Double Travel Systems

[Sak123]

Hi there, I'm in need of some desperate advice on this huge subject (I've been going round in circles for weeks!)

Short version is that I don't want 3 wheel version or side by side, so am considering Phil and Ted Promenade and Baby Jogger City Select. I like the configurations in that you can use carrycot for a younger baby and the options of facing forward and rear. I can't see a Promenade in the flesh and am wary of just buying it, although I know so many people who rave about Phil and Teds in general.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/compare-pushchairs/phil-and-teds-promenade/baby-jogger-city-select-4/

I have the BGCS and love it, although it is long :) I originally wanted the P&T Vibe, except I found with the P&T that the seat was lower down and DS prefers to face me.

I'd personally go and try them both out before buying.

I have the Promenade. If you are anywhere near me you are welcome to come and have a play with it.

To be honest, I wouldn't recommend it. I only bought it because it looks pretty, but for me, it doesn't suit my needs. It's no good on rough ground, eg slightly long grass (but I'm comparing it to my Mountain Buggy) and it is a bit of a faff having to remove the lower seat to fold it. I also find that it is much more difficult getting my toddler into the lower seat than on other P&T brands. I have to kind of lower him in vertically through the handle bar.

It's quite big when folded, but does fold easily. Also, my twins are quite small at 80cms but I find the height of the seat isn't going to be sufficient for very much longer. Their heads are already way up in the hoods.

Thanks ladies, so good to get some honest and first hand advice, I'm always wary of sales websites as they have such a vested interest.

The main negative I think of the Promenade is the feedback that you're quite far away from the pram when the handle is fully extended and that you loose your shopping basket when in double mode. The negative I think on the BJCS is the weight...?

Is the hood on the second seat of the P&T smaller as stated on other chat forums?

Have a look at tandems on Best Buggy. The ones I would suggest are

Britax B-Dual. The only real issue being that it's 67cm without mudguards on. It's lovely to push, both seats can be.used from birth, it has a massive basket, the hoods are huge so great for covering a sleeping child, it folds with both seats on

Peach Blossom 2 (or PB1 if your eldest will be out of it before the youngest is 12 months maximum as the lower seat doesn't sit upright on the older version) It's apparently lovely to push, has a decent basket, the seats are big and it's pretty! But it has to be taken apart to fold and the hoods aren't big enough for my liking.

Jane Twone. This is about to be released so it's hard to say anything specific, but it's nice and compact, decent sized seats, pushed easily when Tiggwunkle tried it with her children in and the basket is an alright size.

What is your age gap? I haven't heard anything much good about the Promenade to be honest. The BJCS will work better with a small age gap. I have a 21 month age gap and it lasted me 10 months until it was so heavy it actually hurt to push. Believe me I have pushed some heavy pushchairs, but it was when you got to anything that was not flat that the BJCS pulled to one side and thats when the problems start. If it was just heavy but still drove in a straight line then it wouldn't have been an issue. I did love my BJCS - I loved everything about it - but ultimately when it hurt to push, I had no choice but to swap it. So if you have a small age gap and think your terrain could suit then I would still recommend the BJCS. I know two people who happily used their BJCS with 20 month and 2 and a half year old twins respectively. But both did also own a side by side double too. The BJCS seating positions are more limited that it looks because the seats only recline in certain positions, so you have to choose carefully where the youngest will go. Facing each other seemed to work the best for us in every mode until my eldest kicked her brother when on top and generally annoyed when underneath. That left us really with only back to back as an option (the eldest didn't want to rear face) and I used to have to stop and move both children when DS fell asleep as there is no recline on back to back.

I think the best all round tandems with one newborn and a toddler are the iCandy Peach Blossom, the iCandy Pear, the Britax B-Dual, the Mima Kobi, the Kidz Kargo Duellette and hopefully the Jane Twone and the Babystyle Oyster Max. But it does depend on the age of your youngest which of these would be better. I love the Mountain Buggy +One too but thats really best when you have a big age gap.