Product Comparison: Double Strollers
Now that I have 2 children 22 months apart I have been pining for a double stroller. I have tried to get by without one for as long as I can with various strategies. One way is putting my 3-month-old son in a Baby Bjorn while pushing my 2-year-old girl in our huge Graco stroller or in an umbrella stroller. Another way is pushing my baby in his car seat on a travel frame stroller and chasing my daughter. Going out has been difficult! We had 3 different strollers in my car: 1 small umbrella stroller, the huge Graco travel system stroller, and the travel frame. I wanted to only have 1 stroller to fit my needs. I decided that it was time to put some cash down on a double stroller.
There are so many factors to consider before buying a double stroller. No double stroller is perfect. You just have to pick one that is closest to your needs.
New or Used?
Buying a used double stroller can be a great deal if you can find one that is in pristine condition. I had three friends tell me that they had bought used double strollers and found that the wheels stuck and didn’t ride smooth. I also searched Craigslist every day and even placed a “Want to Buy” ad, but never found what I was looking for. I could have bought a nice used one from Ebay, but we are going on a trip and I didn’t want to wait for it to be shipped.
A new double stroller is clean and has new wheels. I plan to use my stroller for a very long time, so I felt like I would get my money’s worth with a new one.
Side-by-side or Tandem?
My friend, McKenna, has used both a tandem and a side-by-side. She said that the child in back of the tandem couldn’t see and didn’t like sitting back there. Although, it was nice and compact. A side-by-side allows both children to see and be next to each other. I know that my daughter loves being next to her brother, so I felt like she would love it more than a tandem.
Jogging Style or Umbrella Style?
This is just a matter of preference. Where are you going to use it more? A jogging stroller is great for running, parks, the zoo, and amusement parks. Jogging strollers can also take up a lot of room in the truck and be heavy. An umbrella style is great for shopping and doctor office visits, but can also be used at parks and amusement parks. I didn’t want a huge jogging stroller and felt like I would get more use out of the umbrella style. I like the lightweight compactness of the umbrella style.
A Checklist to Consider When Shopping for Double Strollers
- How easy it can break down and set up
- The weight of the entire unit
- The room it will take up in your trunk
- The maximum weight the stroller can carry
- Storage pockets
- The number of sitting positions
- Durability. Does it have a good reputation for lasting a long time?
- Price
3 Strollers That I Considered Purchasing
Peg Perego Aria Twin Stroller – $339
A mom of two sets of twins in the store told me that she had used this stroller. The wheels got stuck often. Also the plastic piece that opens the stroller had broken off on a tarmac and airport staff had to find it. The sales guy at Babies R Us also immediately said that this was a horrible stroller, because it is made of cheap plastic and was not worth its expensive price tag.
Maclaren Twin Triumph Stroller – $265
The Mac Daddy of aluminum double strollers, this pricey double stroller is incredibly durable. It also has the smoothest ride of all umbrella double strollers. The 5-point harness is easy to snap together. Also the straps are made of a soft material which is nice when rubbing against skin. The bottom strap is thin and while it held my 3 month old fine, it didn’t look very secure. The maximum weight is 110 lbs which means it could last a very long time as your children grow. The pockets in back are also nice, because they have a velcro lid to secure the contents in the pockets. One friend complained that it isn’t easy to set up, but you can get used to it. Also, I think you have to use your foot to pull up on a pedal to break it down, which may hurt your feet if you wear flip flops often. The sleek, simple design is nice.
This stroller weighs 24 pounds (the weight of my toddler) and is easy to set up and break down. To break down you have to step down on a pedal and pull up two handles. The downside is that it only clicks together on one side when folded, so the other side hangs open a bit. This isn’t really a big deal, because the handle to carry it is on the side that clicks together. This stroller also has 4 adjustable positions. I liked that the bottom strap of the 5-point harness is very wide securing in a little baby. It also comes with a boot that folds out to give further security to holding a newborn. The shade doesn’t cover much. The pockets underneath and in the back are adequate. Also, the ride is smooth enough. It is quite comparable to the MacLaren Twin Triumph.
We ended up getting the Chicco Trevi Twin, because it was marked down to $169 from $229. We couldn’t justify spending almost $100 more on the MacLaren. We immediately used this stroller after purchasing it this weekend at an outdoor mall and got many looks and a compliment. It is so convenient to have them in one stroller! A bonus is that my husband likes to push it, because the handles are wide apart and they are comfortable for his broad shoulders and his height. I am in love with my new double stroller.
Do you have a double stroller? Which one? Do you like it? What did you consider when purchasing a double stroller?
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This is very helpful information! When we have another, we may have to get a new double. Ours is a tandem hand-me-down and it’s been great, but it is heavy!!!
That’s so disappointing that the quality of the Peg Perego is so low. They’re usually pretty good strollers. Thanks for the helpful info, Amanda! Hope your new stroller is working well for you.
With my youngest being 21 months apart I am in the same boat. We have used both the tandem and side by side. I am not a fan of either one. They are all bulky and awkard to push in a store. Really the only time we use one is at a park or in the mall. But since we have bought a wagon we use this for all park adventures. I am currently looking at the sit and stand stroller. My friend has one and she loves it. I am thinking about asking her to use it for a day to see if I love it or hate it.
I am so glad that you didn’t buy the Peg Perego. I had it when the boys were smaller and I hated it. It was soo hard to push and the wheels constantly got stuck. I was surprised because we have the Peg Perego Pliko single stroller and it is fabulous. I ended up selling my double stroller and getting a Maclaren umbrella stroller. Liam usually wants to walk now, so it is working for us. The picture of Rome and Anabelle is adorable! It looks like they love their new ride.
I think the side by side is a great choice…we used to have a tandem and besides the frustration of the child in the back not being able to see, they are also so heavy!! I love the colors of your stroller.:) We now have a sit and stand stroller and it works great. I would highly recommend it!
@Sara & Jennifer – I thought about a sit-n-stand too. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to keep Annabelle in it. She likes to get out and walk a lot. I wanted a 5 point harness that will keep her strapped in when I dont want her running off.
@Stephanie – I could NOT decide between the Chicco and Maclaren. The Maclaren is the one I originally wanted, but the Chicco was such a good deal at $100 less (and being on clearance.)
@Jennifer – I got this stroller on sale, because it is last year’s colors! The new one is green and brown, but I like the orange and gray better.
What a timely post! I am going crazy with the whole double stroller thing. I have a 3 year old and one due in July. I had thought of the Maclaren, but it wouldn’t hold up my diaper bag. The sit-n-stand had almost no storage, and if you hang your bag on the bars, then it gets in the way of the child in the back. I am currently thinking of getting the City Mini by Baby Jogger. It’s not really a jogger, and weighs only 26 pounds, which is pretty light for a double. It also has the easiest fold of any stroller I’ve ever seen. Anyone have any experience with one of these? What do you think of it?
I am in search of the perfect double stroller, as well. I have a 2 1/2 yr. old and a 3 mo. old. I’m looking at the Maclaren Twin Triumph and the Twin Techno. The Twin Techno is more expensive but features the extendable leg rests that I may need for the baby. Although the Triumph does not have extendable leg rests, it does claim to be suitable from birth. It’s also a little lighter than the Techno. (23 vs. 26 lbs., I believe) I have a single Maclaren (Quest) and absolutely love it. Anyone have any experience with the Twin Triumph or Techno…especially with a toddler and infant?
Thanks!
I have 12 mo twins and I’m looking into purchasing a lightweight side by side. I have the peg perego duette sw and have absolutely loved it, and we will continue to use it for years to come. We transfer the girls from their car seats to the stroller frame when they are sleeping and we use the big seats when they are awake.We also have the valco twin trimode for going on walks and taking trips to the zoo, amusement parks, etc.. We also love the valco. The problem is that both of these strollers take up a lot of trunk space, and the valco is heavy for me to lift. I went to babies r us and test drove the maclaren twin triumph and the maclaren twin techno, and I liked them both. The triumph was lighter and more compact, but the techno had a better sunshade, padding, and seat recline. I’m leaning toward the techno because it’s got extra features which will make my life easier. Can anyone confirm that the 2009 techno has redesigned sun shades? The common complaint for the 2008 model was the shades were too small, and according to their website it appears as though they have changed the design. Unfortunately we live in a small town and I haven’t found a 2009 model to test drive.