Schwinn Arrow Review

The Schwinn Arrow is not made by Schwinn, rather their name is “rented” as a way of drawing the interest of parents to a sub-par stroller created by a second company. It is actually part of the Pacific Cycle company that includes InStep which coincidentally (or not) makes strollers so similar to those from Schwinn you can plainly see they are virtually identical.

Performance Comparison

Run-ability

Our professional runner stated that “this is a terrible running stroller… that is not fun for runner or passenger.”

The Arrow has an adjustable handle that helps create the right biomechanics for running. The suspension is average and isn't adjustable which is better than no suspension. It also doesn't offer adjustable tracking, which makes it frustrating to keep on track. It is easy to tilt back to turn while running.

This stroller is easy to push and tracks relatively well. Our stroller has a ton of flex in the frame, so we had to exaggerate our turning motions to compensate. It can take time to get used to the loose frame, but even with bigger bumps, it stays upright. Our professional runner says this stroller is unstable and difficult to control, resulting in extra work for the runner.

Ease of Use

The Schwinn comes in last place for ease of use.

Fold and Unfold

We feel there is a potential safety risk with the fold and unfold mechanism where the product bends. The two frame portions are attached to the folding mechanism that allows the stroller to fold in half. The hinge fold can potentially pinch fingers or small hands when opening.

This stroller requires two hands to fold and is somewhat awkward to manage. It doesn't feel like a natural movement, and the seat has to be reclined to make it fold. It has a manual locking mechanism and while it doesn't technically have a self-stand mechanism, it will self-stand if required. The unfold is easier, but it has the potential for pinching. We think this is a potential safety problem.

Brakes

The Arrow has double action brakes that are hard to set and parents might forget to set both pedals which mean the brakes are not set. You must make sure the brake is engaged when you push down because it tends to pop out of position fooling you into thinking it is seated.

Storage

The storage is large and has rear and side access. It has a max weight limit of 10 lbs, but it is hard to access. The bin is terrible because of the bar in the back that blocks access.

The cup holders are some of the best because they have a rubber gasket that helps hold taller bottles in place. The covered center compartment is small and doesn't hold a bigger phone. The canopy speaker is hot glued and free-standing with no cover. It looks flimsy, and the sound is worse than the speaker that comes with your smartphone. It isn't weather resistant or loud enough for little ones to hear over passing traffic or wind.

Sunshade

The canopy is the smallest in the group. It does not cover to the knees and the sun visor is clear, so we think maybe this is for rain, only it isn't large enough to work for rain. It offers good ventilation if you roll up the back flap and the small, vinyl peek-a-boo window has a Velcro cover. Also, if you fold the canopy back it interferes with opening and closing the parent console compartment.

Harness

The 5-point harness is fairly easy to put on and adjust. It has nice padding and seems cozier than some of the competition. It also offers multiple shoulder adjustment points with an adjustable crotch strap.

Seat

The seat on the Arrow has a one-hand recline, but it is stiff and not intuitive. The front edge of the seat curves down nicely with an adequate hard plastic footrest.

Ease of Setup

It took about 8:30 minutes to get the Arrow ready to stroll. The documentation is clear and concise and everything is easy to assemble but requires a Philips Head screwdriver. The manual doesn't indicate an attachment point for the safety lanyard leaving parents to guess the correct attachment point.

Maneuverability

This stroller isn't the easiest to maneuver. The surprising factor is that it is slightly better off-road than on. It is pretty easy to push but it is harder to turn because of the fixed wheel. It moves well over gravel and easily rolls over bumps. However, there is a lot of flex in the frame that makes it less responsive and a pain to push for long distances.

Weight/Folded Size

The weight and folded size of this stroller are good compared to the competition. Its folded size is around 20,000 cubic inches which is one of the largest folded products we tested. This means it might have trouble fitting in some trunks. On the upside, this stroller is the second lightest.

Quality

The quality of the Arrow is not great. The Arrow has smooth “plastic” feeling fabric that snagged easily in our tests. While this kind of fabric might be easier to clean, it is not breathable. The frame has a lot of flex and rattling because of the use of rivets. The wheels are aluminum with adjustable spokes and pneumatic tires, which are nice but have a lot of wiggle in the axle. The fit and finish are not tight or well-fitted. The canopy is not great, and the frame feels loose. All of the fasteners are exposed instead of nicely hidden.

The handlebar is adjustable and covered in a textured rubber grip. The grip can get slippery when wet, but it is comfortable in the hand when not moist. The downside is the brake cable gets in the way of the handle, and it gets annoying to keep grabbing it.