Which Lightweight Double Pushchair Should You Buy?
It's easy to move around with a lightweight double pushchair, especially if you have kids with different ages. They are generally easy to steer, fold and transport up and down stairs.
This City Mini GT2 offers side-by-side seats with plenty of legroom, adjustable reclining and huge UPF 50+ canopies with windows that peek out. It also comes with a smart frame that can expand in width to accommodate a second seat, and also a compatible car seat(s).
Side-by-Side
The majority of the light double pushchairs we tested were side-by-side models. They are ideal for children who can stand up without assistance, as they lack car seat compatibility. The Thule Urban Glide 2 Double, and Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Double, are both excellent options. They come with an recline that can be adjusted for both seats, a big canopy, and padded 5-point safety harnesses. They're also easy to maneuver despite their larger footprints and are great for parents who worry about fitting through doors.
The Cybex Duet is a little different because its clever frame extends its width to create another seat, making it slimmer than the majority of other pushchairs that are side-by-side on the market. This means it can fit through standard doors and is easy to move around on public transport. It also doubles as a jogger which is great when you are planning to use it with an infant car seat or carrier.
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 double is another fantastic side-by-side double that is lightweight. It offers additional flexibility due to a modular frame. The innovative design allows the conversion of a single or double buggy by adding two carrycots or child car seats. It can even accommodate twins. It's a great option for families that are growing and the UPPAbaby makes one of the lightest and stylish umbrella strollers available.
If you're looking for a more compact and lightweight double, you can try the egg2 that folds down to the size of a compact suitcase. It can be used either as a double or single by adding 2 baby car seats or carrycots. Our test subjects were awed by the ease of maneuver even with a full load of kids.
Even though they are lightweight double pushchairs side-by-side do not guarantee safety. If your children are at the same age and stage, they could still fight about who gets to sit in which position. If they're at different heights, a tandem style may be ideal for them as it allows them to face eachother.
Tandem
While side-byside models are better for children with similar age, tandem lightweight double strollers come with their own charms. Some can accommodate carseats that are larger, and some have reversible seats. Others even have an additional carrycot or convertible seat in the middle. They are more spacious and are easier to get in and out of. However the baskets they use tend to be smaller than the ones found on buggies that are single. They often have larger sized canopies with peekaboo windows and a parent cup holder and padded leg cushions for little ones.
The iCandy Peach is another example of a great value lightweight tandem. Its fabrics feel a little less premium than some of our other top-rated doubles however, it still looks and feels great and is very user-friendly. One of the most compact double stroller impressive aspects about it is its single and double stroller-handed fold - although it requires practice, Kirstie in our Lab said it's "genius". It can't be folded with the carrycot attached, however, the mechanism for attaching and taking it off it is easy and quick.
Tandem lightweight double strollers will typically have tighter turning capabilities than side-by-side models. However, they could be more difficult to drive on uneven surfaces or curbs. They are also slower to accelerate and are heavier to move. This puts strain on your back.
A convertible double buggy is a different option. It's initially a single but you can also add adapters to convert it into double. This can include the option of a second seat or carrycot on the front or the kids can be seated side-byside. Some have the option of including a buggyboard that can help an older child keep up with siblings who are younger.
The Uppababy Vista V2 can be transformed into a twin-sized pushchair by purchasing additional cocoons for PS59 each. The cocoons create an area that is flat for newborns. They can be positioned in a row or joined to each other's faces, and you can use them with the infant car seat that is included with the pushchair (as as long as you select an appropriate one). Since they are made of high-quality materials, these buggies with dual-use capabilities can be used for a long time without showing much wear, which means they have a the highest resale value.
Single-to-Double
Ideal for families who love to be outdoors and want to upgrade from a single stroller, this lightweight double buggy transforms into a jogger thanks an innovative kit that includes air-filled tyres as well as all-wheel suspension. It also handles rough terrain well and, as a tandem triple, is perfect for twins or children of various ages. It's a great choice for parents who want a stylish design as elegant as a single. It is available in a variety of colors.
We loved the way this iCandy model folds up with a one-handed mechanism that's very simple to master. It's heavier than other single-to double pushchairs, but our home test Karolina says it's still very capable of maneuvering even with two toddlers inside and the carrycot.
The seat can be used parent-facing and you can buy add-ons for this stroller, such as the Roma Gemini carrycots (PS100 each), which are ideal for newborns. The seats are comfortable for toddlers with good headrests and lumbar support. And there are a variety of options for reclining and recline, with the front seat adjusting to various positions and the rear seat having a recline option.
The biggest drawback with this type of buggy is that it tends to be wider overall than side-by-side doubles which makes it more difficult to maneuver through doorways, and can be tricky to manoeuvre up and down kerbs. However, the wheels and suspension are generally able to perform well in handling paved surfaces, and the fact that they're usually much lighter than some of the side-bysides means that you still have a decent amount of storage space. It's worth bearing in mind that these types of strollers aren't as adept at getting through narrow aisles in supermarkets and can struggle to handle a large amount of shopping. It's a bit easier to turn around on the smallest of curved paths, but even this can be difficult. Some are more easy to turn than other, such as the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double or the Baby Trend sit n stand double stroller N' Stand Double.
Convertible
The benefit of convertible double pushchairs is the ability to adapt to the changing family requirements. They are typically single buggies and come with adapters that allow you to include a second child's seat or carrycot, or (in some instances) the car seat to the frame. Some are able to be converted to a single when your child reaches the age of walk or chooses to ride a buggyboard.
One of the lightest double stroller double strollers on our list, this sleek tri-fold model is able to hold children up to 40lbs each and features a convenient basket that can be placed between the seats for storage. Home testers appreciated its large canopy with windows that peek out multi-position reclining seats, as well as front and rear suspensions to ensure smoother rides on rough terrain. It also has a convenient parent cup holder and a large easy-to-access basket. They did note that the backs have small pockets, which are just large enough to hold the phone and a set of keys.
This high-end, lightweight side-by-side can be used in more than 20 configurations and includes a second seat and carrycot. It has a distinctive steering handlebar, front and rear suspensions to smooth out rough terrain and it folds compactly and can be folded up with straps that make it easy to transport and seven-inch front wheels with swivel locks as well as 10 inches back wheels with suspensions to ensure more comfortable riding. The only downside is that you'll need to purchase a separate car seat or baby carrier.
This versatile tandem is a top pick by our home testers due to its easy-to-maneuver size and impressively large shopping basket, which is accessible from both seats facing the parent. It is simple to move around due to its light weight (about the same as a few single pushchairs). Its reversible seats mean that they can be switched to face either direction and the clever way it connects an additional seat or riding board to the rear is appreciated by many. Parents also appreciated the fact that it could accommodate infant car seats and carriers from multiple brands, including some which aren't usually fit into other double buggies.