Bumbleride makes what I consider to be the best double stroller and best single stroller on the market right now, the Indie Twin and Indie strollers. If you’re in the market for a double or single stroller, those are my absolute favorites. However, they’re clearly not interested in sitting still as a company, and recently released the Indie 4. The stroller caters to parents who are interested in having 4 wheels instead of 3 due to the additional stability they can obtain from the 4th wheel. The “4” in the name refers to the wheels, of course.
In my experience, these parents are right in that 4-wheel strollers do offer more stability than 3-wheel strollers, and they also offer the advantage of working more easily in tight spaces. However, they frequently have the drawback of higher weight and more space requirements when being stored in trunks. As a result, parents often have to decide whether they value the lighter weight, smaller space, and greater off-roading capabilities of 3-wheel strollers or are more interested in the stability and maneuverability of 4-wheel strollers. This review is designed to answer every question you might possibly have about the Indie 4 single stroller.
Quick Review of the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
The Bumbleride Indie 4 stroller is a single all-terrain stroller, much like the Indie, with the ability to help you run errands, shop at the mall, walk through trails, or enjoy a day at the beach or at the park. Like the Indie stroller, it comes with all-terrain wheels that are air-filled and sturdy. However, unlike the Indie, it has a matching bassinet included that allows it to be used with a newborn straight from the hospital. The Indie 4 is clearly designed to compete with the UPPABaby Vista, which UPPABaby markets as an all-terrain stroller with air-filled tires and its own matching bassinet. Keep in mind that you can turn it into a travel system through the universal car seat adapter that comes with the Indie 4. If you’re interested in car seat reviews for seats compatible with the Indie 4 or any of the strollers I review, you’ll want to check out the recommended car seats page.
It made me happy when I realized that a number of the features already present in the Indie were also in the Indie 4, including the giant oversized canopy, the large and deep recline, the adjustable handle bar and leg rest, the padded 5-point harness, the easy fold system, and the storage pockets and under carriage basket. The Indie 4 comes with a generous recline and is designed to hold children from birth to 55 pounds in weight. The stroller itself weighs 22 pounds, or to put it another way, is 2 pounds heavier than the Indie stroller. The primary reason for this additional weight is the additional wheel.
I’d rate the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller at 5 out of 5 stars due to the range of functional and stylish features that parents will appreciate. Personally, I’m a big fan of the air-filled all-terrain tires, the great canopy, generous recline, and all-wheel suspension. I’d personally like it if Bumbleride included and automatic braking system, but besides that, I can’t complain. The cheapest price I’ve found so far for the Bumbleride Indie 4 is at Amazon, where you can get it without sales tax, without shipping costs, and with free returns. From Amazon, you’ll also get it with a bumper bar, bassinet, cup holder, and car seat adapter that’s designed to work with just about any car seat on the market today.
Buy the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller on Sale at Amazon.
Pros of the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
Generous large canopy. The canopy on the Indie 4 is among my absolute favorites in a single stroller. It’s very large and can extend all the way down until it reaches the bumper bar, which allows you to completely shield your child from the sun, wind, or rain. Something else I like about the canopy is that it can be unzipped from the back of the seat, which means you can get more circulation when the weather is warm. You get a generously-sized peekaboo window at the top of the canopy that’s made from mesh and includes a magnetic closure, which allows you to open and close it silently without waking a sleeping baby, unlike with traditional Velcro closures. I love it!
Adjustable handle bar. I’m also a fan of the handle bar, which you can adjust from 25″ to 43″ above the ground, depending on your height. As my husband and I have significantly different heights, having a handle bar that can fit both of us is a pro. It’s covered in a soft foam and you get a center grip for added maneuverability.
Safety runaway strap. I’m always a fan of safety features, and definitely like the handle bar attached runaway strap. It makes it a lot easier to keep the stroller with you when going down a steep hill, and it’s a good backup in case something momentarily takes your attention away from the stroller.
Good-sized seat. The Bumbleride Indie 4 seat is 12″ wide and 24″ high as measured from the bottom of the seat to the peak of the canopy. The recline in the seat is deep, which means that it’s going to be suitable for a newborn, which is handy if you’re not in the mood for transporting the bassinet with you wherever you’re going. I’m a fan of the recline, as you can recline it with only one hand. However, you’ll need both of your hands to return it to the upright position. The recline is strap-operated. Hopefully a one-handed lever recline can make this simpler in the future.
When you move the seat to its most vertical position, it’s quite upright. Comfort-wise, the seat is also good. The fabric is designed to be ecologically-friendly with sustainability in mind; it’s made out of 50% bamboo and 50% from recycled PET. You can remove the seat and wash it in a washing machine. The lower age limit is birth; there isn’t an upper age limit, but there is a weight limit of 55 pounds. For some reason, this is 10 pounds higher than the 45 pound weight limit of the Indie–perhaps due to the additional wheel reducing the weight per wheel compared to the Indie, which only has 3 wheels.
Bassinet-like space. You can attach a pair of fabric swatches beneath the leg rests to the seat sides once you’ve lifted up the leg rest, allowing you to make a bassinet-like space to keep your baby nice and cozy. It’s a unique feature that I’ve only seen on the Bumbleride strollers so far, and I’m a fan of it. If nothing else, it helps keep younger babies warmer when the weather turns cold.
Storage space. There is a storage pocket behind the canopy that you can use for small items such as a wallet, a pair of sun glasses, or your keys. I use mine to keep an emergency credit card.
Padded 5-point harness. The Bumbleride Indie 4 comes with a 5-point harness that’s adjustable and padded. It also has breakaway shoulder straps, which are an additional safety feature. Although some folks don’t bother with the harness, I find it a good idea for safety, especially when using the stroller on uneven surfaces such as when at the park or on trails.
Included adjustable bumper bar. I’m definitely a fan of the included bumper bar. You can quickly remove it as needed to clean it easily. The bumper bar is made from the same ecologically friendly fabric as that used in the seat, and you can remove it simply by unzipping the fabric.
Adjustable leg rest. You can move the leg rest from a low position to a nearly vertical position. As with the bumper bar, the fabric used to make the foot rest is designed to be cleaned easily.
Removable cup holder. Most strollers these days make you pay extra for the cup holder, but it comes with the Indie 4, which is a small but nice touch. You can put it on the left or right sides of the frame, and it fits normal-sized cups and water bottles.
Large lower basket. There is a generously-sized basket beneath the stroller that makes it a fun one to shop with. I’d say it’s actually a bit larger than the basket in the regular Indie, which is an advantage if you’re interested in hauling a lot of cargo, such as diaper bags, groceries, or clothes from a long mall shopping trip. You can easily reach it from behind the stroller but will have a tougher time reaching it from the sides.
Great wheels. There are 4 air-filled tires with the Indie 4 (hence the 4 in the name). The two front tires are 8.5″ in diameter while the two rear tires are 12″ in diameter. The front wheels naturally swivel but may be locked for additional stability, such as when you’re off-roading it. Getting a tire pump is a good idea since you do have the potential to get flats now and then. The good news is that you can use the stroller on pretty much any terrain without fear–snow, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, dirt–it’s very stable on four wheels and highly maneuverable.
Buy the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller on Sale at Amazon.
All wheel suspension. I’m pretty sure the all wheel suspension is part of why the ride on the Indie 4 is such a smooth one. I like that they didn’t just limit it to the rear wheels, as is often the case with all terrain or jogging strollers.
Foot-activated parking brake. The foot brake is a standard feature in most high end strollers these days, and it works well in the Indie 4.
Easy fold system. You can easily fold the Indie 4 as long as you’ve got a minute and a pair of hands. You have an automatic lock for the stroller but it requires you to get the wheels and cup holder positioned just right, so it’s more of a semi-automatic. You can fold it standing, which is great, since that’s next to impossible with most single strollers on the market. When folded, it’s 29″ long, 24.5″ wide, and 15″ tall.
Included universal car seat adapter. I’m a fan of the included car seat adapter; it helps you turn the Indie 4 into a highly capable travel system; you can then use the included adapter with seats like the Primo Viaggio 4-35 and Chicco KeyFit 30. You can also use other adapters to gain compatibility with a number of other infant seats.
Included bassinet. The inclusion of the bassinet sets the Indie 4 stroller apart from nearly every single other stroller on the market. It’s an amazing decision and an amazing bit of baby gear. You sit it on the seat and it looks good there, although it’s not quite as neat as that in the Vista, since you can remove the Vista’s seat to place the bassinet there instead. The bassinet is also collapsible, which increases travel space. The bassinet itself is 31.75″ long, 10.5″ high, and 15″ wide, while the dimensions when folded are 31.75″ long, 6″ high, and 15″ wide. The bassinet is rather light at 4 pounds and can hold children up to 19 pounds in weight.
Cons of the Bumbleride Indie Stroller
No automatic braking system. This is a con that comes up with nearly every stroller on the market today besides the Navigator and Classic strollers. An automatic braking system would help the stroller automatically come to a stop if you were no longer in contact with it, which is a lifesaving feature if you ever slip while your stroller begins to roll away from you toward traffic. Hopefully this feature is added to all Bumbleride strollers in the near future.
Comparing the Bumbleride Indie with the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
Weight: 20 pounds for the Indie vs 22 pounds for the Indie 4.
Weight limit: 45 pounds vs 55 pounds.
Seat to canopy height: 23″ vs 24.”
Wheel design: 3 12″ vs 2 8.5″ and 2 12.”
Peekaboo closure: Velcro vs. Magnetic.
Bassinet: None vs. Included.
Suspension type: Rear-wheel vs. All-wheel.
Standing fold: No vs. Yes.
Automatic lock: No vs. Yes.
Specifications of the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
The Indie 4 stroller weighs 22 pounds and has a 55 pound weight limit. Its folded dimensions are 29″ in length, 24.5″ in width, and 15″ in height. The handle bar can span 25″ to 43″ above the ground, while the seat height is 14.” The front tires are 12″ in diameter while the rear tires span 8.5.” The overall length is 31″ while the overall width is 24.4.”
Warranty on the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
There is a 3-year-warranty from Bumbleride when you buy your Indie 4. The clock starts ticking on the date of purchase. You can read more information about the warranty here.
Where to buy the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller
I prefer buying my strollers and similar baby items from Amazon, since they often have the lowest prices, free returns and shipping, and don’t charge sales tax. I completely recommend the Bumbleride Indie 4 Stroller. You can buy it here in Aquamarine, Jet Black, Cayenne Red, Fog Grey, Green Papyrus, and Lotus Pink.
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