What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says this side-by-side is small enough to fit through the majority of doors and take two car seats or carrycots. It has a self-standing fold and a handy carry strap for easy schlepping.
It's also light to lift and wheel up and down stairs. The canopies are large enough to accommodate windows as well as peekaboo openings.
Size
Double buggy features you must look for include a large shopping basket, rear and front suspension, and an incredibly sturdy frame. You may consider if it's a travel system, or whether an infant car seat or a carrycot is possible to add. These are important considerations when you need to take your children on public transport or on long journeys.
If you're looking for a small double buggy that you can use from the beginning, consider the Leclerc Kooper X2. This innovative model is a side-by-side buggy with a frame that can expand widthways in order to accommodate two children. The seats have an option to recline and can be placed independently, which gives you the option of having one child leaning back relaxing for a nap, while the other is looking out at their surroundings. You get a big UPF 50+ canopy with an open window.
Another option for newborn twins is the Mountain Buggy Duet. It is the thinnest twin pushchair that is available on the market. It is just 63cm wide which means it can be able to pass through most doors. It can also be used with two car seats or a carrycot and has lay-flat seats that are suitable from birth.
Tandem double buggies are popular with parents of twins or parents who have a baby and toddler. However, they do tend to have a wider footprint than single-seaters and can be difficult to manoeuvre on narrow pavements or through doorways.
The iCandy Orange is a popular tandem buggy that has been designed to adapt to your family. It comes with 30 different seating configurations. It can be used with twins, a baby and toddler or even three kids if you purchase iCandy's "PiggyBack" board (which you can purchase separately). It features a soft suspension that can take care of kerbs and can be utilized in double or mono mode. You can even connect a single stroller to the top of the unit for additional storage space.
Weight
A quality double buggy must be lightweight and easy to push. It should also come with nice-sized shopping baskets, a rear and front suspension to make it easier to navigate rougher surfaces and, most importantly, be suitable for twins or siblings of different age.
A lot of compact double buggies come with frames that are 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 great choices for those who want to avoid having separate strollers for your smaller children who have medical needs.
However, they do generally have a bigger footprint than side-by-side buggies, and can be harder to fit through doors and on public transport. Check the product details for alternatives in case this 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. This is the slimmest side-by-side available at 53cm in width and can be used for twins in the newborn stage or even one toddler and one baby. It's a sturdy design and a superior function, with large air-filled tires that can be used on all terrains, but also happy to zip around town.
The UPPAbaby Vista 2 is another great option. It can accommodate twins as well as a baby and toddler, or two kids with a piggyback board (which must be purchased separately). It comes with a self-standing fold and carry strap to make it a breeze to transport and has front and rear suspensions to help you cope with the rough terrain. It's heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo, but less heavy than trifold buggies. This is a great option for older children.
Folding
A great double buggy has to be slimline 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 clever frame expands in width as you fold so that it's smaller than the standard stroller. This makes it easier to maneuver through doors and on public transportation, while making it less necessary to have an additional vehicle.
It's a good option for parents with twins, as it can be used in a mono or duo mode with two seats and car seat adaptors. It can also hold a third child on the buggy's "piggyback board, and provides a great range of configurations with an elevated stadium-style seating option that allows the children both views of their surroundings. There's even a handbrake built into the handlebar that can be adjusted, making it easier to push it up and down hills.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another good alternative. It has the smallest footprint side-by-side on the market measuring just 63cm. It is perfect for parents who fret about fitting a double in a door or on public transport. However it is able to handle rough terrain and be an off-roader. It can carry twins or a toddler and baby or two children of the same age, and each seat reclines independently to keep the kids comfortable.
best double buggy is a good alternative. It can be used in tandem or mono mode, and can be used with two car seats, or a carrycot with the option of a toddler seat. It's a bit longer than other doubles but it is extremely maneuverable especially on smooth surfaces. This is an excellent choice for those who want an attractive and practical buggy.
If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of affordable double buggies to choose from like the UPPAbaby Vista 2. This compact side-byside can fit babies in the carrycot and an infant in the seat, or even three children if you include a PiggyBack ride on board branded with pizazz. It features a self-standing fold, a huge canopy that provides protection for children as well as the ability to peek inside. It's also relatively light for a double buggy, and includes a larger undercarriage storage basket for shopping.