Which Lightweight Double Pushchair Should You Buy?
It's easy to move around in a lightweight double pushchair, particularly if you have children with different age groups. They're generally easy to fold, steer, and transport up and down the stairs.
This City Mini GT2 offers side-by-side seats with plenty of legroom with adjustable reclining, as well as massive UPF 50+ canopy with windows that peek out. It also comes with a frame that expands in width to accommodate an additional car seat or a second passenger.
Side-by-Side
The majority of lightweight double pushchairs we test are side-byside models and are generally recommended for kids who can sit up unassisted since these models tend to be lacking car seat integration. The Thule Urban Glide 2 Double and the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Double, are both excellent choices. They offer adjustable recline for both seats, a large canopy, and padded 5-point safety harnesses. They're also easy to maneuver despite their larger footprints and are great for parents who are worried about fitting through doorways.
The Cybex Duet is a little different due to its clever frame that extends its width to create an additional seat, making it smaller than other pushchairs with side-by-side seating available. It can be pushed through doors that are standard and is easy to maneuver on public transportation. It also doubles as a jogger which is a great feature for those who want to use it with baby carriers or a car seat, and comes in a variety of fun colors.
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 double is another fantastic side-by-side double that is lightweight. It allows for even more customization thanks to a modular frame. Its clever design lets you to transform it into a single or double buggy by adding two carrycots or car seats for children. It can even accommodate twins. It's a great option for families with growing children and the UPPAbaby makes one of the lightest and most stylish umbrella strollers on the market.
Try the egg2 which folds down to the size and weight of a tiny suitcase. It can be used either as a double or single by adding two carrycots or baby car seats. Our home testers were amazed by the ease of move around even with a load of kids.
Side-by-side pushchairs that are lightweight aren't foolproof, though -- if your children are of the same age or stage, they might still argue over who is allowed to ride in which seat. If they are at different heights, it is possible that a tandem design is best for them, as it allows them to face eachother.
Tandem
While side-by-side models are best for children with similar age group, tandem light double strollers come with distinct appeals. They can accommodate a larger car seat, and some have seats that can be reversible or a carrycot that is located in the middle. They are bigger and easy to get in and out of. However, their baskets tend to be smaller than those on single buggies. Many also feature more generously large canopies that have peekaboo windows and a cup holder for parents and padded leg cushions for young children.
The iCandy Peach is another example of a good-value lightweight tandem. The fabrics are less luxurious than some of our top-rated doubles. However, it still looks fantastic and is simple to use. Its one-handed folding is awe-inspiring. Although it takes some practice, Kirstie from our Lab called it "genius". It's not possible to fold it with the carrycot attached however the mechanism for attaching and removing it is simple and fast.
Tandem lightweight double strollers will typically have tighter turning capabilities than side-by-side models. However, they could be harder to drive on uneven surfaces and curbs. They can also be slower to accelerate and heavier to move. This puts strain on your back.
Another alternative is a convertible double buggy that starts out as an individual and then you can add adapters to make it into a double. It can also have a second seat, carrycot, or both in front. The children can share a seat. Some may have the option of adding a buggyboard, which assists an older child to keep up with siblings who are younger.
double infant strollers can be transformed into a twin-sized stroller by purchasing additional cocoons at PS59 each. These cocoons create an area that is flat for newborns. They can be placed side by side or attached to face each other and you can also use them in conjunction with the baby car seat that comes with the pushchair (as as long as you choose a compatible one). Because they're made from high-quality materials, these types of dual-use buggies can often be used for years without showing much wear, which means they have a high potential for resale.
Single-to-Double
This lightweight double buggy was designed for families who love the outdoors and are looking to upgrade from an individual-stroller. It can be transformed into a jogger using a kit that includes air-filled tires as well as all-wheel suspension. It also handles rough terrain well and is a tandem triple, is perfect for twins or children of different ages. It's a great choice for parents who want a stylish design as simple as a single. It is available in a variety of colors.
This iCandy model is very easy to fold with a one-handed system. Although it's heavier than the other single-to-double pushchairs in this review, our home tester Karolina stated that it feels very maneuverable - even with two toddlers and a carrycot in it.
You can purchase add-ons like the Roma Gemini Carrycots (PS100) which are great for babies. The seats are comfortable for toddlers and come with good headrests and lumbar support. There are a variety of options for reclining and recline, with the front seat being able to be adjusted to different positions and the rear seat offering a recline option.
The main drawback to this type of buggy is that it's generally larger overall than doubles that are side-by-side and makes it difficult to maneuver through doorways, and can be tricky to maneuver up and down kerbs. However the suspension and wheels on these models generally are capable of coping with paved surfaces and the fact that they're significantly lighter than the side-by-sides, means you still have plenty of storage space. It's important to remember that strollers of this type aren't as efficient in navigating narrow aisles in supermarkets and can struggle to handle a lot of shopping. It's a bit easier to turn around on the smallest of curved paths but it can be difficult to turn them around on a straight path. Some are also more easy to turn than others, like the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double and the Baby Trend Sit N' Stand Double, for example.
Convertible
Convertible double pushchairs are ideal because they can be adapted to the changing needs of a family. Often, they start as single buggies. They come with adapters that allow you to include a second child's seat, a carrycot, or (in some instances) the car seat to the frame. Some can even convert back to a single as your child gets older and starts to walk or prefers to ride on a buggy board.
This stylish tri-fold double stroller is among of the lightest on our list. It can support up to 40 pounds per child and comes with an integrated storage basket between the seats. The large canopy with a peekaboo window, multi-position reclining seats and a front and back suspensions for smoother and more comfortable riding on rough terrain were appreciated by the home testers. It also has a handy cup holder for the parent and a large, easy-to access basket. However, they noticed that the seats' backs have pockets that aren't big enough to hold more than a cell phone and keys.
This high-end, lightweight side-by-side can be used in more than 20 different configurations and includes two seats and a carrycot. Its impressive feature set includes an ergonomic handlebar with a high profile for better steering; front and rear suspension to smooth rough terrain; a self-standing compact fold with handy straps for easy schlepping; and seven-inch swivel lock front wheels and 10-inch back wheels with suspension for a smoother ride. The only downside is that you'll need to purchase a separate baby carriage or car seat.
This multi-functional tandem is a top choice among our home testers for its easy-to-maneuver size and impressively large shopping basket that can be accessed with both seats in the parent-facing position. Its lightweight weight (about the same as single pushchairs) makes it a breeze to move around. The seats are reversible, which means that you can flip them to face either direction, and the clever way it attaches the second seat or riding board to the rear is highly praised by many. Parents also appreciated the fact that it could accommodate infant carriers and car seats from a variety of brands, including those that don't normally fit into other double buggies.