First Take: EasyWalker DUO

Upon news of our 2nd child coming I started thinking more about double strollers. I wasn't sure if Olivia would like the bottom seat in our Phil and Ted's, and thought it would be great to have another option to try. Enter the EasyWalker DUO.

I was pretty wowed by the look of it...very sharp and clean.

I am not as big a stroller tester as Crystal, primarily because Olivia isn't a big stroller fan overall. She just doesn't sit still long enough and is constantly in and out. I'd LOVE to be able to take a long walk for some exercise with a stroller but haven't been afforded that luxury yet. Because of this, I haven't been able to give the DUO a good long test-ride, but wanted to share my first impressions so far. I'm praying that I'll be able to post a review some time down the road based upon many lovely walks with it, in the meantime here's food for thought.

For more on the EasyWalker DUO click on "Read more."

Functionality - This is a mighty fine ride for two kiddos.

It's got a ton of storage with a big basket beneath each seat with velcro releases in the back of them for easier access to get items in and out which I really like. It's also got storage pouches attached to the back of each seat for quick accessibility to smaller items like food, cells, keys, etc.

The sunshades adjust independently for each rider but may not go as far out as some desire. I think that they are fine for older kiddos but probably don't do much for the smaller babes.

The biggest downfall with this stroller, like most tandems, is size and weight. This is a garage stroller, not something I would want to lug in and out of my car on a regular basis. However, it is VERY simple to fold and unfold.

Although the frame is "lightweight" aluminum, the DUO is still quite heavy, weighing in at 37 pounds, which is a little more than the other tandem strollers that KidBuy has reviewed fall. It is 29 1/2" wide which is also where all the others fall, allowing it to fit through most standard doors. It's 37" long which is much less than the Mountain Buggy Urban Double but slightly more than the Indie Twin. Unfortunately, a big footprint and high weight seem to be the nature of the beast with tandems.

Maneuverability - It drives and steers super smooth and easy, with two 12" 360 degree swiveling wheels in the front. It is WAY easier to steer and push than the Phil and Ted's. For such a large stroller both the hubs and I are very impressed with how easy it is to move around. Haven't taken it to the beach but their demo video has them flying across the sand with ease, the wheels do seem pretty rugged. The parking brake is super easy to engage and disengage with one foot.

Style - Like I said, it's a fine-lookin' piece of offspring transportation. I got the lime color which I love, but isn't shown on their website as an option. There are more color options shown on Amazon than their site. I like the simple accent colors of aluminum and black. It just looks very clean.

Comfort - Olivia loves sitting in it (for short periods of time) and seems pretty darn comfortable. The seats can adjust to 3 different positions via zippers and velcro. This is very easy to do with the rider in it if you're adjusting them down but tougher to adjust them back up. The seats adjust independently of each other. I do wish that the upright position were a little more upright. The biggest comfort issue I have is that the foot rest doesn't go all the way across the length of the seats so one foot hangs. I am sure that there is an engineering reason for this but it's a bit of a bummer. For the pushers, the handlebar easily adjusts in height.

Accessories - We got the carry cot, which is very nice to have. It has a zip-around blanket cover and very plush mattress. It's easy to put on but tough to take off and bring inside without waking the baby. Other accessories available include a diaper bag, cup holder, foot muff, mosquito net, parasol, and travel bag. There is also a car seat adapter that unfortunately only seems to accommodate Maxi Cosi car seats. The nice thing about the cot and the car seat adapter is that they are designed for the baby to face the pusher. However, two car seats can not be used at the same time, which I imagine wouldn't be good for those with twins.

Cost - Tandems don't come cheap, the DUO is currently selling for $600 on Amazon, which is right in the middle of other tandems that we've reviewed. It's not a cheap endeavor but is extremely well-made and I believe will take a lot more wear and tear than our Phil and Ted's. The cot is $150, although it's nice to have, I think putting the seat in the horizontal recline position with some blankets for padding would work just as well.

Overall, I think it's a really well-designed, well-made product that offers a lot of bang for the buck. If you have two kiddos that dig stroller riding, I'd definitely recommend that you consider the DUO.