Karis & Titus in our Joovy Caboose
When we were preparing to welcome our little Ty man (#2), I was debating within myself whether I should pursue finding a double stroller. I went back and forth, back and forth. I personally disliked those large caravan type double strollers that took up the entire trunk of the car and was difficult to maneuver in tight places. I also didn’t prefer the idea of a side by side stroller that couldn’t make it through doorways without difficulty, if at all. But I had two little ones, close in age, and we love walking! I could put one in a carrier and the other in a single stroller, but that could only last so long before my back started to break. So, here I am today with a double stroller and one that we love! I did a lot of research and decided to go with a sit and stand stroller. We chose the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stand On Tandem Stroller and we absolutely love it and cannot recommend it more highly. Why?
1. It is compact. It is easy to fold down, takes up hardly any space in the back of our car, and is lightweight. As a mother, I didn’t want to haul around a huge stroller that would kill my back to take in and out of the car. This stroller has been the perfect solution.
2. It opens easily with one hand. With a baby on the hip, this stroller can be opened easily with one hand. It does require two hands to close, but is very simple to do.
3. It fits 2 or more children comfortably. Baby can sit in the front with the car seat adapter compatibility which can be easily graduated to a seat at a later date. The older child can sit or stand on the foot tray behind the baby. The foot tray is large enough that one child could actually sit while another could stand or both stand together. We have used this stroller for three munckins in this manner and it works wonderfully.
Ty man enjoying his ride up front
4. An older toddler can get on or off easily. The older child can easily stand or get down and walk next to the stroller as desired. No fussing about lifting the child in and out or buckling or unbuckling (although there is a seat belt that is easy to use). The padded handles for the toddler to hold are perfect for sitting or for holding on to while walking beside the stroller.
5. It is a lightweight and easy to maneuver. At just 21 pounds, this stroller is lightweight!
6. Large size basket that is accessible! The toddler seat slides forward and backward easily opening up access to the basket underneath.
7. Offers a parent organizer. While this was not essential, it is a nice feature to hold our water bottles, cell phone and keys for easy access.
8. Easy to clean. The nylon fabric is very easy to wipe down for a quick clean.
Honestly, the only thing I don’t really care for on this stroller is the over sized canopy. Yes, it is large but it can only cover one child sufficiently at a time. I don’t think there really is a solution to this, but the canopy can easily be removed. I guess this is where the rain cover would come in handy. 
Considering we bought ours used and the previous owners had already used it for two children, and it still remains in excellent condition, this stroller will serve us well for many years to come!
Although I think all sit and stand strollers are wonderful alternatives to the standard double stroller, I especially like the Joovy Caboose Ultralight because it is so light and yet incredibly sturdy! The original Joovy Caboose definitely is cheaper and was my first choice apart from the Lord providing a Ultralight for us at a great price off Craigslist. The Ultralight’s only superior feature is the decreased weight. The larger canopy is a take it or leave it feature as is the parent organizer. All other features remain the same. So if you are on a tighter budget, check out the original Joovy Caboose. You can always buy the parent organizer separately.
We also love having a small umbrella stroller for those quick trips here and there. This is especially useful when I might just have one of the kids with me, or if we are in a tight shopping center, etc. That was another awesome $5 craigslist find!
Karis enjoys her ride in the back
I guess its turning out to be a product review week on Passionate Homemaking!
Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful information here. I?m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thank you on your effort!
I had the original joovy sit and stand stroller, and I really did NOT like it! I bought the $50 infant carrier attachment and found it very awkward to use. The seat belts were also very awkward. I found it difficult to maneuver. Not designed very well and the whole thing was huge and heavy. With all the positive feedback on this stroller, either mine was a dud, or they have ironed out a few kinks in their design with the newer model! I’m glad yours is working for you. I’ve been really happy with our new Graco stroller.
i was thinking about getting it too. My only concern is that will the toddler in the back be able to take a nap?
No, not really. That was never a need for us. We always have naps in carriers if we must.
lovely pictures, the kids are so cute. i have been seeing this stroller around. it has some great features. thanks for the review
I'm planning to buy the triple Joovy Caboose this month. Can your older child (mine will be 2 years old) sit comfortably in the rear? Your little girl seems pretty content.
Yes, indeed! She loves it!
What single stroller did you use or would you recommend to first time parents? Thanks!
We used the Zooper Waltz and loved it. It is a bit spendy but very high quality, made locally where I live, and has all the additional items (rain cover, sun guard, etc) included with the stroller. It is more compact than some of the trailers out there. We found it used on Craigslist and it got a ton of good use before we sold it again after Titus came. But there are a few other options that are great as well, Combi makes a small compact umbrella style stroller. It depends upon what you want it to do for you.
I have the regular joovy and like it a lot. There are a few things I’d change, but I never found a *perfect* stroller. It’s perfect for the zoo, because my toddler gets in and out a lot and it’s a lot easier on me.
I can close mine with 1 hand while holding baby. It’s looks weird I’m sure, but it works!
I am so glad that you shared this!!! We are in the market for a double stroller and recently saw this brand. Thank you for sharing!!
His,
Mrs. U
I don’t know if I had this same brand or not, but years ago, we had a stroller almost identical. Loved it except for the canopy that you mentioned. I believe I removed it and never put it back (sunny CA here). It was so nice to have my toddler , who walked so slow, to be able to jump on and ride for a while, or quickly get off and walk.
I have always thought these were a great idea!
Also I have an award for you on my blog- http://www.retrohousewifegoesgreen.com/2010/02/i-won-three-awards.html
we have one and love it, not sure what we would do without it, a lifesaver!
We have this stroller and I honestly can’t recommend it. Perhaps our two being a little closer in age, about 18 months apart has made it more difficult. My son had a hard time staying on his little jump seat until just recently – he is almost two now. And while the compact size and light weight are nice, I find it difficult to maneuver. My experience is that it works well on perfectly flat concrete surfaces but a dirt path or uneven road and it is very difficult to control. I have been using our jogging stroller and ergo and have been surprised how well it works. We walked several miles this last week and I didn’t have any trouble with back pain. My toddler son is relatively small, less than 25lbs, so that probably helps!
Thanks for the review! I am like Tamara, due with my second in July and my 1st will be 2 1/2. We have done a lot of stroller research and I am planning on going with a sit and stand–possibly a joovy. My little guy is so active that I feel that for us getting a standard double would be a wastet a–due to him not really sitting that much (now we have a combi umbrella stroller, and we hardly use it) I like the idea that he can sit, stand or walk. I am also a big fan of babywearing, so I thought I would try to keep my moby with me so if my older one actually gets tired and wants to sleep (will probably never happen!) I could always wear the baby and #1 can sleep in the front! Thanks again for the great review!
I appreciate your reviews
We aren’t at the stage where we’d need a double stroller just yet, but this one looks right up our ally- simple.
Also, I must say, Karis looks amazingly like you, except with lighter hair. So precious!
We have the Phil & Teds with the extra seat. I love this stroller. It is a very comfortable ride for both kids and is very easy to steer (even with one hand, if needed). It has a few different set ups depending on the stage your children are at. I think it is a great stroller for those who want to go for long walks involving hills and rough ground (park trails, etc). I thought the basket size was going to be a problem but I am now surprised at how much I can actually fit in the basket. It is also nice because it can be a single stroller too. I would highly recommend this to new moms who are planning on having more than one kid. It saves having to buy another stroller in the future.
Thank you for this review. I have been searching out double strollers myself as our two children are the same age as yours. I am desperate to get back outside and start walking since spring is just around the corner. I’ve heard lots of great reviews about the sit-n-stands, so I will look into this one some more. Thanks!
just a word of caution for those who have kids even closer in age! the child who sits/stands in the back must be at least 18 months old (if not older) OR a larger child. we’ve got 5 kids (5 years down to 4 months old) and had this problem. our 4th child was only 15 months old and really little. we did purchase the Joovy BIG Caboose (The Lord’s provision via craigslist!) to hold our 3 younger ones as my 2.5 year old was not reliable enough and my stride not fast enough to keep up with him when our youngest was born. but, WOW! it is BIG! the sit/stand place for the 3rd child is not the best for sitting though we do make it work! and my back is enjoying the relief!
glad you found a stroller that really suits your growing family! what a blessing!
I love your blog and your children are beautiful!
We’re hoping to add a Phil & Ted’s Sport to our small baby gear collection when Baby #2 arrives in July. http://theginns.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/kicking-it-into-high-baby-gear/
Oh, I really like that one – but I don’t know if I could ever justify the cost! Maybe as a gift?!
I have 3 children all 2 years apart and we have had a Phil and Ted’s stroller for 4 years and LOVE it and plan to use it for 3 more years at least! It is a bit pricey but I think worth every penny, it handles bumpy trails beautifully. I like that it can be a single or double stroller and its super easy to fold up and put in your car (I can do it while holding a baby). We also love our Becco baby carrier it can be a front or back pack and puts all the weight on your hips instead of your back. These are the only 2 things we spent money on for our babies because being outside is a priority for my sanity:) (sorry for writing a product review in reply to your product review:) )
We have the triple stroller and have absolutely loved it! Our kids were at one time 2 1/2, 1 and newborn. Our kids have outgrown it now (need to Craigslist it) but it served such a helpful purpose while we needed it. I would highly recommend Joovy! It made life outside the home possible for a couple years.
This brings back memories! Our first two children were 17 months apart and my parents gave us a double stroller. Thoughtful gift, but it weighed a ton. When our third child was born, our oldest was 3 yrs old. To take a walk I would wear the baby in a carrier and push the older two in the (very heavy) stroller. My goodness…I don’t think I could do that again! I’m expecting baby #5 and there is a 5 year gap between this one and our 4th child. Everyone but the baby can walk with me now. Whew.
I love the lightness of it! That has been one of my fears about getting one, is how heavy and hard to push they usually are. Our two are 22 months and 10 months, and I have rarely used our single stroller so far (Combi, and I love it as strollers go) because to me it is easier to toss a toddler on my back and put the baby in a sling or wrap and go. Especially when shopping at discount groceries and thrift stores where using their carts is hard if they even have any.
My toddler did just hit 30 lbs, though, so he has been walking a lot more. I am thinking at this point we may get a double stroller if we end up having three under three… and I love the versatility of the sit and stand design!
Your two cuties make it look especially appealing!
Great review. I don’t have a second one yet, but I’ve already given some thought as to whether or not I would want a double stroller. Originally I was thinking that the combo of one stroller and babywearing would be enough, but now I am rethinking that.
Just wanted to comment that one stroller & babywearing can be enough. I do have a double stroller, but that is because I usually had three kids along for the walk. Last summer I walked a lot with my two and the boy I babysit. I put the older two (3.5yo & 2yo) in the double stroller & my (then) 1.5yo went on my back. Because I had been wearing my second since she was 3 months old, I didn’t have any back pain or discomfort. Even when we walked for an hour.
I got rid of my doubles once I started babywearing. Wearing one baby, having the 2 year old in stroller and 4 year old walking has worked the best. My neck always got too sore with the 3 doubles that I tried, as they all were too heavy. This one looks light and sturdy, but I would urge other tired mothers to try babywearing if they haven’t already.
This has nothing to do with the stroller, but LOOK HOW BIG HE IS GETTING! I can’t believe it!!
When my guys were little (I have 4: my youngest will be 10 in July – my oldest is turning 18 in May), we had something very much like this and I loved it, too! It was such a blessing since my kids came in pairs: 2 and 1/2 years and 19 mos apart! So happy that they still make stuff that’s this convenient!
peace,
Annie
I am expecting #2 in July and have SERIOUSLY been looking at this stroller. We travel a lot by plane and we use our stroller often for walks so I’d like something good quality. The only negative I’ve heard (other than the cost) is that the back seat isn’t comfortable for a toddler–that they have to bend forward if they are sitting, especially if there is a car seat in the front. What do you think? Does Karis seem comfortable in the back? My 1st will be 2 1/2 when #2 comes in July.
Yes, I do recall Karis did have a bit of discomfort while using the infant carrier attachment but the toddler seat can slide pretty far forward to make it more comfortable. It was not significant a problem to bother us. I honestly totally forgot about that. I started putting Titus in the regular seat pretty early (definitely by 6 months) and it has worked great.