Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Stroller Comparison

You don't have to be a runner to enjoy the perks of a jogging stroller.

Compared to a typical stroller with foam-filled wheels, a jogging stroller's air-filled tires provide better handling and shock absorption over rough terrain—just like a mountain bike rides better than a beach cruiser.

That's why the Bumbleride Indie is especially popular among non-runners. While still safe for running, the Indie's air-filled tires are smaller than those on most jogging strollers, making it an ideal option for a blend of all-terrain and everyday use.

Now, Bumbleride offers a new stroller that may an even better fit for families hitting a trail today and the mall tomorrow.

The Bumbleride Era—now available at Strolleria—is the company's first four-wheeled stroller, combining smaller, air-filled tires with convenient everyday features like a reversible seat. 

If you plan to run with your stroller, you'll want to stick with the Bumbleride Indie (or the larger-wheeled Bumbleride Speed). With its 3-wheeled design and lighter weight, the Indie is designed for optimal maneuverability and performance while running.

But if you're considering a jogging stroller for both everyday use and for activities like hiking or walking the beach, you'll find pros and cons in both Bumbleride options. 

We'll compare the differences between the Bumbleride Era and the Bumbleride Indie in this post.

Bumbleride Era vs. Indie Comparison Video

Check out our video below for a visual comparison of the Bumbleride Indie and Bumbleride Era.

Bumbleride Era

The Era is Bumbleride's first four-wheeled stroller, as well as its first stroller with a reversible seat that allows baby to face you or face forward.

While not intended for jogging, the Era has air-filled tires to provide a smooth ride when strolling over grass, sand, snow and other rough surfaces. The Era is also full of features parents are seeking in an everyday stroller, like car seat and bassinet compatibility, a standing fold, and plenty of storage space.

Bumbleride Indie

The Indie is Bumbleride's popular hybrid stroller, designed for both running and everyday life.

The 12" air-filled tires on the Indie make it lighter and less cumbersome than a typical jogging stroller, most of which have bulkier 16" rear wheels. Although the Indie does not have a reversible seat, you can still attach a car seat or bassinet to start strolling from birth.

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Price

With its added features like a reversible seat, the Bumbleride Era is priced higher than the Bumbleride Indie. For current pricing please see the respective product pages:

• Era
• Indie

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Weight and Dimensions

With its added fourth wheel, the Bumbleride Era is about 3 pounds heavier than the three-wheeled Indie. However, the Era is about 5 inches shorter, making it a little more compact to navigate. The two strollers are similarly sized when folded.

Both strollers have a 55-pound weight capacity, but their seat sizes differ slightly.

The Era offers an extra 3 inches in footrest length and an added 2 inches in canopy space to accommodate a taller child. Meanwhile, the Indie seat is slightly roomier, at 2 inches wider. 

Stroller Weight

• Era: 27 pounds
• Indie: 24 pounds

Dimensions

• Era: 39"L x 24"W x 40"H
• Indie: 46"L x 24.5"W x 40"H

Folded Dimensions

• Era: 31.5"L x 24"W x 13"H
• Indie: 31.5"L x 24.5"W x 13"H

Weight Limit

• Era: 55 pounds
• Indie: 55 pounds

Seat Size

• Era: 12.5"W x 9.5"L
• Indie: 14.5"W x 9"L

Seat to Footrest Length

• Era: 21.5"
• Indie: 18.5"

Canopy Height

• Era: 25"H
• Indie: 23"H

Wheel Size

• Era: 8.5" front wheels, 11.5" rear wheels
• Indie: 12" wheels

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Configurations

One of the main differences between the Bumbleride Era and the Bumbleride Indie is that the Era's seat is reversible and can face either direction. Because the Indie seat consists of fabric attached to the frame, the seat will always face forward. 

A reversible seat is a feature at the top of many parents' stroller wish lists: A parent-facing seat allows you to keep an eye on a younger baby or a napping child, while a forward-facing seat is ideal for a toddler who wants to see the world. With a seat that only faces forward, it's more difficult for you to check on your baby—and vice versa.

Both the Era and Indie can be paired with an infant car seat or bassinet, but the Era's seat adds convenience. Because the seat is freestanding, you can simply pop off the seat and replace it with a car seat or bassinet.

With the Indie, you can add the car seat or bassinet on top of the existing seat fabric, which makes the seat a bit bulkier and heavier. Or you can detach the seat fabric from the frame—as long as you're willing to reassemble it later on.

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Colors

The same colors are available for both strollers. Check them out here:

Era 

Indie 

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Fabrics and Materials

Bumbleride is behind some of the most eco-friendly strollers on the planet, made with sustainable manufacturing processes and recycled fabrics that are free of fire retardants and other harmful chemicals.

Both the Era and the Indie take another eco step forward by introducing a handlebar made of cork instead traditional rubber, leather, or leatherette handlebars. 

Why cork? It's harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, making it a sustainable, renewal material that doesn't require trees to be cut down. Plus, cork is anti-microbial, non-slip, naturally waterproof, and durable, which is why cork is used for products like wine stoppers, shoes, fishing rod handles, flooring and more.

Both the Bumbleride Era and Indie also offer these eco-friendly features:

• Fabrics are 100% recycled polyester and include 28 post-consumer water bottles per stroller
• Strollers are free of fire retardant chemicals, PVC, phthalate and polyurethane foam
• Fabrics are OEKO-Tex Standarrd 100, certified to be free of harmful chemicals
• Dye process for black fabrics conserves 25-40 gallons of water per stroller
• Water repellant treatment uses C-6 treatment, which offers faster breakdown of byproducts with less potential toxicity

How to Fold Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie

Both the Bumbleride Era and Indie auto-lock and stand on the handlebar when folded, adding convenience when lifting the stroller into your car or storing it upright. The standing fold also prevents the fabrics from touching the ground, helping to keep your stroller clean.

Two steps are required to fold either stroller. To fold the Era, first pull the small levers behind the backrest and lean the seat forward. Then, pull the triggers on the stroller frame and guide the handlebar down.

See how to fold the Bumbleride Era in the video below.

To fold the Indie, first lower the bumper bar so that it doesn't protrude from the seat, then pull up on the triggers and guide the handlebar down.

See how to fold the Bumbleride Indie in the video below. Note that the video shows an older model and that the current model's folding triggers are more ergonomic and similar to those on the Era.

Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie Bassinet

The same Bumbleride bassinet can be attached to the Era, Indie and Speed strollers to allow your newborn to lie flat in the safest and most comfortable position.

The bassinet is easier to pair with the Era because its seat is a free-standing piece that can be removed and replaced. On the Bumbleride Indie, the seat fabric is attached to the stroller frame and therefore is more difficult to remove (and reassemble). Alternatively, you can also attach the bassinet on top of the Indie seat.

Car Seats Compatible with Bumbleride Era and Bumbleride Indie 

Both Bumbleride strollers are compatible with the same range of infant car seats from several leading brands.

The car seat adapters for Chicco, Graco and Peg Perego car seats are shared between all Bumbleride single strollers, while the adapters for Nuna, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Clek car seats are different between the Era and Indie.

Car Seats Compatible with Bumbleride Era

• Chicco Keyfit 30 (with adapter)
• Clek Liing (with adapter)
• Cybex Aton, Aton 2 and Aton Q (with adapter)
• Graco Snugride Click Connect 35 (with adapter)
• Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido (with adapter)
• Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico and Mico AP (with adapter)
• Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, and Pipa Lite LX (with adapter)
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido (with adapter)

Car Seats Compatible with Bumbleride Indie

• Chicco Keyfit 30 (with adapter)
• Cybex Aton series (with adapter)
• Graco Snugride Click Connect 35 (with adapter)
• Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, and Pipa Lite LX (with adapter)
• Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico and Mico AP (with adapter)
• Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, and Pipa Lite LX (with adapter)
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido (with adapter)

Conclusion

If you're looking for a single stroller to tackle the challenges of both tough terrain and everyday errands, the Bumbleride Indie or the Bumbleride Era are an ideal choice.

Runners will opt for the Indie, which has a three-wheeled design better suited for quick maneuverability on a run.

But if your jogging stroller will really be more of a hiking stroller, you might like the combination of city and terrain features on the new Bumbleride Era.

Questions?

Strolleria is dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents. 

If you have more questions about the Bumbleride Era vs. Bumbleride Indie debate, contact us at customercare@strolleria.com or chat with us today!