*This is a completely independent post. Giving Them The World is not sponsored by Bumbleride, and my family has not received any free products from Bumbleride*
Our first stroller was nothing special. We were overwhelmed by the list of baby items that first-time parents are told they need, and we tried to buy all our baby items, including our stroller, for as little as we could. Our first winter with our cheap stroller, the snow and ice made traversing the roads and sidewalks difficult. As spring approached and our baby grew, we found ourselves in parks, often walking on unpaved trails or across grass. Our stroller could not keep up and our baby did not like being jostled around.
We borrowed a Baby Trend Jogger stroller from family. It was on the budget-friendly side, but a step up from what we had. We LOVED the smoother ride and ability to tackle rougher terrain. We had some frustrations with that jogger (small canopy, issues with the seat recline mechanism, etc.), but it was an improvement. Despite the big wheels, we took that jogger with us on our first trip to Europe with our toddler. It handled the trip fantastically. But, when our family grew, we needed a double stroller. I was hooked on the smoother ride of the jogger, but neither my husband nor I are runners. I had heard about various all-terrain strollers (Bob, Thule, Baby Jogger, Bumbleride, etc.) from friends and family that offered a similarly smooth ride. They seemed like a good option.
I dove deep into the available all-terrain double strollers. And that is how I discovered the Bumbleride Indie Twin – my absolute favorite stroller and the workhorse of our family.
Why We Use All-Terrain Strollers
We love adventures! And we walk on a lot of snow, ice, grass, dirt, gravel, sand, and cobblestones every year. We want a stroller that can keep up with our active lifestyle. All-terrain strollers not only keep up, but make it easier for our growing family to do the things we enjoy.
We aren’t runners. Some all-terrain strollers can handle some light running. But, if running is your thing, you will probably want a jogger instead of an all-terrain stroller. The joggers should be able to handle walks on bumpy terrain just as well, while also offering the ability to go on runs with your kids. Do know, however, that the joggers may have older age requirements and minimal features (smaller canopies, less recline, etc.).
Why We Chose a Side-By-Side Double Instead of a Tandem Double
There are not many tandem all-terrain strollers. The reason being that tandem strollers aren’t as maneuverable and their center of gravity is thrown off by the additional seat up front. This makes them less stable and less capable of handling rough terrain. We noticed this even when trialing the popular UPPAbaby Vista.
One way to help with the maneuverability issues of a tandem stroller is to put the heavier, older child up top, and the smaller child down in front. But I wanted to be able to access the youngest more easily and I wanted the older child to be able to climb in and out of the stroller without my assistance. So, tandem was not the ideal setup for me.
With side-by-side strollers, siblings can interact (and, yes, sometimes fight), I can access them both while walking, and pushing the stroller is a breeze.
And before you say, “but the side-by-side, all-terrain double strollers are so bulky!”, let me tell you that the side-by-side Bumbleride Indie Twin fits through a standard door. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is only 4 inches wider than the tandem-style UPPAbaby Vista.
Why We Chose The Bumbleride Indie Twin
The highlights of the Bumbleride Indie Twin that we really appreciate are:
1. Lie-flat seat. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is one of the few all-terrain/jogging strollers that can be used from birth without accessories, thanks to its near lie-flat seat. This is unique among all-terrain/jogger strollers. Most other all-terrain and jogging strollers cannot be used until the baby is 6-8 months and has more neck support. Some let you use the stroller for walking from birth only if you put the baby in a carseat attached to the stroller or use a bassinet attachment. But babies can sit in the Bumbleride Indie Twin stroller seat from day 1.
2. Canopy cover. The canopy is incredible compared to other all-terrain and jogger strollers. This really comes in handy when doing naps on the go.
3. Adjustable footrests. Even larger toddlers can fully recline for a comfortable stroller nap thanks to the adjustable footrests.
4. Air-filled tires and all-wheel suspension intended for rough terrain. The Bumbleride Indie Twin’s tires can handle snow (in small amounts), ice, sand, gravel, dirt paths, grass, cobblestones, etc. This stroller offers such a smooth ride and is very easy to push (even with one hand)!
5. Bumbleride is focused on sustainability and using non-toxic materials. Their strollers do not have flame retardant chemicals or several other questionable materials, chemicals, and treatments.
6. Narrow frame. At the time of this post, the Bumbleride Indie Twin is the only all-terrain, side-by-side double stroller that I am aware of that fits through a standard single US size doorway. This makes a HUGE difference!! We have traveled all over Europe with our Bumbleride Indie Twin and people are constantly blown away by what we can fit through. Old European doors aren’t all a standard size, but with this narrower double stroller, we have fit through so many doors that we would not have with other strollers. The Bumbleride Indie Twin’s slimmer frame has repeatedly saved us from having to collapse our stroller. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is in my opinion the best travel stroller for families with two or more kids.
A Note On The Indie Twin’s Accessories:
You don’t need to use a bassinet or carseat with the Bumbleride Indie Twin because the Indie Twin’s lie-flat seat, large canopy cover, and adjustable footrests make the stroller comfortable for a sleeping baby. But, if you want a bassinet attachment, Bumbleride sells bassinets separately. The bassinet is handy if your baby falls asleep on a walk and you want to be able to bring the baby inside without waking the baby. Bassinets also allow you to look at your baby. The Indie Twin seat is not reversible. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is also compatible with several car seat brands if you want the flexibility to move to and from the car.
For families with more than two children, Bumbleride sells a standing board that attaches to the Indie Twin. This allows older siblings to rest tired legs and hop on and off easily.
A Few Missing Features/Frustrations With The Bumbleride Indie Twin
No stroller is perfect. Here are a few minor complaints that I have about the Bumbleride Indie Twin:
- The Bumbleride Indie Twin does not have snack trays for the kids. It does, however, have pocket cupholders and you can purchase a parent pack or use the pockets on the back of the stroller seats. I prefer a tray over the seat pockets for on-the-go snacking. You may be able to find universal snack trays on Amazon that you can jury-rig, but I haven’t tried.
- If my diaper bag is really full, the welded bar at the base of the stroller makes it a bit difficult to slide my diaper bag into the large basket underneath.
- Some of Bumbleride’s accessories are not compatible across their different models. For example, I wish our bassinet for our Indie Twin would work on the single Indie or Era (we have the Era).
Final Thoughts on The Bumbleride Indie Twin
Bumbleride’s strollers are expensive. To save money, we purchased our Bumbleride Indie Twin as well as other Bumbleride strollers and products second-hand through Marketplace. Bumbleride’s customer service is great. We appreciate that the company offers replacement parts (which we have purchased several times) and encourages extending the life of its strollers through its reRide program and promoting second-hand markets. Even second-hand, Bumbleride strollers are not cheap. But for an active family, a good stroller is a game changer and is something I encourage families to prioritize over other baby products.
If you are looking for a fantastic stroller for your adventurous lifestyle, the Bumbleride Indie Twin is the best option I know of! In addition to designing a stroller that functions wonderfully for a busy family, we appreciate the Company’s focus on non-toxic materials and sustainability. I highly recommend Bumbleride strollers to any family with babies and young children.
