Kolcraft Side-by-Side Reclining Umbrella Stroller Review

My sister gave me this Kolcraft double umbrella stroller as a gift after I had my second child in 2004--a great gift for sure. I'd recommend this product for parents with small children who are on the go and whose children will still ride in strollers.

Here are the positives: It's lightweight for a double stroller, and it's nice having a side-by-side construction so that one child isn't as likely to pull the other one's hair or is griping while strolling because she's not in the front. It's easy to fold and lock and place in the trunk compared to many other heavier brands--just remember to fold the umbrellas back and take the kids out first! Both sides have seatbelts and separate umbrellas. Each side will recline independently, which is great if you have a 6-month-old who needs to recline and an older child who wants to sit up. Any double stroller is going to be a bit hard to maneuver, but this one is surprisingly compact and fits through most doorways. There are times when I might have to back up and angle again, but that may be partially due to my children being different sizes more than the stroller.

The benefits far outweigh the negatives for me on this product, especially considering that ours has had a LOT of use since 2004, but here are a few negatives: These strollers are designed for two children who weigh no more than 35 pounds each (the maximum total weight is 70 pounds with all the stuff you're carrying on back too). Our children are small for their ages, so we've gotten a LOT of use out of it. There's a cup holder on one side only...need I say more on that one. I had to purchase replacement wheels, but that was only after MANY miles of strolling--we just used it until we wore the wheels out! I found customer service to be helpful and they sent the replacement wheels without a problem. The website has information about their products, safety recalls, product instructions, etc. One of the plastic pieces for the feet broke, but that was probably due to rough use over the years. The mesh bags on the back have a weight limit and if you hang many things off the back, the stroller falls over backwards when the kids get out (see weight limit above). Guess we need to pack lighter, but we don't want to have to go back to the car to get our diaper bag, food, suntan lotion, etc. We just hold onto the stroller until the kids get out and then park it with it backed up next to something. That could be a safety hazard, so you might want to pack a bit lighter than we do. If the wind is really gusting, the umbrellas blow backwards, but usually the sun isn't that bright if the wind is blowing that hard around here anyway. In looking online I could not find this exact model new anymore, but you may be able to find one on consignment--don't wait around for mine though because I have a 9-month-old and may use it several more years!Kolcraft does make a similar stroller called the Jeep®
Wrangler Twin Sport® All-Weather double umbrella stroller that looks similar. The price for that one is around $100, which isn't bad if you see that many double strollers sell for the $150-400 range.

As with any baby item, it's a good idea to register the product so that you can be informed of any recalls and to read the instruction manual. I looked on the Kolcraft website and do not see any safety recalls for this product as of July 2, 2008.