Unconventional Designs

Innovative double strollers are functional but less bulky

Several double strollers use an unconventional design to circumvent problems with traditional double strollers, namely that they can be too wide, too long, too heavy, and hard to steer.

The Baby Trend Sit N Stand LX (*Est. $135) and Joovy Caboose (*Est. $150) both work on the same principle. These strollers have one seat, plus a rear running board where a second child can stand or sit behind the main seat. These are an option if you have an older child (at least 2 1/2 years old and no more than 45 pounds and 40 inches tall) and a younger baby. Their more compact size is a plus, but some parents say these only work well if your older child prefers to stand and doesn't nap much.

The Joovy Caboose Stand On Tandem stroller (*Est. $150) is essentially a single stroller with a rear bench and handlebars that allow an older child to stand on the stroller behind the main seat. Kids can also sit on a padded seat. The Joovy is the width of a single stroller, so it's easier to maneuver in and out of doors and aisles. The Baby Trend version is virtually identical (it's based on the same design) and also gets good reviews. With Baby Trend's recent legal and financial troubles, though, Joovy seems like a better bet for customer service and product support. Joovy also gets slightly better reviews overall.

Although the Joovy stroller is compatible with car seats -- which means you can snap a car seat carrier into the main seat -- this makes for a cramped ride for the child sitting or standing in the rear. The same thing happens if the front seat is reclined. Parents also complain that storage is hard to access when a child is sitting or standing on the back. But many parents say these are small considerations for the convenience of a narrower double stroller. The original Joovy Caboose weighs 26 pounds. The Joovy Caboose Ultralight (*Est. $240) costs more but weighs five pounds less (21 pounds). Parents posting to Amazon.com say the lighter model is sturdy, maneuverable and well worth the premium if there's room in your budget. For families with three kids to transport, Joovy also makes the Big Caboose Stand On Triple Stroller (*Est. $380) with two tandem-style stroller seats plus a rear running board.

The phil&teds Sport Buggy Double (*Est. $450 plus $90 doubles kit) is a three-wheeled, all-terrain stroller. An additional seat installs above or below the main seat for the second child, and because the seat can recline fully, it works for an infant. Reviews say the Sport stroller is great for parents who need a double stroller but don't want the added width or length of a traditional twin stroller. A few parents complain about the smallish sun canopy and lack of cup holder. Still, reviews say this is an innovative solution for families that want to avoid the bulk of a traditional double stroller.

The phil&teds Vibe Double (*Est. $600, plus $100 doubles kit) is hailed by the company as "street stopping eye candy." Parents agree that the Vibe stroller looks good, but the jury is still out on its performance. Similar to the Sport Buggy but with some added comfort and convenience features, it actually loses marks for these upgrades. The larger sun canopy makes the adjustable handlebar a tight fit when it's on the tallest setting, and the easy-access hand brake can get stuck or deployed by accident, say some reviewers. The Vibe can be folded with the second seat still attached (with the sport, it has to be removed first), but parents say that makes the cumbersome fold even worse. Overall, user reviews suggest the Sport Buggy is a both a better deal and a more solid stroller.

UppaBaby is the latest company to successfully take on the single-to-double challenge. The UppaBaby Vista (*Est. $670) is a high-end stroller covered in depth in our companion report on standard strollers. The Vista's optional RumbleSeat (*Est. $130) accomodates babies 6 months and older. For infants, the main seat can be used with an infant car seat while an older child (up to 35 pounds) sits in the RumbleSeat. Another option is the Vista's Piggyback add-on (*Est. $90), which works like a detachable version of the Joovy's stand-on running board. The piggyBACK has a higher 50-pound weight limit and can be folded up with the stroller. (The RumbleSeat has to be detached before folding.)

Parents say the Piggyback works beautifully for short trips or for kids who like to hop on for the occasional rest. Toddlers can get tired standing and holding on for longer treks, though. The RumbleSeat gets the same major complaint as the phil&teds series of double strollers: a cramped ride and limited visibility in the rear seat. Let's Go Strolling highlights this issue in a video-blog entry showing a 15-month-old in the RumbleSeat responding with increasing irritation to the various main seat configurations. As a well-made and expandable single stroller, the Vista is doing well with reviewers, but the phil&teds Sport Buggy Double gets better parent ratings and comes with a lower price tag.