How to Choose the Best Double Strollers

When you're going for an easy stroll or taking on your morning jog with the kids, a double stroller could make life with twins or two children of varying ages a lot easier. With numerous options available, how do you choose the most appropriate one for your family?

Our new team member, Kerry, got her stroller testing feet wet with this expandable model that allows you to change the seating configuration for different requirements.

Safety

If you're running through the zoo, running errands or out for a trick-or-treat with your kiddos, your stroller needs to be safe. This means a sturdy frame and comfortable harnesses for kids who sit down, and easy-to-grab handles for toddlers who stand. It should also be able fit through doors, be easy to fold and move and easy to move. It should also be reasonably priced.

We put every double stroller we tested through vigorous testing in our lab, at the Zoo, on the city streets, and during family outings in suburban neighborhoods. Our lab tests evaluate the stroller's stability and maneuverability as well as ease of steering and handling, suspension comfort for the driver and the rider weight capacity as well as the height of the canopy on the seat and storage space.

In addition to the regular safety checks performed by our experts in strollers, we request parents to give feedback on their experiences with each model. We then consider all of that information when making our recommendations.

If you're looking for a secure stroller that is high-quality, then start with our top picks. These strollers are flexible and can be used with infant car seats. They are available in tandem or single stroller designs, and are suitable for children from birth to elementary school.

The best double strollers are designed to grow with your family. They're sleek and stylish and can accommodate many different customization options and can accommodate toddlers and infants in a tandem or side-byside (single-file) seating designs. A lot of them also have a large storage basket and a handlebar that can be telescopically adjusted, as well as one-handed fold mechanisms.

Consider a tandem stroller with a bench seat at the back for a third child if you have twins or a child who is similar in age. These tandem strollers are a great choice for siblings who would like to be together, but may not be able to do so in a standard stroller. They could end up fighting or arguing. You can also find convertible models, which allow you to remove the bench seat of your child when they're ready to go without the car seat.

Comfort

The best double strollers have comfortable child seats that have plenty of padding and support. The best double strollers come with plenty of storage space, large legroom and footwells for children, as well as a UPF 50+ canopy which provides fantastic sun protection. The seats should recline at an angle to ensure children are comfortable, and they should have calf bars that permit parents to alter the position of each seat independently. The handlebars should be comfortable and easy to maneuver, says Alli Cavasino who is a certified child passenger safety technician. The handlebars should be close enough to the kids' seats that you can reach them and hold onto them. If the handlebars on the stroller are not close enough it will be difficult to maintain your balance and good form while pushing them.

The ride should be smooth even on rough or rough surfaces. Some of the models we test had shock absorbers to ensure that the ride is stable. Others have both rear and front suspensions, which decrease the amount of force you need to push them and improve your control over them. The wheels should have a durable tread and be made of premium rubber.

We looked for the most versatile double-strollers that could be used from the age of infancy to toddlerhood. A few of the ones we found can be configured as tandem strollers or side-byside, and one of them is the Uppababy Vista v2, can even be converted into a single-file stroller for infants. This model is three times more expensive as our main tandem model however its materials are more durable and it should last longer.

The best double strollers will be lightweight and able to be maneuvered for long walks or trips to the zoo, park, and other errands. They're generally larger than single strollers, and as such they might not be able to fit through narrow doorways or crowded store aisles. Some are also priced more than single-seat models however it's reasonable given that you're getting a lot more value for your dollars. The models we recommend are safe for kids and adults alike and will continue to grow with your family.

Convenience

If you're going to spend the money to buy a double stroller, you'll need one that's convenient to push and put away. The stroller should be lightweight and easily fits in your car's trunk or at home. It should be able navigate rough terrain and take precise turns. The best double-strollers have adjustable calf support, and pushchairsandprams seats that recline. They also provide UPF sun protection. The canopy should be big enough to protect both kids and, if you're concerned about getting the sun in their eyes, choose one with a window that can be opened for peek-aboo.

Your children's ages and stages will influence the kind of stroller you choose to be best for you. For instance, parents of twins might opt for a convertible stroller that holds two infant car seats at the same time and a family with an older child and a toddler might prefer a side-by-side double. You'll have to decide if you want strollers that can go through narrow doors and aisles of grocery stores or on airplanes.

In our Lab tests, we discovered that the majority of double strollers were easy to fold and move. Most double buggy strollers fold in just one or two steps and are compact enough to fit into the majority of cars that are compact double stroller. They're also designed to be sturdy when folded, which makes them much easier to put back together.

Some of the top double strollers come with practical features for parents like a one-parent cup holder as well as a large storage basket. You should consider whether the stroller comes with a lock on the front seat so that you can keep your children from escaping when they start getting antsy. Some of the best strollers include a universal car seat adapter and can be transformed into a single-seater as your children grow.

The price tag on some of the most expensive double strollers is a bit expensive, but they usually have better build quality and resale value than lower-end models. They are also more maneuverable and can withstand rough terrain, like urban sidewalks or parks.

Style

When parents are shopping for a double-stroller they're looking for much more than just a way to transport their two children. They're looking for a light stroller that can be maneuvered with sufficient storage space on the inside and thoughtful features that allow it to grow with the kids--and be easy for them to push and maneuver. Because they will be carrying more than the children, the stroller must be comfortable on their backs and shoulders.

This is why the top double strollers are sleek, allow for a variety of options for customization, and be adapted to infant car seats for an easy transition from baby to toddler. They are available in tandem (single-file seating) as well as side-by-side. They are even light enough for running.

In addition to size, parents should also consider whether the double stroller can fit through doorways and other narrow spaces. Fortunately, the majority of models we tested in our most recent update can clear doors that are standard for exteriors that measure 36 inches wide. Moreover, most can accommodate interior doors that range from 28 to 35 inches wide.

Other features we consider when reviewing the best double strollers is the speed and ease with which they fold and unfold, how large the cargo basket is, how comfortable the seats are and how adjustable the canopies are. We also look at how comfortable the seat straps and buckles are for seated kids and how easy it is to reach and adjust the height of the handlebar.

Our top selection, Uppababy Vista V2, for instance, is a light-weight model and has plenty of storage space for both children. It has one parent cup holder, seats that recline independently, and a large UPF 50+ canopy that has peekaboo windows. Its cushioned seat straps and buckles are among the most comfortable we have found in our tests and we found the seat to be among the easiest to secure for children of all age groups.

If you're still not sure if you're ready to purchase a double stroller, Facebook Marketplace and other second-hand sites often have good-condition used options for affordable costs. Make sure you do your homework and look for any signs of damage before purchasing.