Soon after my now 12 month old son, Tristan, was born, I bought one of those traditional strollers in the Graco line and was fairly pleased with the results. But as I started walking again to help my body more easily return to it's pre-pregnancy shape and weight, I found this type of stroller a very poor choice for my exercise needs. So, my search for a moderately priced, smooth riding yet sturdy jogging stroller began. Even though I'm not a jogger and don't ever plan to be, I felt such a stroller would fit my walking needs perfectly. In the end, I found the attractively designed InSTEP OMNI with its unique up-to-date styling on sale online at K-Mart (www.bluelight.com) a few months ago for $99, plus tax and shipping. While I found many others that were both more and less expensive, this moderately priced design seemed to be just what I was looking for. So I ordered the InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller and anxiously waited for the UPS man to deliver it to my door.


SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

Within a week, my InSTEP OMNI arrived at my doorstep contained unassembled inside a medium-sized cardboard box. While I was at work that evening, my husband assembled my new jogging stroller using the detailed enclosed instructions with a few standard household tools and a small effort on his part (or so he SAYS!). When I returned home late that night from working my 8 hour shift at the hospital, Tristan's new InSTEP OMNI was correctly assembled and ready for me to "try it out" the next day.


~~TRISTAN'S FIRST RIDE~~


STYLISH & ATTRACTIVE LOOKS

Trimmed in bright yellow for extra safety, the InSTEP OMNI is made out of a somewhat durable dark green, black, and purple material. The front wheel is covered with a plastic tire shield to keep those little feet safely off the front tire while decreasing any splatters left from raining days along the way. The retractable canopy found on the InSTEP OMNI helps to shade your baby from the hot sun when pulled into place. To easily check on your little one while moving, this canopy can also be pulled back out of the way for easier viewing of your child without stopping. The three large tires are placed onto the sturdy frame much like a tricycle with two in the back and one lone tire in the front. Even most men won't mind being seen pushing this stylish and attractive InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller down the street!


AGE & WEIGHT LIMITS

At age 9 to 10 months and approximately 20 pounds, the age and weight Tristan was at when we first tried out our new InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller, he had long mastered good head control and was sitting up unsupported on his own. These are two key skills of physical development babies must learn to safely ride upright in this type of stroller. Stick with the traditional reclining types for babies younger than 6 months of age as the InSTEP OMNI is designed for older babies and toddlers, with a maximum weight capacity of 50 pounds.


SAFETY HARNESS

As we were preparing for our first ride in the InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller, I placed Tristan into the reclining seat and fastened the 5-point safety straps into place. Along with two shoulder straps, there is a crotch strap and two lap belts that snap easily into place. These straps are fully adjustable to provide a proper fit and to accommodate your little one as he or she grows. To avoid serious injury, ALWAYS use the seat belts as designed to keep your child strapped safely into place during the use of the InSTEP OMNI or any other type of stroller.


SMOOTH & STURDY RIDE

Once Tristan was safely strapped into place, we were ready to begin. Almost instantly, I noticed the smooth and sturdy ride provided by the light weight InSTEP OMNI. With two 12 inch tires placed in the rear, and just one in the front, these "bicycle type" tires allowed for easy maneuvering over all types of terrain. This was certainly the smoothest ride on pavement we'd ever experienced. And the handle was very easy to push in a variety of hand positions, either one-handed or with both. The experience was almost as easy as walking alone, but my out-of-shape body was quickly reminded of the stroller's presence when it was time to go uphill, however! For increased safety, always attach the enclosed wrist strap on top of the handle bar to your wrist while pushing your baby in the InSTEP OMNI.


MANEUVERABILITY

Maneuvering our InSTEP OMNI was very simple as well. Instead of having those sometimes stubborn wheels that have a mind of their own when it comes to turning left and right found on most traditional stroller types, these large, air-filled wheels found on the InSTEP OMNI stay in a straight line at all times. Slightly push down on the handle to lift the front wheel off the ground to turn. This takes some practice at first, but is not difficult to learn. To quickly and easily slow your pace while walking or jogging on hilly terrain, squeeze the attached front caliper brake located on the handlebar of the InSTEP OMNI much like you would when using a bicycle hand brake. To release and speed up again, simply loosen your grip on the hand brake. When in a resting position, ALWAYS engage the red colored, plastic rear brakes located on the back of the rear tires by stepping on them lightly to lock in place. To release the rear brakes, pull up on them with the toe of your shoe, and you are ready to put your InSTEP OMNI back into motion again.


PORTABILITY & TRANSPORT

At the end of our smooth and sturdy ride, the InSTEP OMNI was very easy to store with its patented fold design. To fold, gently push the yellow latching levers located on each side of the seating area inward and the jogging stroller will automatically begin to fold (AFTER your child is removed from the stroller, of course!). The front wheel will fold under the frame and the handle will fold backwards. Place the collapsed, light weight InSTEP OMNI inside the trunk of your car for easy storage and portability. To open, grasp the handlebar in one hand and pull up on the front wheel mount with your other hand until the frame locks easily into place. Your InSTEP OMNI is instantly ready for use again.


STORAGE SPACE

The InSTEP OMNI contains two areas that may be used to store necessary items while this stroller is in use. Directly behind the seat is a black mesh zipper pouch designed to hold objects up to 2.2 pounds. Place bottles, snacks, small toys, keys, camera, and even your wallet here if desired for secure storage. Larger items, such as a diaper bag and purchases made at the mall, may be placed in the bottom basket with black mesh sides if desired as well. The maximum weight for objects placed here is 5 pounds. Excessive weight placed in either storage space may cause a hazardous unstable condition to exist, so be aware of this while keeping safety issues in mind.


MY EXPERIENCE

While I purchased our InSTEP OMNI initially for walking sessions around the block, it's been used on numerous other occasions as well. We've taken it to the mall, to an amusement park, and even for long walks on the beach on our recent vacation to Florida. The only way to get Tristan to take a much needed nap during our time spent on the beach was to place him in the InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller, pull the canopy into position, and push him down the beach until he fell into dreamland. Even on sand, the InSTEP OMNI provided a smooth and excellent ride. I was very impressed with it's performance and maneuverability here. Boy, did I feel sorry for other parents attempting to push their little ones up and down the beach in those traditional type strollers. What a hard time they appeared to be having! As I watched them struggle in the sand, I smiled as I almost effortlessly pushed the InSTEP OMNI down the beach with ease.


CONS

The only con so far I've encountered with our InSTEP OMNI is that one side of the seat has ripped apart at the seams already. This flaw HAS to be the fault of the manufacturer as the material began splitting soon after purchase and could hardly be blamed on wear alone. But I'm sure with a needle and some strong thread, I should be able to patch this up without too much difficulty before the tear gets any worse. So because of this design flaw, I'm downgrading my recommendation for the InSTEP OMNI to a mere "above average" four star rating.


EXTRAS PURCHASED SEPARATELY

Some InSTEP OMNI Accessories may be purchased from the company at an extra charge if desired. A thick, padded seat may be purchased for your child's extra comfort for $19.99. Also, a bug screen designed to protect your little one from pesky bugs and insects sells for $10.99. And finally, an all-year weather shield made of a clear plastic vinyl with vent holes bought for $12.99 can be placed over the InSTEP OMNI to keep out the rain or cold air on bad weather days. All of these accessories are custom made to fit the InSTEP OMNI with ease.


FINAL RECOMMENDATION

If you are looking for an attractive, stylish, yet sporty jogging stroller at an affordable price for your older baby or toddler, you won't be disappointed in the sturdy smooth ride provided by the InSTEP OMNI. When traditional strollers just won't do, especially for walking, jogging, and for other outdoor activities, trust the safety, performance, and ease of maneuverability found with this excellent jogging stroller. Even most men enjoy pushing this great looking vehicle along the way. We've received numerous compliments from strangers regarding the unique design and performance provided by our InSTEP OMNI. I'm truly pleased with the results over these past few months and have no doubts that the InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller will provide hours of use and enjoyment for years to come.

For more information on the InSTEP OMNI jogging stroller along with other great products and accessories, go to their website online at:

www.instep.net

InSTEP
314 86th Street
Bloomington, MN 55420

Questions, comments, or to order products via telephone:

1-800-242-6110




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 99.00
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months