Customer Reviews

Schwinn Trailblazer Double Bicycle Trailer (Blue/Gray)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The trailer was fairly easy to put together and attach to the bike. I was disappointed to realize that the handlebars and stroller wheel have to be carried separately when using the trailer. I thought they attached then folded out of the way but they don't. The harness system did take a few tries to get adjusted so it would hold my 9 month old son somewhat comfortably. It helps to tighten the front straps under the sling seat but not tighten the back strap as much. The shoulder straps sit kind of high on my son's neck near his ears but not to the point that it seems to bother him. There is no head recess to allow room for my son's helmet when biking. The inside pockets/drink holders are a nice feature for older children. The trailer is easy to pull when I am biking - the extra weight is barely noticeable especially on flat surfaces. I also enjoy inline skating but don't recommend this model for that or jogging. The stroller wheel does not roll very smoothly or as fast as I would like and the assemble rattles a lot when going a good pace. I had to keep lifting the wheel up to enjoy the outing. (I did order the Mark III for skating and it rolls smoothly in the stroller mode but I was disappointed with the quality for the higher price.) The trailblazer is a good trailer for the price if you don't plan to use the stroller feature very often.

We got this as a gift and were super excited to try it out. I decided I should be the one to have the trailer attached to my bike so I was used to it when I took our son alone. I could not believe how light the trailer was even with my almost 2 year old son inside. It was very easy to put together and attach to the bike. I wish the pictures on th instructions would have been a bit clearer. Our son liked the bike trip so much he fell asleep. It took bumps much better than I expected and moved easily. I was so excited that this trailer works as well as it does.

I recently purchased the Schwinn Trailblazer Double as a 2nd trailer to keep at my parents' house. We also own a Chariot double. For the price,the Schwinn gets the job done.

Positives - it folds VERY flat and compactly and is easy to fold (even while holding a squirming 11 month old), it is light, good ventilation, snack pockets, nice storage bin, handle bar can be set for different height parent, snap cover is easy to put on/take off, the front "arm" folds in for a very small "folded footprint"

Negatives - no shocks so is a bumpy ride, the front wheel is not very sturdy (when I ran with it, I tilted the stroller so the wheel was off the ground), small sling-style seat so the kids sit very close together, straps are not very adjustable and can be difficult to clip on/off, cannot be fitted with an infant sling, no sun shade

All-in-all, a great stroller. I would consider this as our only trailer if we didn't already have a Chariot.

This is a cheap stroller - the manager at my local bike shop recommended seeing a baby bike trailer in person before buying one; I disregarded his advice and ordered this to try to save a couple hundred dollars over a Chariot or comparable, and after assembling it and trying it once decided to send it back.

My single biggest issue with this stroller is the restraint system for a toddler . It's inadequate, uncomfortable, and unsafe. It consists of a single piece of webbing going across the width of the trailer as a lap belt (there's a clasp, but no quick-release). And, there are 3 sets of vertical restraints with 2 shoulder straps and a crotch strap - again, each has a clasp but no quick-release. If you have a single toddler in the center of the trailer, the lap belt doesn't come close to restraining the child, as it's 2-3 times with width of the her waist. Within 1-2 minutes, our little girl had wiggled out of the shoulder restraints, and the waist restraint would let her slide the width of the trailer if the trailer tipped over.

The trailer comes with a notice that says, "Don't use above 10mph". I initially thought, "this is to avoid getting sued", but after evaluating the restraint system, I actually believe that this trailer is not safe above 10mph.

Second complaint is that you have to remove half of the cover to place the baby in the trailer, or take her out, or interact with her in any way. If you have a fussy baby like mine, this is a deal breaker.

If you expect to use your baby bike trailer with any frequency, and/or your baby's comfort and safety are concerns, I recommend spending the extra $200 or so and purchasing a higher quality baby trailer.

This trailer is GREAT! We actually bought it for our senior-age dog who has arthritis in his back. He's almost 100lbs. & he fits fine! We had to do a few modifications...but the trailer is so convenient. It folds up to the size of a folded-up lawn chair & has a pocket that the wheels slide into. It also seems to have a universal-fit to all bikes. It's easy to manuever and very stable!

I bought this about a year ago. My son and I go all over Chapel Hill with it. He loves it, and so do I. It's a great way for me to spend time with my son while running errands and getting exercise. We never vacation without it. If I were designing this trailer I might tweak some things, and I've seen features on other trailers that look nice, but I think you'd be a fool to spend more on a trailer unless you were planning to do some serious single-track mountain biking with your child in tow. It's like harnessing your child into their own roll cage, which makes it WAAAY safer than a bike seat.

The only minuses I can even think of are a cheap front wheel for the stroller conversion (it's made of plastic), I had to reglue the safety flag, and it doesn't lock in the folded position. All of those can be fixed if you're willing to spend double the money on Burley or a Chariot. Save your cash. You're a parent. Put it in your child's college fund!

We are having a blast with our bike trailer! We have been using it for several weeks now. As most reviewers, I searched and searched before making the purchase - reading dozens of reviews and comparing dozens of product descriptions.

Here is how I made my decision for this trailer -
1. 20 inch wheels instead of 16 inch wheels - I knew this would make a difference in the feel of the ride for my daughter. It is a very smooth ride, and very easy for me to pull.
2. Aluminum frame instead of a steel frame - I knew this would make it lighter in weight to pull (I am not a bicycle enthusiast. I enjoy riding, but when I was researching to buy a bike trailer I hadn't ridden a bike in 20 years. I am a chubby mommy wanting to get some exercise, but I knew riding alone would be enough of a workout without pulling something heavy behind me). This trailer is light. I don't notice a difference between riding without it and riding with it!
3. Ventilation - I wanted to make sure that all the windows weren't plastic. This has plastic windows on each side, but the front can either be completely open, covered with the mesh cover (to protect from bugs, stones, etc), or covered with the plastic weather protector. The back window is mesh. Plenty of ventilation on hot days.
4. Price - I didn't want to spend over 200 dollars. I looked at cheaper models, and considered going with one of them, but I went with this model because of numbers 1, 2, and 3 above. It was worth the little extra for those features.

Other things you might want to know about this trailer -
1. It has sling seats - these are fine. They are adjustable with straps. My daughter doesn't complain at all about how they feel. They seem perfectly safe as well.
2. Seat belts - It has an adjustable harness system for up to two children, but I am only using it for one child who weighs about 40 pounds and is about 38 inches tall. She sits in the middle and could use the harness, but I only make her use the lap belt. I have to comment that I think it would be a tight fit for two children.
3. LEG ROOM - THIS IS THE ONE THING I THINK NEEDS IMPROVEMENT - I have not been able to figure out how to adjust the seats so there is more leg room. I keep thinking if I make the sling seats slack a little there might be more room. There is ample cargo room, but you cannot adjust that area at all. My daughter, though, doesn't complain. She loves riding in it, and I guess that's the bottom line. That is why I would buy this trailer again despite this one factor.
4. Plenty of "cargo" room in the back - You could carry a cooler back there!

Overall, we love this trailer. My husband says that it was easy to hook up to my bike. If you want to be able to attach it to more than one bike, get a second universal coupler. We have not used it as a stroller, so I can't write about that. Overall, you cannot beat the quality and price of this trailer.

I bought this trailer in Spring 2009. The aluminum framing is great and sturdy, the fabric of the canopy, straps inside that hold the seat and the straps that hold the canopy together are awful! Within a few weeks of owning this trailer the gray color of the fabric started turning pink due to being in the sun (which is considered normal wear and is not covered by the warranty...I now own a blue and pink trailer). Then after two seasons of use, both straps that hold up the bottom of the sling seat broke and one strap that holds the front of the trailer closed broke as well! The clips used for the 5-point harness are difficult to hook and even more difficult to unhook too, but they work. The trailer is lightweight and easy to pull and my daughters love going for rides, but the quality of the fabric and straps used for the canopy leaves a lot to be desired. Since the straps to the bottom of the sling seat broke, the trailer is essentially useless for trailering the kids. Don't waste your money on this trailer because in two years you will have to replace it.

For the money it is a very good product and very easy to assemble. Only cons would be that it is a bit small to accomodate 2 childrens, at least mine's (3.5 year boy and 1.2 year daughter). besides that it is very good and lite to pull.

This is a great product from what I can tell. My wife had no problems assembling the trailer and the hitch fit on her bike easily too. Unfortunately, our son (8 months) isn't too much of a fan yet. He tends to become fussy on most rides. He dosn't care much for the helmet we got him either. The trailer is great for the price and I definitely recommend it!