Combi Twin Stroller anyone?

[cel_disney]

DS is going to be 4 in September and we are expecting #2 in a few weeks. DS still REALLY likes his stroller and regularly reclines and sleeps in it, and frankly - I like the ability to be able to push him sometimes instead of chase him around!

DS is 42 pounds and 43 inches tall with a long torso. His single strollers are an Inglesina Zippy and a Mac Quest. We have tried the following twin strollers and this is the current opinions from him and us:

- Peg Aria Twin - the backrest was too small, the seat not deep enough, and he was very frustrated that his knees hit the snack tray (this does not happen in the zippy)
- Baby Jogger Citi Mini - we have been planning to rent one of these in Disney and DS really likes it - but its bigger than what I'd like to put in the trunk and pretty pricey. I havent tried the citi MICRO, but since recline is a big issue for us, I'm not sure it would really work.
- Mac Twin Triumph - this seat was way too shallow and the recline not great...didnt seem as comfortable as the quest
- Combi Twin Sport - DS really liked this one - great recline and good fold too. Its not the perfect stroller for pushing - a little wobbly but this has always been a trait of combi strollers for as long as I can remember. The big concern is that its got a 45/90lb weight limit which seems like we'd be growing out of it in just a few months!

So - if you have read this far - I am wondering if
1) Do you own a Combi Twin? Do you like it for the mall? (I'd probably still rent the BJCM for disney!) Do you exceed the 45lb weight limit on a given seat?

2) Any other side-by-side strollers you'd recommend? I'd prefer to stay under 300$ if possible and I'm not against buying used or older model year!

DS thinks that we should just use 2 strollers every time we go out - one for him and another for his baby sister! He loves his Zippy!!!

 

[4Pirates&APrincess]

My DS is 4 and about the same size as your DS. I didnt have the Combi double but we had the single and the footrest is very small and DS would constantly get his feet "caught" on the wheels which also made it nearly impossible to push. I do have a friend that had a Combi double that I used at the zoo when I took her two DSs and I hated it! It was very hard to push and it did not seem very stable. My vote is for the CMBJ. I LOVE mine (single) and wish I would have found it sooner.

 

[A10560]

I had this stroller about a year and a half ago. It was ok when my ds was 2 and I had a newborn but as he grew it bacame a pain. The bad part is that when you take the kids to the mall the displays are not seperated far enough from each other to fit through. Also the kids could reach shelves and pull items off. I would not recommend the stroller but I am not sure if you are set on a side by side or if a front to back double would work. I would really read the reviews.

 

[cel_disney]

Thanks for the feedback ladies!! I've read dozens of reviews but they are mostly favorable besides the wobble factor...

I am VERY set on a side by side and dont want to spend the money or the trunk space on the BJCMD (I already own 600$ worth of single strollers and will only need this double for a year or so), so I'm looking at other options...

It seems like every double on the market has issues - its just a matter of picking which issues I can deal with and which ones I cannot...

The good news is that my DS knows to keep his feet on the footrest so that we can push (and consequences for not listening are that he has to walk).

 

[2poohbears]

I have twins (now age 6), and used the Combi Twin Savvy for several years. I LOVED that stroller, and found it very easy to push and very light to pick up and place into our van. We still used it for zoo trips when the boys were 4, and I didn't have trouble pushing them. My nieces, twins age 3, have been using that same stroller for over a year and it's still going strong.

that said...because he's getting older, he'll probably outgrow just about any stroller within the next few months, I would think.

 

[2poohbears]

have you thought of using 2 single strollers for wdw? I used the Kolcraft umbrella stroller at WDW until last year, with no problems. When mine were using strollers, I found it easier to get around wdw if dh and i each pushed a single umbrella stroller instead of a double.

 

[cel_disney]

Thanks for the feedback poohbear! I might have to borrow one of these from a daycare or moms group friend for a week when baby arrives and go from there! It seems that everyone either loves or hates this stroller!!

For our December disney trip, we're definitely renting the BJCMD and bringing our zippy and infant carseat from home for the airports and mornings when we probably wont need the double. We considered bringing our 2 singles with us (mac quest and zippy) but that seemed too hard to do if we were doing rider swap etc and the mac doesnt have a good sunshade and I dont like that it tips when a bag is on it.

I definitely need a double for home though since there will be plenty of times when DH or I are out alone with both kids.

The outgrowing part is why I dont want to spend 400$ on the BJCMD and loose the trunk space for it - we just wont be using it long enough to justify the cost!!

 

[justwinnie]

I use a combi double for my twins and I like it. I know others who have used the combi double for older kids that have exceeded the weight limit and it was fine.

The only thing I'd caution you about is pushing two kids with such different weights. I've had my older daughter in the stroller with one of the twins and found it difficult to push.

The combi double is our Disney stroller. We love how it folds up and has the carrying strap. So easy to deal with on the buses!

I just bought the Baby Jogger City Select. It is quite spendy! Looked perfect on paper, but in use there are lots of drawbacks. I really wanted a front-back, but hated the graco (I gave it away) and felt that most models were too heavy. We have the BJCM as well, and find it difficult to use in many places due to it's width and my boys' love of sticking their arms out-- they've knocked off entire shelves from stores as I walked through with them. Argh.

It does seem like the perfect stroller is always out of reach.
Maybe you ca search craigslist for a used BJCM. It really is a nice stroller, I just can't use mine all the time b/c of my feisty boys.

 

[Princess&JackMom]

Another vote for the Combi. I have 4 year old twins and love this stroller. It is very light and easy/quick to fold and unfold. We do sometimes have trouble getting through tight path in stores, etc., but that's not a big deal.

I also have a double jogging stroller that is easier to push outdoors (because of the big wheels) and it has a higher weight limit, but it isn't great for travel (big, doesn't fold down small, hard to close).

I wish I had thought more about the jogging stroller in the beginning and I would have opted to by one of the BOB strollers, which I've heard good things about (though they are very expensive).

We use a used Perego back-to-front stroller when we travel (so we don't have to worry about damage, getting it lost). It's better for crowds or tight places but I found it harder to maneuver/push then the Combi.

 

[jennilouwho]

I have a 40 pound 44 inch 4 year old and a 30 pound 2 year old. My combi twin has been fine when I want to take a long walk around the neighborhood.

 

[Jazcat]

we just got the combi twinfor my twins first birthday. We love it We had the baby trend tandeum loved it when they ere in the car seat but as they got older one would have trouble seeing around the other and they could kick the one in front. when then bought the attachment to attach 2 together worked great on our umbrella stroller didnt work when we bought 2 single stroller wheels 2 wide. I love the combi because it reclines and easy to push and carry The only problem no cupholder we loved the baby trend for that

 

[yooperfamily]

i LOVE mine! i don't think it's wobbly at all, pushes really nice. i use it for my almost 4 yo DD (32lbs) and my almost 8 month old (25lbs)! i love the way it folds up too! i did a lot of research on double strollers before i bought it... would have loved to get one of the 'nicer' strollers, but my budget was under $300.... i actually got this on amazon for less than $220 w/ free 2day shipping for trying their "prime"....

 

[SHOREDAD]

We used the combi twin in Disney during easter break. We really like it, however at Disney it was a little bit of a pain. At the time we had DS1, DS2(almost 3). and DS9

The reason we had some problems was carrying it. THe way it folds still left it very large. Getting on a crowded bus I had a hard time not hitting people. Also we had to negotiate how to get everyone on the bus along with the stroller and anything we put underneath. At night when everyone was tired or asleep, it became very difficult. Carrying a sleeping 2+ yr old and a double stroller was difficult. It also was difficult to push it around crowded stores, and between display racks, sometimes doors(esp double doors)

A positive note was that on most bus trips someone would help us and either grab the stroller for me or even a kid one time. it all worked out but sometimes was chaotic at the bus stops. If it wasn't for the patient bus drives and the very nice passengers that always seemed to help, we would of had a very hard time.

Now we are going again in a few weeks and are debating bringing it again or just renting one at the parks for the week. It would cost approx 130$ for the week. We are tempted to do it just for the convenience. Only problem is no stroller for the walk to the bus and to the park and vice versa. HMMMMMM

Otherwise we like the stoller for walks etc. just not crowded places and tight squeezes.

 

[wmharley]

So the SitandStands won't work for you?

Our daughter doesn't care to sleep in a stroller and she likes to get out everynow and then. We have 3 strollers.. a large Graco from when DD5 was a baby that DS2 uses, a Combi umbrella and the sitandStand.

If the DW goes to Disney with me, we will take the Graco and the Combi as it gives us the best choice of flexibility and storage. We can split up if need be, and the kids love it.

that said... locally or if i'm alone with both, we take the the sitandstand.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've owned a dozen strollers, and my combi was one of my favorites - it lived in my minivan. I had a jogger for neighborhood walks. It fold down very small, and has a nice shoulder strap.

 

[cel_disney]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone! Keep it comin!!

I am thinking that getting any double stroller on a bus is going to be awkward with kids/gear in tow...I know that sometimes it was challenging to get our single stroller/gear/kid on the bus!

DS is almost 4 but still LOVES to sleep in his stroller regularly - so the sit n stand is not an option...we actually have tried to get him to agree to using one but he said the baby could sit in the back so he could sleep!! HAHA!

I'm goign to try to hold out a month after baby arrives - I figure that chances are for the first month I wont be out with the 2 kids alone very much so we can use 2 strollers if we have too!!!

I'm also looking at the updated Baby Planet Unity Twin...it has a higher weight limit than the combi but the new model has only been out a month so not alot of reviews yet...

 

[micheleq]

My girls love their Combi Twin Savvy. We've had it for three years now. I would bring it to Disney on this next trip, but we have three legs of travel (Detroit to CT for a wedding, then CT to MCO, MCO back to DTW) and I am trying to travel light (we'll rent from Magic Strollers or Orlando Strollers).

 

[cel_disney]

My girls love their Combi Twin Savvy. We've had it for three years now. I would bring it to Disney on this next trip, but we have three legs of travel (Detroit to CT for a wedding, then CT to MCO, MCO back to DTW) and I am trying to travel light (we'll rent from Magic Strollers or Orlando Strollers).

Michele - if you dont mind me asking - how big (weight/height) are your girls now? Three years is a good amount of time to still like it!!!

 

[lilosurf11]

When I was growing up, my parents had the double stroller for my twin brother and I - they called it the war wagon.

Def. a good way to "bowl" people over..just kidding!