Review on 🚴 Instep Quick-N-EZ Double Tow Behind Bike Trailer: Versatile 2-in-1 Stroller/Jogger, Ideal for Toddlers & Kids, Folding Frame, Multiple Colors by Warren Hess

The idea of the trailer and carriage combination is fantastic. In theory, this allows a reasonably sporty parent to carry 2 children under 5 and all their gear a few miles comfortably and safely without worrying about parking or negotiating public transport. It then becomes a full-featured stroller upon arrival at the playground, museum, grocery store or other location. For a certain category of urban parents, the top-of-the-line Thule Chariot, which retails for $1,200, is a must-have parenting accessory. So what does a pallet truck that costs almost $1,000 less look like? And how does it compare to lower-priced competitors like the $400 Burley Honey Bee? Short answer: This stroller with trailer works. Pull, walk, switch between them. Long answer: it doesn't do these things as well and reliably. And it has some crazy quick and easy ways to save on manufacturing costs. Installation: The lift is fairly easy to set up, especially when you can comfortably pick up the bike and baby gear. Build quality and materials aren't fantastic, but everything works. There are a lot of snaps and velcro where competitors use zips and clasps, such as the back compartment which I've always found unreliable although I've actually never lost anything. It's hard to tell the difference between this and the premium trailer. Premium trailers have larger wheels, suspension systems, and softer seats to make them more comfortable for kids, but I haven't really heard a kid complain. Half the time I come home with a sleeping baby on my back. Score one for the elevator. My biggest complaint is that the pin that attaches the trailer to the bike has to be removed entirely during the attachment process and is easily lost. Would $3 in parts and labor that would have cost a manufacturer to attach it to their hand with a piece of stiff nylon really hurt their bottom line? I guess so. 8/10 Like a stroller. Premium stroller-trailer combos have invested in all sorts of smart devices to make the transition from trailer to stroller and vice versa easier. Not like lifting. There's a screw and a handle, and the whole front wheel comes off and attaches on the other side. You need to be holding four things at once. I do not like it. I haven't lost a screw or washer yet, but I'm sure I will at the worst possible time and place. Another thing is that there are no brakes. Well, the manufacturer has included a rope with a carabiner that can be wrapped around the wheel, but that's totally impractical. As with most trailer and sidecar combinations where the hand is part of the combination, it has an excessive footprint on sidewalks, indoors, and when going through doors. All in all, Instep works, but it won't replace your daily driver. 4/10 Bottom line, this thing works for the money. Got mine to see if I like the trailer and sidecar combo. After one season I can definitely see the appeal so I'll move on to something quirky and Scandinavian.