“Do we really need a double stroller,” Mr. Dolphin has asked several times since we became pregnant with Panda. Mr. Dolphin and I have gone back and forth on this issue, particularly because Lion has generally not been the biggest fan of strollers. Currently, we have two strollers, one that is more of a “full size” (but still folds compactly) that is carseat compatible for Panda, and a hybrid stroller that we don’t really like which we use for Lion. Mr. Dolphin is a big advocate of getting a lightweight umbrella stroller for Lion and using our current “good” stroller—the Quinny Zapp Xtra, which has a full lay-flat recline—for Panda. Another option Mr. Dolphin has suggested is just getting a rider board for the Quinny for Lion to use, but I’m not sold on that as the sole solution because I do think that there are times Lion will want to sit or even sleep while we’re out and about.

I was on board with the umbrella stroller plan and we actually purchased the Quinny Yezz and the Mountain Buggy Nano to test them out (neither one was available in any nearby stores). We also went to the store to look at the GB Pockit stroller and a few different MacLaren models, though we still haven’t been able to find the MacLaren Mark II in person.

For an umbrella stroller, we considered the following criteria:

  • Size
  • Weight
  • Ability to carry it around (i.e., How compactly does it fold? Does it have a carrying strap?)
  • Ease of folding mechanism
  • Recline
  • Can it be carried on a plane or does it need to be gate-checked?
  • Does it have a snack tray or cup attachment?
  • Durability

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For us, the purpose of the umbrella stroller would be to use it when Lion wants to be in the stroller and carry it around when he doesn’t. So size, weight and the ability to carry it around are absolutely the most important criteria. Ideally, it would also have a recline feature so Lion can nap in it. Also, Lion will often stay in his stroller a bit longer if he’s munching on snacks; I think one of the reason he didn’t like the Quinny Zapp Xtra that we have is the lack of a snack tray. Finally, we would like the stroller to be fairly durable because, for whatever reason, we seem to be hard on our strollers. The first stroller we owned, a Graco, broke down very quickly. Our current hybrid stroller doesn’t fold properly without quite a bit of force (though I always had a hard time with it). The mesh basket of our Quinny has a hole in it. We’d like to be able to use the umbrella stroller for Panda one day, if possible.

As I continued my stroller search, I started having second thoughts. I had read some reviews that traveling with two strollers is more difficult because someone needs to wrangle both kids while the other parent works on folding down both strollers and getting them loaded onto the x-ray machines at TSA checkpoints. I also thought about the fact that I am currently more inclined to pick up the kids from daycare using the car rather than walk to get them because we don’t have a double stroller.

Researching on Hellobee, I saw Mrs. Wagon mentioned the Baby Jogger Pod and instantly became interested in it because it can be used for jogging. I started researching jogging pods more and somehow that research turned me back to double strollers—or at least something that can accommodate both kids.

Lion’s not even two yet, I reasoned, and while he doesn’t always love the stroller, asking him to walk long distances isn’t exactly realistic. When we walk to our grocery store, about a mile from our home, he will often want to walk there but ride in the stroller on the way back. It can be difficult having two separate strollers, especially with our current set up where neither one folds down well enough for us to walk and carry, and each of us needs to push one while also holding Lion’s hand or carrying him. I am also hoping that a double stroller will actually make Lion want to ride in the stroller more since he’ll have a buddy with him.

If we do decide to go with a double stroller, here are our considerations:

Most important features

  • Side-by-side
  • Independently reclining seats
  • Compact enough to fit through a standard doorway
  • Collapses with the seats attached
  • Fits into the trunk of our Honda Fit
  • Durability

Mr. Dolphin and I initially wanted a tandem stroller because the side-by-side ones seemed too wide. We liked the number of configurations of the City Select and that it could be made to hold just one seat for whenever Lion outgrows the stroller. However, after reading a number of different reviews, it seemed that side-by-side strollers are actually easier to maneuver. When we tested out double strollers while I was still pregnant with Panda, I was sold on the side-by-side arrangement.

The size of the stroller is very important and we’d like for it to be able to fit through a standard door. We also have a very small car, so the folded dimensions are critical. Another consideration is the stroller fold. While I love that our Quinny Zapp has a reversible seat, I do not like that the seat must be detached first if it’s in parent-facing mode in order to collapse, so I wanted to make sure that if we got a stroller, it would collapse with the seats.

Finally, we wanted independently reclining seats since Panda naps much more than Lion.

Other factors:

  • Price
  • Can it be used as a jogging stroller?
  • Weight
  • Car seat compatibility
  • Has a snack tray

Because Mr. Dolphin isn’t completely sold on the idea of a double stroller, we want to be price conscious. For this reason, we completely eliminated the Bugaboo Donkey from consideration. Some of the others on our list, like the Mountain Buggy Duet, are also stretching what we’re comfortable spending on a double stroller (though it is sold at Nordstrom, unlike any of our other double stroller candidates, and we received a very generous gift card from a close family friend for Panda which would almost completely offset the cost).

Ideally, we’d like to be able to use it as a jogging stroller, but this criteria basically conflicts with the next factor of weight. Jogging strollers or strollers with all-terrain tires are much heavier.

We also consider car seat compatibility as a factor, but this has become less important as Panda gets older. Other than its use at the airport, we are moving in the direction of putting Panda directly in the seat rather than attaching the car seat.

After seeing some kids in a collapsible wagon at the park, Mr. Dolphin suggested we get one as an alternative to the double stroller. At first, I also entertained this idea, but ultimately decided that it wouldn’t be a sufficient substitute for several reasons. First, I don’t feel that it is as versatile because it doesn’t have a sunshade and we are unlikely to use it in the winter or when it rains (Being from California, I feel like it is always raining in DC – why does it rain in the summer? I still don’t understand rain outside the months of October through April). Second, at Panda’s age, he’s not able to fully sit independently and neither of the kids would be able to nap in it. Third, unlike strollers, I am not at all confident that it would be allowed through airport security checkpoints or be permitted by airlines as a gate-check item. Fourth, I had some concerns about not being able to see the kids while pulling it. I took the collapsible wagon off the table, at least as a double stroller alternative; perhaps it will be fun when they get a little older, but it doesn’t fit our needs right now.

None of the strollers we looked at fit all of our criteria and all had their positives aspects and their drawbacks. To avoid a ridiculously long blog post, I’ll be sharing our thoughts on the various double strollers as well as umbrella/travel strollers we’re considering in separate posts. We’ve owned and used three strollers and I’ve hated two of them (one which we got for free from a friend until it broke), so I want to make sure we come to the right decision before purchasing a new one.

How old were your children before they stopped wanting to ride in the stroller? Is it worth the purchase of a double stroller if our oldest is already close to two-years-old? Did anyone forego the double stroller and use two separate strollers instead?