Bumbleride Flyer Stroller Review

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The Bumbleride Flyer stroller is so popular because of its reversible handlebar that gives your child the ability to face you or the world.

Weighing 19 lb, this stroller is somewhere in between an umbrella stroller and a regular stroller.

The problem I have with it is that there is not enough storage and the wheels are too small for a regular stroller.

At the same time, it is too heavy (19 lbs) and too big for an umbrella stroller. You really can’t carry it over the shoulder like you normally would with an umbrella stroller.

The Flyer is designed for flat surfaces like malls, sidewalks, doctor’s offices, or airports. It is very difficult to push over uneven terrain like grass, gravel, or mulch. This is definitely NOT an all-terrain stroller.

It does have a lot of great features like a large canopy, adjustable footrest, roomy seat, and easy fold. But the main reason why people buy is the REVERSIBLE handlebar. For some people facing their child is the most important feature in the stroller.

It’s a HUGE selling point, and they are willing to overlook the weight and small wheels. If you want a lighter stroller with a lot of features, I would suggest City Mini or Britax B-Agile since they weigh only 16 lbs.

Bumbleride Indie is another great option. It weighs almost the same at 20 lbs but is a jogging stroller that will go through anything no matter how rough the terrain gets.

The lowest price I was able to find for this model is around $289.99. Keep in mind, that the price does vary depending on the color. The good news is that accessories like bumper bar, rain cover, cup holder, and car seat adapter are INCLUDED! So, it is not such a bad deal after all.

Buy Bumbleride Flyer Stroller »

Features

CANOPY 

I am in love with this canopy. It is huge and it folds all the way down to the bumper bar providing FULL coverage. It is a two-panel canopy with a dark mesh peekaboo window. The closure on the window is noisy velcro (I wish it was magnetic). I really like that the back of the canopy can be unzipped for more air circulation.

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HANDLEBAR

It has a solid adjustable handlebar that goes from 28″ up to 43″. Great for shorter and taller parents. The main feature of the Flyer is its REVERSIBLE handlebar. To reverse it, all you need to do is pull two handles on both sides and flip the handlebar to the other side. Voila!

Now, your child is facing you :) Love it!  It is much easier and quicker to change a handle position than to reverse the seat. To reverse the seat you need to take your baby out and do it with one hand I guess (if your baby can’t walk yet).

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CUP HOLDER

A removable cup holder can be attached to either side of the stroller. It fits a regular bottle of water or a coffee mug.

SEAT

It is 11″ wide and 26″ high from the bottom of the seat to the top of the canopy. It can be used from birth up to 45 lbs. It has a 5-position one-hand recline. You just pull the bar in the back of the seat and adjust the seat to the needed position.

It does recline to a flat position making it suitable for a newborn. You can bring the seat back with just ONE hand, even with the child in the seat. Easy! It pretty upright seat too in case your little one likes to sit upright and look around (like my baby Sophia).

There is a small zipper pocket on the back of the seat that you can use to store small items like keys, cell phone, or sunglasses.

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HARNESS

It has an adjustable padded 5-point harness with a center release button. The button used to be very easy to unlock, but not anymore. Now, the button requires more pressure and the toddler would not be able to do it.

BUMPER BAR 

It is nice to have a bumper or a child tray for extra safety keeping a child in the seat. It does NOT work as a car seat adapter like in other strollers, but this is not a big deal because a car seat adapter is also included.

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FOOTREST

The footrest can be easily adjusted by pressing two buttons inside of the frame.

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BASKET

The basket is not huge. It is medium to large but is very easy to access even with the seat fully reclined. For me, easy access is much more important than a large size.

WHEELS

It rolls on four small double 6.5″ rubber wheels. All wheels are swivel but can be locked straight separately. This is very convenient when you reverse the handlebar. You should ALWAYS lock the wheels that are closer to you for better maneuverability. 

In the previous 2009 model, some parents reported having a problem with the wheels when going in reverse. This problem has been fixed.

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BRAKES

Each of the four wheels has its own parking brake. Always lock the wheels closer to you.

TRAVEL SYSTEM

Now, you can transform your stroller into a travel system. It comes with a universal adapter that works with Graco, Peg Perego, Baby Trend, Chicco, Combi, and Britax car seats. I think it’s more comfortable and safer for a newborn to be in the car seat than the stroller’s seat.

FOLD/UNFOLD

You will need to use both hands, but it’s easy. To fold the Flyer, push two buttons located on both sides of the frame near the bumper, pull them up and the stroller will fold.

It does NOT stand on its own but does have an automatic lock. You will still need to put it on the ground to fold and engage the lock. Folded dimensions are 35″L x 21″W x 12″H.

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Cons

-Weight. For such small wheels, I think this stroller could be lighter.

-Two-hand fold. I would prefer to see an easy fold like City Mini has.

-Does not stand on its own. Maybe I want too much, but I wish it would stand on its own so I didn’t have to bend to lift it up.

-Small basket. For a 19 lb stroller, the basket could be larger.

Updates for 2010 – 2013

-Handlebar adjusters. Now they are inside of the handle bar so it is more convenient to adjust the bar with your thumbs.

-Peekaboo window. It got updated to a dark mesh that provides more sunshade.

-Not many accessories. There are not many additional accessories available for purchase. There is no parent console, no bassinet, and no travel bag.

Video Review

Baby Gizmo has a nice review of the Flyer model. Take a look.

Specs

Stroller weight: 19 lbs
Weight limit: 45 lbs
Folded dimensions:  35″L x 21″W x 12″H
Handlebar height: 28″- 43″
Seat to canopy height: 26″
Wheels: 6.5″
Overall length: 30″
Overall width: 21″

Warranty

Bumbleride provides a 1-year warranty from the original date of purchase.

Available colors

The Bumbleride Flyer is available in four colors: seagrass, lava, ruby, and aqua. All Flite strollers come with a silver frame. BTW, I like the seagrass color the most.

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Accessories

The Flyer doesn’t have many accessories. Rain cover, car seat adapter, cup holder, and bumper bar are included so you don’t need to buy those, but you can purchase a snack pack ($44) and footmuff and liner ($60) separately.

There is no child tray or parent console available. You can purchase one of the universal parent consoles from a different company. There used to be a carrycot/bassinet that you could purchase separately, but it has been discontinued for some reason. I guess, it wasn’t that popular.

Where to buy it

You can get a Bumbleride Flyer in one of the six beautiful colors for around $289.99.

Buy Bumbleride Flyer Stroller »

4 thoughts on “Bumbleride Flyer Stroller Review”

  1. I am thinking about purchacing a 2010 Bumbleride flyer stroller model number: F-207 on craigslist and was wondering if there was any recalls on it

  2. very disappointed in my Flyer…..poor performance, broke after minimal use and poor customer service from Bumbleride. It is broken and they want me to send it back at my cost.

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