Britax B-Lively Double Review
Pros: Saller, comparatively lightweight
Cons: Harder to push and turn, harder to use
Manufacturer: Britax
The Skinny
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Britax B-Lively Double | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $430.00 List $429.99 at Amazon | $1,130.00 List $1,109.96 at Amazon | $730.00 List | $700.00 List $699.99 at Amazon | $730.00 List $669.95 at Amazon - 8% off |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Saller, comparatively lightweight | Accepts two car seats, great storage, quality materials | Super easy to push and turn, nice quality, jogging stroller | Rugged, off-road-ready, easy to push and turn | Accepts two car seats of various brands, easy to maneuver |
Cons | Harder to push and turn, harder to use | Heavy and harder to lift, higher price | Bulky when folded, only accepts one infant car seat | Bulky, expensive, lacks refinement | Lack of convenience features |
Bottom Line | Average side-by-side that is harder to maneuver but cheaper than some similar options | Quality stroller with versatile seating options for growing families | Awesome double stroller doing dual jobs as a jogger for toddlers | Easy to use jogger good for everyday activities and off-road fun | Nice, quality choice that is easier to maneuver |
Rating Categories | Britax B-Lively... | UPPAbaby Vista v2... | Thule Urban Glide... | Revolution Flex... | Mountain Buggy Duet |
Ease Of Use (45%) | |||||
Maneuverability (30%) | |||||
Weight Folded Size (15%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Specs | Britax B-Lively... | UPPAbaby Vista v2... | Thule Urban Glide... | Revolution Flex... | Mountain Buggy Duet |
Weight | 27.1 lbs | 35 lbs | 32.1 lbs | 33.1 lbs | 32.8 lbs |
Folded Dimensions | 31.9"W x 12"H x 28.9"L | 25.8"W x 26.5"H x 37"L | 31.1"W x 18.7"H x 35.8"L | 30.8"W x 18"H x 39.5"L | 26"W x 17.5"H x 37.8"L |
Capacity Limits | Minimum: Birth Maximum: 50 lbs/44" |
Minimum: From Birth With Infant Snugseat Or Bassinet 3 mo.+ For Toddler Seat Maximum: 50 lbs/40" |
Minimum: "Walk Only: Infant Car Seat: Birth Stroller Seat: 6 mo. Jogging & Off-Road: 6 mo." Maximum: 100 lb Total Capacity Limit |
Minimum: Walk Only: Infant Car Seat: Birth Stroller Seat: 8 wk. - 8 mo. Jogging & Off-Road: 8 mo. - 5 yr. Maximum: 50 lbs/44" |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 40 lbs |
Included Car Seat Compatibility | None | UPPAbaby Mesa |
None | None | None |
Click-in Car Seat Adapters | Britax Any Britax infant car seat |
UPPAbaby Mesa Chicco KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit 30 Zip Air, Fit2, Fit2 LE, Fit2 Air Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Mico AP & Micro Max Plus, Nuna PIPA™, PIPA lite, PIPA lite lx, PIPA lite r & PIPA lite rx Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q & Aton M |
BeSafe Izi GO Mod, Izi GO X1 Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30 Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton 4, Aton 5 Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Mico 30, Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Pebble, Pebble Plus Nuna Pipa |
None | Mountain Buggy Protect Phil&Teds Alpha Maxi Cosi Mico AP, CabrioFix, Pebble Cybex Aton Graco Snugride Click Connect 30, 32, 35 Chicco Keyfit |
Strap-In Car Seat Adapters | None | None | "BOB Unity Britax Affinity Unity, B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone, Unity, Unity ISOFIX, BabySafe Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit Plus, KeyFit 30 Combi Shuttle 33 EvenFlo Discovery 5 Graco Safe Seat, SnugRide Classic Connect, SnugRide Click Connect 30, 35, 35 LX, 40 Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Pebble Nuna Pipa Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Safety 1st onBoard, onBoard Air, Comfy Carry Elite Safe-n-Sound Unity, Unity Neos UPPAbaby Mesa" |
Britax B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone BOB B-Safe, B-Safe 35 Graco Snug Ride Click Connect 30, Snug Ride Click Connect 30 LX, Snug Ride 35 Elite, Snug Ride 35 LX, Snug Ride 35 Platinum, Snug Ride Click Connect 35, Snug Ride Click Connect 35 LX, Snug Ride Click Connect 40, Snug Ride Snug Lock 30, Snug Ride Snug Lock 35, Snug Ride Snug Lock 35 DLX, Snug Ride Snug Lock 35 Elite, Snug Ride Snug Lock 35 Platinum, Snug Ride Snug Lock 35 Platinum XT Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido Chicco KeyFit 30, Keyfit 30 Zip, Keyfit Zip Air, KeyFit Magic, Fit2 |
None |
Number of Car Seats Accepted | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Recline Front/Left Seat | Deep | Deep | Deep | Mid-Level | Deep |
Recline Rear/Right Seat | Deep | Deep | Deep | Mid-Level | Deep |
Storage Basket Size | Large | Very large | Medium | Large | Medium |
Sun Shade Size | Large | Large | Medium | Large | Medium |
One-handed Fold | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Locking Fold | Auto | Auto | Manual | Manual | Auto |
Self-standing Fold | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Handlebar Height - Min/Max | 32"/43.5 | 39.5"/42.5" | 30.9"/45.1" | 35.8"/49.3" | 30.1"/43.0" |
Sandal-friendly Brake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Included Accessories | None | Rain Shield, Bug Shield | None | None | None |
Setup Time | 7:46 | 5:14 min:sec |
4:14 | 7:30 | 10:37 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Britax came to the US in 1996 after a long, illustrious run in Europe for over 70 years. They quickly become known for their infant car seats and quality strollers. Britax makes a variety of car seats from infant to boosters and multiple stroller options. They purchased BOB strollers and now offer high-quality jogging strollers.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
Thanks to stiff competition in this lineup of strollers, the B-Lively struggled to keep up and earned a lower than average score for ease of use compared to the competition.
Fold and Unfold
The fold is a quick and straightforward process of frame release and a handle pull. You'll need to hands, but it is easy enough to accomplish, and you can do it in a flash if you need to.
Brakes
The single-action brakes on the B-Lively worked well in our tests and are easy to set. Releasing is also easy with a design that is pain-free to foot tops.
Storage
The under-seat storage bin on the B-Lively has limited access when the seats are reclined. You can access it from the front with the zippered leg rest panel lifted, but moving kid's feet out of the way isn't always easy.
The bin is large enough for supplies for two, but the weight limit is only 10 lbs. This limit is average, but there are options with three times as much limit. There is still a bar through the center of the bin that inhibits use.
Sunshade
Each seat on the B-Lively has an independent canopy. The sunshades are UPF 50+, have a medium size mesh window with a fold forward cover with no closure mechanism. They are relatively large and stay tight when open.
Harness
Each seat has a 5-point harness with padded shoulder straps. Britax has changed the harness and buckle o the new model, and we feel it loses some ground over prior models. The Harness tightening method feels more flimsy than it used to. Closing the buckle now requires two hands, and opening it requires removing the straps from the buckle one by one.
Seat
The seats both recline on their own for individualized comfort. The leg rests, and footpad are stationary but at a slight angle for comfort. The seatbacks recline with two straps and a plastic toggle. It can recline with only one hand, but you'll need two to raise it, and we prefer the push-button style on some of the competition.
Car Seat Compatibility
The B-Lively is only compatible with one infant car seat of the Britax brand only. The adapter is sold separately and comes with an attached snack tray for the second passenger. This design locks you into Britax only infant car seats and a must-use snack tray.
Ease of Setup
The B-Lively Double comes mostly assembled, and it took us under 8 minutes to assemble. The manual is useful and is good compared to the competition.
Our box came damaged and was missing a wheel, but once we got all the parts, we were able to get things rolling with the attachment of wheels and canopies.
Maneuverability
Due to the dual wheel on each front leg design of the B-Lively, it struggled in our tests for maneuverability. In our tests, historically, we see that this design, coupled with plastic wheels, usually results in a harder to push and turn stroller. While it manages well enough on flat surfaces, any bump or uneven surface causes some issues with the ability to continue forward. Grass and gravel are even more challenging, and this isn't one you'd want to take very far off the beaten path.
Weight and Folded Size
Weight and folded size are where the B-Lively gets an opportunity to shine. This double measures 11,063 cubic inches when folded, making it the smallest in the group. It weighs just over 27 lbs, which also makes it one of the lightest options in the lineup. If you have limited space or can't lift heavier items, this could be the game-changer you've been looking for.
Quality
The B-Lively has average quality compared to the competition and is probably on par for the price. The fabric is ripstop, easy to clean, and feels skin-friendly. It has a better footrest than previous Britax options we've seen, and the storage bin material feels sturdy.
This stroller sports an adjustable handlebar covered in dense foam, and the bar is split in the middle with a strange triangle that will limit one-handed pushing. It is this lack of thoughtful design and attention to detail that hurts the Lively compared to the competition. The wheels are plastic, and while potentially better than other plastic options in the review, they aren't great. This impacts durability and longevity as a dented plastic tire will hurt maneuverability down the road. Overall, the quality is good for the price, and we think most parents will be happy with it, but it isn't the best thing going.
Twins
The B-Lively might be suitable for older twins who can sit on their own, but infants can't be pushed simultaneously as it only accepts one infant car seat carrier. While you can make that work with a baby carrier, it does mean you will need to wear one child at all times. Also, it will only accept Britax brand carriers, so if you want an infant seat from a competing brand, you will need to look elsewhere.
Manufacturer Video
— Wendy Schmitz