The Best Double Strollers

[notable=90382]Best Frame Stroller for Twins[/notable]

The Joovy Twin Roo+ is a frame stroller that is designed for two infant car seats of almost any brand. This product wasn't included in testing because it was unlikely that it would do well compared to products that offer more (like canopies and seats). However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have a place in your gear line up if you are expecting twins. Many of the double strollers only accept one infant car seat, and some don't accept any, the Joovy Twin Roo+ fills a gap with its two car seat capability. This product is easy to use, lightweight, compact when folded, with storage, and four cup holders. The Twin Roo+ allows babies to face either direction and the carriers sit low enough for parents to see both babies. This stroller is silly cheap, which means you can save some cash by purchasing the Roo+ instead of the more expensive products that don't accept two car seats. The Twin Roo+ bridges the gap between birth and the end of infant car seat use so you can make a more informed decision on the best stroller for you without being tied to only the options that accept two car seats.

This is only a stroller for infant twins and the design and intention mean it has a short lifespan of about 9 months. But, if you are expecting twins or your budget is tight, or you aren't sure what kind of stroller is best for twins, then the Twin Roo+ can meet your needs without the big expense.

Read review: Joovy Twin Roo+

Best Sit and Stand Lightweight Stroller

Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite

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$199.99

(20% off)
at Amazon

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The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite is somewhat different from the other options we tested because it doesn't come with two traditional seats. This stroller is the lightest option in the group, has a back seat you can purchase, and offers a cover for the back seat rider. The Caboose is easy to fold and lift and has everything a parent of two would need for a fun outing, without the hassle of a heavier ride.

At first blush, this option didn't score well compared to the competition. But the more we learned about it, the more we liked it. With a very low list price, it is one of the cheaper options we tested, and it has enough functionality and features to keep most parents and passengers happy on fun or quick trips out and about. It is not the best choice for parents with two babies or little ones that might fight over seating arrangments. And it may not be the best stroller for all-day adventures or shopping. But, if you have children of different ages, with one that seems to be always on the go, then this sit and stand style may be a good fit.

Read review: Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite

Analysis and Test Results

Finding the best double stroller for your needs could be more challenging than juggling the tots you want to push. With so many potential choices, each with varying designs and features, it can be a struggle to determine what matters or how one product compares to the others. Throw in deciphering which options are best for twins versus children of different ages, and you have a convoluted comparison process that could be impossible to narrow down. In this review, we discovered big differences and determined that a hands-on comparison is absolutely necessary to sort out which doubles work well and which only look good on paper.

Some of the top strollers we purchased and tested for the Best Double Stroller Review and updates.

We purchased over 20 popular strollers for two to narrow down through diligent testing which products are the best on the market. We used each stroller for several months in the real world and our in-house lab. Overall scores and ranks were determined using individual metric results with more emphasis on the ease of use and maneuverability results.

Value

Double strollers can be pretty expensive and many parents will be looking for a budget-friendly choice or an option that gives them the most stroller for the lowest price possible without buying a dud. The Best Value winners, the Joovy Scooter X2 with Tray and the Baby Trend Expedition Double, both impressed testers and sports low prices which is rare for a double product. Each option comes with popular features that provide comfort and convenience for passengers and pushers. Even the top-ranked stroller, Thule Urban Glide 2 Double has a reasonable price compared to the competition. While you can bet that double the size can lead to double the price, we found that some of the best options offer a lot of value with top performance and lower prices.

Ease of Use

An easy to use stroller needs features that work well and benefit daily use. Products with limited features, or are difficult to use, will likely cause regular frustration for parents.

The features and functionality of each product were tested, noted, and compared to determine which are easy to use and which lacked intuitive design or useful features for the real world.

The Peg Perego Book for Two earned the top score for ease of folding and unfolding with a one-handed, one step process.

Fold and Unfold

Some of the products have an intuitive folding operation with a few steps. Some offer self-standing and automatic locking features. However, only a few managed to be easy to operate. We prefer products with few steps that fold smoothly without awkward complications that result in banging body parts, sliding, or pinching. The Peg Perego Book for Two performed well in this test, because it is super easy with only one step, and it self-stands and auto-locks. However, you can't fold it with car seat adapters on.

The Sleek's zippered cover helps keep the storage bin contents clean and onboard.

Storage

All of the strollers have storage. However, storage is a bit open to interpretation with the size and weight allowance varying widely across products. Depending on how you plan to use your stroller, the lack of storage space could be a big deal as time goes on. While no one has ever complained of too much storage, not enough means limited ability to run errands or carry supplies. For example, the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite offers a small storage bin with questionable access under a sliding seat, while the UPPAbaby Vista sports a large, easy to access basket that holds up to 30 lbs. The Joovy ScooterX2 with Tray has additional zip pockets and cup holders on the canopy back, and interior mesh pockets for passengers with dual child trays. The BOB Revolution Flex Duallie, Thule Chariot Cross 2, Hamax Outback, Thule Sleek, and the Thule Urban Glide 2 also have passenger stow pockets and larger storage bins, but can't carry as much weight as the UPPAbaby Vista. The Sleek even comes with a zippered cover for its bin.

Sunshade

Every stroller in this review has a sunshade for both passengers. Some have smaller shades for rear passengers, like the tandem style Phil and Teds Dot, while some have a single shared canopy like the Joovy ScooterX2 with Tray. Some canopies are small, like the Graco Ready2Grow LX with limited coverage, while others offer giant shades like the BOB Revolution Flex Duallie that covers passengers past the knee. The Graco Ready2Grow LX shade earned the lowest score in our tests with a 3 of 10, while the canopies on the BOB and the UPPAbaby Vista Double scored 10s. Most of the canopies provide adequate coverage. The inline options often skimped on at least one canopy and some side-by-side options, like the Joovy ScooterX2 and the Baby Trend Expedition Double, have a single canopy for both passengers, which could cause issues between siblings who may want different coverage.

The Vista harness is easy to use with simple adjustments and a multiple position crotch strap and shoulder strap height.

Harness

All of the options in this review have 5-point harnesses with some offering padding or safety buckles that require two hands to operate. Others have an adjustable crotch strap and shoulder height strap adjustment with some non-rethread harness, and the rest rethread. While the rethread options aren't as hard to operate as those found on car seats, and you won't need to adjust them very often, it is more difficult than the non-rethread options. The Chicco Cortina Together and the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand only have two shoulder strap positions, while the rest have more than two height options. The BOB Revolution Flex Duallie earned the highest score for harness adjustment. While the Thule Sleek Double is more convoluted requiring that all four straps be inserted in the buckles separately. We assume parents are more likely to use harnesses regularly according to the manufacturer's directions if they are simple, straightforward, and easy to fit.

The photos above show the easy to use harness of the BOB Revolution Flex Duallie (left) compared to the more difficult harness of the Phil and Teds Dot (right).

Seat

Several of the products offer adjustable leg rests, and almost all of them had some degree of a reclining seat. Finding a comfortable napping position can be of the utmost importance to keeping little ones happy on the go. You shouldn't overlook these features when choosing which product to buy as they impact every outing, especially the longer ones.

The photos above show different recline options including a plastic toggle for the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double (above left) and a button push on the UPPAbaby Vista Double (above right).

Some of the strollers offer a near flat recline and leg rest adjustment like the front seat of the UPPAbaby Vista Double that came close to flat. Other products like the Chicco Cortina Together (and most inline strollers) have different recline options for each seat, with one reclining further than the second that remains almost upright even when reclined. This disparity seems like a design flaw, and while it might work for children of different ages, it could potentially cause a fight over who gets the more comfortable seat with a better view. This kind of position disparity is only found with the inline products and means you'll be sacrificing functionality for the convenience of a narrower stroller. Depending on the age of the siblings, and whether or not they are twins, this type of unequal arrangement may end up being more headache than it is worth. The UPPAbaby Vista Double, Thule Sleek Double, and Baby Jogger City Select Double have the most equal seating in the inline tandem lineup.

The Peg Perego Book only accepts the Primo Viaggio infant car seats, but it will accept two at the same time if you have twins. This stroller earned the highest score for ease of car seat attachment.

Car Seat Compatibility and Attachment

This metric doesn't carry a lot of weight in the overall score because of the limited lifespan of this portion of a stroller's life (9-12 months out of a possible four years). However, knowing more about car seat attachment can help you determine which strollers have the easiest attachments. If car seat attachment is something you are looking for, you should consider the attachment scores for the strollers you are most interested in.

Another consideration would be finding a stroller that works with two car seats if you have twins. Working with two car seats is something only half of the strollers can do. The top scoring options that accept two infant car seats are the Thule Sleek Double and the UPPAbaby Vista Double.

The locking swivel front wheel of the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double helps provide impressive maneuverability for a wider product.

Maneuverability

Finding a great double stroller that turns on a dime and is easy to push can be a challenging task. However, after repeated pushing, turning, and tight negotiations, we discovered that some strollers are significantly better than others, and some are genuinely hard to use. Moving a double-wide or super long stroller can be a struggle, and there is little that can be done to decrease the size or weight of the average double product (which only gets heavier with little ones on board). However, the kind of tires, wheels, and suspension can have a huge impact on how easy the products are to move. Overall, the side-by-side strollers performed better and were easier to maneuver than the longer inline options which had trouble turning and moving in smaller spaces.

The BOB Revolution Flex Duallie, Thule Urban Glide 2 Double, and Thule Chariot 2 are some of the easiest to push in the bunch with a score of 9 of 10. These strollers earned the high score and proved that it is possible for a wider stroller to be easy to maneuver. The 3-wheel design and pneumatic tires make the BOB Revolution Flex Duallie, and Thule Urban Glide 2 Double a breeze to push, and the large back wheels and inset front wheels make the Chariot Cross 2 smooth to move. Add on their great suspension systems, and they are as comfortable to be in as they are easy to push. Alternatively, the average product in our review only scored a 5. The UPPAbaby Vista Double, Thule Sleek Double, and the Baby Trend Expedition Double earned 8s.

The plastic wheels on the Graco Ready2Grow Lx are fairly flimsy and the dual wheel design makes it hard to push and maneuver over almost any terrain that isn't flat.

Many of the products are difficult to push because they have flexing frames or wide-set wheels. Some were tough because of wobbly plastic wheels or dual front wheel designs (4 wheels on two front legs).

This design makes pushing near impossible over uneven terrains and transitions. The suspension is also crucial because pushing is more laborious and your baby will feel every little bump in the road without nice shocks on at least two wheels.

The photos above show the locking front wheel of the BOB Revolution Flex Duallie (left), and the dual front wheels of the Joovy Scooter X2 (right).

The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite is the lightest stroller in this review and the third smallest when folded.

Weight and Folded Size

There are multiple factors to consider when choosing a double stroller, which might result in overlooking the weight and folded size. However, we feel this metric is important because multiple passengers mean twice the work and twice the weight. The last thing you need is a product that is too heavy to move from place to place, or too large to store when not in use. Nothing will be more disappointing than purchasing the stroller of your dreams only to discover it won't fit in your car. If you consider that each passenger might weigh up to 40 lbs, and the product could weigh over 30 lbs, this means the final weight can easily be over 100 lbs with supplies! This potential means weight should be a factor behind the stroller you choose, especially if you live in a location with steep inclines or an up and down terrain like San Francisco.

Unfortunately, none of the double products are truly lightweight, so the goal is finding the right option for you with the lowest weight. The heaviest stroller in the group is the Baby Trend Navigator weighing in at 39.7 lbss. The lightest is the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite at close to 23 lbs, which is one of the reasons it won an honorable mention. The average is about 32 lbs shared by the Peg Perego Book for Two and the Mountain Buggy Duet. The BOB Revolution Flex Duallie came in close with a weight near 34 lbs, while the Baby Jogger City Mini Double is closer to 27 lbs making it a good option if weight is a concern.

The Baby Jogger City Select Double is smaller folded than you'd think given the heavier weight of almost 38 pounds, but the weight could still be a deal breaker for some parents who won't want to lug it around or may not be able to lift it.

we weighed and measured all products in the same way with the same equipment, so the comparison is indeed apples to apples. Unfortunately, we've discovered that not all manufacturers provide accurate measurements, so we weigh and measure the products ourselves for consistency across products.

The smallest folded product in this metric is the Baby Jogger City Mini Double at under 10,700 cubic inches. The largest option is the UPPAbaby Vista at 28,264 cubic inches (down about 1000 cubic inches from the previous version). The similar Thule Sleek Double is significantly smaller with a size of 19,373 cubic inches. The smallest award winner is the Joovy Scoot X2 at 18,188, while the honorable mention Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite is around 11,000 cubic inches. Some of the strollers can fold smaller by removing wheels, which isn't a large hassle if they are quick release like those found on the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double and you don't need to carry them.

UPPAbaby Vista uses impressive quality materials that work well and fit snuggly for decreased flex while pushing. The new Vista includes the option for upgraded textiles that include leather wrapped bumper bars and handlebar.

Quality

The strollers for two prove that quality is possible in almost every price range from a variety of different brands. However, somewhat holds true that you get what you pay for, and in general, many of the cheaper options scored lower in our tests for quality. With the exception of the Joovy ScooterX2 with Trays, the cheaper products (below two hundred and fifty) scored a 4 or below. The ScooterX2 is inexpensive for a double product and managed a quality score of 6, the highest for any product in this lower price range.

The high score for quality is a 9 for the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double, the Hamax Outback, and the Thule Chariot Cross 2 all with higher than average price tags. While the Urban Glide 2 Double is on the pricier end, it is by no means the most expensive in the group (or on the market), with several strollers costing the same or more with lower quality scores. While a higher price might indicate better quality, there seems to be a price break where this is no longer the case, and higher cost doesn't seem to correlate to a measurable increase in quality.

The photos above show the interior of the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double (left) and Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand (right), the high and low end of the quality scale respectively.

The average stroller earned a score of 6 of 10 for quality in this review. The UPPAbaby Vista Double, Thule Sleek Double, and the BOB Revolution Flex Duallie tied with 8s; these strollers use quality materials designed to be both functional and pleasing to the eye. The top products stand out with attention to detail and features that are thoughtfully placed and skillfully assembled. We considered how well the products were designed, what kind of materials were used, and how well the final products tolerated our testing process and ordinary use over several months. If they can't survive our testing in one piece, they aren't likely to make it through your strolling years. We consider frames, fabric, connections, parts, comfort, and design when rating quality and the options with the highest scores offer better materials, solid connections, limited flexing, and durable stitching.

The UPPAbaby Vista can work with an infant car seat and the toddler seat for children of various ages. The sunshade on the Vista toddler seat is large and covers to the knee with the visor open, which the infant car seat will need to rely on the canopy attached to the seat for sun protection.

Twins vs. Multiples of Different Ages

The primary consideration that makes these two situations different is that parents of twins will need the same or similar seating arrangements for both babies, while parents with children of different ages can often manage with different seating arrangements and features. For instance, a sit and stand stroller won't work for infant twins as neither of them can stand. Alternatively, less than half of the strollers will work with two car seats at the same time; something infant twins will likely need, while parents of different aged children probably won't.

The options we tested that accept two car seats are the UPPAbaby Vista Double, Thule Sleek Double, Mountain Buggy Duet, Baby Jogger City Select Double, Peg Perego Book for Two, Chicco Cortina Together, Graco FastAction Fold Duo, Graco Ready2Grow LX, and the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand. The remaining options accept only one infant car seat or none at all.

There are some things to consider when using two car seats with your double stroller. Some brands will only accept their native brand car seat, which will limit your choices of seat or stroller. The Peg Perego Book for Two, both Graco options, and Chicco Cortina Together strollers will only accept their brand of car seat. Given that the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and the Chicco Keyfit 30 both won awards in our Infant Car Seat Review, this may not be a problem if you are prepared to commit to these seats. However, the Graco car seats didn't score that well in our review, and many of the native brands were hard to install on their brand stroller.

The Vista works well with up to two infant car seat carriers while maintaining easy access to the storage bin.

We prefer strollers that can adapt to a variety of infant car seat brands, so you have a broader selection of options and are not locked into a particular brand or price point. The Thule Sleek Double accepts some seats from Chicco, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, Nuna, and B-Safe. The UPPAbaby Vista Double accepts the UPPAbaby Mesa (an award-winning seat), but with the right adapters, several other brands will also work; the same is true of the Baby Jogger City Select Double. The Thule Sleek Double and the UPPAbaby Vista Double also work with two bassinets which makes them a versatile choice for infant twins; the Vista comes standard with one bassinet and the Thule bassinet is sold separately.

The Competition

We considered more than 75 double strollers before choosing our finalists. A notable popular product that didn't make the cut for hands-on testing is described below. We reviewed this option in previous versions of our double review, and it didn't fare well enough to test again. Other strollers we didn't consider, received a significantly high number of negative reviews and comments online, leaving us to assume they wouldn't be able to keep up with the competition in this review.

The Bugagoo Donkey Twin

Bugaboo Donkey Twin- Money, Money, Money

As a luxury side-by-side system, the Donkey Duo (1 bassinet) and Donkey Twin (2 bassinets) are significantly more expensive than the Editors' Choice UPPAbaby Vista Double (the most expensive option in this review) and the Editors' Choice Thule Sleek Double (which is less expensive than the Vista). Like the Donkey Twin, the Vista and Sleek with the second seat can take twins from newborn through childhood for about 40% of the cost. In comparison, the Sleek and Vista's inline system is around narrower and lighter. Plus, the Sleek and Vista can be folded without removing the second seat, while the Donkey's seats must be taken off before folding the frame. For those looking for a luxury stroller with pneumatic wheels, the Donkey certainly has its place among the top-of-the-line elite, but for this review, it didn't feel like it could truly compete with the competition given the price and what it offers compared to the higher scoring strollers we've included.

Some of the standout double strollers in this review, including award winners and top scoring products.

Conclusion

With many two-seaters in the stroller world, there is surely a best product for every family. Whether your passengers are twins or siblings with a vast age difference, there is a stroller in this review that can handle what your little ones dish out. Despite stiff competition, we discovered several products deserving of special recognition (8 in fact!). Because of this, there is an impressive and extensive lineup of award-winners in this review and a couple of honorable mentions that provide features or functions we didn't see in the competition.

No matter what your stroller budget or needs, at least one of the options in this review should fit the bill. Our goal at BabyGearLab is to help parents "crack the code," so they can find the perfect fit without the extensive time and legwork it takes to get there. Whether you are looking for a stroller to take off the beaten path, or one to take on errands, we feel confident this review can steer you in the right direction to find the stroller of your dreams.