What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says this side-by-side is light enough to pass through the majority of doors and be used with two car seats or carrycots. It comes with a self-standing fold and a handy carry strap to make it easy to schlep.
It's also easy to move up and down stairs. The canopies are generously sized and have peekaboo windows.
Size
Double buggy features you should look for include an enormous shopping basket, rear and front suspension, and strong frame. You may want to look at whether it is an e-travel system, or whether the car seat or carrycot can be added. These are important considerations when you are required to take your children on public transport or on long trips.
You should consider the Leclerc Kooper X2 if you are looking for a compact double buggy that you can use from the beginning. This side-by-side model features an innovative frame that can be expanded to to accommodate two children. The seats can be reclined and placed independently. This lets you have one child relax and nap while the other observes the surrounding. You get a big UPF 50+ canopy that has the option of a peekaboo window as well.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another excellent alternative for twins. This is the slimmest side-by-side twin pushchair on the market and is only 63cm wide, so will fit through most doors. It can take two car seats or a carrycot and has lay-flat seats that are suitable from birth.
Tandem double buggies, which feature the children sitting in a row is a popular option for twins, or parents of a baby and toddler. They do have a larger space than single-seaters, and are more difficult to maneuver through narrow doors or on pavements.
The iCandy Orange tandem buggy is a well-loved tandem that will grow with your family. It comes with 30 different seating configurations. The iCandy Orange tandem buggy can be used for twins or a child and a toddler or even three kids when you include the iCandy 'PiggyBack board' (available separately). It is equipped with a soft suspension system that makes kerbs simple to navigate. It is able to be used in mono or double mode. It is also possible to connect a single stroller to the top of the unit for extra storage space.
Weight
A good double buggy should be lightweight and easy to push. It should also have spacious shopping baskets, rear and front suspensions to make it easier to navigate rougher surfaces and, ideally, be suitable for twins or siblings of different ages.
Many compact double buggies come with frames specifically designed to accommodate infant car seats and come with adaptors with branded brands to match the most popular models from Cybex, BeSafe and Maxi-Cosi. These are excellent options when you are looking to stay clear of separate strollers for your smaller children with medical conditions.
However, they generally have a bigger space than side-byside buggies and can be harder to fit through doors and public transport. Check the product details for alternatives if this is important to you and your family.
Mountain Buggy Duet is the smallest double stroller on the market. It's the slimmest side-byside on the market at just 53cm in width and can be used for newborn twins or one baby and one toddler. It is built to last and offers superior functionality with large air-filled tyres, which are all-terrain but also great for cruising around the city.
Another great option is the UPPAbaby Vista 2, which can accommodate twins with one baby and one toddler or two kids with a piggy back board (which you must purchase separately). It has a self-standing fold and carry strap, making it easy to transport and has front and rear suspension to help you cope with rough terrain. It's heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo, but less heavy than trifold buggies. This is a great choice for older children.
Folding
A great double buggy has to be slim for storage, and a ideal choice is the Baby Jogger City Select 2. This model is a side-byside and has a very smooth fold. The frame expands when you fold it, which means it's narrower that a single stroller. This makes it easy to get around doorways and on public transport. It also means that you don't require an additional car to push the buggy around.
It's a good option for parents with twins because it can be utilized in duo or mono mode with two seats and car seat adaptors. It can also hold a third passenger on the buggy's "piggyback board. It also offers a great range of configurations with an elevated stadium-style seating area that gives the children both views of their surroundings. The adjustable handlebar has an adjustable handbrake that makes it easier to push the buggy up and down hills.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another excellent option. It has the most compact footprint side-by-side available measuring just 63cm. It is perfect for parents who worry about fitting a double inside the doorway or on public transport. However, it can still handle rough terrain and be a true off-roader. It can accommodate twins or a toddler and baby or two children with the same age, and each seat can recline independently to ensure that the children are at ease.
Another good option is the iCandy Peach, which can be utilized in tandem or mono mode and can take 2 car seat/seats or a carrycot and toddler seat. It's a little larger than other doubles, but it provides excellent manoeuvrability, particularly on smooth surfaces and is an excellent choice for those who want an elegant but practical buggy.
There are many affordable double buggies, like the UPPAbaby Vista 2. It's a compact side-byside that can accommodate a newborn in a carrycot as well as a toddler in a seat, or three kids if you add the brand-new pizazz PiggyBack ride-on board. It has a simple self-standing fold, and a large canopy that offers children some security and also has a peekaboo window. It's also light for a double buggy and comes with a larger undercarriage basket to store shopping.