Bumbleride Flyer Stroller

Laura from NJ              September 21st, 2009
I have read many reviews on the bumbleride flyer and wonder if people have the same stroller as I do. Bottom line I LOVE MY STROLLER.

I have no trouble steering my 2009 version, going up hills, moving handle, using th basket etc. One thing of note: you must lock the wheels the correct way for the steering to work correctly.

leon              September 6th, 2009
The 2009 stroller has lots of great features - including the reversible handle, a good (and adjustible) footrest, relatively light weight, relatively small size when folded, a raincover, a way to attach carseats, etc. It handles nicely - though it does have traces of what must have been the earlier versions' difficulty navigating bumps and curbs. It does ok - it just doesn't feel like the most stable stroller at those moments. Still, for the price, it's a very good deal, and we're very happy (and this is our fifth child, so we have a lot to compare to).

Elizabeth              June 17th, 2009
I just wrote this letter to Bumbleride, after about a month of attempting to use this stroller:

We were so excited about this stroller, but now that we have it, are now so disappointed. On paper, it had everything we were hoping for: lightest weight in its class, reversible seat, good size basket, easy fold.

Now that we have it, it is impossible to maneuver and "leans" like a car does when the alignment is off. If I'm going up hills (which I do often where I live) and need to turn even just a little to the right or left on a hill, it kind of skids because it won't turn. Also, in the reverse-facing position, your feet hit the wheels a bit (though we have learned to accommodate this). My ultra-basic MacClaren Easy Traveller moved 1000 times better than this does! We had read about maneuverability issues pre-2009, so waited until the 2009s were available to avert this issue. I can't possibly imagine what it would be like to use a pre-2009 model, if the 2009s are an "improvement."

At this point, we are barely tolerating this stroller, because our son is too big for his infant seat but seems too young to face forward. My husband won't even use it most of the time, and my wrists ache from trying to keep it moving in a relatively straight line or having to manhandling it when I need to turn even just slightly. We really thought that this stroller would be "the one," but it is "the worst."

I knew in my gut that I should have tried it out at the one local store that carried it, but I ran out of time before I needed to take it on a trip. I am so regretting that decision.

I don't know what else to say. I'm not especially picky about gear, but this one is really getting to me.

Bottom line: Very, very disappointed.

Debbie from San Francisco, CA              June 10th, 2009
Buying a stroller is scarily similar to buying a car... it took a lot of research and comparison shopping before I settled on the Bumbleride Flyer. I am totally thrilled with the purchase! The things I like about the stroller are NUMEROUS and include the following:

- The direction of the stroller may be reversed easily simply by flipping the handlebars over and adjusting two bars near the wheels (you do not have to pick up the seat itself and turn it around as with many other strollers);
- The seat adjusts from a close-to-90-degree angle to almost flat;
- There is a footrest that adjusts to a few different positions, so your child's legs don't just dangle in the air;
- The canopy is BIG, and a portion zips off to provide air flow on hot days;
- The handle is a single bar, so it's easier to steer with one hand;
- A rain cover, cup holder, and infant seat adapter come standard with the stroller, and options include a "snack pack" that attaches to the seat, car seat cover (seems silly though!), foot muff/liner, and carrycot;
- The infant seat adapter bar attaches directly onto the stroller without requiring removal of the seat;
- The five-point harness releases when you press a single button;
- The stroller has a relatively small footprint and weighs only 19 pounds, which is quite a bit lighter than most other full-size strollers; and
- The fold is not too difficult (though not super-easy), and when folded, the stroller can stand upright (though it is kept in its folding position by a plastic clasp that may or may not stand up under repeated use).

In my opinion, the only real drawback to this stroller is that it does not have air-filled wheels; however, it was not intended to be an all-terrain stroller, and air-filled wheels would have added a lot of weight. Oh, and it would have been nice if a custom travel bag were available, but Bumbleride has identified a third-party product that will work. So overall I am very satisfied. I understand that there were a lot of issues with respect to steering the 2008 version of the stroller, but I have not experienced any problems at all with the 2009 version.

I got the stroller in the ruby color, which is a lovely deep red (in my opinion even deeper than in the photo). I was going to go with the seagrass color but when I saw it in a store, the green was a little olive-y and the turquoise was a little too light for my taste.

All in all, I am extremely pleased with this stroller, which has a TON of terrific features for half the price of many comparable strollers. The order and delivery through BabyEarth were smooth and quick as well.

Caroline from Austin, TX              April 19th, 2009
This stroller is terrible. We, like many I am sure, bought this stroller because of the great rear/forward facing push options. Well, that was a crock, because unless you want to go straight most of the time, you can't turn this thing without a lot of frustration and sweat and fear that you are going to bend the arms of the stroller. The locking mechanism that gives you the forward/backward facing option is not very sturdy, sometimes the wheels don't always rotate, and in general, when you push it, it doesn't feel very strong. If you buy this you will be kicking yourself for spending $350 on something that isn't worth $20. I am so upset knowing we have lost that money, and can't afford the expense of trying to fix a REALLY bad purchase. I am very disappointed that Babyearth sells this stroller. I am sure I am not the only sucker to have bought it and dealt with these extreme frustrations.

anonymous              March 11th, 2009
This 'stroller' / ' the flyer' 2008 , does not stroll nor fly. It does not steer at all and has been a completely infuriating experience. After jamming into people's ankles at a cafe, running into people on the side walk and dragging it to try and make it steer in the right direction , I returned this piece of misery.
After 2 weeks my wrists felt like they had carpool tunnel. Drawn to the good looks, colors and the reverse handle bar I wish I had known that their swivel mechanism does not work at all.
We have spoken to Bumbleride to see if they made any improvements on their 2009 model, which turned out not to be the case.
I truly regret this purchase especially since I ordered it before I had my baby. When I started using it 2 weeks after the baby was born , the 30 day return policy had expired.
So incase you can't help yourself and you are going to purchase it anyway. buy it after you have the baby .
Good luck with your stroller purchase !