OT - Graco Double Stroller opinions needed

[mom2meiko]

hi all!

we are expecting our 2nd child in july and are trying to decide what double stroller to get. dd is going to be exactly 2 when her little brother is born so she will definitely be using a stroller frequently - the sit and stand is not an option for us because of this.

we have narrowed it down to deciding between the quatro tour duo stroller and the duo glider. we have to stick with the graco strollers because we need to use the stroller with our carseat/infant carrier.

we test drove the quatro tour last night and loved the maneuverability and really liked that the front seat can hold up to 50 pounds. i didn't love the fabric kind of pouch that it had vs. the hard plastic compartment for the parents.

the duo glider seems like a double of our travel system stroller but was not available in the store for a test drive. we are concerned it may not be an maneuverable as the quatro tour and it also has just one cupholder, not two for the parents. (a minor concern, but we do use our cupholders regularly!) the front seat only holds up to 40 pounds - dd is only 21 lbs though so this would still last us quite a while.

the big thing for me is that the quatro tour is more $$ and 10 pounds heavier than the duo glider. is it really worth the extra weight and $$? (i have back issues so that weight is a factor for me but so is day to day ease of use.)

 

[ariel53098]

I had the duoglider for my twins and it was heavy enough. I can't imagine having a heavier one for a extra cup holder. They sell cupholders that you can attach to your stroller if it's that important to you. As soon as the girls were out of their infant carseats (the kind that snap in the base and snap in the stroller) I got a much lighter stroller. After the girls were a year I got a combi Twin Sport. It's pricey but I like all the features including how it folds and stands when folded, the baskets underneath, the strap to let you carry it over your shoulder, etc. You can attach a carseat to this stroller but it has to be a combi seat.
Rachel

 

[Iced-Coffee-Addict]

I have the Quattro Duo and rarely used. My son was the same age as your DD when his brother was born. The Quattro never really worked for me. My oldest DS was a big two year old and with him plus the car seat it was so heavy to push. I maybe used it a handful of times. The model was brand new when I purchased it (Early 2007) so no stores had it. I pushed myself to have a double stroller before DS#2 arrived and now wish I didn't. I have been trying to sell mine on Craigslist for $90 with little interest. If you lived closer, I would give you mine to borrow. My only advice might be to wait until your DC is here to make a final decision.

I ended up getting a Joovy Ultralight Caboose which also worked for a while. This stroller became useless since my oldest still naps which was not happening with this stroller. I ended up using my single Maclaren most of the time. Finally, I bought a City Mini Double since we have three vacations planned this year including Disney. I love this stroller. I think I'm finally done buying strollers.

 

[my3cinderellas]

I have a graco duoglider that was used only a handful of times. The quattro tour is HUGE and folds really bulky.

Jmo, but you might want to rethink the sit and stand. My sister had a 2yr old and a new baby and this worked out perfectly. Two yr olds hate to sit. Well mine does she only rides when she's tired.

 

[tinkermom23]

We bought the Duoglider for our twins because it attached 2 infant carseats and it was cheaper than some others we seen. We bought ours almost 3 years ago at Target for $140.00.
I used it ALL THE TIME! and it was easy to fold up and toss in the back of my van. It was light enough for me but still a full size stroller.
It is easier to "drive" than a side by side, IMO, and it has taller handles which was nice since my husband & I are both tall.
We feel that we have definately gotten our money out of it!, it has held up well and we even used it tonight for our walk.
I didn't mind having only 1 cup holder and I liked the bottom storage, it is roomy enough for lots of stuff!
I am sorry I cannot compare it to the Quatro. But I can tell you that we liked the duoglider.
One thing I don't like is the front sunshade is really tricky folding down and it got bent, so I never use it.
HTH

 

[ariel53098]

One thing I don't like is the front sunshade is really tricky folding down and it got bent, so I never use it.
HTH

According to the directions, you are supposed to take it off before folding it down. Yea right. However, some fellow twin mommies on another message board for moms of multiples suggested the following and it worked 100% of the time for me:
Make the sunshade thin (so it's not stretched out to protect from the sun). Fold the entire sunshade forward as far as it goes (it will be about in that seat's cup holder) THEN fold it down and it works!
Rachel

 

[pooh136]

I really liked my Quattro Duo, and thought it handled much more smoothly than the DuoGlider. I loved all of the cupholders and large storage basket (plus extra storage under and behind the front seat). I would do my grocery shopping with a basket hanging on on of the handles, and using the basket underneath. My girls are only 15 months apart, and this was the only way I could grocery shop with both of them until my youngest could sit up.

I did like the higher weight limits, my oldest weighed about 30 lbs. when she first started using it at 15 months, and she'll be 3 next week and is pushing 40 lbs. I did notice a difference in the past 6 months or so with pushing 65-70 lbs. around (up from about 40 lbs. total in the beginning).

The biggest problem I had was that my youngest (now 21 months) would push on the back of the front seat with her feet and drive her big sis crazy. My oldest liked riding in the back, but was close to the weight limit. Because of this, and so that they could both climb in and out of the stoller by themselves, I just sold my Quattro Duo and bought a Combi Twin. I really miss the cup holders, storage basket, and the handle style of my Quattro Duo (I liked being able to hang the diaper bag, shopping bags, etc. off the handle), although I do like the Combi for the ages the girls are now. I got almost 2 years of nearly daily use out of my Quattro Duo, and was sad to see it go.

 

[NJR]

Please disregard if this is an option you have already considered but discarded, but based on the info you provided this might work for you - we got a Baby Trend Deluxe Sit N' Stand (http://www.target.com/Baby-Trend-De...ie=UTF8&node=16370271&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1) when DS#2 was born. The front accomodates most infant car seats/carriers (we have a Graco Snugride), and the back has an actual "seat" that is removable to eventually convert to a sit n' stand when the older child is ready. As well, it is quite a bit lighter than either of the Graco strollers you are considering, and less expensive too. In any case, good luck with your newest little one!

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

I've had both - and personally HATE all Graco strollers at this point hahaha. But if you must stick with Graco, I'd go with the Quattro Tour Duo. It's a little easier to get around with.

 

[Perditamarie]

I think the Graco Duoglider is a beast.....if you really need one due to your infant seat, see if you can find an inexpensive one on Craigslist, consignment shop, borrow from a friend, etc.

The baby is only in the infant seat a short while...just to 20 pounds....put your money into a stroller that will last after the baby outgrows the infant seat, into and THROUGH toddlerhood. I wish I would have known about Maclaren strollers when I was lumbering around w/ a Duoglider....especially as your kids get a bit older/bigger, it will be a nightmare to push them and you will begin to loathe the Graco!!!!

 

[mindyb7]

I had the duoglider when I had my second. I hated that stroller. It's really bulky and takes a lot of effort to steer. it's also really heavy and bulky. I second the babyjogger. I had a combi after the duoglider but the combi didn't really hold up that well. I just ordered a babyjogger city elite and wish I had purchased that from the beginning. This will be my last stroller as well.

 

[nrod]

My two boys are 19 months apart. I bought the Graco Duo Glider LXI and it worked great for our needs. Used it for over 2 years (my oldest will still sit in the stroller more than my youngest!). My oldest couldn't get in the stroller any longer with his big feet so we downsized to a single and since we were going to Disney, we got a Mac Triumph. I still sometimes wish I had the Duo Glider. It wasn't all that heavy and stood up on it's own. It actually took up less room in my car than the Mac for that reason.

I also agree with the front shade. We never used it. And the back tray came off pretty quickly too.

I see that you are in MA - I live outside of Boston. If you're interested in a used Duo Glider LXI, send me a PM. Our stroller is still in good shape, considering how much we used it. Especially if you're going to want something lighter once the baby is sitting, I agree with getting a gently used Graco.

Hope that helps!!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I'm a bit of a stroller addict. I have the Duoglider (among others) and like it, but it's not my favorite double.

These are what I think are the pros/cons:

Pros: Inexpensive; I got mine from http://www.albeebaby.com/double-strollers.html, for 89.99 (not my favorite pattern, but for that price, I didn't care!); Large Basket; I think it's very maneuverable; folds easily; stands upright on its own; not too heavy for a double

Cons: Very long when folded (maybe this is because I left my front shade on it, but we use the shade!); my twins grab at each other (when they aren't in their infant seats), and they are only nine months!--though this would be the case with the Quattro, or any tandem; yes, only one cup holder, which is annoying, but sometimes we open the little compartment on the parent holder and put a cup in there. Mine doesn't have the 5 point harness (I think the LXI does though)

Also, you say you want this stroller because of the infant seat, well my twins are already outgrowing this stroller while in their seats, their legs can't be extended in the front seat or the back seat without hitting the canopy or back of the seat, and they aren't even that long. Have you thought about getting a side by side? I have a Baby Jogger City Mini Double, and it is an AWESOME stroller. You can also get a carseat adapter for it now. It's not cheap, plus you have to buy the adapter and the parent console, but we LOVE it. This stroller is great for my twins, but my 5 year old fits in it great too. He LOVES to ride in it. So even if you are paying more up front, you'll be able to use it a lot longer than either Graco.

Just my suggestion...

 

[hroyale]

We got a duo Glider for our twins before they were born. I'd say we used it a handfull of times. It was horrible. We loved our double jogging stroller. And eventually purchased two seperate strollers, and also attached umbrella strollers for the mall and such.

Infact, my Duo Glider is still in my basement. It's 5 years old and a little dusty. But, we're also in MA, so if you can make it to the Northshore you can have it for a steal.

HTH,
Heather

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I second the Baby Jogger City Mini double stroller. I test drove one last weekend. It is soo much easier to steer than the douglider. You can add the bar so it can hold the graco infant carrier. The sun shades are huge and the fold is soo eazy. I am looking at purchasing a double if I start to babysit for a friend. I am going to get the single city mini for my ds1. I am having shoulder surgery and we are heading back to disney in Aug. The city mini is much easier to push one handed than my Maclaren Techno. I am still keeping the Techo bc I love that one too. Check out the City mini double before you decide

hope this helps

 

[missmary]

I love love love my quatro. I had an 18 month old and newborn when we got it. Now I use it to haul my 3 year old, 2 year old and 7 month old, with a stand attachment on the back! Works great with all Graco car seats, including the new one that goes to 30 pounds. I do home childcare and it has lasted through a set of twins, pumpkin patch field trips, countless toddlers and way more wear and tear than any average family would put it through. I didn't think I'd like the hard plastic shell and fabric bag either, until I used them. The shell works great for sunglasses or cell phone. I put my camera in the fabric pouch. It is VERY easy to manuver. Love the double handles. Can even push and steer with one hand. I'm planning to bring mine to Disney in 6 weeks!