Mountain Buggy Duet
There seem to be a growing number of double strollers on the market, and it seems like all of them offer something different. We recently had the opportunity to test out the Mountain Buggy Duet, which is really a cool stroller with so many options not readily available in most double strollers.
Baby Jogger City Mini Double (blue) at 29.5″ wide and Mountain Buggy Duet (red) at 24.5″ wide
Width: One common complaint that we’ve had with side-by-side double strollers is that they are all so wide. Most of them have been made so that they can fit through a doorway, but it can still be awkward to get them through: the wheels may just barely fit or you have to angle the stroller to go straight through (no turning mid-doorway). That was one of the things that made me perk up when reading about the Mountain Buggy Duet: it is only 25″ wide (the same as a single stroller), so it can fit through doorways. In fact, when we first got this stroller assembled, that was the very first thing we tried out. We were pleasantly surprised that it easily maneuvered through our smallest doorway in our house. If you are looking for a narrow stroller, this is the narrowest one on the market.
Length: This is a long stroller from the front wheels to the handlebar, but the benefit is that it can be used for long (or not-so-long) gaits when walking or jogging. You can completely adjust the handlebar to best suit the height of the adult using it (from 31-42″ high). This is also beneficial because the swing of the handlebar can make it so that you aren’t kicking the stroller when you are in motion.
Weight: The Mountain Buggy Duet is not a light stroller, coming in at 34 pounds. This can make it difficult when loading and unloading into a car. That being said, it is incredibly easy to pop up the front or back wheels to go over curbs. As for the weight of children, you can have a maximum load of 79 lb in the stroller, and it is recommended to use from birth-4 years old.
Tires: At first glance, I was really impressed with the tires, as they felt like they would have a good grip on the roads. As I looked around, I read reviews of some users needing to replace their tires due to wear and breakage, although we didn’t have that experience. We were pleased with how easily the tires can be removed, yet how they also safely lock in place. When I was testing it, I did find that the front tires often went to the lock position (so they couldn’t turn). I don’t know if this was user error, but it did happen a few times after we had unfolded it. So I might suggest that, after getting it out of the car, check the front locks to make sure that they allow the wheels to swivel.
The rear wheel breaks were great, and I thought that they were the best and easiest to use of any of the foot breaks. You can set them from either right or left foot as well. One other thing to mention is that the wheels are inside stroller body. Because of this, you won’t hit the wheels on something, but you would hit the stroller body first. On our double umbrella stroller, you can’t see the wheels, which causes us to often run into things. We didn’t find that to be the case with this stroller.
Seats: The seats in this stroller sit up higher than the other strollers that we have tried out. I don’t know that I would consider that a positive or a negative, but it was just an adjustment to make. Because of this height, my toddlers can’t climb up into it like their other strollers.
The seat backs recline independent of each other, which is great if you have one child that wants to rest and one that likes to look around. It seemed like the seats started out by leaning back further than other strollers. One thing that impressed me was how you adjust the seat backs. While you have to use two hands, it felt incredibly secure, like it wasn’t going to go anywhere once set.
Variety: One great benefit to this stroller is that you can use it for one child or two. One of the seats can be removed, and you can purchase a clip on joey tote bag or joey storage compartment. This way you have plenty of space for a growing family. You also have the options of purchasing 1 (or 2) carrycots, which is the pram attachment for newborns. As an added measure of versatility, the carrycots can face forward, backward, and they also have a slight incline for babies with reflux.
The Duet is advertised to be able to do the following configurations:
- 2 seats (included)
- 1 carrycot, 1 seat
- 1 carrycot, 1 joey (tote bag or storage)
- 1 carrycot, 1 car seat
- 2 carrycots simultaneously
- 1 car seat, 1 seat
- 2 car seats
Sun Hoods: The sun hoods can be removed completely, and they work independent of each other. I was very impressed with how much they covered to create shade, but because of the heavy fabric, I can imagine that it might be rather hot during summer months. There is a small mesh window, which closes with a loop and bead.
Travel: When I tried to fold up the stroller, it was initially awkward. It was hard to get the knack of the latch (found under one of the seat) to fold it up completely. This may come easier with time, but it was difficult to get it folded and then pick it up, as there didn’t seem to be a good way to pick it up when it was folded. The best place would seemingly be the lap bar, but I didn’t want to pick it up by there and break it. In addition, it is still rather large when folded, so don’t expect to be able to easily put it in a small trunk.
Accessories: One of the things that I was impressed with was how many accessories came with the the stroller: the padded lap bar (great for when babies are teething), the insulated water bottle holder, the adjustable handlebars with ribbed grips, and the jogging wrist strap. The undercarriage is good, but there aren’t any additional storage pockets on the back of the seats.
Overall, this is a good, sturdy stroller. I love how narrow it is and how it maneuvers. The versatility of the seat options is also great for families with twins or growing families. While it’s not a perfect stroller, it fits the niche of a double jogging stroller with lots of variable options. While it isn’t the easiest to fold up to take in and out of the car, it would be a fantastic stroller to keep in your garage to use around your neighborhood.
