Anyone thinking of getting a tandem stroller?

[Momto1and1ontheway]

Anyone else going to at least think about buying one? Anyone done any preliminary research (or already have one) that they care sharing details about. Do you like the side-by-side or the front back, etc...? If you could include links, that would be marvelous!!

Hope everyone is feeling well (under the circumstances) and hugs to those who have been under the weather or otherwise unwell. :throb

[busybusymomma]

I have a side by side jogger that we use(d) for walks to the library and such. It was nice to have, but unfortunately I didn't have enough to spend on a really nice double jogger so the quality is only so-so.

I like the side by side version but if you thinking for shopping or mall trip type stuff I think the front back seats work better. They can be harder to push, but I think the nicer brands aren't so bad.

So I'll have the jogger for outdoors stuff and I think I'm going to go wtih a single for my indoors stroller and also buy a "leash" since ds is almost three and would rather walk, er run away.

[cicerosum]

I've had both and prefer the one-in-front version. They pick on each other and bug each other too much when they're side by side. My Aria Twin also fell apart afer a year's use.

I'm waiting on my Phil and Ted's E3! Can't wait to try it out.

[ChattyCat]

We're splurging on a double urban mountain buggy with our tax refund. Here's the link:

http://mountainbuggy.sycamorekids.com/urban_double.html

We have both a single jogger and a single regular stroller, and I hate having to plan ahead with regards to which one to put in the car. I figure this will take care of it, since it's a hybrid. Also, ds will only be two in 2 weeks, so I figure he'll want to ride a lot still. I know I'll have the little babe in the sling most of the time. But, everytime I took ds to the mall, I'd still bring his stroller in, if for no other reason than to hold my bags. :lol

[Throkmorton]

We are probably getting a sbs jogger for walking and trips to the zoo. DS is almost 4, but he still rides in the stroller when we are out all day, and will often nap in there too. I will probably just get a cheapie jogger, though. It won't be quite as abused as my single jogger. Why, oh why did I sell my old one i used for daycare? I think we will get a lot of use out of it, especially considering that the closest elementary school is 3.5 km away.

Have you seen the size of the seats on most front-to-back tandems? That front seat is teensy! DS screamed every time we tried to put him in one at 18 months old. Not to mention, they steer like tanks, even with 2 relatively small children.

Really, the steering on SBS is far better across price points. The only tandem I have been able to steer easily is a Peg Perego Tender Twin. The PP Duette is supposed to steer well too.

If you want a double stroller for shopping, look for something that is no more than 29" wide. Some nice doubles in that size are the Inglesina Twin Swift, Mountain Buggy Urban Double, Valco Twin Runabout, Mac Twin traveller or Rally Twin, and the Phil and Ted's (which steers and has the seat size of a single)

[nitareality]

We scoured and scoured garage sales last year and found a front/back tandem stroller that we'll use for zoo's and festivals. Can't beat $25! It works with our existing travel system (plain Graco) too. We haven't found we use the strollers enough to justify the expense of other (very very nice :thumb ) ones. Of course, now that I say that...we'll live in this stroller and I"ll regret going bare bones. :lol

[newmainer]

we just decided to get a double Chariot Cougar... they're pricey, but dh's parents are footing most of the bill and my dad chipped in as well. They're really cool- you can transform them into stroller, jogger, bike trailer, harness and skies for x-country skiing and there's a harness for hiking. At this point we're only getting the bike and jogger attachements. probably skies next winter. i love that they can be totally encloses, which is a must here for walkign when its super cold or windy- dd hates being the open wind and i am going a bit nuts this winter not walking as much as i'd like to. i'm ordering it tomorrow and hopefully will have it by the weekend.

originally i thought a double was overkill, since we will wear the babe most of the time and also have a backpack; plus by the time the baby is big enough to ride, dd will be almost 4. But- many mamas of 4 year olds tell me that on longer outings they still want to ride, and in this model, the double is really only 6 inches wider- the extra space can carry gear.

[tiffanyrk1786]

I have a Combi Twin Savvy Sport and a Graco Duoglider LXI, and a Kolcraft Jeep side by side stroller.. By far my favorite is the Combi, the Graco is okay, but I like side by side best because I feel like the kid in the back doesnt get to see everything (and we are big on the kids seeing and touching everything they can because it triggers the different spots in the brain) but anyways, I hate the Kolcraft Jeep (its basically an umbrella stroller but its a pain in the butt) I use the Combi daily

[Throkmorton]

The Combi! That was the other SBS on my list... thank you.

It's supposed to be a good stroller, provided you're under 5'8".

[busybusymomma]

I am kinda interested in the twin savvy too... wasn't sure the reviews on it since I read mixed reviews about the savvy soho. gosh I wish I had a huge wad of cash to spend! :wink I already overspent on pouches. :innocent

[~*max*~]

We have a Graco front to back double stroller. It gets the job done, and has a nice size basket underneath to hold stuff, but it can be tough to push. Having just gotten back from Disney World, we rented a double stroller for my 4 & 6 year olds. It was side by side, and they did fight a lot. Although w/front to back, they find their own ways of getting each other - like the one in back pulling the one in front's hair. So, none are perfect. Definately test them out first if you can, to see what is most comfortable to push and what fits in your car.

[tiffanyrk1786]

The combi we have is at Babies R Us (they just started carrying them in store this past month or so) and its the Twin Savvy Sport, not the EX.. So, no cupholders (but I dont really need that as I have a water bottle with a pop top and there are little pockets on the back of the canopy for stuff like that.. but other than that, its pretty much the same (and I dont think the carseat fits into the seat) but its $200, so $100 less and no shipping charges LOL.. I love it!

[busybusymomma]

Thanks for the tip! I'm planning a trip to Greenwood (an hour+ away) to the Babies R Us because there's just no selection around here at all. :( The Target website has the Savvy Soho Deluxe and the new Graco Mosaic (I want a basket and a cupholder with a lightweight stroller so I don't want a Maclaren) but the nearest Target doesn't carry them. Actually last time I went they didn't have any strollers at all, so I should check back as maybe they are getting ready to stock some new strollers. :thumb

[Throkmorton]

:topic because we were talking doubles

How tall are you? Are you needing a coffee cup holder, or a water bottle holder?
I'm just wondering because a lot of people I know like the Combis, but they are all short folks. I tried one, and kicked the wheels. Ds was way too tall for it too, but we're giants.
Reports are that the Mosaic is ok, but overpriced (remember, I'm talking Canadian prices, it might be a bargain in the US). Especially when you consider you can get a P3 for $199 right now from Albee: http://www.specialtybaby.com/pegpe20plp3m3.html I loved my Peg, but passed it along to my SIL when she had her babe.
Also, you can get a Zooper Swing for $160 online, and it's another nice stroller. It has a pouch to carry water bottles, but you can also just get a Valco universal Cupholder for any stroller you want, so don't rule out a stroller just because it is cupholder-less.

Yes, i am distracting myself from the laundry by looking at new strollers I don't need. Why do you ask?

[KatSG]

I'm having trouble finding specs that list the width. Any suggestions? I'm leaning toward the Graco DuoGlider for price, can use it with my carseat, and I generally like their products. Any complaints?

[Throkmorton]

Just that it's a tank, and the front seat is so small. Oh, and the 35 lb per seat weight limit. :) Like I have said, i'm hard on my strollers, and a little picky.
My friend, who has smaller kids (ie, not 40 lbs 2 year olds) really likes hers of relatively occasional use.
The Duoglider is narrow enough, but definitely take your DD with you to try it out, plunk 20 lbs of weight in the back seat and drive it around the store a little.

[busybusymomma]

:topic because we were talking doubles

How tall are you? Are you needing a coffee cup holder, or a water bottle holder?

The double Combi has caught my eye too, and I've considered it since sometimes ds does kinda need to be restrained since he likes to run and won't really be carried anymore. I like having a cupholder for those moments when I have a latte at the mall or an iced tea in a cup- otherwise I drink water out of a Klean Kanteen. I'll look at that P3 too.

I suppose in a way the cupholder is negotiable, but I do really want a decent sized basket... I had a universal cupholder for the cheapo umbrella stroller I used to have but it was junk. I'll make a note of the Valco one. :thumb

PS- I'm a gigantic 5'2" and dh is 5'8" (and rarely pushes the stroller) so no worries there. :laugh:

[Throkmorton]

ah, you have tons of options! DS is 6'4" and I'm 5'10", so i look at everything from a slightly different angle. :)

[busybusymomma]

LOL! Well, if you're bored (or putting off the laundry) later and want to PM me with some single and double suggestions, I'd be thrilled! :wink :laugh: My big thing is a nice basket, lightweight and having a cupholder or the option to add a cupholder that doesn't fall off the stroller all the time. :lol I don't even care if it folds as small as an umbrella stroller as long as it isn't big and clunky. I probably can't really spend more than $200, maybe $250 tops depending on how much we get in the way of gifts/gift cards... this being #3 we might not really get much.

[Mamabeakley]

I really want the Joovy Stand On Tandem Stroller - Caboose (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009XBXIQ/ref=sr_11_1/002-4463459-2075234?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) . I probably won't actually get it, b/c we do NOT have a tax refund coming (bought a house - I know, that's supposed to make tax time better, but in our case it is definitely making it worse for 2005!) and I'm really not a stroller user, particularly. But that's partly b/c DS won't sit in them without much protest. I have to fight with him to keep him in the cart at the grocery store, too. And this stroller, he could STAND UP in! I think he would like it. In fact, I know he would like it, cause we test-drove it in the BabysRUs.

Anyway. Drool. :lol

[busybusymomma]

OKay, strangely enough ds rode in the stroller the whole time :dropjaw we were at the mall with friends yesterday. That really tempts me to get a double stroller but I'm such a minimalist that I like the smaller size of the singles. :lol And BTW, I saw the Graco Mosaic and it is junk! Now I'd really like to see a Combi Twin Savvy in person, there's some for decent prices on eBay if anyone else is interested.