Compact Double Buggy: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says that this side-by-side is slim enough to get through most doorways and can take two car seats or carrycots. It has an auto-standing folding mechanism as well as convenient carry straps to make it easy to carry.
The canopies are also simple to lift and move up and down the stairs. The canopies are spacious with windows and peekaboo openings.
Size
Double buggy features you should look for include a large shopping basket, front and rear suspension and an incredibly sturdy frame. You may want to look at whether it is a travel system, or whether the car seat or carrycot can be added. These are important considerations when you have to take your kids on public transport or longer journeys.
Take a look at the Leclerc Kooper X2 if you are looking for a compact, double buggy you can use right from birth. This side-by-side model has an innovative frame that expands widthways so that it can accommodate two children. The seats can be reclined and positioned independently. This allows you to have one child relax and nap while the other is observing the surroundings. You get a big UPF 50+ canopy that has a peekaboo window too.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another great alternative for twins. This is the slimmest twin pushchair available on the market. It measures only 63cm in width and should be able to pass through most doors. It can also take two car seats or one carrycot, and comes with lying-flat seats that can be used from birth.
Tandem double buggies, which have the children positioned in a row is a popular option for twins or parents of a baby and toddler. However, they tend to have a wider footprint than single-seaters, and can be difficult to manoeuvre on narrow roads or through doorways.
The iCandy Orange tandem buggy is a well-loved tandem that will grow with your family. It offers 30 different seating configurations. The iCandy Orange tandem buggy can be used for twins or a child, toddler or even three kids when you include the iCandy PiggyBack board (available separately). It has a soft suspension that can take care of kerbs. It can be used in a mono or double mode. You can also attach 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 nice-sized shopping baskets, rear and front suspensions to make it easier to navigate rougher surfaces and, in the ideal case it should be suitable for twins or siblings of different age.
A lot of compact double buggies come with frames designed to take infant car seats and come with adaptors branded to match the most popular models from Cybex, BeSafe and Maxi-Cosi. These are a great option for parents of children with medical needs and would prefer not the need to purchase separate strollers.
However, they do tend to have a wider footprint than side-by-side buggies, and can be harder to fit through doorways and on public transportation. If this is important to you, make sure to check the product's specifications to see what alternatives are available.
If you're looking for the most compact double pushchair on the market look into the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's the slimmest side-byside available at 63cm wide and can be used by newborn twins or one toddler and one baby. It offers robust engineering and superior functionality with large air-filled tyres that can be used on all terrains but also great for cruising around the town.
The UPPAbaby Vista 2 is another fantastic option. It can carry twins as well as a baby and toddler or two children with the piggyback board (which is required to be purchased separately). It comes with a self-standing fold and carry strap, making it easy to transport and has front and rear suspension to help you cope with rougher terrain. It's heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo, but less heavy than trifold buggies. This is a great choice for older children.
Folding
compact double buggy Select 2 is an excellent option for storing the double buggy. This side-by-side model features a very slick fold and the clever frame expands in width as you fold to make it smaller than the standard stroller. This allows it to be more easily maneuvered through doorways and on public transportation, while making it less necessary to have a second vehicle.
It's a great option for parents with twins since it can be used with two seats and car seat adaptors. It can also accommodate an additional child on the 'piggyback board' of the buggy. It also comes with a wide range of configurations including elevated stadium-style seats to give both kids a view of their surroundings. There's even a handbrake built into the handlebar that can be adjusted which makes it easier to push up and down hills.
Another good alternative is the Mountain Buggy Duet, which has the most compact side-by-side footprint available at 63cm. It is ideal for parents who fret about fitting a double in a door or on public transport. However it is able to handle rough terrain as a true off-roader. It can be used for twins or a toddler with an infant, or two children of similar age. Each seat reclines independently, which ensures that children are comfortable.
Another option is the iCandy Peach, which can be used in tandem or mono mode and can take 2 car seat/seats or a carrycot and a toddler seat. It's a little longer than other doubles, but it has excellent manoeuvrability, particularly on smooth surfaces. It's a great option for those looking for an attractive but practical buggy.
If you're on a budget, there are plenty of affordable double buggies available such as the UPPAbaby Vista 2. It's a compact side-byside that can accommodate a newborn in a carrycot and the toddler in a seat, or even three kids when you add the Pizazz-branded PiggyBack ride-on board. It features a simple, self-standing fold as well as a big canopy that provides the kids some protection and also has a peekaboo window. It's also quite light for a double stroller, and features a large undercarriage storage basket for storing things like shopping.