Best Double Stroller - City Select Double Stroller

The Best Double Stroller

It’s been more than a year since we first published our double stroller guide. 2017 brings us two new contenders and updated research and testing. Our original pick for the best double stroller remains our winner, but there are some great alternatives out there to check out as well.

There is only one baby gear purchase that is more tricky in scope than finding the perfect stroller: finding the perfect double stroller. Buying a double stroller involves the same discussions about weight, features and maneuvering, but everything gets more complicated when you throw a 2nd seat into the mix. Of the hundreds of double strollers on the market, we think that the Baby Jogger City Select with the second seat is the best double stroller based on its easily configurable design, compatibility with one or two car seats and its ability to work for both same-age and multi-age children. The City Select can be bought as a single, and you can buy the 2nd seat later, or you can do it all at the same time. With optional bassinets, and car seat adapters thrown into the mix, there are 16 different configurations for use, plus a standing board option.

Our team spent a combined 39 hours conducting research, interviews, and testing, to come to our conclusion. Our real-world testing had our testers doing loops in the parking lot, on grass, and back and forth to the grocery store. When the testing concluded, we chose the Baby Jogger City Select as our favorite, as well as a step up and step down alternative.

who should buy a double stroller?

There are generally two groups of parents who will shop for double strollers: parents expecting multiples, and parents with a toddler and an infant. While both sets of parents certainly have different needs, we found that the Baby Jogger City Select reasonably accommodates both groups. For these parents, a double stroller belongs on the “must have” list as a way to shuttle the youngest family members safely when outside the home. The prices of double strollers run the gamut, from as inexpensive as $150 to as high as $2000. While a top-of-the-line, high-ticket double stroller is not necessary for all families, it’s important to remember that this investment will be paying for itself for several years to come (and could even have an extended lifespan if you have more children).

Julie Vallese is a consumer safety expert for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and she says that parents should take three major areas into consideration before deciding on a double stroller:

  • Lifestyle. How do you plan to use the stroller? Do you need something to roll down the sidewalks of your neighborhood, or inside stores? Or are you looking for something you can take off-road occasionally? How often will you use the stroller? These factors are important to picking out the one that will ultimately fit the needs of your family and will be able to hold up for several years.
  • Budget. Not all growing families can afford the high prices of some strollers, but even ones that seem to have a steeper price tag should be considered. “A stroller is an investment. It is one of the more expensive items parents will buy,” said Vallese. “If you want it to last from birth to age 4, and then even longer for other kids, you need to do your research and decide how much upfront you can afford.”
  • Comfort. For some families, a stroller that does the bare minimum is more than enough. For others, a larger storage basket, or adjustable handlebars, or even technology accommodations like places to plug in smartphones or mp3 players could all feel necessary to fully enjoying the purchase.

“All of the strollers on the market must pass the same exact safety standards and regulations, so that is a given,” said Vallese. “So families should take the time to really think about what they are going to need, and not just at birth, but as the child grows—really up to age 4.”

The JPMA does offer some tips on things to double check when buying a stroller and outlines some safety reminders for secure use of the strollers.

There is one other piece of advice Vallese says she always shares with parents buying a stroller or double stroller: Be sure it actually fits in the trunk or back of your car.

“The first double stroller that I bought would not fit into the trunk of my car, so that was a problem,” she said. “You should be able to test drive your stroller. Ask to take it out to the parking lot, practice folding it and putting it in your car. It’s an investment so really try to treat it that way.”

Stephanie Gaitan is in charge of product and sales support at MacroBaby, an independent baby gear retailer located in Orlando. At any given time, the store has four side-by-side and four tandem double stroller assembled and on the sales floor, along with several single models that come with a second seat option (like our pick, the City Select) and a few stand-and-sit models. She says that the City Select is her top recommendation for parents who are shopping for twins or multi-age children.

“Many parents appreciate that the seats are basically on the same level, so one child never feels tucked behind another and they both have the same views of the world,” said Gaitan. “Plus there are so many configurations. You can put in a bassinet, or a car seat, and both seats recline.”

Like Vallese, Gaitan says it is important to do plenty of research and testing of double stroller models before deciding on the final purchase.

“I tell parents that they should feel good about spending a little more on a stroller, or double stroller, because if they go the cheap route, they will end up needing to invest again,” she said.

What makes a good double stroller?

Each family situation will differ, along with parental preference when it comes to double strollers. There are some universal features that make a double stroller great, though. These are the things we prioritized when searching for the best double stroller.

The first is being lightweight and easy to steer. Strollers are made to move, and while you may use them occasionally to contain children who are not in movement, you will want to be sure that you can relatively easily push the combined weight of the double stroller, the attached car seats, the added gear you bring along and oh yeah, the kids too. As double strollers go, you’re probably looking at something in the neighborhood of 25 to 40 pounds.

The Baby Jogger City Select is 28 pounds with the second seat attached, although you’ll fold it with the second seat off. For comparison purposes, the Britax B-Ready is 28 pounds with both seats, and the BOB Revolution Duallie Stroller (a side-by-side) weighs 34 pounds. No matter how great a double stroller might look, or whatever extra amenities catch your eye when shopping, remember that you are the one who will be pushing it for at least a few years to come—so make sure you are able to do that easily.

city-select-double3Comfort for the riders is also an important feature of a double stroller. The ability to attach infant car seats certainly makes this part easier for the first year or so, and the City Select and most other models allow for this. Try to consider the post-car seat days though. Long after your kids learn to walk, you will be strapping them into a double stroller (especially if you have multiples) so you want a model with durability, configuration options, adjustable harnesses and overall comfortable features. The City Select makes several accommodations as children grow, from the canopies that rise 24” above the seat (most competitors reach just 21”) to a seat width of 12.5 inches (this is the same in the BOB doubles but an inch more than more other competitors). There are also 16 different configurations (with the purchase of additional parts) that make it possible for parents to adjust to the preference and size of their children through the years of use.

The best double strollers will also have easy folding options, and fold as flat as possible for storage and transporting by car.

Other items that belong on the nice-to-have list for double strollers are handles that adjust for the height of parents, ample storage space, wide canopies that also have UV protection (the City Select has this feature), a five-point harness system for a safer ride, thick wheels that allow for at least minor off-road excursions, cup holders and other spaces for parents’ belongings like smartphones and wallets, and a simple and secure braking system.

How we tested the best double strollers

We went to a baby gear superstore where we had the opportunity to push and fold around a dozen of the most popular double stroller models, including our top three. When using them right after each other, it became apparent that the City Select was lighter, easier to navigate and overall more comfortable for the parents pushing it. We were also able to remove the second seat in under a minute and fold up the entire stroller in about 10 seconds. We asked the store experts to help us in the folding process and to show us the features (like the large storage basket and handbrake) that we had read so much praise about online.   

From there, we went online to compare their responses to a wider audience of parents who have purchased, used and loved double strollers in recent years. After reading through hundreds of reviews, we compared notes between what models parents recommend and what features they most often said they wanted or appreciated in a double stroller. We ruled out some of the lower-priced models early on, deciding that we wanted to recommend a stroller with long term durability, even if the price tag was higher than base models.

 

Our Pick for the best double stroller: Baby Jogger City Select with a 2nd Seat

Specifications

  • Weight: 28 pounds
  • Weight Recs: 6 Months to 45 pounds
  • Warranty: Lifetime Chassis Warranty
  • Storage: under seat basket, Rear seat pockets

In the end, the The Baby Jogger City Select came out as our choice for the best double stroller. It combines an easy-to-use set-up, and customizable design into a reliable package. Not only did the City Select maneuver better than other doubles, it gave us the flexibility needed for families of all sizes. Whether you have one, two or three with you, this stroller gives you as many as 16 different configurations, including using car seats or bassinets.

To get over the various terrain and curbs, the City Select has large foam wheels, and a rear suspension. Think of it as a minivan with all-wheel drive.  

Like a minivan, it’s not the flashiest stroller on the market, but our pick gets the job done, even if it does so without the style of other doubles on the market.

In addition to not being the most stylish stroller, it does have an above average price tag. We feel that this is justified, given the flexibility, reliability and ease of use that the Select provides.
Our pick fits one, two or three kids, up to two car seats at a time, and can always be pared back into a single configuration. The canopies adjust for taller children too, so as they get older (even up to age 4) there’s still room for most kids in the seats.

also great: Side by side

Valco Neo Twin

The Neo Twin is the end result of several so-so models (Ion,Twin Tri-Mode, Zee Two, Spark Duo, Snap Duo) and learning from that experience. Those strollers could be classified as clunkers (insert your first car here).

This new stroller will get your friends talking. It's reasonably light, at 27 pounds and it folds up in less than 10 seconds. It stands when folded, and tackles terrain well. The wheels are air-filled and robust but still rather small in diameter. Folding the stroller is a breeze, and it folds inwards, protecting your fabrics from dirt and grime. It's car seat compatible too, fitting Chicco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna and Cybex seats.

A lot of parents have reverted back to this old-timey design, the side-by-side stroller. Why? It's simple. You don't remove any seats when you fold it, you don't have to worry about which seat is the big one and which is the small one and you can take it just about anywhere. Most of the doubles on our list are at least 25 inches wide. This one is only 4 inches wider.

Step up

UPPAbaby VISTA with Rumbleseat

The UPPAbaby VISTA was fully re-designed in 2015, offering a revised 2nd seat option called the RumbleSeat. Then, in 2017 the stroller slimmed down. It's now one pound lighter, it's one inch thinner and has a wheelbase that is one inch shorter than before. The new svelte model starts at $840, and the RumbleSeat is $170-190. That brings your total to around $1010. That said, it includes several standard accessories that are not included on our pick. These include:

1 Bassinet
1 Bassinet Bug Shield
1 Toddler Rain Shield
1 Bug Shield (Main Seat)
1 Bumper Bar (Main Seat)
1 Bumper Bar (RumbleSeat)
1 Bug Shield (RumbleSeat)

When calculating the value of these accessories, you end up with $350 worth of standard accessories that are not included with a City Select. The actual price difference ends up being closer to $10. That said, many parents may feel that they don’t need every single bell and whistle that the VISTA offers. Depending on the age of the kids going in the stroller, you may not end up using the bassinet, which carries a $200 price tag if you were purchasing it separately.

That said, our reviewers felt that the Vista strolled exceptionally well, even when fully loaded, thanks to a more vertical design. The children are closer to the parent, and the stroller’s weight trends towards the back of the stroller, not the front like on the City Select. We still like the City Select though, given that you can build the product you want, and save money on the things you don’t need.

who else likes it?

Michelle Horton of Babble says that the Baby Jogger City Select made her husband “consider trying for a second child.” She applauds the easy-to-fold design, lightweight design and extras like ample storage and adjustable handles. She picked it as a “best overall” in a review on double strollers for Babble.

Amanda Formaro of Family Corner praises City Select for its quick-fold technology, streamlined design and cool-factor. She says: “It mixes functionality with chic design in a way that actually might inspire you to take your baby out more often!” She mentions that celebrities like Salma Hayek and Julia Roberts have both been seen with the strollers (not a top reason to buy one, but nice to know that there is one with a price tag that allows you to be on the same level as the stars).

Tasha Joanne of Crushed Cheerios, a self-proclaimed stroller addict, calls the City Select “amazing” and says that she especially loves the hand-brake feature. She says: “I have lost so many shoes to foot brakes on strollers in the years of being a nanny and a mother. The City Select features a hand brake on the side of the stroller that is quick and easy and very accessible. It makes using transit so much easier as I usually squish the stroller in a corner out of the way and when it’s my stop and the bus or train is crowded, I usually can’t reach the foot brake very quickly or gracefully.” She also likes the large storage basket, pockets on the back for other items, large canopies and the 16 different configurations for positioning kids (the standard version with a second seat comes with 6 different configurations; to get to 16, you have to purchase additional parts).

Kristian Mills of Kid Safety First highlights the ease of use of the City Select, saying that it is easy to fold, has large wheels for off-road pushing, folds flat, and allows parents to easily rethread the straps in the five-point harness to adjust to the growing child. Like other reviewers, Kristian likes the hand-brake option, too. One potentially overlooked feature of the 2014 model is the magnetic opening and closing mechanism on the peek-a-boo windows of the stroller, as opposed to Velcro, making it so parents can “take a look at your child without the risk of waking them up with a noisy ripping sound!”
Of the 212 Amazon reviews on the Baby Jogger City Select with 2nd Seat, 85% of reviewers awarded it with 4 or 5 stars. One mom said out of four double strollers she had tried, the City Select was her “go-to everyday stroller because it’s the narrowest, goes anywhere and folds compactly.” Along with other reviewers, she mentions the large storage basket and ability to add a variety of accessories as pros to owning the stroller.

The Competition

We considered these alternatives when researching the best double strollers, but they ultimately missed the cut:

Tandem Double Strollers

  • Austen Entourage-Just about every single baby publication wrote about the Austlen for months and months leading up to its release, including us. Then we actually got to use it and play around with it. While it’s a novel concept, the execution shows how far the company has to go to compete. A company in its infancy (sorry for the pun) can improve their one and only stroller to compete, but at this point, it’s an expensive and large piece of gear that will have you reminiscing about the days when you had a single stroller.
  • Baby Trend Sit N Stand Double Stroller–Cheap is cheap. You get what you pay for here. While the price is low, the quality just isn’t there.
  • 2017 Britax B-Ready–The 2nd seat has a lower weight capacity than the main seat. It’s also where a toddler must go until you no longer need a car seat for an infant. Heavy, and wide, there are much better alternatives on the market.
  • Contours Options Elite Tandem Stroller– At nearly 40 pounds, this stroller offers less in the way of strolling options, and is incredibly cumbersome when trying to put it in your car.
  • Joovy Caboose Stand On Tandem Stroller–Differs from the pack in that it has one seat and a standing board. The rear seat doesn’t get a canopy and there’s limited recline options for the main seat. They’ve since released their Ultralight Model but it similarly suffers from poor maneuverability.
  • Kinderwagon Hop–The Hop weighs in at around 21 pounds, making it significantly lighter than the pack. However, the seats are very small, so unless the kids are on the smaller side, or you start using this right at 6 months, there’s not a lot of room to grow.
  • Mountain Buggy Plus One–This is a single stroller masquerading as a double. The company took an existing stroller platform and added more fabric to make it into a double. This leads to smaller than average seats and a very limited amount of space for the child in the rear seat.

 

Side-by-Side Double Strollers

  • Baby Jogger City Mini/GT–The GT is a deluxe version of the Mini. While both are category workhorses, they lack the features of other models listed and do not include any accessories, making them more expensive than they appear on paper.
  • BOB Revolution Flex Duallie–Works well as a jogger, but it’s a very large stroller to use for anything besides that.
  • Britax B-Agile Double–Poor seat design lacks support. Older children are uncomfortable because they can’t sit up fully. Poor quality fabric, wheels and harnesses.
  • Bumbleride Indie Twin–The 2017 Indie Twin has been in short supply since it was released. We like the updates, but feel that the older model was a better overall product due to taller seats and a simpler design. The main reason to get the new one: revised car seat adapters. 
  • Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller:–A good choice for short trips around the block, or for travel, but it does not offer the bells and whistles needed to truly be considered an everyday choice.
  • Mountain Buggy Duet V3–The Duet’s claim to fame is that it’s 25 inches wide. That’s almost 4 inches slimmer than the rest of the side-by-side list. While great for those who need a super-slim stroller, it makes the seats very narrow.
  • Peg Perego Book for Two–This double holds two car seats (only Peg Perego) and has a deep recline. That said, the seats are on the smaller side, and they lack the structure, leaving kids lurching forwards to sit up.
  • UPPAbaby G-Link–The G-Link handles newborns well, but has a short seat that toddlers as young as 2 could be too tall for. On top of that it’s well over a hundred dollars more than similar offerings from Maclaren.

Care, Use, Maintenance, and Repair

Since a double stroller is one the largest baby gear investments you will make, it’s important to increase its longevity with the proper care. Some tips that Baby Jogger gives for caring for its City Select model (that really apply to any strollers you own) include:

  • Listen for squeaking and pay attention to any tension in the joints. If you notice either thing, take it into a local bike shop for a lubrication tune-up.
  • Wash stroller seat fabric in cold water, and avoid any solvents or caustic cleaning materials.
  • Avoid putting seat fabrics in the dryer; simply put them back on the stroller for drying instead.
  • Wipe down all plastic and metal parts with mild soap and warm water, then dry immediately with a soft towel. The same goes for the tires.
  • Keep stroller stored out of direct sunlight to avoid fabric fading.
  • Store in a dry environment and never store it outside.
  • Avoid putting heavy items on top of the stroller, even when children are not inside it.  

What To Look Forward To

Baby Jogger introduced their updated City Select Lux in May 2017, which has modest upgrades and a new bench-style seat. Nothing revolutionary here, but it folds up 30 percent smaller than the original. Pricing will be $629 for the single and $199 for the 2nd seat.

While not another double stroller, Lascal, maker of the BuggyBoard, will now have an optional saddle. This allows you to attach a standing board with a removable seat to almost any stroller. Their website has a handy configurator, so you’ll be able to know if your stroller is compatible with their products. The set-up will retail for a combined $170—$90 for the board, $70 for the saddle—making it an affordable option to add to your existing single stroller.

Your Guide:

Matthew DeLauder

Matthew DeLauder is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and baby gear expert from Northern Virginia. He currently manages a specialty baby store and has helped countless parents find the right gear to navigate the baby product landscape. He spends his downtime writing for The Nightlight and hanging out with his seven-year-old nephew on the weekend.

Sources

  1. Baby Jogger City Select Stroller w/2nd Seat, Amazon.com
  2. Baby Jogger City Select Stroller Consumer Reviews, Amazon.com
  3. Baby Jogger City Select Stroller Consumer Reviews, BabiesRUs.com
  4. Baby Jogger City Select Stroller Consumer Reviews, Target.com
  5. Baby Jogger City Select with Double Seat, ConsumerReports.org
  6. BOB Revolution Flex Duallie Stroller Consumer Reviews, Amazon.com
  7. Britax B-Ready Stroller Consumer Reviews, Amazon.com
  8. City Select Information and Instructions, BabyJogger.com
  9. Formaro, Amanda, Review: City Select by Baby Jogger, Family Corner Blog
  10. Phone Interview with Stephanie Gaitan, Product and Sales Support Manager, MacroBaby
  11. Horton, Michelle, The Best Double Strollers. Period., Babble.com
  12. Joanne, Tasha., Product Review: City Select by Baby Jogger - Stroller, Crushed Cheerios Blog
  13. MacroBaby Baby Store, 1361 Florida Mall Ave., Orlando, Florida
  14. Mills, Kristian, The City Select by Baby Jogger Review (2014 Model)., Kid Safety First.
  15. Stroller Buying Guide, ConsumerReports.org
  16. Phone Interview with Vallese, Julie, Consumer Safety Expert, JPMA

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