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

A good double stroller will make it easier to move around, whether you're walking with your toddler or jogging with your twins. Finding a double stroller that folds easily and is easy to push is crucial.

Our Lab experts recommend side-by-side models with equal reclining and plenty of storage, plus car adapters for infants' seats.

Seating

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

The seating configuration also impacts your comfort while walking through busy streets and sidewalks. Find strollers that have reclining chairs, footrests that recline and large canopy to provide shade for two passengers. Avoid hanging bags from the handlebars, as they can alter the stroller's centre of gravity and cause it to tip.

Double strollers that are of good quality are also equipped with storage compartments for your essentials. Make sure you have compartments in the seat backs or underneath the seats to keep toys, snacks and other necessities handy. You can also use organizer bags and consoles for parents affixed to the handles of the car to keep essentials close at hand during walks or outings.

A side-by-side travel pram is the ideal choice for parents with children of similar ages. They're usually more stable than the stacking type, and they offer better visibility for both passengers. Some options accept two infant car seats, allowing you to transfer your sleeping children from the car to the pram without waking them.

Sit-and stand models are a great option for parents with older children who don't mind their kids sitting in separate places and want some independence. They also allow a larger child to ride with the front. This type of double stroller isn't compatible with newborns and may require more maintenance in the future. However, it could be an excellent option for active families who are looking for the flexibility of a single stroller that transforms into an adult-only model.

The best double strollers are sturdy and easy to maneuver even on rugged terrain or in tight spaces. They are also lightweight and foldable to make it easy to store them in your garage or trunk. This makes them easy to transport when traveling. They are constructed to last and comply with the safety guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP).

Canopy

A canopy protects both the passenger and the sun's rays. Some models come with an visor to further protect children's faces. Our top-scoring canopy options included the BOB Revolution Flex v3.0 Duallie, and the UPPAbaby Vista v2 Dual. Both have giant shades. Both models have adequate coverage and cover children from head to toe while inline models often lack shade or have a single canopy that only covers one seat. This can be problematic for siblings that want different levels of protection.

A quality canopy should be able to fit comfortably on the stroller, and many of our top-rated models do just that. Check the dimensions of the canopy before purchasing, as some might need extra space to extend fully and avoid hitting the handles.

Some parents prefer double strollers with a bassinet or car seat adapters to give them more options in the future. For instance, 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 children who require the transport of more than two kids at a time. This stroller is also able to offer an innovative sit-and-stand design for older kids who prefer to ride on their own.

Other accessories that can make your stroller more functional include parent consoles and organizer bags, which help keep your essentials in reach. They're particularly useful for strollers that aren't used frequently or when you want to store snacks and toys away from prying eyes. Some of these accessories are connected by snaps or straps which makes it easy to remove them when ready for the stroller to be used again.

If you're looking to make an investment that will last for a long time opt for a double stroller that is compatible with infant car seats. It can also be converted into a toddler stroller that has an adjustable bench or glider board. Both the Graco pushchairs travel systems 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 into a triple stroller through the addition of a running board, which is perfect for families that have an active kid who prefers to stay active.

Wheels

The kind of wheels a stroller has makes an impact on how easy it is to push. In general, larger wheels are easier to maneuver and are able to handle more terrain. The material of the wheels also affects how they are to push. Rubber wheels are more durable than plastic ones and can handle rougher surfaces.

Stroller wheels come in different designs, sizes and materials to fit a variety of requirements and environments. Swivel wheels, for instance can make it easier to maneuver through tight corners and spaces. Fixed-wheels offer more stability and are ideal for smooth surfaces. If you are planning to take your stroller off-road or over rough terrain, Pram pushchair consider getting air-filled tires instead of standard rubber tires. These tires have a similar design to bicycle tires and absorb shocks, resulting in more comfortable riding.

Side-by-side double strollers can be larger than tandem strollers, and they can be difficult to fit through narrow doors or aisles of stores. But they give your children equal seating and let them stretch out their legs. They're also generally more maneuverable and easy to steer than tandem strollers.

If you intend to use your stroller for running or biking, look for double joggers that have all-terrain or jogging tires. These tires are bigger, thicker, and feature sealed ball bearings to provide an easier ride on rough surfaces. Certain models, like the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Double Stroller are compatible with a car seats, allowing you to jog while your children are safely secured in their car seats.

Other all-terrain/jogging duos, such as the Valco Baby Tri Mode Duo X allow the addition of a second seat but are generally too bulky to qualify as umbrella doubles. In our testing, we found that the buckles on this stroller were the most difficult to fasten. This can be a problem if you need to squeeze two children on the stroller at once. The stroller is costly and costs a lot more than our top single-to-tandem model, but it comes with top-quality materials and a good selling value.

Stores

A quality double stroller will provide enough storage space for both parents and children. Lack of storage makes it hard for a parent to get around town or bring along all the gear needed on an outing with two kids. In our Lab tests, the UPPAbaby V2 double was a good score in this metric. It has a large accessible, easy-to-access basket that can support up to 30 lbs.

Strollers that have pockets and compartments that are multiple can assist families in organizing small things like wallets, keys and phones. A parent console or organizer bag that is attached to the handlebars of the stroller could be a great option for parents to store their personal belongings when out with the children.

The UPPAbaby Vista has an enormous basket that can carry two car seats for infants. (Not both bassinets, however.) It also features a telescoping bar and brakes that are simple to use. It also has one of the largest maximum allowable weight ratings for seats in our collection, and it folds easily into most door frames.

On the other hand, our testers discovered that the wagon-style Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite has an excellent handlebar that can be adjusted, ideal for parents with different heights. The wagon also has two UV screens that fold down to offer full sun coverage, and its snack tray and cup holders can hold plenty of kid snacks and bottles.

The biggest challenge for any stroller is how to fold it down and then get it back into shape after use, particularly when you have two children in the back. It's the reason it's essential to choose a stroller that is easy to fold and user-friendly fold. Both the UPPAbaby Vista v2 stroller and Evenflo Pivot Xpand have a single-handed, easy-to-use mechanism that lets parents to fold their strollers quickly and efficiently, no matter the configuration they're using.

While a double stroller might seem like a daunting purchase, parents who plan to use the product for several years should be aware that they'll typically pay more for this type of equipment than single strollers. It's also worth checking whether the stroller can be broken down into parts for easier transport and storage, which is an important consideration if you have limited living or vehicle space.