Double Stroller or Wagon – Which is Best?

Obviously the answer is going to be different depending on your family and lifestyle. BUT hopefully I can fill you in on using a double stroller vs. wagon for two kids to help you decide.

For starters, we have a Radio Flyer wagon and a Baby Jogger City Select double stroller.

Let’s dive in with some important things to consider about a double stroller vs. a wagon for your family.

Do you need a double stroller with two kids?

This is dependent on their ages, but when our second child was born our oldest was not quite 3 years old. Though she preferred to walk on her own most times, she would sometimes want to ride alongside her baby brother – or be carried. Some families can probably get away with a single stroller plus a buggy board, but our daughter didn’t like the buggy board we tried so that was out.

See my review of the Baby Jogger City Select double stroller here.

See my review of the Radio Flyer stroller wagon here.

Note: You don’t really “need” anything specific when you have two kids vs. one. It’s all dependent on your preferences and your budget! Don’t fall into thinking you absolutely have to have something because it’s popular. I’m just hoping to help answer the question of wagon vs. double stroller if it’s a reasonable option for your family and your needs.

What is the easiest solution with one or more kids?

If you have…

• One child under 6 months: No need for a wagon but definitely get a stroller
• One toddler: A wagon is a fun option but a stroller works just as well
• One child younger than 6 months AND a toddler: A double stroller is the best option
• One child older than 6 months AND a toddler: A double stroller or wagon works well
• Twins: If they’re younger than 6 months or can’t sit comfortably, stick with a double stroller. Once they can sit comfortably, a wagon is a good option.
• More than two kids under the age of 6: A wagon with multiple seats (this one comes to mind as it has 4 five-point harnesses) is a good choice.

Does a wagon fold up smaller than a double stroller?

In my experience (again, this is the double stroller we have and this is the wagon we have) no. Neither folds up very small, and if we are traveling it can be hard to fit both bags and one of these in the back of our SUV.

How long can I use a wagon?

Our 5 year old still loves to sit in the wagon, where she’s not too keen on the double stroller these days. The cool thing about a wagon is that you can zip down the sides on some of them and use it as a picnic bench if you’re going to do a snack stop wherever you are!

Is a wagon portable?

It depends on what you mean by “portable” but if you’re traveling on public transportation, for example, I’d think a double stroller would be easier than a wagon. I’m not sure how easily they’d fit into elevators (at least thinking about the Boston subway system) or into an Uber.

Another consideration: Our double stroller comes apart to be folded up and put in the trunk of the car, so it is not as heavy as the wagon is when folded. The wagon we have weighs about 31 lbs that you have to lift into the car, where the double stroller we have weighs about 34 lbs – but comes apart into 3 pieces to put it in the trunk. That’s a HUGE difference.

Double stroller vs. Wagon: Final verdict

This might not be a super helpful answer, but I like them both for different reasons. If we are walking in the neighborhood or going on an “adventure” – like to a farm – we use the wagon. If we are going into Boston or to the mall (or somewhere else indoors where we will have to walk a lot), we use the double stroller. If we are traveling, we only bring a single (travel) stroller for our 2 year old, and our 5 year old walks. If we had a side by side umbrella type double stroller, we may travel with that, but we find that our current travel stroller works well because it folds up and can actually fit in the overhead bin of an airline.

So my final verdict? It just depends on how your family uses strollers or wagons! If you have a wagon you have to pull all the time, you may want a double stroller to alternate with. But if you choose a wagon like ours that has both a push and a pull, you may prefer the wagon most of the time.