A Proactive Rant About Compact Double Buggy
What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says that the side-byside is small enough to fit through most doors and can accommodate two car seats or carrycots. It has a self-standing fold and handy carry straps for easy schlepping.
The canopies are also simple to move and lift up and down the stairs. The canopies have generously sized windows and openings that peek out.
Size
A large shopping basket as well as rear and front suspension are the most important elements to look for in a double buggy. You may also want to consider whether it's a travel system or if you can add a car seat or carrycot. Those are important considerations if you're planning to bring your kids on public transport or on longer journeys.
You should consider the Leclerc Kooper X2 if you are looking for a compact, double buggy you can use right from the time you are born. This side-byside model comes with a clever frame that expands widthways to to accommodate two children. The seats have an option to recline and can be positioned in a different way, which gives you the option of one child leaning back and taking a nap while the other looks out at their surroundings. The seat comes with a large UPF 50+ canopy, with an open window.
Another great option for newborn twins is the Mountain Buggy Duet. This is the slimmest side-by-side twin pushchair available and only 63cm in width, it should fit through most doorways. compact twin stroller can be used with two car seats or one carrycot, and comes with lie-flat seats suitable from birth.
Tandem double buggies, that have the children positioned side by side they are a popular choice for twins or for parents of a baby and a toddler. However, they tend to have a wider space than single-seaters and may be difficult to manoeuvre on narrow pavements or through doorways.
The iCandy Orange tandem buggy is an extremely popular tandem that can grow with your family. It offers 30 different seating configurations. It can be used with twins or a baby and a toddler or three children if you purchase iCandy's "PiggyBack" board (which is available separately). It has soft suspension that makes light work of kerbs and can be used in a mono or double mode. You can attach one stroller to the top to store additional items.
Weight
A good double buggy should be light and easy to push. It should also have spacious shopping baskets, a rear and front suspensions to make it easier to get around rough terrains and, ideally, be suitable for twins or siblings of different age groups.
Many compact double buggies include frames that can be used to support infant car seats. They also come with branded adaptors that fit the most popular models from Cybex BeSafe and Maxi-Cosi. These are great choices for those who want to avoid having separate strollers for your smaller children who have medical needs.
However, they generally have a bigger space than side-byside buggies and can be harder to fit through doors and on public transport. If this is important to you, look through the product details to see what alternatives are available.
If you're looking for the smallest double pushchair available, check out the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's the slimmest side-byside available at 63cm wide and can be used by newborn twins or one toddler and one baby. It offers robust engineering and superior functionality with large air-filled tyres, which are all-terrain but just as happy nipping around the town.
The UPPAbaby Vista 2 is another fantastic option. It can hold twins as well as a baby and toddler or two children with piggyback boards (which must be purchased separately). It has a self-standing fold and carry strap to make it super-easy to schlep, and comes with rear and front suspension to help you deal with rougher terrain. It's heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo, but less heavy than trifold buggies. This is a great choice for older children.
Folding
The Baby Jogger City Select 2 is a fantastic choice for storing two strollers. This model is a side by side and has a smooth fold. The frame expands when you fold, so it's more compact than the standard stroller. This makes it easier to maneuver through doorways and on public transportation, as well as making it less necessary to have an additional vehicle.
It's a great option for parents who have twins as it can be utilized in duo or mono mode with two seats and car seat adaptors. It can also hold a third rider on the buggy's 'piggyback' board, and offers a great range of configurations that include an elevated stadium seating area that gives each child a view of their surroundings. There's even a handbrake on the adjustable handlebar which makes it easier to push it up and down hills.
Another alternative is the Mountain Buggy Duet, which has the most compact side-by-side footprint available at 64cm. It is perfect for parents who worry about fitting a double in a door or on public transport. However it is still able to tackle rough terrain like a true off-roader. It can be used for twins or a toddler with one or two children with the same age. Each seat reclines independently, so the children are able to sit comfortably.
Another option is the iCandy Peach, which can be used in tandem or mono mode and can take 2 car seats/seats, or a carrycot and toddler seat. It's a bit larger than other doubles, but it provides great maneuverability, especially on smooth surfaces and is an excellent option for those who are looking for an attractive but practical buggy.
There are many budget double buggies, such as the UPPAbaby Vista 2. This is a compact side-by-side that fits a newborn in a carrycot and an infant in a seat, or even three kids when you add the pizazz-branded PiggyBack ride-on board. It has a simple, self-standing fold, and a big canopy that gives the kids some protection and includes a peekaboo window. It's also light for a double buggy and includes a larger undercarriage storage basket to store shopping.