Looking For The Best Double Stroller??? An In-Depth Review of the Winner....Measurements Included!

As many others have experienced, we began looking for that perfect double stroller as soon as we found out we were expecting #2. I researched endlessly for the stroller that would fit our needs the best. As others may agree (or disagree), there does not seem to be a “perfect” double stroller out there. However, the Graco Quattro Tour Duo Ionic Double Stroller came pretty close!

I will start by agreeing with everyone that this stroller is, in fact, heavy and big. That is probably why it is not the “perfect” double stroller. Having said that, we must accept that a double stroller IS GOING TO BE HEAVY AND BIG! If you realize this fact, you will like this stroller much more!

Research: This next section will be for those interested in my research and eliminating process. I am including this so you know WHY I chose this model and the reasons for eliminating other options. Feel free to skip to the next section if you are not interested. I began my research by asking just about every family member and friend what double stroller they had and what they recommended. Of course, they all seemed to have different opinions. I learned quickly that I needed to research strollers that had the features I need and want.

First off, I had friends who loved their jogging strollers. However, I do not go jogging with the kids and would not need this feature. This eliminated all jogging strollers. The next option was side-by-side or tandem style strollers. I had some people tell me that side-by-side strollers were easier to handle because the tandem, or single-file strollers, felt like you were “pushing around a bus” and were front-heavy. Others warned that side-by-side strollers did not fit down many smaller aisles in stores or into doorways. They also make it hard to get through a crowd. This would not be a big deal if I did not plan to use the stroller in stores or at crowded theme parks; but I did. So, this eliminated side-by-side strollers. I was now ready to research all tandem double strollers. It was rather easy to narrow my attention down to this model because it offers so many features and options that other brands/models did not.

My Purchase: As soon as I stumbled upon the Graco Quattro Tour Duo Ionic Twin Seat Standard Stroller, I knew it was exactly what I wanted and I was immediately ready for a test drive. Unfortunately, there were not any stores around my area that carried this stroller yet as it had just barely come out on the market. I also found that many online stores were out of stock because it seemed like everyone else thought it was a great stroller too! After a month or two of waiting and checking different stores, I was able to get one online at a steal of a price with a mail-in rebate. I was ecstatic, although a little concerned about not being able to test it before buying. But I soon learned that I would not be disappointed!

Arrival & Setup: The stroller arrived on my front porch in the original box that displayed what was inside (just a warning in case you order this online as a gift). The box was big and heavy! I opened it right away and pulled out all the parts. The body of the stroller was already assembled, so it only took about 10-15 minutes to assemble the rest. I had to put the wheels together and snap them onto the stroller body, snap the cup holders in place, attach the front sun shade, and snap the little storage bag onto the handlebars. We were ready to give it a test drive in no time!

The Test Drive: Baby #2 was still on the way, so we could only test drive the stroller with our oldest son (then 2). We both absolutely loved it! It was easier to maneuver than I had expected for a tandem stroller. The wheels have hard rubber material as well as shocks, and they are bigger than normal to make for a smooth ride. The ergonomic handles have rubber hand grips so your hands don’t slide around and they go up higher on the sides for taller people. My husband really liked this feature. My little boy loved that he could climb up into his seat by himself since there are no bars in the way (and I loved not having to lift him, being very pregnant at the time!). He also really liked his cup holder and snack tray as well as his very own storage area under his seat. He called it his “big-boy stroller”. We were all very happy with our purchase!

***Features of the Stroller and Our Experience***

I’m sure you have read about some of the features this stroller has. I will cover them again, as well as others we found that were not mentioned by the manufacturer.

• Handles: As mentioned above, the handles go up on the sides so taller people can hold onto the sides of the handles while shorter people can hold onto the lower main part. I have found that it is easier to turn while holding onto the taller side handles.
• Cup holders: There are a total of 6 cup/snack holders, which is a feature that many people love. The top two cup holders are right behind the handlebars and have rubber material around the sides and bottom to help keep your drinks in place. In the back seat there is one cup holder and one snack holder molded into a snack tray that goes across the seat. The snack holder is rounded so a child can easily scoop things out. The whole tray can be released by pressing a red button so it swivels out of the way to get your child out, if needed. Finally, there is another cup holder and snack holder in front for the front seat. The snack holder is rounded and both have rubber on the bottom to help keep things in place. These front two holders can swivel in so a child can reach it better. The two front and two back holders can be detached for easy cleaning.
• Storage compartments: There is a little storage bag that connects onto the handles to store your smaller items. The main compartment zips closed and there are two outer mesh compartments as well. The storage bag snaps onto the handlebars and can be easily removed.
The main storage area is underneath the stroller. This is one of the best features of the stroller. The storage area is LARGE and can fit much more than our oversized diaper bag! It is deep so you can cram a lot of your stuff in there. To make it even better, you can access your items even while your baby is sleeping with the back seat lowered all the way down! You simply pull out on the release bar connected to the storage basket and the frame will lower all the way down. We have used this feature numerous times and absolutely love it! It is very handy and helps us get bigger items in and out even when the seat is not lowered.
There is also a bonus storage area underneath the front seat. It is for the older child sitting in front to store his toys and other things away. He can access it by just reaching underneath his seat. My son loves this and thinks he is so cool to have his own little storage area.
We also found one more little storage compartment attached on the back of the front seat. It is a mesh storage area that could fit bottles, toys, small folded blankets, etc.
• Seats: This stroller has an elevated rear seat so your child in the back can still see what’s going on (although his view may be blocked if the sun shade is attached on the front seat). The front seat will hold a child up to 50 lbs! I purchased the Ionic design because I really liked the look and feel of the material. The seats have a shiny, metallic look with light blue piping. The material feels like a vinyl type of cloth that is easy to wipe clean. Both seats have a 5-point harness for safety and it is really easy to use. If your child is older, you can remove the shoulder straps so they are out of the way (which is what we did in front). The front seat reclines far enough down to let the child nap comfortably. It does not go all the way down, which is something I was wondering before I purchased this. But that is a good thing because it would squish the child in back. But it does have three positions to choose from. The back seat reclines all the way down and even converts into a bassinet so your baby can safely nap without a car seat. Both seats have a nice, wide footrest.
• Car seat feature: This stroller is compatible with Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seats and Infant SafeSeat Car Seats. I have not tried any others, but these are the only two that are suggested by the manufacturer. Our car seat snaps securely onto the snack tray/bar across the back seat.
Great news for those with twins! This stroller can accommodate TWO car seats! It comes with a second bar that attaches across the front seat. The two cup/snack holders come out with the push of a red button and the car seat adapter bar snaps right in. This is a great feature for anyone with more than one child in a car seat!
• Sun shades: There is a sun shade for both seats. The back shade is bigger and taller than the front. Both have little tinted windows on the sides so your children can see out. The back shade also has a mesh window with a cover that velcros over it, allowing you to check on baby. The front shade can be taken off if not needed, allowing the child in back to have a better view.
• Wheels: As mentioned earlier, the wheels provide a smooth ride with the hard rubber material, shocks and larger size. The front wheels can rotate 180 degrees while the back wheels do not rotate. The brakes are on the back wheels and lock automatically when the stroller is folded. To unlock, you simply step down on the red lever beside one of the back wheels and both brakes are released. I find it nice that they are connected and you do not have to release both brakes. The front wheels can be locked into place so they do not rotate.
• Folding/Storage: What could be more annoying than a big double stroller that does not fold well? To my surprise and excitement, this stroller is very easy to fold! With one hand, you just press the red button located on the handlebar and twist forward. The stroller immediately folds down and is ready to be put away. It is amazing how easy it is! I was worried about how this big stroller would fold, but it is definitely the easiest one I have tried! I was also worried about whether or not this stroller would fit into my medium-sized car (Chevy Malibu) since many others complained about how big it is when folded. It DOES fit in my trunk just fine. It also fits in the trunk of my husband's smaller car (Honda Civic). Of course, it takes up most the room, but I was just happy that it fit!
• Measurements: I am going to include measurements because that is something that would have really helped me when I was researching what stroller to buy. These are approximate and done with my own measuring tape (not measurements from the manufacturer). The stroller is about 48” long when set up and open. I want to mention that the angle of the advertised picture of this stroller makes it appear shorter than it really is. The above measurement will let you know what to expect. The wheels are about 8.5” in diameter. The cup holders have a 3” opening and are 3” deep. The main storage area measures about 25” long and 16” across. When folded, the stroller measures about 37” long and 20” deep (including the wheels, which add a lot to the depth).

Out of curiosity, I also weighed the stroller myself and found that it weighs about 42 lbs.

It has been over a year now since we purchased this stroller, which I feel gives me enough information and experience to finally write a review about how much we like it. It has handled very well in stores, parks, malls, theme parks (Disneyland), and around our neighborhood. It goes up and down hills just fine, as long as you are not trying to turn at the same time! Like any tandem stroller, it is more difficult to turn and is front-heavy, but you get used to it. If you do not like the weight of your older child sitting in front, you can just switch your kids around so he is in back. This will make the stroller easier to maneuver, but your older child will not be able to get in and out with ease like they can in the front seat.
I have found that it is sometimes a little difficult to turn down aisles of a store when the floor is slippery or glossy. The wheels have good traction, but can still slip around a little (just like any stroller, but worth mentioning).

We have received SO MANY compliments about this stroller! When we were visiting Disneyland last year, we had a lot of strangers come up and tell us how much they like our stroller. They loved the cup holders and the design, among other things. I felt like a walking advertisement! :) To this day we continue to receive compliments wherever we go.