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Since the December arrival of my second son, I've been searching out the ideal double stroller. I've been looking for an all-terrain vehicle that can handle trail walks as easily as Target runs. I'm a big fan of the convertible front wheel (where the wheel can pivot or be locked in place) and two names kept popping up in recommendations: BOB and Valco.
The BOB Revolution Duallie assembled in less than ten seconds, since the only step required is to pop on the wheels. Set-up and break-down are a breeze, too. I quickly mastered opening the stroller with a quick flick of the wrists and folding it in half with the two squeezable levers. While picking up a double stroller is never easy per se, the BOB does come with a nice handle to grab in your attempts to wrestle it into the car. The Duallie Revolution handled great on our beach walk (BMX-style wheels), grocery store errands (30" width), dusty trail hike (hose-off-able material), and neighborhood jog (adjustable shock absorbers). My only complaints? The seats don't get vertical enough for my son, who frequently ended up leaning forward to get a better view, and the stroller lacks a lock to keep it secure when folded. The BOB also doesn't come with much in the way of free bells and whistles, although for an additional cost you can add a handlebar console, rain shield or fuzzy seat insert. This stroller did impress me with two features: the two independent sunshades (perfect for preventing sun-in-the-eyes-whining on those late afternoon walks) and functional one-handed steering. Who needs a cup holder when you have a free hand to hold your latte?
While BOB has the upper hand for simplicity, Valco's TriMode Twin Runabout takes the cake for accompanying accessories. A rain cover, newborn padding insert, flip-out sunshade, on-board tire pump, and detachable storage bags that double as diaper bags are just a few of the standard features. In addition to the locked or swivel positions for the front wheels, the Valco Twin Runabout also has a forty-five-degree swivel option (best for — according to Valco — their attachable toddler seat, which allows the stroller to seat three). While the competition presents a more rugged physique, the Valco envelops its sturdy frame in a stylish exterior. All five color options will turn heads, including the unique limited edition Boy Meets Girl model. I didn't find the four wheels quite as easy to maneuver as the BOB's three, but I liked the two inches Valco shaved off the frame width for squeezing through doorways and aisles. My husband was a fan of the adjustable handlebars for his afternoon runs, and I loved the one-handed seat incline adjustment and the abundance of storage. A word to the wise, though: read the instructions. All the bells and whistles require a fair amount of assembly, much of which is not intuitive. I even had to reference the manual to get my son out of the harness the first time — a kid-proof (parent-proof?) safety feature. — Kate Bayless
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