Baby Jogger City Mini 2 Double Review

The Baby Jogger empire began in 1984 with newly minted fathers looking for a jogging stroller. With no luck in the market, the two set out to create a suitable stroller for jogging. Flash forward to now, and the company is responsible for a plethora of strollers, ironically, most of which are not ideal for jogging. In 2005, the company was bought by Newell Rubbermaid.

Performance Comparison

The City Mini 2 Double has some useful features and offers more for passenger comfort than some of the other contenders in our tests, but it remains somewhat average compared to the competition.

Ease of Use

The City Mini Double 2 offers average ease of use with features that function as they should but are somewhat lacking compared to the competition.

The City Mini 2 Double folds quickly with a simple pull handle that collapses the stroller in half.

Fold and Unfold

The fold is probably the best thing about this Baby Jogger with a quick double handle pull to fold the stroller in half after unlocking the frame. You will need both hands to fold and unfold this stroller, but it self-stands and locks in place automatically.

The brakes on the City Mini 2 Double are somewhat stiff making them uncomfortable to release with a foot under the pedal.

Brakes

The single-action brakes on the Mini Double 2 are easy enough to set, but releasing them is troubling. To unlock the brakes, you have to put your foot under the pedal to release them. Because the brakes are stiff and reluctant to release, you can hurt your foot or shoe in the process.

Storage

Baby Jogger still hasn't figured out how to manage their storage bin. With a limit of only 10 lbs, this isn't the best for carrying supplies for two. To make things more complicated, they have redesigned the bin to include a crossbar that limits what you can fit inside. The new design is better for getting outside access to the bin, but marginally so, and not enough to counter the bar or weight limit issues. This stroller also sports a mesh pocket on the back of each seat. Each pocket can hold up to 2 lbs and fit things such as water bottles, keys, or smartphones.

The City Mini 2 Double canopies are both large, move independently and have dual peek-a-boo windows on each.

Sunshade

The City Mini 2 Double has two independent sunshades for individualized comfort. The shades are large, cover most passengers to the knee, and include dual-medium peek-a-boo windows on each shade for checking in on silent nappers. Unfortunately, they still use Velcro on the window flap, which can be loud and potentially wake little sleepers.

The new harness on the City Mini 2 Double is better than its predecessor but still isn't the best we've seen.

Harness

Each seat in the City Mini 2 Double has a 5-point harness. The harnesses tighten easily, with few adjustment points to consider. The new buckle is somewhat easier than the old version, but compared to the competition, it isn't anything to write home about.

The plastic toggle for seat adjustments on the City Mini 2 Double is easy to use but isn't as nice as the push-button recline features on some of the competition.

Seat

Both seats on this stroller recline independently with a toggle on the seatback. The plastic toggle can be lowered with one hand, but you'll need two hands to raise the seat by pulling two straps simultaneously through the toggle. The new Mini also includes adjustable calf support where the leg rest can be lifted into the horizontal position. Each seat holds up to 50 lbs.

Car Seat Compatibility

This stroller is compatible with one infant car seat carrier at a time and works with the Baby Jogger City GO and some Graco Click Connect models.

Ease of Setup

The City Mini Double 2 is easy to set up with a time of 6:23 minutes. Assembly is somewhat intuitive as you only need to add the wheels and canopies to the rest of the product.

Even with the front dual wheels in a locked position, the City Mini 2 Double struggles to stay on course over uneven surfaces making pushing and turning more of a chore than it should be.

Maneuverability

Baby Jogger continues the same wheel design as City Minis in the past that includes a dual wheel on each front leg design that, in our tests, translates to less than stellar maneuverability. While the front wheels can lock in a forward position to make it easier to move over uneven surfaces, the two-wheel design means it gets hung up on bumps and rocks in the path, making it a hassle to move over anything that isn't flat and hard. Pushing and turning on grass is also troublesome as locking the wheels means you can't turn, and not locking the wheels means they could be catching and moving in different directions from one another. If you plan to use your stroller indoors on flat surfaces, it isn't too bad, but our outdoor greenbelt testing left us wanting and somewhat frustrated compared to the competition with fewer wheels or rubber tires.

The City Mini 2 Double will self-stand when folded and it includes an automatic locking feature to keep it closed.

Weight and Folded Size

The new City Mini 2 Double is larger when folded and heavier than the previous model, which is a bummer in a category where being lightweight is a bonus. This stroller weighs 30.8 lbs, almost 3 lbs heavier than the older Mini, and it folds to about 13,935 cubic inches (over 3,000 cubic inches larger than the old Mini). However, the new option is still one of the lighter and smaller options in the group. Only a few competitors are smaller or lighter.

While nice quality than some of the less expensive competition, the City Mini 2 Double fails to meet the standards of similarly priced fare.

Quality

The New Mini 2 Double only is average quality compared side-by-side with the other competitors. It manages to be nice enough that it feels like it will last for several years, but it lacks the true attention to detail and design of the better quality contenders.

The slick fabric is easy to keep clean, but it isn't as soft as others, and it might stick to sweaty skin. The seats have adequate padding but nothing that screams superior comfort or breathability. We do like the way the material feels like one continuous piece from the leg rest to the seatback, even if it isn't. The storage basket is fabric and mesh, and we worry that the mesh won't last as long as the stroller bin snagged during testing.

The Mini 2's frame is sturdy with a simple finish that gets the job done without being flashy. The overall fit and finish are straightforward and feel uninspired, but it avoids looking cheap or frumpy.

The City Mini handlebar has a rubber cover and is not adjustable. It isn't the most comfortable option and can get hot in direct sun. The new bar is one piece instead of the strange two-part design of the old Mini, but it isn't an upgrade enough to say it is truly comfortable. This stroller includes non-adjustable, front-wheel suspension.

Twins

Manufacturer Video