5 Double Strollers We Love

I recently had a my second baby and figured out quickly that I was in the market for a double stroller. My first son, Wyatt, is 3, and while he walks most of the time, we still find ourselves pulling out the stroller if he needs to nap or just take a seat when he’s tired of walking (sound familiar?). And my infant… well, he’s just 8 weeks old, so he needs a stroller 100% of the time.

There’s actually a lot more double stroller options out there than you might think. And the one you choose will be largely dependent on your own lifestyle. Ask yourself: What do I need this stroller for? Long trips around town or short trips because you have a car? Will I be using it alone most of the time? If so you need something that is easy to maneuver, lift if need be and fold down easily. How much do I want to spend? How much room do I really have in my house?

Me? I live in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with my husband, work full time and I’m out and about with my kids every chance I get. We’re going to museums, restaurants, parks, grocery stores, shopping, playgrounds…. you name it, I’m there. So I need something that is going to work with our busy city life.

To find out which double stroller was the best fit for our lifestyle, my husband and I took a few of the latest and greatest for a spin around Brooklyn. We tested out how they’d perform on our daily grind, from carrying them up and down the front stoop (NYC moms, you know what I’m talking about) to maneuvering in our teeny, tiny coffee shop.

Here is what we found out.

Mountain Buggy Duet Double Stroller, $649.99

Things we liked:

• For a side-by-side seat configuration, this stroller is super-narrow (just 25″ wide!). Mountain Buggy claims it’s as wide as a single stroller, and they are right. This puppy fits through the smallest of spaces. I took it to the grocery store and was SHOCKED when I could fit through the space up by the cashier.
• It’s easy to fold down, with literally one button!
• There’s ample amount of storage under the stroller — great for all your daily errands.
• Both seats lie flat so infant can use it from infancy on.

Things we would like:

• The positioning of the brakes wasn’t ideal for me — it made it hard for me to lift the stroller.
• It could be a little more summer friendly. When the seat was fully reclined, my 3 year-old was looking for more ventilation, and the stroller shade didn’t feel as long as some of the other doubles we tested.

You should know:

• You can purchase the Cary Cot Plus, which is a bassinet that can also turn into a parent-facing chair for a child up to 33 lbs.
• The bar on the front comes off easy.

Perfect for:

Any type of living, whether you’re in the city or the suburbs. It fits through most doors so you can get around in the city with ease, and it folds down easy so you can pop it in your car and take around the suburbs.

UPPAbaby G-LINK Double: $499

Things we liked:

• It’s super light weight. At 25 lbs, this was the lightest of all the strollers we tested.
• It also easy to fold down.
• It’s great for infants: the G-LINK fully reclines, and it also comes with a plush head insert and snap-on mesh foot barrier.
• The seats are open and breezy for kids.

Things we would like:

• For a lightweight stroller, it’s wider than we expected, at 30″. But don’t worry, it does fit through most standard city doors.
• The break can get caught on stairs when going up and down, and lock or unlock accidentally.

You should know:

• There are double pockets on the back of the chair to keep stuff in as well as storage below.
• It has a handle on the side so you can carry easily when folded.

Perfect for:

Taking on trips because it’s so lightweight and easy to fold down. It’s also great for small spaces, like city apartments, since it has a relatively small footprint when folded.

Baby Jogger City Select Double: $529.99 + $199 (second seat)

Things we liked:

• Both seats are the same size so infant and toddler can fit in both.
• Talk about versatility! This stroller has over 16 configurations.
• It’s easy to maneuver, despite it’s large size.
• There’s great storage below the seats.

Things we would like:

• The breakdown could be easier. Folding this stroller requires you to take both seats off. Since I live in an apartment and don’t have a lot of space, I prefer my entire stroller to fold away and store as one piece.
• It’s an awkward shape to lift up and down stairs.

You should know:

• The second seat is sold separately for $199.
• The handlebar adjusts to your height (so tall dads are in luck here!), and there is a hand-operated parking brake that you can control within reach.

Perfect for:

A mom who wants to switch between a single and double stroller, because it works well as both. This would also be great for a person who has a little more room to store the stroller. For a city mom, elevator living would make this stroller ideal.

phil&teds Voyager: $649 + $199 for (second seat)

Things we liked:

• Both seats can convert to a bassinet, which is perfect for a newborn! Plus you don’t have to commit to one or the other for your baby, in case your toddler wants the top one day, and the bottom the next.
• Since it’s an in-line stroller, it’s pretty much the same width as single stroller, making it easy to fit through tight spaces.
• You can fold this stroller with both chairs still attached.

Things we would like:

• The second seat is pretty close to the ground by design, which can be distracting for a toddler who loves to pick up everything… garbage included.
• It could have a little more storage space. While there’s ample room for the average mom, when you’ve got a full city day of errands, a larger basket can make a big difference.

You should know:

• phil&ted’s youtube videos are very helpful when it comes to putting this stroller together.
• The voyager fabrics come in four wipe clean, waterproof colorways.

Perfect for:

People who have to maneuver through narrow spaces. The length of the stroller is a bit long, but the footprint is similar to a single stroller in width. It’s also more ideal for parents with elevators than stairs, since it’s an awkward shape to carry.

BOB Gear Revolution Flex Duallie: $568

Things I liked:

• It feels sturdy and safe. Nobody was messing with us when we were out in those city streets.
• It was easy to maneuver, especially when out for a jog with my older son (BOB recommends babies are at least 8 months old before riding in the stroller during jogging. See below for more info.).
• Accommodates an infant right in the seat from 8 weeks on.
• The adjustable padded handlebar can be moved into 9 positions.

Things I would like:

• As a city mom, I would have liked this stroller be to a little smaller. It’s hard to get in and out of smaller spaces or throw in the back of your car or cab.

You Should Know:

• The 2016 model has a new car seat adapter so make sure you have the right one.
• According to BOB’s site, you can walk with baby right away when using the BOB Infant Car Seat Adapter and compatible infant car seat. However, BOB suggests babies be at least 8 weeks old before riding in the stroller without an Infant Car Seat Adapter and compatible car seat. BOB recommends babies be at least 8 months old before running, jogging or off-road use.

Perfect for:

An active mom who is looking to take her babies along on her journeys. It’s great for serious running, but also a solid pick for an everyday stroller. It’s got a large footprint though, so ideal for someone with space and an elevator.

Photography by Evan Gubernick of 485 Creative for Well Rounded NY.