How Easy Is It to Push and Fold a Double Stroller?

If you're taking your toddler for the streets or jogging with your twins, the right double stroller makes it easier for everyone to move around. However, finding one that is easy to push and fold is a must.

Our Lab experts recommend side-by-side models that have equal recline and ample storage space, as well as car adapters for infants' seats.

Seating

When looking for a double stroller, your seating options are important. You might want to think about a tandem stroller that lets one child stand while the other one sits or a side by tandem option that allows your children to sit together.

Seating arrangements can also affect your comfort when you're navigating busy streets and sidewalks. Find strollers with reclined chairs, footrests that recline and large canopies to provide shade for two passengers. Beware of hanging bags on the handlebars as they could alter the stroller's centre of gravity and cause it to tip over.

Double strollers of good quality will also have convenient storage compartments for your essentials. Find storage compartments underneath the seats or in the backs of the seats. These are great places to store your snacks, toys, and other essentials. Parent consoles and organizer bags that are attached to handles are also useful to keep essentials in reach on walks or outings.

For parents with children who are getting older, a stroller that is side-by-side could be the best option. They are usually more stable and offer better visibility for both passengers than strollers that stack. Some models can also accommodate two infant car seats, allowing you to move your sleeping children from the car to the stroller without waking them up.

Sit-and-stand models are a good option for parents with older children who don't mind their children sitting in separate places and want some independence. They also allow an older child to ride in the front. This type of double stroller usually isn't suitable for newborns and could require more maintenance as years pass by, but it can be a great option for families with active children who want the versatility of one stroller that can be converted to a double-kid version.

The best double strollers are strong and easy to maneuver even on rugged terrain or in tight spaces. They are also light compact travel pram, foldable and foldable to make it easy to store them in your trunk or garage. This makes them easy to transport when you travel. They are made to last and comply with the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP).

Canopy

A canopy shields both passengers from the sunlight, and some models offer a visor that shields children's faces. Models with giant shades like the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie and the UPPAbaby Vista V2 Double received our top scores for their canopy options. They both provide plenty of coverage and cover children from head to knee, whereas inline options tend to skimp on the shade or offer only a single canopy that covers one seat, which can be problematic for siblings that want different levels of protection.

A good canopy should be able to fit comfortably on the stroller, and a lot of our top-rated models do just that. Be sure to verify the dimensions of the canopy prior to purchasing, as some might require extra space to expand completely and not hit the handles.

Some parents like double strollers that come with an infant bassinet and car seat adapters to give them more options in the future. For example the UPPAbaby Vist v2 Double features an infant seat as well as an added RumbleSeat making it a great option for families with twins or young children who might require the transport of more than two children at once. This versatile stroller offers an unique sit-and-stand arrangement for older children who prefer to travel on their own.

The organizer bags and consoles for parents can also help your stroller be more efficient. They keep your essentials to hand. They're particularly useful for strollers that aren't used frequently, when you might want to keep snacks and toys away from prying eyes. Some of these accessories can be secured by straps or snaps, which makes it easy to remove them once you're ready to put them on the stroller once more.

If you're thinking of a long-term investment opt for a double stroller that's compatible with infant car seats. It can also grow into a toddler stroller complete with the option of a bench seat or a glider board. Both the Graco Travel System RoomFor2 and UPPAbaby's Vista Duallie include a bassinet which is compatible with car seats, a toddler seat, and a RumbleSeat. Both can be converted to a triple stroller by the addition of a running board, which is perfect for active families with one kid who prefers to stay on the move.

Wheels

The type of wheels a stroller is equipped with can make an impact on how it is easy to push. In general, larger wheels are easier for you to maneuver and are able to handle more terrain. The material the wheels are made of also plays a role in how difficult or simple they are to push. Rubber wheels are more durable than plastic ones and are able to handle rougher surfaces.

Stroller wheels come in various styles, sizes and materials to meet a range of environments and needs. For instance, swivel wheels make it easier to navigate narrow spaces and make tight turns. Fixed wheels are more stable and suitable for smooth surfaces. If you intend to use your stroller on rough terrain or off-road, air-filled tires are more suitable than standard rubber tires. These tires are similar to bicycle tires and absorb shocks, making for a more comfortable ride.

Side-by-side double strollers are larger than tandem strollers, and they can be difficult to fit through narrow entrances or aisles of stores. They offer your children the same amount of room to sit down and stretch their legs. They're usually also more maneuverable and easy to steer than tandem strollers.

If you plan to use your stroller for a bike or run then you should choose a double jogger that has special all-terrain tires or jogging wheels. These are large, thicker and come with sealed ball bearings for a smoother ride over uneven surfaces. Certain models, such as the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Double Stroller are compatible with car seats which allow you to jog with your children safely strapped to their car seats.

Other all-terrain/jogging strollers like the Valco Baby Tri Mode Duo X allow two children in front but are too bulky to qualify as umbrella doubles. And in our testing the restraint buckles of this model were among the most difficult to secure, which could be a problem when you're trying to fit two kids into the stroller at once. This stroller is expensive and costs a lot more than our main top-rated single-to-tandem option, but it does come with high-quality materials and good return value.

Storage

A quality double stroller should offer plenty of storage space for both parents and children. Lack of storage space could make it difficult for parents to go on errands and bring everything they need for a family outing. In our Lab tests we found that the UPPAbaby Vista v2 Double scored well in this metric, with a large and easily accessible basket that can accommodate up to 30 lbs.

Strollers that have multiple compartments or pockets can help families keep track of small items, such as phones, keys, and wallets. Additionally, a parent console or organizer bag attached to the handlebars may be a handy space for dads and moms to keep their personal belongings while out with their children.

The UPPAbaby vista comes with an enormous basket that can carry two car seats for infants. (Not both bassinets, though.) It also features the ability to telescopically adjust its bar and has easy-to use brakes. It also has one of the largest maximum allowable seat weight ratings in our lineup and a simple fold that fits through most standard door frames.

On the flip side our test participants discovered that the wagon-style Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite has a great adjustable handlebar, perfect for parents of different heights. The wagon also has two UV screens that fold down to provide full sun coverage, and its cup and snack tray holders can hold plenty of bottles and snacks for kids.

A big challenge for any stroller is the ability to fold it and return it to shape after use, particularly if you're dealing with an infant and a toddler in the back. That's why it's important to choose a stroller with a smooth and user-friendly fold. Both the UPPAbaby Vista v2 stroller and Evenflo Pivot Xpand have a single-handed, simple-to-use mechanism that allows parents to fold their strollers quickly and efficiently, no matter what configuration they're in.

While a double stroller may seem like a huge purchase, parents who plan to use the product for a number of years should keep in mind that they'll generally pay more for this type of stroller than single strollers. It's also worth determining if a stroller can be broken down into parts for storage and transport This is a crucial factor if you're in a tight living or vehicle space.