What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says that this side-by-side is small enough to fit through most doors and take two car seats or carrycots. It folds up self-standing and handy carry straps to make it easy to schlep.
The canopies are also easy to lift and move up/down the stairs. The canopies have generously sized windows and openings that peek out.
Size
A good-sized shopping basket and front and rear suspensions are key features to look out for in a double buggy. You might also want to think about whether it's a travel system or if you can add a carrycot or car seat. Those are important considerations if you're planning to bring your little ones along on public transport or on longer journeys.
Consider the Leclerc Kooper X2 if you are looking for a small double buggy that you can use right from the beginning. This innovative model is a side by side buggy with a frame that can expand to accommodate two children. The seats have a recline option and can be placed independently, which gives you the choice of one child leaning back enjoying a nap while the other one gazes out at their surroundings. The seats also come with a large UPF 50+ canopy, as well as a peekaboo feature.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another fantastic option for twins. It is the tiniest twin pushchair that is available on the market. It measures only 63cm in length and should be able to pass through most doors. It can be used with two car seats or one carrycot and has lying-flat seats that can be used from birth.
Tandem double buggies, that feature the children sitting side by side is a popular option for twins or parents of a baby and a toddler. They do have a larger footprint than single-seaters and are more difficult to maneuver through narrow doorways or on pavements.
The iCandy Orange tandem buggy is a well-loved tandem that will grow with your family. It offers 30 different seating options. It can be used with twins or a baby and a toddler or even three kids if you add iCandy's 'PiggyBack' board (which you can purchase separately). It has soft suspension that makes light work of kerbs and can be used in a mono or double mode. You can also attach a single stroller on the top of the unit for extra storage space.
Weight
A great double buggy should be lightweight and easy to push. It should also have spacious shopping baskets, a rear and front suspension to make it easier to maneuver over rough terrain and, in the ideal case it is suitable for twins or siblings of different age groups.
A lot of compact double buggies come with frames that are designed to fit infant car seats and come with adaptors branded to match the popular models from Cybex, BeSafe and Maxi-Cosi. These are great options if you want to avoid using separate strollers for younger children with medical conditions.
However, they do tend to have a larger footprint than side-by-side buggies, and are more difficult to fit through doors and on public transport. Review the product's details for alternatives for this if it is important to you and your family.
If you're looking for the most compact double pushchair on the market take a look at the Mountain Buggy Duet. It is the tiniest side-by-side available, measuring only 63cm in width. It is able to transport twins or an infant and a toddler. It has a robust design and a superior function, with large air-filled tires that can be used on all terrains but are also able to go about the city.
The UPPAbaby Vista 2 is another fantastic alternative. It can accommodate twins or a baby and toddler or two children with piggyback boards (which must be purchased separately). It comes with a self-standing fold and carry strap that makes it super-easy to schlep, and comes with rear and front suspension to help you cope with the rough terrain. It's a little heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo but still lighter than most tri-fold buggies. It's also an excellent value choice for older kids.
Folding
A good double stroller needs to be compact for storage, and a ideal choice is the Baby Jogger City Select 2. This side-by-side model has a very slick fold and the frame's clever design expands in width as you fold to make it smaller than a single stroller. This makes it easier to navigate doorways and on public transport, while it also means that you don't require a second car for schlepping the buggy around.
It's a great choice for parents with twins since it can be used with two seats and car seat adaptors. It can also accommodate another passenger on the buggy's "piggyback board, and provides an array of configurations that include an elevated stadium seating area that gives the children both views of their surroundings. The adjustable handlebar has a handbrake, which makes it easier to push the buggy up and down hills.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another good option. It has the most compact footprint side-by-side available with a footprint of 63cm. It is perfect for parents who fret about fitting a double into the doorway or on public transport. However it is able to handle rough terrain like an off-roader. It can accommodate twins or a toddler with an infant, or two children who are the same age. Each seat can recline independently, ensuring that the kids are comfortable.
Another option is the iCandy Peach, which can be used in tandem or mono mode and can accommodate a car seat/seats or a carrycot and a toddler seat. It's slightly longer than other doubles but it offers excellent manoeuvrability, particularly on smooth surfaces and is an excellent choice for those looking for an attractive but practical buggy.
If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of budget double buggies such as the UPPAbaby Vista 2. It's a compact side-byside that fits a newborn in a carrycot as well as a toddler in a seat, or three kids when you add the pizazz-branded PiggyBack ride-on board. It comes with an auto-standing fold, a huge canopy that provides protection for both children and an option to peekaboo. It's also relatively light for a double buggy and has a larger undercarriage basket to store shopping.