I must have researched for hours to figure out which double stroller I should get for running errands with the kids. I really wanted to find the best double stroller that was also a convertible stroller, with a large storage basket and a smooth ride. Nearly everything I found that fell into the “convertible double stroller” category either wouldn’t work well on rough terrain or didn’t have a compact fold that would work with our three-row SUV.
My criteria for the best double stroller:
- Easy push
- Easy to fold and put in the back of the car for everyday use
- Works well on grass and other terrain
- Could be a single or a double
- Infant car seat adapter available (or part of a full travel system)
- Large storage area underneath
- Good for a baby and an older kid – since my kids are nearly 3 years apart
- Adjustable leg rest (my preschooler is tall for her age)
- Can be folded with the seats attached or seats removed
Originally I thought I wanted a side by side stroller, but then I decided that a tandem would probably work better. I wanted something I could use as a single stroller or double, which a tandem allows for. (Side by side strollers can’t typically be a single-to-double stroller.)
Convertible Double Stroller Review: Baby Jogger Double Stroller
I’ve had the Baby Jogger City Select now for almost a year. This double stroller City Select is my favorite stroller I’ve had so far. Read on for my honest review of the stroller!
Above is the stroller set up for one, with the seat reclined all the way. This is how I would walk with my baby when he was 6 months or younger.
Below is the Baby Jogger City Select double stroller set up for two, using a car seat attachment. You can see our KeyFit 30 car seat on the top with the front-facing toddler seat on the bottom.
What you need for these setups:
What I love about the City Select double stroller
- First of all, the color. I always choose blue or navy blue over any other color, and the Moonlight Blue is so pretty in person!
- Ease of use: It’s on the heavier side but I can easily put it in and out of the car by myself. It’s not a lightweight double stroller but that makes it feel much sturdier.
- The sun canopy is large and provides a lot of coverage.
- The stroller base folds up easily, but it does require both hands.
- It has a car seat adapter (sold separately) that accommodates the car seat we use. For a third child (or an older second child), there’s an optional glider board you can add.
- Seating options: When my baby boy was younger, I could recline the seat and put him in there for a walk. I didn’t need a bassinet attachment. (Starting when he was around 5 months old. Prior to that I used the car seat.) If I’m using it as a single stroller, I can move the seat up higher on the frame from where you see it in this photo (below). I can face the seats toward me or to the front.
What could be better
As with pretty much any tandem stroller, you have to remove the seats before you can fold up the base. It’s not a huge deal but it’s an extra step, if that’s a big deal to you.
If you have a tall kid or an older child, they might not be super comfy in the seat. My daughter is about 41” tall and if the footrest isn’t all the way down, her legs look a little cramped. They do have a glider board, but she’d rather sit. There is no bench seat option.
The brake is hand operated. I have had some foot operated brakes that I’ve really not liked, so the hand operated is a nice change. But if you have your hands full, the brake can be tough to operate.
There aren’t too many seating configurations you can do with the two seats. And with any larger stroller, the folded stroller takes up a good amount of room in the trunk. (It’s a similar size to the Uppababy Vista, if you’ve seen that in person.)
Other double stroller features that might be important to you
- Adjustable telescoping handlebar
- Peek-a-boo windows on the sunshades
- Great wheel suspension on the rear wheels
- The main seat can be up higher or down in the lower position, so if you have a toddler who can climb in and out they can do that (or the baby can be closer to you)
- Second stroller seat capability
- The extra seat and regular seat are the same, so they are interchangeable as you change around the seating configurations
- Parking brake at your hand, not at your foot
- 5-point harness
- Optional cup holders you can add on (not build into the handlebar)
- Higher weight limit than some strollers
City Select Double Stroller Review Recap
In all, I really like this stroller. It does get heavier with 2 kids in it, but any double stroller will with more seats attached! I think next I’m going to get a side by side double stroller for long walks, since that will probably be better for walks than a tandem. The tandem can definitely get heavier in the front with the baby up top and toddler in front. This can make it hard to push on uneven sidewalks, so keep that in mind!
Would I recommend the Baby Jogger City Select (now City Select 2)? Yes!
What do you need to make the City Select a double stroller? It comes as a single, so you need to add on a few things:
- Second seat kit (also available at Buy Buy Baby and select other retailers)
- Second seat adapters (also available at Buy Buy Baby and other retailers)
- I also added a parent console and a cup holder with phone holder, too.
Leave a Reply