Best $50 we ever spent

Maybe you're one of those families who is "spur of the moment" and you just never know what you'll need and when. The Kolcraft Side-by-Side Reclining Umbrella stroller is perfect for such people. Just last week my wife noted again as we were taking a walk to the park with our kids, "This is the best $50 we ever spent!"

It is a lightweight stroller that neatly folds up into a compact area and will easily fit in your trunk or the back of the minivan amidst the rest of your stuff (in our case: luggage, bikes, guitars, balls, sleds, etc!). In the event that you stop by a park or the mall when you are out and about, you'll have a lightweight and convenient way to transport the kids. And for $50 (at Toys-R-Us) you can't beat the price either.

We had looked at some of the larger carriage-style front-n-back strollers and a "Jeep" double stroller but were turned off by the incredible size and bulkiness and the difficulty of maneuvering the stroller when loaded down with kids and junk. I swear they literally are like a huge SUV for kids. Instead of draining the gas tank, they'll drain you of all your energy by the time you push the thing around the mall for an hour or two.

Furthermore, strolling better be the ONLY thing you have planned for the day, because the larger strollers take up the entire trunk or back of the minivan. Our decision came down to the Kolcraft side-by-side and a larger carriage style double stroller. But when I couldn't get the carriage stroller to fold down correctly in the store due to of all the bulk, we decided to go with what was easiest... and cheapest.

This Kolcraft side-by-side has a smooth textured, heavier, navy-blue nylon covering that should stand the test of time for both fashion and wear and tear. It is quite easy to clean. The times when we've gotten mud on it from the kids shoes we simply took it outside and hosed it off and let it air dry. It washes off like a tent would.

Unfolding and folding are easy and straight forward once you get the hang of it. You basically hold the outer handles with two hands and spread them while using a foot to snap the locking cross braces into place. To re-fold there are some convenient levers that you can operate with a foot to unlock the cross braces. Then you simply squeeze the stroller back together again. The only gripe I have with this whole process is a little plastic C-shaped clamp that is supposed to hold everything together when folded. There is only one clamp when their could be two... and the clamp is flimsy and will either break or wear out over time. A navy colored bungie chord could probably be used as a replacement for holding the folded stroller together and wouldn't look too obtrusive.

The seats can hold anyone from 6 months up to probably 4.5 years (that's just my estimate). I'm guessing most older children would choose to walk. My boys are currently 1.5 and 3.5 years for a combined weight of approximately 70 lbs. and it handles them well. I also like the fact that when the seats are up the kids aren't slouching, but rather sitting up nice and straight. There is also a single reclining position for each seat that comes in handy if either child decides to nap while you are walking. The straps that hold the kids in are three point (at least from my definition) with two straps coming around the waste from each side, one that comes up through the crotch, all connecting around the belly button area. They are easy to adjust and keep the kids secure, even when it seems they'd fall out when they lean way forward.

The stroller has three handles and 6 sets of double wheels. All three of the back sets of wheels have a brake lever which is easily applied with foot pressure. The brakes are great for when you are loading and unloading the kids and will help steady the stroller for children who are old enough to seat themselves (the stroller sits low enough for children to do this). One note about the handles... We've had some cheaper off-brand single umbrella strollers in the past which were a pain to push because the stroller handles were positioned too low for the average person (I'm 5'10"). You either had to stoop to comfortably grab the handles or your arms were fully extended, which makes it hard to maneuver even a lightweight stroller. This is not the case with this Kolcraft. The handles are high enough so that my arms at the elbows are bent at approximately a 90 degree angle... a very comfortable position when pushing and maneuvering. The handles are also adequately padded and are curved so you can always find a comfortable position for your hands.

The Kolcraft side-by-side is very easy to steer and maneuver in most spaces and doorways with the exception of narrow aisles in and around clothing stores. The kids love riding in it because they ride close to the ground and have a commanding view of everything in front of them. It has canopies that can be put up or down if you have a very small child you want to shield from the sun or if it starts to sprinkle. The canopies tend to be more in the way than anything. They easily touch our 3.5 year old's head and there is maybe 2" of clearance between our 1.5 year old's head and the canopy. They really could stand to be much higher, but we mostly leave them down anyway. (The canopies rotate backwards and simply hang down below the handles, when not in use) The seats also have one reclining position if your child decides to sleep. While in the reclined position, the canopies work much better at shielding your child without touching your child's head.

The stroller lacks any cup holders or storage area for diaper and shopping bags. The lack of these features is also what makes the stroller lightweight and convenient to store. There are always trade-offs for convenience.

This is an economical, versatile, and convenient stroller that can be your sole double stroller or that could even serve as a backup stroller used just for traveling (if you really feel you need a big carriage double stroller).

I've pretty much exhausted the list of features on what is really intended to be a simple and economical double stroller. I highly recommend the Kolcraft Side-by-Side.

UPDATE 11/10/2006:

We recently went to Disney World with our three kids (ages: 2, 3, and 6). Although I got a workout navigating this stroller through the turn-stiles and crowds, it was an absolute life-saver. This double stroller, along with another single stroller, allowed us to keep the kids close and happy. They would never have survived all the walking we did. Plus the fold-up portability of the strollers allowed us to easily take them on buses, trains, etc. when going from one theme park to another.

UPDATE 8/17/2009:
This review was originally for a side-by-side, but was moved here by Epinions. I think my review would be better suited for the following side-by-side: http://www99.epinions.com/reviews/pr-Kolcraft_Tour_Mate_36550