Our Review of the Schwinn Free Wheeler stroller
The Free Wheeler is at the top of the heap of Schwinn's swivel wheel strollers. A step up from the popular Schwinn Safari, the Free Wheeler offers high-end features you'd expect to get only from much higher-priced brands; the Free Wheeler costs nearly $100 less than some of the comparably equipped strollers we carry.
The JoggingStroller.com team has always maintained that there is a noticable difference in quality between an economy-priced brand like Schwinn and elite brands such as BOB or Baby Jogger, and that still holds true. But this year, Schwinn has really revamped its look with new sportier fabrics, plus the Free Wheeler offers a lightweight, rust-resistant aluminum frame (a big step up from heavier steel frames). Basically this means if you're on a budget, you can get a really decent, sharp-looking swivel wheel stroller that's fully loaded without the buyer's remorse.
To run down the list of positives: the Free Wheeler has a rear suspension (a feature only a few other swivel wheel strollers offer) to help smooth out the ride, a built-in parent tray with drink holder, and a removable tray in front for your child. The handlebar is height-adjustable to suit different 'drivers,' and there is plenty of storage space for all the essentials you need when you're on the road. The sun canopy is a big improvement, offering a lot of protection from those harmful rays.
The swivel wheel will lock in place with relative ease, allowing you to jog lightly or negotiate bumpy paths. If you're a very heavy runner, you'd probably want to look into a stroller with a larger 16" front wheel instead--but for parents looking for a great all-around stroller, the Free Wheeler is a fit. Good for walks, good for the park, good for the mall!
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- Blue/Green
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- Blue/Green
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- Blue/Green
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- Blue/Grey
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- Blue/Grey folded
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Specs
- Capacity
- 1 Child
- Maximum Seat Capacity
- 50 lbs.
- Stroller Weight
- 22 lbs.
- Front Wheel Size
- 12"
Dimensions
- Ground to Handle
- 30.5 - 45"
- Stroller Length
- 37.5"
- Folded Dimensions
- 35.5 x 24.5 x 16"
Infant Car Seat Compatibility
- Fits Britax Companion
- N
- Fits Combi Connection
- N
- Fits Compass I-400
- N
- Fits Eddie Bauer Designer 22
- N
- Fits Graco Snugride
- N
Adjustable handlebar height
Easy to use one-hand fold
Lightweight aluminum frame
Zero-degree turn radius, ideal for negotiating tight spaces
Plush padded cockpit for a comfortable ride.
Secure 5-point harness
Padded removable seat insert
Built-in parent console with drink holder
Removable child?s tray
Roomy underseat basket, plus storage pockets behind the seat
Quick release wheels
Rear wheel suspension
Front wheel locks easily for added stability
Protective sun canopy keeps children shielded from bright rays
5 Year warranty
Easy to use one-hand fold
Lightweight aluminum frame
Zero-degree turn radius, ideal for negotiating tight spaces
Plush padded cockpit for a comfortable ride.
Secure 5-point harness
Padded removable seat insert
Built-in parent console with drink holder
Removable child?s tray
Roomy underseat basket, plus storage pockets behind the seat
Quick release wheels
Rear wheel suspension
Front wheel locks easily for added stability
Protective sun canopy keeps children shielded from bright rays
5 Year warranty
| Schwinn Joggers | Free Runner LT |
Free Runner ST |
Free Wheeler |
Joyrider Jogger |
Safari TT |
| Fixed or Swivel Wheel | Fixed | Fixed | Swivel | Fixed | Swivel |
| Frame | Aluminum | Steel | Aluminum | Aluminum | Steel |
| Wheel Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Alloy | Aluminum |
| Shocks | Y | Y | Y | Y | - |
| Basket | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Visor | - | Y | - | - | Y |
| Price | $239.99 | $179.99 | $199.99 | $299.99 | $199.99 |
Schwinn Free Wheeler stroller Reviews
All Customer Reviews
- Average Rating:
- Highest Rating:
- Lowest Rating:
- Number of Reviews:
- 19
A jogging stroller for the rest of us
Reviewer: Anonymous , Iowa
Date: March 06, 2009
I received the Schwinn Free Wheeler single jogging stroller from joggingstroller.com a week ago. Since then, I have used it in several different ways. I am not a serious runner, but I jog up to 4 miles 3-4 times a week. My son is 4.5 months old (15 pounds) and fits in this stroller beautifully.
We have used this stroller extensively in the last week, both for walking on sidewalks, in stores, and on grass and jogging on streets, trails and sidewalks.
Pros:
*Price- As I said, I am not a serious runner, so I didn't want to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a jogging stroller. This is great quality at a great price. Truly a jogger for the rest of us!
* Very easy to assemble- Ready to go 10 minutes after taking it out of the box (and that was with 2 kids "helping").
* Very lightweight and easy to push- It just glides along.
* Adjustable handle height- Tips up and down with the push of a button. My 5 year-old can push and my husband can push.
* Harness system- I had read on previous reviews that the harness straps were too large for some babies and the recline feature was less than desireable. I have not had any difficulty with it myself. The recline is controlled with a toggle and strap behind the seat. The 5-pt. harness is highly adjustable. I was even able to place my son's outgrown carseat cozy in the stroller using the straps to keep it in place. He is very secure both laying nearly flat and sitting semi-reclined.
* Swivel/stationary front wheel- My previous double jogger (that I had for my older kids) only had a stationary wheel. I always found it hard to steer when we were on a walk. The Free Wheeler is a dream to steer in swivel mode, and it is so easy to switch it to stationary mode. It did take some adjusting to get the front wheel tightened correctly to avoid veering to one side or the other in stationary mode for jogging.
Cons (I can live with all of this, just wanted others to be aware):
* Storage basket- The size of the basket is adequate, but I feel like there should be something on which to attach the rear of the basket. It is on a metal tube, but the tube just seems to slope down in the back. If there were anything too heavy in it, I'd be afraid it would drag on the ground.
* Sunshade- The sunshade is very large and sits up quite high. It is high enough that my 5.5 year old can sit in the stroller without slouching or touching the shade with her head. It appears that the shade CAN be swiveled forward to block the sun (or wind) from the front or other angles, but it seems like I really have to FORCE it to do that. I haven't forced it because (obviously) I don't want to break it. The instructions do not mention use of the sunshade at all, so its hard to tell what I can do with it.
* Parent tray- Nice size, but I really wish it had a hinged lid so things would not be at risk of flying out when hitting bumps.
* Instructions- They are vague and do not mention a lot of the features that I want to get the most of (e.g., sunshade, storage basket, quick release mechanism). I had to really just "play" with all these things to get them to work, and I still don't know if I am using them properly or to their fullest potential.
Overall, I feel like this was a great buy. I am very happy with my purchase. There are a few things that I would change, but I realize you can't always get everything you want at the perfect price. This is pretty close!
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Great stroller!
Reviewer: chsmith99 , Germantown, MD
Date: July 03, 2007
I bought the Schwinn Free Wheeler after reading several good reviews. I admit I was a little skeptical, since all of my jogging friends were enamored of the BOB line. However, this stroller performs well. The tires and suspension allow a comfortable ride for my toddler, and the handlebar and frame are comfortable for both me (at 5'2") and my husband (at 6'). The underside basket and zippered pocket provide ample storage, and the sunshade is very generous. The only complaint I heard before buying was about the recline for baby, but I was able to adjust the strap behind the seat so that she sits up and can see her surroundings.
At under $200, this stroller is a great buy, and since my toddler wants to go out in it every day, we feel the money was well spent.
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Good, but not quite perfect...
Reviewer: Anonymous , Olathe, KS
Date: May 18, 2007
My wife was the last person to review this stroller. As she mentioned, our biggest concern when buying this model was the incline of the seat. As one reviewer points out, there is an adjustable strap that allows the incline of the BACK of the seat to be adjusted. The only trouble is that the bottom of the seat goes down at a pretty steep angle - even when the back of the seat is adjusted to be "fully upright" (i.e., perpendicular to the bottom of the seat), baby is still pretty reclined (you can see how slanted the bottom of the seat is in the pictures on this site - the bottom of the seat is attached to the lower frame piece that attaches to the back wheel, so that's the angle it's at. The picture of the guy in the blue shirt pushing the stroller shows how baby looks when the seat is "fully upright"). This was something of a disappointment for us because we wanted to use this stroller for non-jogging activities, like the zoo, and allow our daughter to comfortably see out without trying to pull herself up. However, we placed a folded blanket behind the seat, and that gives her an extra boost so she can sit up a little more.
I'm not sure how much of an issue the seat incline is. Our daughter is a little monkey, and tries to climb on everything. We have a regular Jeep Wrangler stroller, and it sits her upright a lot more than the Schwinn, but yet still she tries to lean forward even more. Go figure! :)
On the other hand, there are lots of features I love about the Schwinn stroller, especially the tall and adjustable handlebars; the under-seat bin is spacious; the sun/rain cover is huge and provides baby with lots of protection (there's even a covered plastic window at the back so parents can lift the flap and see how baby is doing); the frame is light and feels very robust; thick tires and back-wheel suspension makes the bumps a bit nicer; I love the swivel wheel and the maneuverability it provides whilst still being able to be locked straight for running; easy folding mechanism, and lightweight frame make it less irritating getting the stroller into/out of the trunk.
Other criticisms I have are the lack of a latch to help keep the stroller folded; no side or back ventilation for baby; the straps are adjustable but through a poorly thought-out system of slots in the seat's removable padding - the system works fine, it just strikes me as being an after-thought.
As my wife pointed out, the stroller arrived with the foam on the handle permanently compressed on the (not immediately visible) underside, and some goop stuck on the parent tray (that we were able to mostly get off). The foot brake bar was a bit loose, but I fixed that easily with a spanner. None of these issues made us want to go through the hassle of returning the whole thing, though.
To conclude, the Schwinn Free Wheeler is a very good stroller for the price range. The seat incline issue is probably the most important point to consider, but I personally think it's ok and baby doesn't seem to be bothered at all (her opinion is the only one that really matters!). We compared the Schwinn carefully to other equally-priced strollers, and it seemed to be the best of the bunch. I recommend it to those people who want a decent jogging/general-purpose stroller at a reasonable price. I just wish Schwinn's designers had done a bit more thinking about some features on this stroller before putting it into production. There are many great pluses, but the minuses are irritating only because they could easily have been eliminated through better design. However, to get the illusive "perfect" stroller, it seems as though you'd have to pay a fortune and get it custom-made because I saw things I disliked in several high-end strollers we looked at. The Schwinn Free Wheeler is an excellent compromise at an acceptable price. Don't let the seat incline issue put you off too much. The returns policy is excellent, and removes a lot of pressure when making a decision!
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Great All-Around
Reviewer: Anonymous , Sarasota, FL
Date: March 04, 2007
We purchased this stroller when our son was 6 months old, and it has truly been one of the best purchases we have made thus far. We researched joggging strollers for months before making the purchase. We use it for walking around our neighborhood where there are offroad trails, as well as walkig on the street. We also use it for the occasional 5K, and my wife and I both love it. The front wheel can become wobely at higher speeds, but if you run 10 min or less per mile it will not cause any problems. We also take it to the beach, and as long as you walk in hard sand it works great, in soft sand you just turn it around and walk backwards. It also folds easily, and fits in the trunk of both our cars without having to remove the front wheel. I hightly recommend this stroller.
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not for us either
Reviewer: Clarity , Canada
Date: March 03, 2007
The seat reclines at such an angle, I think my son was only able to see the sky. He was constantly trying to sit up and see, but being pulled back down by the 5 point harness. He hated the reclined position!
The brake bar needed replacing because a screw hole was drilled too wide. Schwinn immediately sent us a new brake bar, so great customer service there.
We were told by joggingstroller.com that the stroller came with a weather shield, but it does not. You have to buy it separately.
I didn't use the stroller for jogging, but I was also surprised at how much the front wheel wobbled when it was locked in place.
Otherwise its a very lightweight stroller, easy steering and its long in the leg so good for an older child.
The brake bar needed replacing because a screw hole was drilled too wide. Schwinn immediately sent us a new brake bar, so great customer service there.
We were told by joggingstroller.com that the stroller came with a weather shield, but it does not. You have to buy it separately.
I didn't use the stroller for jogging, but I was also surprised at how much the front wheel wobbled when it was locked in place.
Otherwise its a very lightweight stroller, easy steering and its long in the leg so good for an older child.
Comments from The Staff:
I'm sorry if we misinformed you. The Schwinn Free Runner comes with a weather shield built in to the canopy, but the Schwinn Free Wheeler does not.
Christina
Call Center Manager
Certified CPS Tech
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we like it
Reviewer: emily , Charlottesville, VA
Date: March 02, 2007
we have been happy with the free wheeler. We have not jogged with it yet because our son is not old enough yet, but for walks it is great. Rides very smooth although on a few occasions the front wheel got turned around backwards and it was really hard to push straight until we figured out what had happened. Easy to steer and relatively easy to fold now that i have gotten the hang of it. Bulkiness when folded is typical for a jogging stroller based on what i have seen from other peoples. Takes up pretty much space in the back of our station wagon unless we take the wheels off (pretty easy). We would recommend it without reservation especially for the price.
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not for us
Reviewer: Amanda , Sioux Center, IA
Date: February 10, 2007
This stroller was definately not for us. We usually walk/jog on paved streets and bike trails. The free-wheeler has such a wobble that I couldn't even use it. They told me that is comes from the rear-suspension, that it is meant for all-terrain. My sister has a Schinn Safari that rides great. we thought we were going a step up, but that was not the case. We were very dis-satisfied. We now have the Schwinn Safari and it is definately alot smoother. The free-wheeler may be OK for all-terrain, I can't comment on that, but for most areas, the safari is a much better ride.
Comments from The Staff:
Oh gosh! I am REALLY sorry that this happened to you! For rougher terrain, we usually recommend something that has suspension, like any one of the strollers in the BOB line. I am very happy to hear that the Schwinn Safari worked out for you!
Lindsey
JoggingStroller.com Guru
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Great, Great Stroller
Reviewer: Roxanne , South Jersey
Date: September 08, 2006
This is a great stroller for a great price. I have been using it for almost 3 months. I've been to the mall, jogging, walking, suburbs and city streets. It is very easy to push and appears to be a smooth ride for baby. My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 is - the handle to fold it is a little poorly built, but nonetheless effective, the straps are definitely for a larger child. My son is 11 months - 24 lbs and the shoulder straps are way too big. Finally, I feel the child should be able to sit more upright. The seat reclines back a bit too far. My son likes to sit up and see the world. I ended up putting a small travel pillow behind him. I guess there is no such thing as the perfect stroller. I have no regrets buying this one. It's very nice!!
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perfect for what we needed
Reviewer: craig elbon , portland, oregon
Date: July 20, 2006
it was very easy to pick the right stroller using the guide from JoggingStroller.com. we received the stroller and accessories in said amount of time. very easy to assemble. we have gotten rid of our graco stroller because of the versatility of the free wheeler. maneuvers well mall shopping, grass & bumps at the park, curbs,dirt & gravel trails,even the beach on wet sand (dry sand kinda tough). Rear wheels easily detach for hauling around,with wheels left on takes up a bit of room. Folds easy,adjustable handle bar is great. The whole family enjoys pushing our 15 month old in her new stroller and when she's not riding in it,she gets a kick out of pushing it.
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