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Double strollers are a big investment, but if you are a parent of twins, or children close in age, they are usually worth the cost. Traditionally, double strollers always had two child seats facing the same direction side by side. But as the product category has evolved, stroller brands have created a variety of double strollers that are more modular and can accommodate two child seats, two infant car seats, two bassinets, or any paired combination of the three, positioned either side by side, facing in different directions, or one in front of the other. The most elaborate models can even be switched back and forth between single and double as your family’s needs change.
As with any other type of stroller, city-friendly double strollers are in high demand. Despite the “city” label, strollers that can easily navigate small spaces and fold more compactly — preferably using just one hand — are desirable to many parents, no matter where they live. But ultimately, the best double stroller for you will depend on the age of your kids, how much storage space you have, and how and where you plan to use it.
Update on September 26, 2024: Added the new Cybex E-Gazelle tandem stroller, replaced the Thule Urban Glide 2 double jogging stroller with the newer Urban Glide 3 double jogging stroller; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for:
Type of stroller
There are three main types of double stroller:
Twin: Twin strollers have two seats positioned side by side, offering both children the same view and the ability to interact with each other. They allow for parents to reach both children at the same time and at the same distance as most single strollers. Most twin double strollers feature independently reclining seats so that one kid can nap while the other is awake. The major drawback of a twin double stroller is the width, which can make it difficult to navigate sidewalks, store aisles, and narrow doorways. And when folded they can be bulkier than other types of double strollers.
Tandem: Tandem strollers are narrower than twin double strollers as the seats are positioned one in front of the other, making them easier to fit through doors and other tight spaces. But they are also longer, which can make them more difficult to steer and turn. They sit one child closer to the parent, and don’t offer an equal view of your surroundings, potentially leading to arguments over who gets to sit where. Tandem strollers are more likely to also be convertible from a double stroller to a single stroller, whereas twin strollers not so much.
Convertible: These strollers can be used as single or double strollers, and when they are in “double” mode, you can use them with both seats facing the same direction or one facing in and one facing out. They are one of the most flexible options for families with an infant and a toddler, as you can use a car seat or bassinet along with a seat for an older child. Convertible strollers are often bulkier, more difficult to fold, and more expensive. But if you aren’t yet sure how many children you plan to have, they are a good choice that can grow with your family.
Weight capacity
The typical weight capacity for double strollers is around 50 pounds per seat, but note that the total weight capacity of a double stroller isn’t always just double the weight capacity of the single version of that same stroller. Respecting the weight minimums and maximums will not only ensure a safe ride for your children, it will maximize your stroller’s lifespan.
Width and weight
Especially if you are buying a twin stroller, you should make sure it will easily fit through your front door as well as through the entrances, aisles, or sidewalks of your neighborhood haunts. All of the strollers on this list will make it through a standard doorway, but knowing the actual dimensions is helpful, so I’ve included them for each stroller below. I have also included each stroller’s weight so you can gauge how easy or difficult it might be to lift up a few steps or stow in the trunk of your car.
Tire type
Because of the added weight they carry, double strollers often come fitted with bigger, cushier tires. The more common type of tire in this category is foam-filled, sometimes called “never-flat” tires. These types of tires are resistant to punctures but a little heavier and don’t roll as smoothly as air-filled tires. Lighter, more compact double strollers will often come with hard plastic or rubber wheels; depending on the stroller’s suspension and the terrain you’re on, these can cause a bumpier ride.
Extra features
In addition to independently reclining seats, I looked for double strollers with canopies you can extend or fold independently of one another to maximize each child’s individual comfort. Other features I considered when making this list: adjustable handlebars for parents of different heights, near-flat reclining seats, an included bassinet, a foot brake that you push down rather than pull up to release, and included accessories like a rain cover, double belly bar, cup holder, parent organizer, or snack tray.
Best double stroller overall
Type of stroller: Twin and convertible | Weight capacity: 50 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 29 inches in double mode, 24 inches in single mode, 32.8 pounds | Tire type: Foam-filled | Extra features: Side storage basket, adjustable handlebar, comes with bassinet, snack tray, and cup holder
If you’re looking for a twin-style double stroller that’s also convertible, the Bugaboo Donkey is the very best you’ll find. It is slightly less well known than the Uppababy Vista, which is also an excellent option and my pick for the best stroller overall, but the Donkey literally does everything — a fact that is reflected in its high price tag. It converts from a double-wide twin stroller to a narrower single-seat stroller with the push of a button and a quick slide of the frame. This reduces the width of the stroller by five inches, a lot when you are navigating crowded streets or passageways. No other stroller that I have seen or tried can do this (though the Uppababy vista is also convertible, it is a tandem stroller, meaning it cannot seat two kids side by side).
The Donkey can be used with two infant car seats, two bassinets, two seats, or any combination of the three facing in the same direction or facing opposite directions. You can configure your purchase to match your family’s needs: the duo bundle includes two seats and a bassinet, the mono bundle has one seat and one bassinet, and the twin bundle has two seats and two bassinets, plus you can add on other accessories or seats as needed. This versatility means you can have, say, a 4-year-old facing forward in a child seat next to a newborn in a bassinet or car seat facing a parent or caregiver. The stroller is durable, has a good resale value, and is available in 16 stylish color combinations. Plus it is one of the smoothest-to-push strollers on the market.
When I spoke to actor — and parent of fraternal twins — Hilary Swank about the stuff she would add to her baby registry now that she knows better, the first thing she mentioned was her Bugaboo Donkey. According to Swank it’s the best double stroller because it allows her to seat her two toddlers side by side in opposite directions, which lets them interact face-to-face. This option is one of the top reasons content creator Heather Summers loves using the Bugaboo Donkey stroller with her three girls, who are 6, 4.5, and 3 years old.
Summers has had three different double strollers and has loved all of them, but called out the Bugaboo Donkey as her favorite. “When we moved to New York City, we found that a side-by-side stroller was more practical for us and our girls loved sitting next to each other, making it more fun for them and a smoother outing for me,” she says. Now that her two eldest daughters are a little older and better at walking long distances and riding scooters, she and her husband only need a double stroller some of the time. So they appreciate the fact that the Donkey is convertible. Summers says she can switch the stroller from single to double, or vice versa, in under a minute. She also likes how the optional kickboard (which is sold separately) attaches off to the side of the back of the stroller rather than in the middle. This uncommon positioning lets her walk more comfortably and closer to the back of the stroller when her older child is riding along, rather than awkwardly straddling the kickboard.
The spacious underseat storage bin can hold up to 22 pounds, but if that’s not enough space the Donkey also comes with a side storage basket that can be used in place of a second seat and can itself hold an additional 22 pounds. “Sometimes I’ll extend it to a double but not put the seat in, which gives me lots of room for groceries,” Summers says. All this might make it sound incredibly bulky. But according to Summers it’s surprisingly easy to maneuver — even up and down subway stairs. “I tilt it back and bump it down the stairs on its back wheels,” she says, adding that coming up she does the same thing in reverse and gets a bonus bicep workout. As for using the stroller outside of the city, Summers says the fold is simple, though it does require several steps, and the stroller can fit most easily in the trunk of full-size or mid-size SUV. (Though it can fit into a smaller trunk, depending on the car you drive, you may need to remove the back wheels first.)
Best (less expensive) double stroller
Type of stroller: Tandem convertible | Weight capacity: 50 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 25.7 inches, 27 pounds | Tire type: Foam-filled | Extra features: Full-grain leather details, adjustable handlebar, comes with bassinet, rain shield, and bug shield
[Editor’s note: Uppababy will be releasing a new version of the Vista stroller, the V3, later this fall. Updates include a no-rethread harness, a removable seat cover that reveals a breathable mesh back, a magnetic harness buckle, and upgraded suspension. We are currently testing the V3, and will update this story with our findings when it is available to purchase.]
Like the Bugaboo Donkey — but for almost $1,000 less — the Uppababy Vista V2 can be used as both a single or a double stroller, so it’s another great choice for growing families. Strategist writer Lauren Ro, who has two boys age 5 and 2, chose the Vista as her main stroller when she was pregnant with her first child, because of its versatility and numerous features. According to Ro, the biggest advantage of the Vista is its adaptability. It can accommodate up to three children with the right accessories and adapters, some but not all of which are sold separately. Like the Donkey, it comes with a baby bassinet and a toddler seat included, so it’s ready to use with a newborn right out of the box. But unlike the Donkey, the Vista does not allow for direct interaction between kids since you cannot put two seats side-by-side.
“I call it my truck,” Ro says, explaining that the Vista is a heavy duty vehicle but also smooth and easy to push. She loves that it has a huge underseat basket that holds up to 30 pounds (eight pounds more than the Donkey’s under storage basket), and several parents have told me it can fit multiple bags of groceries. Like the Donkey, the Vista looks good, comes in a bunch of tasteful colors, and is incredibly durable with a great resale value. You can combine either two bassinets, two seats, or a bassinet and a seat, and add a kickboard for older kids, all without changing the stroller’s width. I have heard from several nannies, including my own, that the Vista is among their favorite strollers to use because of how easy it is to push even in snow or mud. And before she moved to New York City with her family, the Vista is what Summers used as her main stroller.
One downside of the Vista is that while the seats and canopies can be reclined and extended individually, the seat has a fixed leg rest that cannot lay flat — so even if you tilt your child back, their legs will remain bent. Uppababy’s customer service is excellent, according to Ro, so if anything should go wrong, you can take it to one of the numerous locations in Boston, Brooklyn, Santa Monica, or Toronto where they will do free maintenance and also repairs. “We’ve taken it several times for tuneups and also got a replacement seat for $60,” Ro says.
Best (even less expensive) double stroller
Type of stroller: Twin | Weight capacity: 50 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 29.25 inches, 36.5 pounds | Tire type: Foam-filled | Extra features: All-wheel suspension, adjustable handlebar, compact fold, hand-operated brake, near-flat recline
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 double stroller is almost exactly the same as the single version of the stroller — my top pick for an affordable stroller, and one that handles especially well on uneven terrain. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio rented a City Mini double stroller during a trip to Disney World when her two daughters were four and 6 years old, and says it was comfortable for both girls and easy to push through the park. Both the single version and the double are incredibly easy to fold: you just pull up on the handle in the center of each seat and watch it drop into its folded state. That said, you’ll have to use two hands with the double stroller instead of just one. It’s obviously wider than the single version, but only about three inches thicker when folded. And while it’s not convertible like the Bugaboo Donkey or the Uppababy Vista, if the simplicity of a one-piece stroller — and a lower price tag — appeals to you, the City Mini GT2 double stroller is a great option.
The fact that this stroller is available at all the third-party companies that rent strollers to vacationing families in Orlando for use at Disney, Universal, and other theme parks, says a lot about its durability. Despite the constant beating these strollers receive, Trolio says the double stroller she rented maintained its smooth, comfortable ride. I have been using the single version of this stroller for over a year now and when it’s not covered in sand and banana residue it looks almost exactly like it did when I first took it out of the box. My 1-year-old son still naps for over an hour in it on a regular basis and has plenty of room to spread out. And on sunny days I never worry about him getting a sunburn because the canopy is long enough to cover most of his body while still letting air circulate. The foam-filled rubber tires make it easy to maneuver and turn even while holding an iced coffee in one hand. Like the single version, the double has near-flat reclining seats, rear ventilation, and large sun canopies, all of which you can adjust separately for each child.
Best lightweight double stroller
Type of stroller: Twin | Weight capacity: 45 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 30 inches, 23 pounds | Tire type: Ball-bearing plastic wheels | Extra features: Adjustable handlebar, comes with cup holder, child snack and cup holders, and double belly bar
At just 23 pounds the Zoe Twin V2 stroller is the most lightweight stroller on this list — in fact, it only weights a few pounds more than many compact single strollers — but that doesn’t mean it skimps on features. A neighbor on my block has this stroller for her twins, and I’ve been eyeing it for the last month or so. I first saw them at the playground and asked about the Zoe, but it took a few more encounters before I felt brave enough to ask if I could push it and fold it. I was impressed with how smoothly it rolls, how cushioned the seats are, and how easy it is to buckle, adjust, and recline the seats. The fold is just like that of the City Mini, above, with a handle on each seat that you pull up. The Zoe has near-flat independently reclining seats, extra long sun canopies, adjustable footrests, and a roomy storage basket. Plus you get a bunch of included accessories like double belly bars, child and parent cup holders, and a double snack tray. The brand makes an impressive number of other accessories — parent organizer, all-terrain wheels, side storage bags — that you can buy to create the perfect family stroller. You can even add more seats to the front of it, transforming it from a double into a triple or even a quadruple stroller. One major drawback of the Zoe is that its wheels are made of hard plastic, which gives the stroller a bumpier ride makes it a little less comfortable to push, especially on grass or other rough surfaces.
Best double stroller with electric assist
Type of stroller: Tandem convertible | Weight capacity: 50 per seat | Width and weight: 26 inches, 32.3 pounds | Tire type: Foam-filled | Extra features: Adjustable handlebar, comes with cup holder, belly bar, rain cover and additional shopping basket
While my first reaction to any new e-product is skepticism, testing the Cybex E-Gazelle S Double stroller convinced me that there’s definitely a utility to the function, especially in the realm of double strollers. If, say, I had twins or siblings close in age and used my stroller to go grocery shopping, the added boost that the E-Gazelle affords would be a welcome feature. I was expecting it to feel strange or gimmicky, but in fact it starts out pretty subtle and is easy to control. It feels a bit like riding an electric Citi-Bike; you’re still the one pushing, but the push requires a lot less effort. The stroller is also equipped with an automated rocking mode — kind of like a Snoo on wheels — to give tired parents a much needed break. Neither of these features are essential, but they are indeed legitimately helpful, especially for anyone who lives in a hilly area or needs extra support. (Cybex also makes a non-electric Gazelle stroller for $300 less.)
Both the E-Gazelle and the regular Gazelle are luxurious tandem strollers. All the details feel very considered — from the cushy feel of the materials to the ease of the fold to the way you can adjust the height of the sun canopy to the extra shopping basket that comes included. After trying it out alongside me, Ro said she considers the Gazelle a serious competitor for the Uppababy Vista that she would consider getting if she was buying a stroller all over again. It folds with one hand whether you have one or two seats on the frame and both seats recline to a near-flat position — flatter than the seat on the Vista. And the storage basket on the E-Gazelle can hold up to 55 pounds, 25 pounds more than the basket on the Vista.
Best double jogging stroller
Type of stroller: Twin | Weight capacity: 50 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 31.1 31.5 inches, 35.3 34.2 pounds | Tire type: Air-filled rubber tires | Extra features: Twist hand brake, adjustable handlebar, reflective accents
As of September 2024, the Thule Urban Glide 2 double stroller (which I named our top double jogging stroller) is no longer available to buy on Thule’s website. You can still get it from select retailers, but it is being phased out. The Thule Urban Glide 3 double stroller has all of the same great features — large and smooth air-filled tires, a twist hand brake, and a roomy storage basket — plus a few upgrades. Those upgrades include seats that let children sit more upright, a new easier to use foot brake, sun canopies that extend much further, added mesh panels that provide more airflow when you extend the canopies and recline the seats, and adjustable leg supports that can be raised and lowered independently of each other.
Allie Standish, a runner and mom of three, loves using her Urban Glide double stroller for everything from jogging to going to the playground. She has tried many strollers with her twin toddlers and older son, but says this one beats them all because “It feels like I’m pushing five pounds instead of 80,” she says. She also finds the adjustable handlebar — which hasn’t changed with the Urban Glide 3 update — more comfortable to use than others strollers; Standish is 5 feet 10 inches tall, and says she never has to hunch over. It has the same twist hand brake and convenient zip-up storage basket as the single version of the Urban Glide, which is our favorite lightweight jogging stroller, and allows parents to adjust each child’s seat and canopy individually. It is car seat and bassinet compatible and can accommodate three children with the added Thule kickboard. And Standish assured me that it fits easily through doorways.
The Thule Urban Glide is also a favorite of Ro and of Brian Hayes, who manages marketing and e-commerce at Tracksmith, though both of them own the single version instead of the double. Ro says it’s the smoothest stroller she has ever pushed and Hayes says the lockable front wheel and superior shock absorption help the stroller “roll more smoothly without the risk of it flipping over.” Like the single Urban Glide, the double has optional accessories for rain, sun, and bug protection that help Hayes get year-round use of it with his 1-year-old daughter. The upgraded Urban Glide 3 is just as easy to fold with one hand (simply lift the leg rests, twist the handle on one side, and pull up) and the wheels can be removed with very little effort to make it even more compact for storing. It still fits through standard doorways and is only slightly heavier than the Urban Glide 2, by one pound.
Best combination double stroller and bike trailer
Type of stroller: Twin convertible trailer | Weight capacity: 50 pounds per seat | Width and weight: 31.5 inches, 31.9 pounds | Tire type: Air-filled rubber tires | Extra features: Comes with trailer arm and extra front wheels, reflective accents
While it doesn’t look much like the other twin double strollers on this list, the Thule Chariot Cross 2 Multisport Double can be pushed from behind like any other double stroller and can be used with either four or three wheels. Or, it can be used as a trailer attached to the back of your bicycle with the included arm attachment. It can even be used for winter sports with cross-country skis in place of its wheels. Ro says that while It doesn’t offer the same smooth push as her Thule jogging stroller, it still keeps both of her sons very comfortable thanks to its adjustable suspension, which you can tighten or loosen for different activities and terrains. She and her husband mostly use it to pull the kids behind a bike and notes that it’s very easy to convert from trailer to stroller by removing or reattaching the front wheels.
Most jogging strollers and bike trailers have a minimum age requirement of six months unless you’re using them with a car seat. But according to Thule, this one can be used from one month of age with the addition of a hammock-like infant sling that holds babies above the seat (and secures them with a five-point harness) to keep them from feeling any bumps. That means you could potentially use this as a double stroller for mixed age siblings from very early on in the younger one’s life. In addition to the seats that recline independently of each other and the reflective accents for good visibility, Ro likes that it has deep pockets for storing everything from soccer balls and toy trucks to water bottles and diapers.
Our experts
• Brian Hayes, head of digital at Tracksmith and parent
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer and parent
• Allie Standish, runner and parent of three, including a pair of twins
• Heather Summers, content creator and parent
• Hilary Swank, actor and parent of twins
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and parent
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