit long but that doesn't bother me, although I do occasionally hit people in front of me with the front wheel

4)The handlebar is adjustable, it's easy to adjust and is a great height for me (5") and my husband (5"3). Our taller friends have also said it's comfortable for them to push.

5)The fold is simple to do. Just flick up the levers on either side of the foot-well area. It's best done by standing in front of the stroller. It also has a GREAT standing fold when the handlebar is put down. I had it on a standing fold on a very bumpy bus ride and it didn't move an inch! It has to be positioned the right way, but when that's done it's really great. My mode of transportation is buses, so what I'll do is take the car seat off, put it by my feet, and fold the stroller. The unfold is also so easy, you just open it from the handlebar. It can fold with the car seat adapter on. (I use it with a Graco Snugride 35, and it looks so nice I get tons of compliments. I didn't want to pay extra for a bassinet).

Those are the main points I can think of. I love how it looks. The only things that make me nervous are the air tires and the fact they could pop (I bought the tire pump, extra inner tubes, and will probably order an extra wheel set for just in case) and that there's only a one year warranty. The City Mini GT will be big competition for the swift with their forever air tires, one handed fold, and lifetime warranty on the frame. But, I'm happy it wasn't out yet because I love love my swift but would have felt compelled to get the city mini gt for the above reasons.

UPDATE 10/29/11: The inner tube got a flat about a week ago. It was easy to change as I had extra inner tubes and a tire pump, but just know this is a reality with air tires. Also, there seems to be a weird clicking noise coming from the rear left wheel, so I'll update if this ends up being a problem.

I just bought a used Mountain Buggy Swift, NZ made. It pushes like a dream, very easy to maneuver anywhere and very light. I had an older model Valco three wheeler which was nice but very heavy especially when baby wants to be held mid-walk instead of in the stroller, then you are holding baby and trying to push the stroller with one hand! This can be done if you have a MB. This stroller is very narrow and can fit in the mall, yet has nice air tires and can go off road. It doesn't have suspension but I would guess that you really shouldn't be driving the stroller over terrain that really NEEDS suspension. The only downside to MB Swift is that the baby can only face forward, but my son is 6 months so wants to face forward. The handle is adjustable so it is comfortable for both me and my boyfriend (I am five foot, he is 5"9). It is very easy to collapse and uncollapse, I can even do it while holding the baby. It is still bulky so you must have a big trunk but it probably only weights about 20lbs. The only thing that I disklike about the MB Swift is that the break can be a bit difficult to release if you have flip flops on, but that is minor. I have read a lot of bad reviews about the tires going flat and needing replacement. Our used buggy is 1.2 years old and the previous owner didn't have a problem, however, ours is NZ made, not made in China! Once you push a Mountain Buggy, you won't go back! We are very happy and no regrets what so ever. They are mid-range price for a stroller but in my opinion are just as nice as the $1,000 strollers. Very well designed.

Based on our experience with this stroller and the company that makes it I strongly advice you to look elsewhere. We bought the Mountain Buggy Swift last year and within seven months of LIGHT use the front wheel and one of the back wheels completely collapsed -- plastic rims actually breaking. Trying to get the wheels replaced and paid for under the one-year warranty however is showing to be difficult. Mountain Buggy has yet to even acknowledge receipt of our warranty claim and has also not responded to any of our follow-up emails regarding the issue. We bought this pricy and supposedly high-quality stroller because we knew we would be 100 percent relying on it for day-to-day life with the baby. Unfortunately, Mountain Buggy delivered only poor quality and what seems to be a very unreliable customer support.

It will seem fine until the first time you have to replace an inner tube. Then you will discover that you cannot find 10" inner tubes for strollers, and when you order them from Mountain Buggy you will pay more for the shipping than the tube. Then you will discover that it's a feat nothing short of heroic to get the tube inside that tire, only to discover that the valve stems on the replacement tubes aren't angled, so you cannot pump them up because the hub of the wheel is in the way. When you try to angle the valve stem yourself, it will break off, and you will be faced with the daunting task of getting the tube out and trying to get another one in, though deep inside your heart you will know it's pointless because you won't be able to pump up that one either. And will the Mountain Buggy people help? No my friend, they will not.