Customer Reviews

Brand NEW! Phil & Teds Vibe Buggy 2 WIth Doubles Kit: Black

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I just received my Vibe in the mail yesterday and am already in love. I'm about to have two kids just 16 months apart and was thinking about getting the Sport, but I'm glad that I waited for this one to come out.

A few of features that really stood out for me as being vast improvements over the Sport:
-The Vibe sunshade is completely freestanding so that you can position it anywhere to block the light, even if you are walking directing into the sun. The sunshade on the Sport is very small and only protects the top of the child's head, if that (I've witnessed this with my friend's Sport)
-The brake is an easy to use red button on the center of the handlebar, very easy to put on, not too easy to disengage (a safety feature I appreciate). The brake on the Sport is down at the back wheels and you need to use your foot (or sometimes stoop down to use your hand) to put the brake on and off, something I imagine would be only more difficult with the double seat attached.
-The footrest for the top seat is solid plastic, so it's much more durable than the fabric footrest on the Sport.
-It can be folded with the double seat attached. It is slightly more complicated to fold it with the double seat on, but I figure I'm saving time in the long run, since I don't need to remove the seat before I fold, have to deal with a separate piece to store, and then just have to reinstall the seat the next time I open the stroller.

Some other pros:
-Easy to fold. It also locks closed, so it won't spring open on you as you put it in and out of the car.
-The recline on the top seat is very adjustable, so you can set the child in any position they'd like.
-The wheels are nice and big, so they glide smoothly over any bump. My old stroller was a Bugaboo and when the little wheels were in front, it was constantly catching on the cracks in the sidewalk.

A couple cons:
-It isn't very maneuverable, at least compared to my Bugaboo. I imagine most jogging-style strollers would have this problem, but I can't say if this stroller is worse than others that are comparable in design.
-It doesn't come with a full sun/bug shade or rain cover, so that's an additional expense.

Overall I'm very happy with it, for the short time that I've owned it. I love the fact that this stroller is no bigger than a single stroller, but as soon as my new baby is born, I just need to clip in the extra seat and I can push them both! I'm also happy that I can get many of the high-end features I've gotten used to with my old Bugaboo, only in a double stroller (including an easy brake and great looks!). I would highly recommend this stroller with the doubles kit to anyone with two children.

We live in New York City and have two children, ages 10 months and 3.5 years. After a lot of research, we purchased the Vibe because we needed an inline tandem stroller and there aren't many options in the marketplace. Side-by-side twin strollers are not a viable option in New York City. We foolishly thought we were getting a high quality product for the high price tag. Initially, we were happy with the stroller while our youngest was still only a few months old. However, once she was able to move to the back seat (the doubles kit seat), we started having issues. It became more difficult for the front wheel to swivel, such that we often get stuck and can't proceed forward because the front wheel won't swivel. We thought it might be that the tires needed air, so we were constantly checking and refilling them as necessary, but it didn't help. Speaking of wheels, we've had the stroller for a little more than 1 year and have had to replace each of the back wheels (and we had to replace the left back wheel twice). Each time, it costs about $30. To make matters worse, the stroller is very difficult to fold, as others have noted. However, we had gotten the hang of it. We folded it up one summer day and took a bus down to the governor's island ferry with both kids. When we got on the ferry and attempted to unfold it (something we had done several times before), the lock on the frame that kept it folded shut would not disengage on the right side. We jostled it, opened and closed the hinge (which customer service helpfully later told me is called a T-Bot) several times, but nothing worked. We were desperate to have use of our stroller, as we were about to spend the day walking through a state park. We made one last attempt to pull it open, and it gave, but the T-bot mechanism that had been stuck cracked. Now, the frame will not stay together at the point where it folds on the right side. We have rigged it with some twine as a temporary fix, but we think the misalignment is leading to even more maneuverability problems. When we contacted customer service to see if we could get a replacement T-bot mechanism, we were told that they aren't willing to sell us just that replacement piece, but they would be happy to sell us an entire new frame (which would include the T-bot we need) for $435!! The customer service rep acknowledged that her solution was an unattractive one, and said it was really too bad that this had happened just after the one-year warranty, because then she could help me. I asked if I could pay them to fix it the way they would if it had still been under warranty, and she told me they would not do that. She gave me the number of a third party repair shop that might be able to help me (she said that they send all of their customers who need repairs after the warranty has ended to this third party shop-- red flag right there-- they have so many requests for post-warranty repairs that they have a regular vendor that they recommend). I called the shop and the owner told me he couldn't help me because he only has access to the same parts that I have access to, so the only thing he could do for me would be to order the new frame and install it at a cost of $435 plus labor. He said that he sees a lot of people who have problems with not just the Vibe, but other Phil & Teds strollers as well. By the way, I pointed out to the customer service rep at Phil & Ted's that the cutesy manual that comes with the stroller is useless hipster drivel that doesn't actually tell you how to operate the stroller and she said that they knew it wasn't a useful user's manual and they were in the process of revising it to include actual operating instructions. If you live in a big city where the stores have narrow doorways and aisles, there are not many options. I know some people who like the Phil & Ted's Sport, but other people that I have met who have the Vibe have had similar problems to mine. We are going to check out the Joovy, because we are desperate to replace the Vibe. It is infuriatig that Phil & Ted's does not stand behind its product after one year, despite charging people close to $1,000 for it (once you add in the accessories and replacement wheels). We feel like suckers for having bought this product. Shame on Phil & Ted's!

The Phil and Teds Vibe suited our needs. We have two young children only 18 months apart and needed an inline push chair that could accommodate both children and to allow us to easily get on and off our public transport. We live in Zurich Switzerland and similar to NY driving is a nightmare so you either walk everywhere or use public transport. We use to have a TFK (Trend For Kids) and liked that very much but you couldn't accommodate two children, hence the change.

The Vibe it's self is ok. I agree the they could have added shocks absorbers and better breaks. The breaks (which is a little red button in the middle of the hand grip) is extremely sensitive and easy to knock, if you kids aren't strapped in you would think that they would get flung out of the buggy but you can get use to that and work around the button. The really bad thing are the tyres! We've owned the buggy less than 5 months now and we have had 2 tyres burst on us. The rubber tread is so soft the it wares right down to the inner tube before it bursts with an all mighty bang. The first time it happened (3 months after we bought it) I got a replacement and wheel after a couple of weeks. Thinking we were clever, we straight away ordered 3 new replacement tyres, as we could see the treads wearing away on the 2nd tyre. 2 months later,Bang!! and still no replacement tyres.

Now when you have children, your buggy is everything. You need it for mobility and to go shopping and it is MASSIVELY stressful when you can't leave the house because your buggy is out of action. We have literally been searching world wide for a replacement tyre. But because its a special size you can only find a replacements from Phil and Teds. Apparently the entire country (Switzerland) has no more spares as other people have had exactly the same problem. Now, we are stranded and desperately trying to find replacement tyres. We have tried to buy tyres from a bicycle shop but doesn't fit because of the strange size.

PHIL and TEDS if you read this. I'm begging you! PLEASE! Sort out the quality of your tyres.
While your at it try adding some disk breaks and shocks. I expect a lot more value for money and LOT LESS STRESS for that price.

This stroller was great for the first year... yes, sometimes my hand would accidently pass over the VERY sensitive break which is right on the steering handle. It was a bit jarring - but I was OK with it.
Eventually I got used to the break. Unfortunately, the tires were severely damaged due to the 10 (or so) times this happened to me... and 1 year in (conveniently just after warranty) - the tires blew. They are non-standard tires... and I have not been able to get a replacement for 8 weeks now. There are no distributors in NYC currently, and the Australian company does not allow customers to contact them directly. MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN. In order to survive in NYC, I had to buy a 2nd double stroller.

I have had this stroller for 4 months now and it gave me nothing but trouble. The front wheel design is horrible and it keeps getting stuck, it is really difficult to turn the stroller and once you are turning it is difficult to right it again. you have to yank the stroller back and forth. It is very dangerous around other people or cars as it is difficult to control.

This stroller should be recalled and front wheel system fixed. Look on their website chat many people have this problem

I loved this stroller for a year. At one year (after warentee ran out) both rear tires fell apart. I wouldn't mind except that you can't buy replacements. Really useless 1,000 stroller that I am very dependent on. Maybe get the Sport model so replacement parts are availble.

Seems like the feelings are mixed on whether this is a perfect or horrible stroller. I have the stroller for about a month and HATED it at first. From day 1 the front wheel was a little hard to steer and then it progressively got worse. This past Monday I was so close to throwing it in the lake and being done with the front wheel sticking. However, I got online and read only a few post about the same issue and them using WD-40 to fix the problem. Well, I gave it a try this morning and it feels like I own a completely different stroller. After WD-40'ing the front wheel, it doesn't get stuck and it now turns on a dime. If you are having front wheel issues use WD-40 or use it from day one and you will have no problems with this front wheel.

This was a nice stroller at first, but all of the Phil & Teds tricycle style strollers have a fatal flaw - an Achilles Wheel. The front wheel will wobble and lock up causing the stroller to crash or flip. We have spoken with several other Vibe owners who had the same problem.

One time the stroller flipped while I was crossing a busy street, hurting my 2 year old, and causing us all to nearly be crushed by traffic. We will never buy Phil & Ted's again. You should look at the 4-wheeled tandem models instead (There's a Britax Duo which looks nice).

Phil & Teds customer service is also terrible. They did not ever resolve the problem.

Be safe, and steer clear of this one.

I bought this stroller and it's not worth the money! Go with the McLaren.
The stroller never worked properly. The brake always pops up and the warranty on this $800 stroller is only 1 year.
Customer service is horrible. Would not recommend!!!

Buggy itself is OK. The tires are shocking bad. We have had a least 5 punctures in a few weeks, and it's different tube replacement doesn't sort it out either. If you over inflate the tube you will make the side of the rim expand and bend. Very low pressure, only 22 bars or something. Go by the pressure on the rim not the stamped on the tire. Very disappointed