Which Lightweight Double Pushchair Should You Buy?
It's easy to move around in a lightweight double pushchair, especially if you have children of varying ages. They're generally easy to fold, steer, and transport up and down stairs.
This City Mini GT2 features side-by-side seating with plenty of legroom. It also has adjustable reclining, UPF 50+ canopies and peekaboo windows. It also has a clever frame that can be expanded to accommodate a second seat and compatible car seat(s).
Side-by-Side
Most of the lightweight double pushchairs we tested were side-by-side models. These are best travel double stroller for children who can stand up without assistance, since they lack compatibility with car seats. The Thule Urban Glide 2 Double, and Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Double, are both excellent options. They offer adjustable recline for both seats, a large canopy, and padded 5-point safety harnesses. They are also easy to maneuver despite their larger footprint. They are perfect for parents who worry about fitting through doors.
The Cybex Duet pushchair is unique because it features a unique frame that expands in width to add an additional child seat. This makes it lighter than other pushchairs that are side-by-side. This means it fits through doors that are standard and is easy to move around on public transport. It can also be used as a jogger, which is great if you want to use it in conjunction 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 offers an even greater degree of customization due to a modular frame. It has a smart design that lets you transform it into a single stroller or a double with the addition of 2 carrycots or car seats (it can even accommodate twins). It's an outstandingly practical choice for families with growing children, and the UPPAbaby also is one of the lightest and most stylish umbrella strollers around.
Try the egg2 that folds down to the size and weight of a tiny suitcase. It can be used as a single or a double by adding two carrycots or infant car seats and our home testers loved how sleek and simple it was to carry, even when fully loaded with kids.
Side-by-side lightweight double pushchairs aren't foolproof however -- if your children are of the same age or stage they may still fight over who is allowed to ride in which seat. If they're at different heights, it is possible that a tandem design is best for them, as it lets them face each other.
Tandem
While side-byside models might be better suited for siblings who are the same age, tandem lightweight double pushchairs are a different kind of pushchair with their own appeal. Some can accommodate carseats that are larger, and others come with Reversible seats. Others have an additional carrycot or reclined seat that can be flipped in the middle. They tend to be more spacious and easier to get in and out of however their baskets tend to be smaller than those on single buggies. They often have larger sized canopies with peekaboo windows as well as a cup holder for parents and padded leg cushions for children.
The iCandy Peach is another example of a lightweight and affordable tandem. The fabric is a bit less luxurious than some of our top-rated doubles. However, it still looks great and is easy to use. Its one-handed folding is impressive. While it requires some practice, Kirstie from our Lab called it "genius". It's not foldable without the carrycot attached, however, the mechanism for attaching and taking it off it is easy and quick.
Tandem lightweight double pushchairs will generally have tighter turns than side-byside models, but they can be more challenging to drive over bumps and uneven surfaces. They are also slower to accelerate and are heavier to move. This can put strain on your back.
A convertible double buggy is another alternative. It is initially an individual, but you can add adapters to convert it into double. They can include an additional seat, a carrycot, or both in the front. Or the children can share a seat. Some of them also have the option of incorporating buggy boards, which can help an older child keep up with younger siblings.
The Uppababy Vista V2 can be transformed into a twin-sized stroller by purchasing additional cocoons at PS59 each. These cocoons provide a flat space for newborns. They can be swiveled together or placed in a row. You can also use the car seat that was included with the pushchair, when it's compatible. Because they're made from high-quality materials, these buggies that are dual-use can be used for years without displaying much wear, which means they have a the highest price resales.
Single-to-Double
This lightweight double buggy is designed for outdoor-loving family who want to upgrade from an individual-stroller. It can be converted into a jogger using a kit that includes air-filled tires and all-wheel-suspension. It's also a good option for twins or children of different age groups, and as a triple tandem, it's able to take on rough terrain. It's also a great choice for parents who are looking for an elegant design that's just as elegant as a single and comes in a variety of fabrics.
We were impressed by the way this iCandy model folds down with a one-handed mechanism that's very simple to master. It's heavier than other single-to double buggy with car seat pushchairs, however our home tester Karolina says it's very mobile even with two toddlers inside and a carrycot.
You can purchase add-ons such as the Roma Gemini Carrycots (PS100) that are ideal for infants. Our test panel found the seats to be comfortable for toddlers and had good lumbar support and headrests. And there are plenty of options for reclining, with the front seat being adjustable to different positions, and the rear seat having a recline option.
This type of buggy comes with the main disadvantage of being larger than doubles that are side-by-side. This makes it difficult to maneuver through doorways and it can be difficult to get between kerbs. The wheels and suspension of these types of strollers tend to be able to deal with surfaces that are paved. They're also lighter than many side-by-sides which means you can have plenty of storage. These strollers can be difficult to maneuver in supermarkets with narrow aisles and they may struggle to carry loads. Although it's much easier to turn the stroller around on a narrow curved path, it can be a hassle. Some are more easy to turn than others models, like the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double or the Baby Trend Sit N' Stand Double.
Convertible
Convertible double pushchairs are ideal because they can be adjusted to the changing needs of families. They often start out as single buggies and have adapters that allow you to add the second seat, a carrycot, or (in certain instances) a car seat to the frame. Some even convert to a single buggie when your older child begins to walk more or prefers to ride on buggy boards.
One of the lightest double strollers we have on our list, this fashionable tri-fold model is able to hold children as heavy as 40 pounds each and features a convenient basket that can be placed between the seats for storage. Home users loved its spacious canopy that has windows that can be seen from the outside with multi-position reclining seats as well as front and rear suspensions to ensure smoother rides on rough terrain. It also has a handy cup holder for parents and a large, easy-to access basket. However, they noted that the seats' backs have tiny pockets that aren't large enough to hold more than a cell phone and keys.
This high-end, lightweight side-by-side is available in more than 20 models. It also comes with a second seat and carrycot. Its impressive features include a handlebar with a high-profile design for easier steering and a rear and front suspension to smooth rough terrain; a self-standing, compact double buggy fold with handy straps for easy schlepping and seven-inch swivel lock front wheels and back wheels that measure 10 inches with suspension for a smoother ride. The only downside is that you will need to purchase an additional car seat or baby carrier.
This multi-functional tandem is a top choice from our home testers due to its easy-to-maneuver size and impressively large shopping basket that is accessible with both seats facing towards the parent. It is easy to maneuver thanks to its surprisingly low weight (about the equivalent of some single pushchairs). The seats are reversible, which means that you can flip them to face either direction, and the clever way it connects a second seat or riding board to the rear is highly praised by many. Parents also admired the fact that it can accommodate car seats and infant carriers from a variety of brands. This includes those that aren't typically compatible with other double buggies.