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Bumbleride Indie 2009
BumbleRide was started by a couple in San Diego that wanted to offer the sleek stylings of the European designer strollers for half the price. BumbleRide strollers come in vibrant, designer colors and are very attractive accessories for the modern parent. The Bumbleride Indie, premiered in August 2007, is the newest addition (and basically replacement for the Rocket) to the fabulous line of Bumbleride strollers. It is the company's rather new 3-wheeled, all-terrain stroller and it offers an excellent, very smooth ride. We think the Indie has some great improvements and is a great replacement for the previous discontinued Rocket stroller.
Now, that the Indie is almost 2 years old, Bumbleride made some minor changes to the 2009 model and added some great optional accessories.
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 The BumbleRide Indie's 12-inch air tires and rear suspension offer a wonderful, smooth ride for baby. The front wheel pivots a full 360 degrees, making it one of the easiest strollers to maneuver, especially one-handed. The construction is solid enough to handle minor off-roading and definitely earns the title "all-terrain" because it easily glides through grass and over mulch and small rocks. The front wheel locks for jogging, and even though it is great for light jogs (what most moms would do), we wouldn't consider this a suitable full-time jogging stroller but definitely an all-terrain-great-for-everyday use stroller. A fab improvement of the 2009 Indie from the previous model is the addition of new mag wheels that make the stroller look even sportier!
Unlike most "active" strollers with an unsupported sling-like seat for baby, the BumbleRide Indie has a traditional, rigid, fully padded seat with unlimited recline positions stopping just short of flat (fully reclined). A change from 2008 to 2009 is the way the seat reclines. Bumbleride has changed the one-handed bar recline to a two-handed strap system. The seat is not hard to recline but definitely not as easy as the old bar recline. Bumbleride told us that the recline system was changed because the one-hand recline was more prone to being damaged and also to create a more compact fold. We still miss the old seat recline!
The seat is wide and tall enough for our 2 and 4 year old testers to fit with no problem. There is a padded 5-point, adjustable harnesses for safety and an adjustable footrest for comfort. A thoughtful seat feature is that the 2009 has a new one push harness release. It's a new buckle that makes taking the child out faster than undoing multiple clips.
There are additional thoughtful seat features that we loved on the 2008 have been also removed from the 2009. The new Indie no longer comes with a removable bumper bar or the fabulous matching foot muff that zips into place. Since moms are not all cold climate mamas, Bumbleride turned the foot muff into a more substantial accessory that is no longer standard. Also, due to customer feedback, Bumbleride decided to include the much more desired rain cover with the stroller rather than the bumper bar.
There is a great Bumbleride accessory called the Snack Pack that is sold separately that is a great option in place of the missing bumper bar. The Snack Pack is very quick and easy to install and comes with its own adapter bar that fits into the slots on the sides of the seat (same slots for car seat and carrycot adapter.) The Snack Pack is a soft pouch that zips closed and is divided in two compartments inside. We use the smaller side for bottles or sippy cups and the larger side for snacks and small toys. The Snack Pack can be used on the Bumbleride Indie, Indie Twin and Flyer.
The Indie sports an adjustable handle that is easy to operate with two push buttons on the sides and can be set at any position including all the way up for taller parents and all the way down that even my 2 1/2 year old can "help" push the stroller. The handle bar extends out far enough that we never kicked the back of the stroller even when exaggerating our stride to test it.
The stroller also features the very necessary sunshade that is vastly improved from the old Bumbleride Rocket. The Indie sunshade is very large and adequately shades the child with no problem. The best feature of the sunshade is that it folds all the way forward to the bumper bar to protect the baby from the sun, wind or rain. The canopy has a window for peeking, a convenient back pocket and a back zipper opening that allows air to circulate through the stroller. The Indie has a universal car seat attachment that works easily with most infant carrier seats.
The storage basket underneath is very large, easy to access and can easily accommodate a large diaper bag. The overall stroller fabric is well-made, tightly woven polyester that is easily removable for washing. The foot tray is full-size, mounted over the wheel, and has multiple positions, including upright, allowing more room for a sleeping baby.
The Indie 2009 is the same size and weight of the 2008. Weighing in at 20 lbs, the Indie is light enough to lift in and out of the trunk making it great for your everyday, take it to the mall, run errands, and to the park stroller.
The Indie folds in half, making transporting this stroller convenient regarding the size. There are two steps to folding the 2009 Indie. Lift two levers on the sides of the handlebars, push the handlebar forward and then pull up on the large strap that is behind the seat to collapse the stroller. It basically folds in half. We found the 2009 Indie much easier to fold than the previous 2008 model. There are two manual, secure locks on each side of the stroller that keeps it closed and secure while folded. There is also a carrying strap that makes carrying and lifting the Indie in and out of the trunk easier.
Unfolding the stroller is a cinch. After unlocking both locks, you lift the handle bar, shake, and the stroller is ready to go. Couldn't be easier!!
If we had one complaint about the Indie (besides Bumbleride taking away our one-handed seat recline bar), it would be the placement of the cup holder. Now don't get us wrong, we love that it has a cup holder! Once attached, the cup holder is very secure and we never worry about it falling off when we fold the stroller. But the cup holder is placed at a very inconvenient spot that gets in the way of your hand when trying to lift the right lever to fold the stroller. We would suggest Bumbleride raise the cup holder a bit on the handle bar to allow enough room to get to the folding lever.
One of our favorite optional accessories (besides the Snack Pack) available for the Indie is the new Carrycot. The Carrycot is new in 2009 and combines the luxury of a bassinet with the ease of a baby carrier. The Carrycot is not only beautiful but roomy and suitable from newborn up to 19 lbs. The Carrycot lets you transform the seat on the Indie into a rolling bed for your infant. (It also works with the Bumbleride Flyer & Indie Twin). The Carrycot is easy to attach to the adapter slots on either side of the seat and features great carrying straps that are durable so that we feel secure carrying the Carrycot with our precious cargo aboard. There are also quick release straps under the Carrycot mattress for easy collapse and storage. Another nice feature of the Carrycot is that it comes standard with the Bumbleride Footmuff & Seat Liner accessory.
Like all Bumbleride strollers, the Indie is stocked with style. With five-color options, Spice (orange), Seagrass (green), Vita (pink), Lava (black) and Ruby (red), there is a choice for everyone.
Overall, the BumbleRide Indie is a sporty alternative to the traditional 4-wheel stroller and has more convenience features than a jogging stroller. If you are looking for a beautiful, head-turning, all-terrain stroller that is friendly for everyday use, then the Indie might be the stroller for you.
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