Review of InStep Safari Swivel Jogging Stroller (Blue/Chocolate)

InStep Safari Swivel Jogging Stroller (Blue/Chocolate)
By: Pacific Cycle
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Great buy

On: 2008-06-22

I decided on this all terrain stroller based on the consumer reports review of it. I like the stroller so far. I have taken on a hiking trail which it was great on. I would not suggest using this in clothing stores or places with small aisles since it is a bit wide. But an umbrella stoller would work in that case. My daughter seems very comfortable in it. I do wish it came with a tether for saftey.

Great, but where's the back pouch?

On: 2008-06-05

I really liked this stroller. We took it with us to Disney, and although it is big, it folds small enough to get on the trams. The stroller is a dream to push! I will never use another. My only complaints are:

1) We shopped around and looked at some in other colors in our home town to test drive. The other Safari models had back pouches (which would have been super convenient). It was not clear that this model/color combination must be slightly different - no back pouch.

2) The parents drink caddy is worse than useless! the holders are shallow, and ours would not stay hooked onto the stroller causing the drinks to spill. We removed it and left it home the sencond day, and were much happier.

Still its a good model, good price, smooth ride, easy push with nice adjustable handles.

Great Stroller

On: 2008-05-27

I agree with the other reviews this stroller could use some upgrades with the storage compartment, the sun shade, the tray up top for the parent is not good. Others talked about the brake slipping I have never had that problem mine works fine.

However I didnt really get the stroller for my everyday stroller I have a Graco for that. This is a great stroller for walking/jogging. I dont full on jog just do little sprints here and there with my walking. The one feature I LOVE is the adjustable handle bar. I am 6" tall and I am very picky about my stroller for that reason mainly. I wish they made all strollers with an adjustable handle.

Overall it is a great stroller if you arent looking to use it for an every day stroller. I doubt the wheels would fit in a shopping store I have a hard enough time getting my Graco through the racks of cloths.

good buy

On: 2008-05-19

I have used this stroller for about a month now with no problems. My son is four months old and 17 pounds and seems to be very comfortable in this stroller. He usually falls asleep while we are out in it. I use this stroller everywhere. The only thing is it is hard to get into the trunk of the car (and we have a big trunk) but our other stroller is hard to get into it too so I dont know but maybe its the trunk. When I got the stroller I pumped the tires up and the front tire was immediately flat, but I called Instep that day and they quickly sent a new tube for the tire (I was on the phone long enough to give them my address). I have not had any other issues with this stroller. I have not jogged with it yet but my husband did and he said it was great. A good stroller for the price.

Good Bang for the Buck

On: 2008-04-21

The Instep Safari Swivel has proven to be all that we wanted it to be, an affordable functional jogging stroller. We use our stroller on dirt roads, trails, and pavement and it performs great.

Thumbs Up: Performance, Price, assembly - easy, swivel wheel works great locked & in swivel mode, folds up fairly easily

Thumbs down: the brakes do drag a little sometimes, the sunshade could be bigger, the storage compartment could be bigger, and the cup holders are too small for cups

We bought a kiddopotamus sunshade that does the trick for shading our 18 mo. old. The brakes dont "click" very often, but it happens. We find that its fairly transportable for the size. We have found that the seat is fine for our daughter in its upright position (not too far reclined). For the price we are thrilled with this product. Want more, pay more; but this stroller has bang for the buck.

Smooth ride. Nice, roomy stroller for the money.

On: 2008-04-02

We purchased this in October, and have used it several times. Very happy with it so far. Great maneuverability with the front swivel wheel, and roomy for our 10-month old. The large rubber wheels make for such a smooth ride and easy to push. Great for walks, uneven terrain and outdoor use, but this is a heavy stroller, so if you are looking for a lightweight, portable stroller, this is not the right one for you. We have taken it to the mall several times as well, but it takes a little extra time (and more than one hand) to unload and unfold it.

Excellent stroller, great value!

On: 2008-02-24

I purchased this stroller about a month ago, and I am so happy with my decision. I had looked at other similar jogging strollers in this price range, but ultimately went with the Safari Swivel because of the option to swivel the front wheel (which has been a great option - I can easily get it in and out of an elevator, for example). I have used this stroller on sidewalks, on trails, and indoors. It has handled all the terrain beautifully. I would say I jog with it about 20% of the time and walk the rest. I find it to be very smooth and I love that the handle is adjustable (I am 58" and I find many strollers to be too short, which is a killer on my back).

My only (minor) complaints would be that although it is easy to collapse, it does not stay shut, so it is a bit awkward to carry in its collapsed state. Also, the cup holders are not very deep and things bounce right out of them. But the storage basket is big so I usually just put things in there.

Overall, great stroller, and certainly a good value. In my opinion, there is no reason to spend the money on a Bob or the like if you arent a marathon runner.

Missing two important features

On: 2008-02-09

We received this stroller for our shower and have only used it a few times so far. I wish that it had a hand brake and a lanyard as we live on a very steep hill. If I had to buy another stroller, Id definitely look for one with these two features.

great walking stroller

On: 2008-01-23

I recently recieved this stroller as a gift for Christmas. I just started using it for walking and the wheels move very smoothly. My daughter seems very comfortable in it and usually falls asleep on our walks. The handlebars are very tall which is great because I am 5-10 and my husband is 6-3 and we both are very comfortable pushing the stoller. I did buy the Kiddopotamus sunshade because the sunshade on the stroller does not block the sun from my daughters eyes, especially when she is lying down. I am very pleased with this stroller for walking and the price was also great as compared to other joggers. I gave it 4 1/2 stars only because of the sunshade, besides that I would give it 5 stars. I definitely recommend this stroller!

I love this stroller!

On: 2008-01-19

I am very satisfied with this stroller. I received it within a week using the super saver shipping, and I live in Hawaii so mail always takes a bit longer to get here. It took me less than 10 minutes to assemble, as all you have to do is attach the wheels and trays. I took the stroller to the gas station to inflate the tires.
The screws to attach the footrest were missing from my shipment, but I called the company and they sent them out to me, free of charge. I got them within 7-10 days as promised. (Not having the footrest did not impede me from using the stroller since I have a 5 month old and his feet dont reach that far). They also sent out a wrist strap because I asked about it, also free of charge.
This stroller is very easy to maneuver and rolls very easily. I roller blade with this stroller (even though the instructions advise against it) and my son loves it. Its easy to fit into my car. I have a Ford Explorer and would not want to have to put this into a regular car trunk. It takes up a lot of space in my trunk, so I cant imagine how it would fit into a regular trunk.
I use this stroller for exercise and for daily use (supermarkets, malls, etc) because of how much easier it is to get around with then my Combi stroller. Highly recommend it!

Instep stroller

On: 2008-01-08

After 9 months, countless miles and fun weight loss, I know this was a bargain Internet buy. I have gotten my moneys worth and the stroller still looks new. We go down our limerock grade road, through the woods and on trails. This stroller goes everywhere you can imagine.
It collapses for carrying in the trunk of a car(I just put in my truck bed), is completely washable, and the color has not faded.There is still a lot of growing room for up to 3-4 years.There is storage underneath for baby care items,a cup holder tray for your sports bottle,and a foot rest for baby to keep his/her legs from getting caught in the front wheel.The added options came as part of a package and would have costly if purchased separately.And it is so lightweight,even a Grandma can have fun.

Nice stroller for the price

On: 2007-12-27

I have only used this stroller a few times so far, but I find it to be a great buy. I paid only half of what a similar item sells for in the local baby stores. In fact, I couldnt even find a used one for this price. It arrived in two days, and was super easy to put together. The baby is comfortable in it, and it is very easy to steer. Weve even pushed him around the house it in, and it will turn all the way around in the hallway. I do hope it will be as sturdy when we take it out to the parks and there are no paved trails.

Awsome maneuverability!!! Love it!

On: 2007-12-22

I am very pleased with this purchase for sure. I must have got the jump on the price cause its more than twice what I paid now and its been a couple of weeks. I would use this stroller jogger to shop, stroll, jog, pretty much whatever since the maneuverability is GREAT!! Bought a Kiddopotamus Ray shade for extra extended shade. That too is awsome!! Love the adjustable handle for the taller person (husband), the removable seat pad, swivel wheel that locks to jog, and the quickest fold up Ive seen. This is a sharp looking stroller, and will go where no baby has gone before.

Hiking24

On: 2007-12-03

After trying similarly priced single jogging strollers, this one seemed to have the best maneuverability. I previously owned an InStep double jogging stroller that I was happy with except for a few features that were missing, but decided to give the Safari a try after reading the product description. This stroller has all the features that my previous stroller lacked; child and parent tray, the canopy is large enough to keep the sun and rain from bothering my son, adjustable handle (my older son can push the stroller too), and the seat adjusts to an upright position. Im very pleased with my purchase. Like my other InStep stoller, this one can take a lot of abuse.

Best all terrain stroller at a great value

On: 2007-11-26

I purchased this stroller at the beginning of the year, specifically because I attend many soccer tournaments for my older daughter. I absolutely love this stroller for many reasons.
-It has more than sufficient carrying space in the bottom compartment below the seat
-It maneuvers effortlessly even in tight places, one handed no less
-It folds up pretty compact for such a large jogger. And if you need extra room you can take the wheels off with a very simple lever release.
-My son seems to love this stroller and doesnt fuss in it. It has a lot of space for him to grow in within the seat

If I had to list anything I didnt like about this stroller would be the parent tray. It has come off on occasion but it only requires snapping it back on. The drink holders are much to shallow and narrow to hold a water bottle. I usually just put my water bottle in the handy pocket located on the back of the seat.

Overall for the money and FREE shipping from Amazon, this has been an amazing stroller for a great value.

A Comparison with the Jeep Front Swivel Stroller

On: 2007-11-13

About a year ago, we looked at front swivel wheel jogging strollers. We wanted one with a supportive seat that would allow our son to sit more upright than most jogging strollers allowed. We also wanted one with a child tray. We opted to get the Instep Safari TT Single Stroller (which I think is the same as the Schwinn Safari TT Swivel Stroller) over one of the Jeep® Liberty® Limited Urban Terrain Strollers. We were able to buy the Instep much cheaper than the Jeep. Also, the Jeep we saw had speakers for a cd player which we had no interest in using. We have just recently purchased a used 2003 Jeep stroller. For our current off-road, non-jogging purposes, this is working out better.

I would like to offer our comparison of the Instep/Schwinn Safari and the Jeep. There seems to be a few choices in Jeep models. Ours is used and I dont know which we have. Therefore, these are just basic guidelines.

Weve taken both strollers around a neighborhood with sporadic sidewalks and no curb cutouts and both have handled the mixed/rough terrain well. Weve also walked on the university campus where there are small (2) hills and both strollers go up and down them fine.

My main complaints with the Instep, and what I like about the Jeep, are little things. The cupholders are so shallow that bottles of water fall over. The child tray is not removable. When our son falls asleep we have to lift him out over the tray. The sunshade is beyond stupid. We live in Arizona and the Instep shade provides no protection from the sun. It actually curves upwards. We bought a Kiddopotamus sunshade. Although it provides ample sun protection, our son must essentially look out a tube. I dont know if the Jeep sunshade will be better, we havent used it for daytime walks yet. However, it seems bigger and does not curve up and let the sun in. I will address the bad Instep brakes later.

The Instep is bigger and the seat for the child is roomier. However, there is more head clearance space under the Jeep Canopy. I wonder if the foot rest on the Jeep will be outgrown faster than the footrest on the Instep.

The seat on the Jeep seems better padded. The one we bought was FILTHY when we got it and it cleaned up easily. I had been certain it would be covered in stains, but it looks brand new. The Instep has a thin seat cover that can be removed for washing. However, it is velcroed in place. When our son sits down, we have to hold the pad in place or it slips and wads up underneath him.

There are reflectors attached all over the Jeep. The Instep has no reflectors that Ive ever noticed.

The handle on the Instep is adjustable, so you can make it taller. You can also position it facing backwards and be further back from the stroller. This is probably advantageous for joggers. The Jeep is okay height for me 57" and I think my 6 husband is okay, but much taller and the Jeep handle might be too short.

The back wheels on our Instep are bigger than the rear wheels on the Jeep. That might make a difference for someone who jogs. I havent jogged with either stroller.

Our Instep has a locking front wheel as does our Jeep. I dont know if all models of each brand lock or not.

The brake system on the Jeep is better. Although they both have foot brakes that interact with the rear wheels, the Instep partially falls into place when you go over bumps. You then get a bump-bump-bump rhythm in the stroller. My husband actually stretched a bungie cord between the handle bar and the foot bar to prevent this. I havent noticed the Jeep brake falling into place.

I like the cargo basket better on the Jeep because it is bigger and much more accessible. Another advantage of the Jeep is for our son. He loves to push the stroller like he does shopping carts. He grabs the horizontal bar at the back of the stroller and pushes. On the Instep, this is the brake so he sets the brake. On the Jeep, he grabs and pushes with the cargo basket so he does not set the brake. The cargo basket on the Instep is very inconvenient. Its small and it is hard to get stuff in and out. I suspect for someone jogging, they would collide with the Jeep basket but not with the Instep basket.

Weve never used the Instep as a jogger, but rather as an off-road stroller. Now that I have used both, I think the Jeep is better for off-road general stroller, but the Instep is probably better for jogging. I still like the cup holders, sunshade, brakes, and removable tray of the Jeep MUCH better and think the Instep would be a superior stroller if it had those. Although I like the jeep cargo basket for my purpose, I think the Instep cargo basket that doesnt stick back, the handle that folds backwards, and the large rear wheels could possibly make a difference for a jogger.

As of this writing, amazon does not offer the front swivel Jeep. However, it can be ordered from other sites. Some models are as cheap as $100 at some retailers.

happy

On: 2007-10-28

I do like it for the most part, including the adjustable bar. On the other hand the release bar seems to be a little flimsy and tricky. Suprised by this it seemed to be less than the one that I got before. I hope it lasts as long. They should fix this.

An InStep convert

On: 2007-09-29

We bought the InStep Safari Swivel for our third child -- our first two are twins so we found ourselves looking for a single stroller. We are very happy with this stroller -- our 10 month old is very comfortable in it and LOVES having the tray. Honestly, Im not sure why more of these jogging/big wheel strollers dont have trays. If BOB or BabyJogger had a tray I would have seriously looked at them -- but thankfully for our wallets, they do not. We dont jog very much but walk everywhere with it. It is a very comfortable ride and great for tall people. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is the canopy -- it really doesnt do the job. We bought a rayshade from Kiddopotomus (in gray) that does the trick and now we are set!RayShade UV Stroller Sun Cover by Kiddopotamus - Black In comparison to more expensive strollers out there this is a lot of stroller for the dollar.

Great Jogging Stroller!

On: 2007-08-23

This is a terrific jogging stroller! The swivel wheel on front is great for turning, and it can be locked for jogging. I thought it might be a little sub par b/c of the price compared to many other jogging strollers, but it seems to be top notch so far. Ive owned it for several months now. I love the yellow, grey, and black color scheme. My only complaint is that there should be a cup holder for mom, always!

InStep Safari Swivel Stroller

On: 2007-07-13

Update to my orginal review: I figured out how to remove the childs tray!! There are two little buttons underneath each side of the tray that you just push, then pull the tray out of each side. Be careful of babys fingers when popping the tray back in place though! :)

This is a sturdy stroller thats great for walking around the neighborhood. I have jogged with it a few times in the swivel mode (never tried it with the front wheel locked). But mostly I just walk when Im pushing my son along. The sun canopy is nice and large with a peek-a-boo window, and the seat has a removable pad that seems comfortable for my little guy. The five-point harness system is not as nice as the one in his car seat, though. The harness seems a little flimsy but I dont believe that has anything to do with the safety of it. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because the childs tray does not move out of the way or come off. This makes it difficult to get a determined toddler in there when he doesnt want to leave the playground that weve walked/strolled to! And one more thing, it is not too heavy for me to lift into my Toyota Highlander SUV. But thats probably because I have muscles now due to being a busy Mom! Bottom line: Id recommend this stoller for outdoor usage whether you jog with it or not.

Great Stroller

On: 2007-07-12

I love this stroller! Even though it says its for 6 months and older, I have been using it with my 3 month old son. We added a head support and it works great. We dont jog with him yet, but we go for long walks and to the zoo and it works great! I love the swivel wheel it makes it so much easier to use than other joggers. This is a great product!

Great stroller for country living

On: 2007-06-11

This stroller interested me because I was looking for something with off-road capabilities. It maneuvers easily over gravel roads and seems to have a smoother ride than a conventional stroller. The stroller is well built, with a metal frame, low-friction bearings, bicycle-like tires, and a large canopy. Also, the handle adjusts in height. I found this feature to be especially useful, as my husband is 67" and would otherwise have to hunch over to push a conventional stroller. He also gets compliments from his buddies while pushing it, making it stylish and husband-approved.

Im currently using it for my 3-month-old daughter. I just added car seat head supports. The stroller has a 50-pound weight limit, which will make it useful for a long time.

One downfall is that it is large and heavy. It fits into my Buick Lucernes trunk with little room to spare (and its a big car with a big trunk). I cant see how it would fit into a smaller car.

A great stroller....almost, but really close!

On: 2007-05-30

We wanted to get a jogging style stroller to take our 6 month old on walks in our neighborhood, and wanted the swivel wheel so we wouldnt have to worry about the recurring jogging stroller problem of perpetual left or right turns in the locked wheel models. When I saw this model, and the favorable reviews InStep received at Consumer Reports, and the price at Amazon (~$100), I jumped at it, and we love it so far.

Pros: The jogging-style strollers move with such ease, it feels like you are hardly pushinngh anything.
The swivel wheel locks in case you want to try to run with it -- a nice plus
The price -- most brands are $200 and up, but the models quality (so far) is great for the price.

Cons: The biggest gripe I have with it is the shade cover/ bonnet is too small for anything but noon sun.

InStep does offer attachments and covers that would address my gripe, and since it was a very reasonably priced stroller, I cannot complain that much. One last note: Thes strollers move fast and tip pretty easily , so make sure the five point harness is fine tuned for your baby before you head out on the sidewalks, and all will be well.

If only the cover extended a bit farther over the seat....oh well.

Great Stroller for the Money

On: 2007-05-25

I purchased this stroller for my 18mos old daughter. We live in an older urban neighbor with uneven sidewalks and lots of curbs. Our regular stroller was taking a beating, so we purchased this for neighborhood walks. My daughter prefers this stroller to her regular one and so do I. I honestly have no compaints. It is heavy, but because we dont transport it, its not an issue. I would not recommend this stroller for shopping-too big and heavy. Perfect for serious walkers!!!

Very happy with my purchase

On: 2007-05-24

I got this stroller to walk with my 21 month old and my dog, and Im very pleased with my purchase, the stroller is incredible easy to maneuver with one hand (the swivel option is great) while I hold the leash with the other. Even though it looks huge compared to a regular stroller, its so much better if you want to walk faster and in an uneven terrain. My son seems very comfortable, the canopy protects him very well from the sun and he loved the tray with the water bottle section. The stroller was easy to assemble even when the instructions are not that good (the pictures are awful). My only complain as some other people have mentioned is that the parents tray drink holder is too shallow and the water bottle kept falling.

Pretty good stroller

On: 2007-05-12

I like this stroller. But, the parent tray comes off very easy and the bottle holders arent very deep. Its also not the easy stroller to fold up. It takes up a lot of room, even folded, in the back of my Dodge Durango. But, my little boy likes it. And, I guess thats whats important.

Good value for the price

On: 2007-05-12

Ive been using this stroller for sidewalks, trails and roads and Id buy it all over again.

Pro:
- It works wonderfully on all types of surfaces. The swivel is excellent.
- Though its not exactly lightweight to lift up and down a cartrunk, its featherweight once it gets moving.
- My 1 year old is very comfortable in it and goes to sleep almost always.
- Folds compact enough, though Ive only used it in my CRV and I dont really take all the time to go to the most compact level.

If I had to be really really picky about things I dont like.
- the parent cup holder holds a coffee cup great, but is too small for a water bottle. The cup holder in the babytray surprisingly holds a sippy cup and an adult water bottle perfectly.

- the sunshade canopy is not enough to provide shade, but then I guess every stroller has the same issue when the sun comes in at an angle like in the mornings or evenings. I use an extra shade from kiddopotamos a few $$ more and it works instead of having to spend a lot more $$ for a model with the swivel canopy.

best stroller ever!!!

On: 2007-04-12

I recommend this stroller to anyone! I have 2 boys (5-16mo) Total I have bought 5 strollers and this one works the best. my husband loves the height adjustable handle, he is 6 ft 2, and the ease of folding it. The stroller make turns like a sports car and goes over any surface with ease. I had no trouble at the mall even with narrow asiles. I wish I would have found a stroller like this 5 yrs ago!!!! I LOVE IT.

Not what I expected

On: 2007-04-10

At first I was very happy with this stroller. I love the big wheels, the front one which swivels. The cup holders are convenient for both parent and baby. And the adjustable handle is awesome because Im short and I can push the stroller at a comfortable height. Also it maneuvers very easily up and down curbs, steers easily even with one hand everywhere from the mall, museum, park, or on city streets.

One of the biggest drawbacks for me has been the reclining seat back. There is a drawstring that you must adjust. This requires two hands and can be difficult at times if the child is fussy or uncooperative. Despite this, I still loved the stroller until recently.

However, after only two months of use, my stroller will not lock. It has actually folded up on my son while pushing it. I now cannot even seem to lock it into the open position for use. I have not found any levers to snap in place to hold it open. And because the stroller folds outward, not inwards like an umbrella stroller, it actually pulls the childs body backwards when the locks give out. This is very dangerous. I am contacting the manufacturer about this defect.

love it!

On: 2007-04-03

I really like this stroller. Its just what we wanted and a great value! It was no trouble to put together. The only problems I had were trying to air up the tires and the straps that hold my son in could be padded to be more comfortable. I really love the adjustable handle on this stroller. It rides like a dream. I like the cup holder on the tray for my son, but my cup holder is too shallow to keep my water bottle upright. I recommend this stroller.

Good versatile jogger

On: 2007-03-28

This is a good jogger if you will be using it for more than just jogging. I really like the fact that it has a front swivel wheel that you can lock for jogging and unlock if you need more manuverability. It comes with cup holders, which is nice because a lot of joggers you need to puchase them as an accessory. Overall it is a good stroller, the only thing that I would change in the design would be the wheel locking feature. It has 2 individual locks, one for each wheel. The jogger I had previously had a bar across the back that would lock both wheels at the same time when pressed. I am extremely satified with the stroller for the price at which I purchased it.

Awesome stroller!

On: 2007-03-22

I bought this stroller after much research and deliberation. It is comfortable for my [...]as well as my [...]daughter. It handles wonderfully. It folds pretty well too. The front swivel wheel makes a huge difference with manuverability and the adjustable handle bar is a great feature. I am tall and it helps to have the handle where I need it. I have used this for both walking, shopping and jogging and think it is perfect! From purchase to delivery it took maybe 5 days. I am extremely happy with all aspects of this purchase. I love this stroller!!

Love it!

On: 2007-03-16

I love our new stroller. It is very easy to push and control. We have a very tall daughter and her feet do not drag like they did in our other stroller. She easily falls asleep in the reclining seat and the stoller fits in the back of my Plymoth Breeze better than any other standard stroller we have owned. Very compact and easy to use.

Good

On: 2007-03-08

The stroller itself is wonderful, it works great. But the parent consol drink holders are not very deep so water bottles fall out constintly. The shipping company used was Fedex and they sucked big time. After calling them many times they finally delivered the stroller 4 days latter than was promissed, and we were denied a refund of any of our shipping fees.

I love this jogger

On: 2007-02-12

This jogger is awesome!! I looked for a very long time and picked this one off of Amazon. I love it. The swivel wheel is great and has the option to make it stationary. I love the extra pad on the seat. My daughter can fall asleep easily in it and the ride is very smooth. I would encourage anyone to buy this. The handle is great, adjusts to any level that you need. The storage is big and I love the baby tray. My daughter loves to nibble while we walk. I love the colors too. This is just a great stroller. The only thing is that it doesnt fold as flat as I would like, but that goes with the teritory of joggers.