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Cheap Double Strollers, Best Cheap Double Strollers Review
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Cheap Double Strollers Buying Guide
Stroller selection can be an overwhelming process, especially when this particular mode of transportation has to accommodate the needs of more than one child. Whether you're buying a cheap double stroller for twins or two tots of different ages, there's a lot to consider.
Do you prefer a side-by-side stroller or a tandem stroller? Do you need seats that fully recline? Do you own a car or take public transportation? If you have one or more newborns, you may want your cheap double stroller to accommodate an infant seat (or two). If you have a toddler or preschooler, you may want a jump seat option. Then, of course, there is the price.
Two children are investment enough even before the cost of their multiple accessories. When it comes to cheap double strollers, though, you can relax: there are some excellent models on the market that are priced below $300. Best of all, they don't require any sacrifice of quality, convenience, or even good looks.
Safety 1st and Jeep offer some of the cheapest double strollers, but these models earn mixed reviews from both experts and users. Double stroller reviews for Combi, Graco, and Baby Trend are more consistently positive even for their relatively inexpensive models. Some traditionally high-end stroller manufacturers, like Joovy and Maclaren, also make some well-regarded budget models that sit at the top of the low-cost price range. In short, there's a cheap double stroller available for every lifestyle. To determine which one best meets your needs, here are some factors to consider.
Back to top »What to Look for: Cheap Double Strollers Features
Cheap Double Strollers Safety.
Any double stroller should be sturdy and evenly distribute the weight of all riders to ensure that the stroller doesn't tip. Seat belts and safety harnesses should fasten securely and prevent little children from squirming free or climbing out, and all materials should be nontoxic. Tires should be adequately sized and shock-absorbent, and strollers should lock open securely and collapse only when the adult purposely releases the latch. And watch for sharp or jagged edges that can scrape or cut young passengers, and for hinges located too close to little hands and fingers. Maclaren, the company that manufactures the Maclaren Twin Triumph (starting at $240, Amazon
), recalled all its umbrella strollers in November 2009 due to such a problem with the hinges. These hinges posed a pinching hazard to children and have caused lacerations and fingertip amputation on more than one occasion. Kits to fix the problem are available at no charge through the company. (For more information, click here.)
Safety harnesses are one of the biggest differentiators among cheap double strollers and should be a key consideration when making your purchase. The Combi Twin Sport 2 Side by Side (starting at $200, Amazon
The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller (starting at $190, Amazon
Discount Double Strollers Configuration.
Will you choose a tandem stroller or a side-by-side stroller? Or is a sit-and-stand model the best fit? The discount double stroller configuration you choose will largely depend on the ages of your children and the nature of your strolls.Parents of infant twins or caretakers of two young babies will probably prefer a cheap double stroller that accommodates two infant car seats simultaneously. The Graco Quattro Tour Duo Stroller comes with a car seat adapter for the front seat that holds a Graco SnugRide, SnugRide 32, or Infant SafeSeat car seat, although the rear position holds an infant seat without an adapter. The Safety 1st Two Way Tandem accepts two infant carriers without an adapter but it only meshes with Safety 1st Designer 22 Infant Car Seats. The front seat of the Safety 1st Tandem also reverses, allowing both babies to face one another, a feature appreciated by a double strollers reviewer on Strollers.com.
If you'll have both a young baby and toddler or preschooler on board, you'll probably be juggling the desire for an infant seat attachment with the needs of an older, more active child. In this situation, a sit-and-stand might be the answer. The Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Plus and the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller integrate with a variety of infant seats while giving older children the option of sitting on a rear jump seat or standing to ride. The Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Plus also comes with a rear stroller seat attachment, affording young walkers an additional seating option if they become tired or want to nap. Some parents, including one Amazon reviewer of the Baby Trend, find that sit-and-stand strollers can even carry three children in a pinch.
A more compact alternative to sit-and-stand strollers is the Combi Twin Sport, a side-by-side model that transforms into a travel system on one side while older kids ride forward-facing in the neighboring seat. Though not as versatile as a sit-and-stand, this stroller is significantly smaller and not nearly as heavy, making it a better choice for urban dwellers or those with smaller cars and limited storage space. Cookie Magazine testers love its relatively small footprint and how easily it folds and unfolds.
If you have two older babies or toddlers to care for, think about buying a lighter-weight discount double stroller, such as the Graco DuoRider Stroller, the Maclaren Twin Triumph, or the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport All-Weather Double Stroller. While the Graco DuoRider and the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport have only 3-point harnesses and are unsafe for children under six months of age, the Maclaren Twin Triumph has a 5-point safety harness that is suitable for infants.
Cheap Double Strollers Maneuverability.
Because cheap double strollers are big enough to accommodate two passengers, each style has its maneuverability challenges.Side-by-side strollers are often too wide to navigate through doorways and narrow store aisles, and may elicit glares from passersby on narrow sidewalks. One owner of the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport loves the portability of her stroller, but writes on the Walmart site that she prefers to take two separate strollers when possible. Users of the Combi Twin Sport, including a mother of twins from New York, appreciate that it fits easily through doorways and all but the tightest aisles despite its side-by-side configuration, according to a double strollers review on Babies R Us.
Tandem strollers take up less horizontal space, but infant car seats usually snap into the front rather than the back seat, which places the baby beyond arm's reach. If you're out on the town by yourself, you might also have some difficulty holding open a door and pushing the stroller through. The Safety 1st Two Way Tandem gets notably bad expert and user reviews for its poor turn radius and maneuverability. A review of cheap double strollers on Buzzillions says the comfortable ride and nice sun shades aren't enough to compensate for its awkward steering.
Umbrella strollers, like the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport and the Maclaren Twin Triumph, are the least bulky of the economical double strollers and tend to be the easiest to use. They do not generally accommodate infant carriers, however, and offer fewer frills than their more substantial counterparts.
Budget Double Strollers Storage.
Toting two kids around town obviously means lugging twice the amount of diapers, bottles, snacks, etc. No wonder, then, that double stroller storage is a huge issue for purchasers.Tandem and sit-and-stand strollers lose out in this category because under-seat baskets are more difficult to access and the dangling feet of older backseat riders take up valuable basket space. Most users, including a Buzzillions reviewer of the Combi Twin Sport, aren't deterred and find other ways to store their gear. Commenting on Amazon about the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand, one caregiver says she uses the stroller's rear standing platform for additional storage.
When it comes to keeping a parent's latte and a sippy cup or two within easy grasp, cheap double strollers answer the call with varying levels of success. The Graco Quattro Tour Duo wins top marks in this arena. It has a parent storage tray with two cup holders, two child cup and snack holders under the seat, and an additional child cup and snack tray in the rear seat. The Safety 1st Two Way Tandem and the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand each offer parent organizers with cup holders and child cup and snack trays in the front seat, but neither has a rear child tray. The Combi Twin Sport and the Joovy Caboose Ultralight have front seat child trays, but the Combi Twin Sport gets dinged for lacking parent cup holders. The Graco DuoRider has parent storage, but no child trays, and the Maclaren Twin Triumph and the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport have no cup or snack storage whatsoever. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport doesn't even offer an under-seat storage basket -- the only cheap double stroller we researched that does not.
Cheap Double Strollers Size and Weight.
Cheaper double strollers tend to be heavy and bulky even before the addition of two children and all their gear. After all, double strollers need to be sturdy and stable, and with stability comes weight. That's the bad news. The good news? Most, with the previously noted exception of the Safety 1st Two Way Tandem, make up for their cumbersome qualities with well-engineered steering and overall ease-of-use.Even so, you still need to be able to get the stroller in and out of the car (or on and off the bus) on your own while wrangling two small kids. When selecting your cheap double stroller, don't discount the importance of size and weight. To determine which stroller is the most manageable for you, think about where you use your stroller, how you get there, and the storage capacity of your preferred mode of transportation.
The lightest double strollers tend to be umbrella-style side-by-sides, like the Combi Twin Sport (23 lbs.), the Maclaren Twin Triumph (24 lbs.), and the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport (23 lbs.). These models are the easiest to haul, but you may have to sacrifice some "extras" for the sake of portability, and many are unsuitable for newborns. The Joovy Caboose Ultralight is surprisingly light for a sit-and-stand, weighing in at a mere 21 pounds, compared to the 32-pound Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand. Of the tandem models, the Graco DuoGlider Stroller (starting at $130, Amazon
When it comes to profile, the Combi Twin Sport (24.5"L x 16.25"W x 40.5"H, folded), the Maclaren Twin Triumph (30.11"L x 11.8"W x 33.5"H, folded) and the Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport (10"L x 44"W x 14.5"H, folded) win user praise for being compact and easy to carry from place to place. A globetrotting Buzzillions mom writes in her double stroller review that she appreciates that her Maclaren Twin Triumph makes a good travel companion, whereas another double stroller review by a parent on Leapsandbounds.com says the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Elite ( 40"L x 22"W x 10.5"H, folded) is hard to get through airport security.
Other tandem strollers, like the Graco Quattro Tour Duo (22.5"L X 20"W x 38.25"H, folded), aren't as slim, but have the benefit of being infant-seat compatible. The Graco DuoRider Stroller (22"L x 20"W x 48"H, folded) has a large footprint, but users like that it stands upright when folded. The Safety 1st Two Way Tandem, once again, is the largest low-cost double stroller with folded dimensions of 26"L X 22.5"W x 44.5"H.
Back to top »What to Expect: Cheap Double Strollers Performance
Discount Double Strollers Overall Performance.
Most operators of discount double strollers understand they're not buying a high-performance vehicle. They just want the unit to make it through errands, t-ball practice, and trips to the zoo without the stroller -- or their nerves -- breaking down.Experts at sites like Cookie Magazine give the Combi Twin Sport high marks for safety and ease of use, although they note it's at its best on paved surfaces and indoors. Some users, like a mom posting a double strollers review on Viewpoints, complain that it doesn't handle off-road conditions well, while others, including this Amazon reviewer, report it handily traverses all sorts of terrain.
The Joovy Caboose Ultralight, the Graco DuoRider, the Graco Quattro Tour Duo, and the Maclaren Twin Triumph also earn kudos from experts and consumers for their safety and maneuverability. While experts writing comparative double strollers reviews applaud the Safety 1st Two Way Tandem for, what else, its safety record, they don't look quite as favorably on its clumsy handling. Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand expert reviews are notably absent, but users consistently praise its durability and smooth ride. For added dependability, one Buzzillions double strollers review suggests spending the extra money to buy the Elite version with rubber wheels.
Inexpensive Double Strollers Setup.
It only takes one trip to the grocery store with your hands full of bags and babies to understand the importance of easy stroller setup. Users of double strollers are looking for one less thing to wrestle with in the parking lot, so intuitive folding mechanisms and one-handed release latches get rave reviews from buyers.Maclaren Twin Triumph purchasers, like this double strollers reviewer on Babygizmo, value the ability to open and close the stroller with one hand free, but note there's a learning curve when it comes to mastering the process. The owner of a Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand, in a post on Epinions, laments that the sunshade must be in just the right position before she can flatten the stroller for storage.
Other users find that continuous collapsing of their budget double strollers can lead to damaged parts. Combi Twin Sport owners appreciate that the stroller is simple to fold up and break down, and compliment the useful carrying strap, but note that the latch that holds the stroller shut seems to wear out quickly. Similarly, a double strollers review on Target warns that the parent organizer on the Graco Quattro Tour Duo pops off easily when folding and unfolding the stroller.
Low-cost Double Strollers Comfort.
No matter how many bells and whistles a stroller has, or how easy it is to use, none of that matters if your tiny riders refuse to stay in their seats. Ultimately, child comfort will be the deciding factor in assessing the success -- or failure -- of a stroller purchase.Consider that some older children don't like sitting in back, making tandem strollers a challenge if your infant seat only attaches in the front seat. A reviewer of budget double strollers on OneStepAhead.com grumbles that the backseat rider can't see over the front-seat sunshade of her Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand.
That design flaw is precisely the reason a Maclaren Twin Triumph owner chose a side-by-side model, according to a low-cost double strollers review on Epinions. Of course, keep in mind that some kids fight when they sit side-by-side because they have better access and can easily "bother" one another.
Investigate whether or not both seats in a lower-priced double stroller recline, and if they recline all the way. Can they recline when there is an infant seat attached? This could be important if you plan to be out and about during naptime, as one dismayed reviewer posting on Target discovered when she couldn't lower the seat sufficiently in the Graco DuoRider for her son to nap.
If you're pondering a tandem stroller, will each child have adequate foot room when the other seat is reclined? This is an issue with sit-and-stand models. One mom writes on Amazon that she chose the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand over the Joovy Caboose Stand On when she discovered that the jump seat was unusable with an infant seat in front. Another common bone of contention with sit-and-stand models is that younger toddlers often tire of standing or sitting on the jump seat. The Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand gives children the option of a traditional seat to ride in, whereas the Joovy Caboose does not and may be better suited to preschool-aged children.
One final note:
Often, thrifty parents choose to save money by purchasing second-hand baby gear or using hand-me-down equipment. It is strongly suggested that you not do this in the case of strollers. If you do decide to use a pre-owned stroller, make sure you know where it's been and how it's been used, and check for recalls at cpsc.gov. Opt for a new model if the stroller is more than six years old, as safety standards change. Back to top »
Best Cheap Double Strollers
Combi Twin Sport 2 Side by Side
This side-by-side model accommodates up to 45 lbs. per seat and features 5-point harnesses, sun canopies, all-wheel suspension, washable seat cushions, and a deep reclining seat for an infant; Combi Twin Sport is compatible with an infant car seat. Experts rate this stroller a best buy for its light weight and easy steering/ease of use; users like that it fits through doorways and shopping aisles despite its side-by-side configuration. Read more »
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Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Plus
Features on this model include a rear foot brake, shade canopies, 5-point harnesses, child footrests, parent and child trays, and a fully reclining rear seat; also compatible with an infant car seat; the child seats and jump seat each hold up to 45 lbs. Parents purchase this stroller for its versatile seating options despite limited foot room and a hard-to-access storage basket. Read more »
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Good Cheap Double Strollers
Graco Quattro Tour Duo Stroller
A tandem stroller with an elevated rear seat, parent storage tray, multi-position reclining seats, fully reclining rear seat, 3- and 5-point harnesses in front and rear, drop-down storage basket, one-hand fold, child cup and snack holders, and rotating canopies; front seat holds up to 50 lbs. and rear seat up to 40 lbs. Purchasers appreciate that the infant seat rides rear-facing and the stroller can convert to hold two infant carriers; experts are impressed by the one-touch brakes and overall ease of use. Read more »
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Maclaren Twin Triumph
A side-by-side umbrella stroller with carrying strap, sun shades, rain cover, 5-point harnesses, two under seat storage baskets, independently reclining multi-position seats, foam handles, and washable seat liners; each seat holds up to 55 lbs. Experts and users value its compact size and ease of steering, but note that it doesn't accommodate infant carriers and comes with few extra features.
READER NOTE: All Maclaren umbrella strollers have recently been recalled due to faulty hinges. These hinges pose a pinching hazard and have been known to cause fingertip lacerations and amputations. When purchasing a Maclaren stroller, please ensure that a hinge cover kit correcting this problem is included. If you already own a Maclaren stroller, please contact the manufacturer to receive a kit free of charge. (http://recall.maclaren.us/)
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Don't Bother Double Strollers
Safety 1st Two Way Tandem
A tandem-style stroller featuring stadium-style seating, under-seat storage, parent tray, removable front snack tray, front and rear canopies, and fully reclining seats; 3-point harness in front and 5-point harness in back. This stroller wins kudos for the reversible front seat and its ability to hold two infant seats, but experts and users pan its poor maneuverability. Read more »
Products Mentioned in This Review
Joovy Caboose Ultralight StrollerGraco DuoRider Stroller
Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport
Combi Twin Sport EX
Safety 1st Two Way Tandem
Graco Quattro Tour Duo Stroller
Maclaren Twin Triumph
Combi Twin Sport 2 Side by Side
Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Plus
