Compact double stroller recommendations

[Angela]

I'll looking for an umbrella fold one. Preferably under $300. I'd like some storage on it (basket, etc), but don't need a lot. I would prefer one that reclines. Suggestions?

 

[hrice]

I love, love, LOVE my Mac Twin Triumph. It reclines and it collapses to almost nothing. Full retail is 265 so well within your budget.

 

[Angela]

I'm looking at the Mac twin triumph, but was curious if there's anything else out there that might be worth looking at too.

 

[msg221]

Heather, is the Mac Twin Triumph one that will fold up small enough that you can just leave it in the car and still have room for groceries and such?

I am seriously considering something like that just to keep in the car. We have the BOB Revolution Duallie which I love, but it's just a bit much to have to keep moving it in and out of my car. Sometimes I have two kids with me by myself and I would love to have something that is quick and easy to unload, especially if it's just a trip to the mall or something as well as something that can stay in the car. That way I will always have a stroller with me "just in case." Most of the time I have to figure out ahead of time if I will need to bring a stroller, depending on where I'm going. If it is someplace like Costco or Target, I don't bother and just put the kids in the shopping cart.

Do you have a picture of what it looks like folded up?

Ajtastad, let me know if you come across anything else!

 

[hrice]

Yes it definitely leaves room for groceries. I am on my phone so can't load pics now but will try to get one tomorrow.

 

[Angela]

Heather, is the Mac Twin Triumph one that will fold up small enough that you can just leave it in the car and still have room for groceries and such?

I am seriously considering something like that just to keep in the car. We have the BOB Revolution Duallie which I love, but it's just a bit much to have to keep moving it in and out of my car. Sometimes I have two kids with me by myself and I would love to have something that is quick and easy to unload, especially if it's just a trip to the mall or something as well as something that can stay in the car. That way I will always have a stroller with me "just in case." Most of the time I have to figure out ahead of time if I will need to bring a stroller, depending on where I'm going. If it is someplace like Costco or Target, I don't bother and just put the kids in the shopping cart.

Do you have a picture of what it looks like folded up?

Ajtastad, let me know if you come across anything else!

That's exactly what I'm looking for too. I take daycare kids off and on and just need something I can put in a compact space, so I have something for the 2 little girls. I have a folding back seat that leaves tons of room, but I usually need the seats when I take the kids. I'd love to see a pic of it folded up too!

 

[msg221]

Thanks for offering to put a pic up Heather!

This definitely needs to be something that can stay in the car because I don't have room to store any more strollers! The BOB is in the garage, folded up against the wall and I have a Zooper umbrella stroller hanging ON the garage wall! For a while we were taking two single strollers if it was going to be me and DH with a pair of kids (they all come to us in pairs now; Nour and Zain, Katelyn & Owen and Ethan & Chase!) Two small umbrella strollers take up less space than the BOB! But like I said, if it's just me out with two kids, I need a double stroller and sometimes lugging the BOB in and out of my car just isn't convenient!

I am going to try and sell a couple of strollers on CL and hope they sell so I can fund the cost of whatever I end up deciding on.

Hard to believe, but the BJCMD weighs less than the Mac Triumph (21 lbs. vs. 23.4 lbs)! Of course it's way more expensive, but I have test driven one in Buy Buy Baby and they are really nice. And it folds up so easily and isn't as bulky as the BOB. Maybe I need to go back to BBB and see how small it is folded up and maybe try it in the back of my Highlander to see how much room it takes up. I would just have to figure out if it's worth that much more $. Although babyboutiqueoutlet.com has a couple for $284.90 and someone posted on here that they purchased from them with no problems (I hadn't heard of them before and was wondering about them. They have an ad posted on CL which is how I first heard of them). I do love the new purple color that is coming out in March so I'd almost be tempted to wait for that one!

But if I do decide on the Mac Triumph, Albee Baby has the brown for $189.99 and the green for $199.99.

ETA: I found this old link showing the BJCMD folded. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=52999&highlight=BJCMD

 

[Angela]

I really like the BJCMD too and it folds so small, but I need something that's long and narrow to fit in the back. The headrests on the back seats are literally about an inch or so from the back window, so anything standing up is going to be too big. The seats tilt back, so I have about 1 1/2 feet or so on the floor behind them though.

 

[socialworkmom]

I have a Chicco Trevi Twin stroller and I absolutely love it!! I have twins that will be 3 next month and we have used this stroller since the babies were 6 months old. Both seats recline independently, there is storage underneath, along with pockets on the back of each seat. Had plenty of storage that I could use the stroller as my "cart" for grocery shopping. I never had a problem with it tipping either. It folds like an umbrella stroller and was so easy to use. It also fits through all doorways so I never had a problem using it at stores and such.

 

[hrice]

I totally forgot to take a pic. I am at work now so will have to do it later.

 

[hrice]

Here are some web pics

 

[hunypooh77]

I LOVE my Joovy Groove single and I know it comes in a double called the Groove 2. Stroller Queen had a good review of it a while back. My Groove is not at all tippy like my Mac is. It also has built in storage pouch and cup holders on the back of the hood...but I am not sure it is being sold anymore....hmm

http://www.joovy.com/pages/groove2_features/Groove2-Fold-flash.html


Or maybe I am wrong. Looks like it can still be bought here....
http://www.thefind.com/family/info-joovy-groove-stroller

 

[Angela]

I LOVE my Joovy Groove single and I know it comes in a double called the Groove 2. Stroller Queen had a good review of it a while back. My Groove is not at all tippy like my Mac is. It also has built in storage pouch and cup holders on the back of the hood...but I am not sure it is being sold anymore....hmm

http://www.joovy.com/pages/groove2_features/Groove2-Fold-flash.html


Or maybe I am wrong. Looks like it can still be bought here....
http://www.thefind.com/family/info-joovy-groove-stroller

I like that, but couldn't find it anywhere. It only has the 40 lbs weight limit, which probably wouldn't be a problem, but I tend to grow big kids.

 

[hunypooh77]

I like that, but couldn't find it anywhere. It only has the 40 lbs weight limit, which probably wouldn't be a problem, but I tend to grow big kids.

I wonder if that 40 pounds is per child...my single Groove has a max limit of 55 lbs. I dont think either stroller has ever been sold in any stores that I know of, at least around here. I ordered mine online.

 

[hunypooh77]

ooohhh, I found the manual on the Joovy site and it says that the max weight of each child riding is 45 lbs...so I guess it can hold a total of 90 lbs?

 

[Angela]

Looked around online and all of them say discontinued. I would guess that it would be a total of 90 lbs. I know the mac says 110 (55 each)

 

[Athena]

I only mention this because you said you need something small (and I know what it's like to be in that situation ). Although it generally seemed like a nice stroller, I remember the Chicco Twin Trevi being a bit larger than the Twin Triumph (played with the chicco in the store, owned a twin triumph for two years). The Chicco had larger wheels, seemed a bit bulkier, only clips closed on one side (deal breaker for me), and I read it was 2" wider open, but didn't measure. The Twin Techno is also a bit larger than the Triumph (because of larger wheels and a few more features). I'm not talking big amounts, but I've been in that situation in which the size really matters. On the other hand, with that larger size, comes slightly larger wheels and more features, so it depends on one's priorities. I never saw the Groove 2 in person, but both that and the Trevi Twin have been discontinued. It seems like most of the other mac-like twin umbrella strollers out when I was first double shopping have been discontinued (e.g. Trevi, Groove, Esprit, Inglesina). It was nice to have more options, yet I guess I didn't help the competition survive because I still bought a Mac. I wasn't able to see most IRL, so it's hard to say for sure what I would have chosen had I really had all the options.

HTH! All that obsessively detailed research I did a couple years ago on doubles should go to some use.

 

[Angela]

I only mention this because you said you need something small (and I know what it's like to be in that situation ). Although it generally seemed like a nice stroller, I remember the Chicco Twin Trevi being a bit larger than the Twin Triumph (played with the chicco in the store, owned a twin triumph for two years). The Chicco had larger wheels, seemed a bit bulkier, only clips closed on one side (deal breaker for me), and I read it was 2" wider open, but didn't measure. The Twin Techno is also a bit larger than the Triumph (because of larger wheels and a few more features). I'm not talking big amounts, but I've been in that situation in which the size really matters. On the other hand, with that larger size, comes slightly larger wheels and more features, so it depends on one's priorities. I never saw the Groove 2 in person, but both that and the Trevi Twin have been discontinued. It seems like most of the other mac-like twin umbrella strollers out when I was first double shopping have been discontinued (e.g. Trevi, Groove, Esprit, Inglesina). It was nice to have more options, yet I guess I didn't help the competition survive because I still bought a Mac. I wasn't able to see most IRL, so it's hard to say for sure what I would have chosen had I really had all the options.

HTH! All that obsessively detailed research I did a couple years ago on doubles should go to some use.

Thanks SO much for the info!! Every little bit counts.

 

[chelsi82]

We have a Combi Twin Sport EX that we LOVE. It is our 'car' stroller, so its used for grocery store, church, etc... and we find it absolutely perfect for those uses.
It folds in half & half again making it basically umbrella fold. It worked for us because the Mac handlebars were too far apart for me to comfortably push. The combi has one bar straight across.

Oh and I forgot-- it is very narrow, but still fairly roomy on the inside. It fits easily in dr office exam rooms & shopping aisles

It is lightweight and I can take it out of the car (lifting it over the lip of my trunk) and set it up with one hand I also like that the seatbacks have, for lack of a better word, sidewalls on them so my girls can lean on them comfortably without a snuzzler. I can't say enough good things about it

The only time it doesnt perform well is non-packed gravel & off-roading, but its not really made for that, anyway. We use our Chariot for that

 

[Athena]

I'd forgotten about the Combi. Very light, and probably folds about as small as the Mac, with some nice features, handles well enough for smooth surfaces. I know someone who had that one and loved it .. but they are a short family. For us, it was not an option. I think they have this one at BRU so maybe you can take a look at it. I think you'll only know if it'll work for or fit you and your family by trying it. There were some things I liked about it and at one point, it was my front runner, but my tall DD didn't really fit and she wasn't even 2 yet and I found myself tripping over it so I had to rule it out. (At 4 she still fit the mac and it never tripped me so I made the right choice for us. )

And I found the storage baskets unusable... another deal breaker for me, but for others not important. But I did like the easy to remove and wash seat pads, light weight, the fold, bumper bar, and I was looking at the higher model with cup holders too. And it was just 29" wide, like the mac. Again HTH!

*Disclaimer, the last time I looked at this stroller was the 2008 model.*