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The ZOE XL2 BEST v2 is a lightweight double stroller with plenty of bells and whistles parents are looking for. This stroller sports under seat storage, child cup holders, bumper bars, and parent cup holder. The BEST is the third lightest and second smallest stroller in the review making it a good choice if space is limited or you have difficulty lifting heavier items. We think this stroller is easy to use with features that work well and are rather intuitive. This stroller does not accept any infant car seats and its maneuverability isn't the "best" with the dual front wheel design that we find usually causes difficulty pushing and turning. However, this stroller has a lot going for it and is the top-ranked option in this review making it a good choice for most families.
Update 2020
The BEST XL2 has been renamed the ZOE Twin+ and also now comes in a Luxe version that includes several upgrades like thicker fabric, ball bearing wheels and leatherette accents.
Our Analysis and Test Results
In November 2015, a family with over 60 years in the juvenile products field started the ZOE company with the goal of designing quality products at an affordable price. The designs for their strollers include as many bells and whistles as possible so parents won't incur added expense buying much-needed accessories.
The ZOE XL2 BEST v2 is a side-by-side lightweight stroller with more features than your standard umbrella option.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Performance Comparison
Though heavier than the stroller it replaces, the ZOE XL2 BEST v2 is still one of the lightest in the group and the second smallest.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
The BEST weighs about 2 lbs more than its predecessor which is shame in a category of gear where weight rules. The BEST weighs 19.7 lbs, making it one of the lightest in the group.
When folded, the BEST measures 9,145 cubic inches, which is a decrease in size from the DELUXE and the second smallest in the group. These measurements make the BEST a good choice if your car is small or you value a lower weight over other things.
Having child snack trays and large canopies, like those found on the ZOE XL2 BEST v2, can be good for longer trips or if you plan to use your lightweight stroller regularly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The BEST is one of the easiest options to use in our tests.
Ease of use testing includes folding and features and how easy they are to use on a daily basis.
The ZOE has an automatic lock that works well and holds the stroller together for standing.
The ZOE folds with the pull of the unlock straps under the seats.
Fold and Unfold
The BEST has a one or two-handed easy fold with an automatic lock (above left) and self-stand. The self-stand can be tricky if the wheels are in the wrong direction but you only need to pull the straps under the seat pad to fold (above right). Unfolding requires releasing the lock and opening until it locks into place.
The ZOE brakes can be operated by press the side pedal near the wheel or the center of the bar.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The BEST has single action brakes on a long bar across the back that makes setting and releasing very easy. The brake is smooth on both sides making it sandal foot-friendly.
The BEST storage bin is large with a 10 lb capacity and it fit our large diaper bag.
The bumper bar on the ZOE can be replaced with two cup holders and a middle snack tray. This feature is fairly uncommon for an umbrella stroller.
The side parent cup holder on the ZOE is relatively shallow and poorly placed with a chance of spilling items onto passengers.
Storage
The BEST has a large under-seat storage bin with elastic back access (above left). The basket has a 10 lb weight limit and fits our large diaper bag. Each canopy has a pocket with hook and loop closure on the back. The passengers have a bumper bar or cup holders (above middle) for sippy cups and snacks and parents have a single cup holder (above right). The parent cup holder is shallow and we worry the depth and placement could cause spills on the passenger.
The BEST canopies are large and provide low coverage. They have nicely sized mesh peek-a-boo windows that have covers with magnetic closures.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The canopies are extra large and extend below the knee with very low coverage. The peek-a-boo windows are mesh with magnetic closures on the covers. The third segment of the canopy can be removed when not in use.
The ZOE has a 5-point harness in each seat with easy to adjust straps, shoulder pads, and push-button buckle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
Each seat on the BEST has a 5-point harness. The harnesses are easy to adjust and rethread without much hassle. The buckle works well and depresses easily.
The adjustable leg rests, and snack cups on the ZOE can make longer trips more comfortable for little ones.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
The BEST does not have adjustable leg rests but the seatback reclines far enough for comfortable napping.
The push button recline toggle on the ZOE works well and allows for infinite recline possibilities.
The BEST seatback tops can be opened up for additional ventilation. However, doing this will make the canopy pockets useless.
The adjustment toggle (above left) is smooth and has infinite angle possibilities with additional ventilation (above right) at the top for hotter weather.
Ease of Setup
The BEST has simple clear instructions and took us just over 4 minutes to set up.
The maneuverability of the BEST could potentially be improved with single wheels per leg instead of dual wheels. As it is, it earned the second-best score for this metric with a 4 of 10.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
None of the double umbrella options performed well in our tests for maneuverability and the BEST is no exception.
This stroller has 4 wheels in the front with dual wheels on each leg. We have found this design usually results in poor maneuverability and being difficult to turn.
The front swivel wheels on the ZOE can be locked in place for easier movement over uneven terrain.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Despite the ability to lock the front wheels in place, this stroller continued to have difficulty on anything but paved surfaces. This stroller had difficulty with doorways and couldn't make it through some of our test doors. While not all that impressive, it may be fair to note it has one of the highest scores for this metric.
The BEST has a nice quality to price ratio with a score of 6 of 10, which is over the average.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
This ZOE is nicer than the option it replaced with better quality than some of the lightweight competition with similar prices.
The BEST has an aluminum frame with canvas cover. The fabric isn't that soft but it fits the frame well and looks nice. Everything lines up well on this stroller with nice connections and average flex for an umbrella stroller. The wheels are foam filled plastic and slightly larger and more substantial than the previous wheels.
Choosing a stroller for two is different than a single...
Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.
BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.
