Customer Reviews

Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller, Greenie

5 star:		(162)
4 star:		(64)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

As a mom of three and having owned a wide variety of strollers over the years I love the way this stroller looks and rolls out of the box. To me, this is such a lightweight, easy to fold, unfold and load into the trunk item. It rolls so smoothly and turns on a dime. The parent holder looks so cool and CAN be WASHED!! My three year old son fit well on the back seat and the smile he had on his face when I pointed out the handles so he could stand securely on the back told me he'll actually stay on this in the mall. My six year old, 43 pound daughter rode on the back with no weight in the front seat and the stroller felt sturdy and not at all like tipping back. Out of the box this beats any of the Peg Perego or Graco strollers we've owned in the past. I'll update this review after I've used it with the new baby on the front and put some miles on this wonderful stroller!

12/20/2008 After using this stroller for over a year and a half I still love it. My now just turned five year old loves to sit or stand on the back and I almost never have to fight to get him to stay on it. Practically, my older child has to sit a little hunched forward when the baby's sleeping and it's reclined all of the way back, but he can stand with no problem. Also, it's a little hard to get my diaper bag in the attached storage area, but that's just me being picky. The parent storage is wonderful and I'm so glad I have the zippered area for keys and can put my phone and drink and other stuff safely tucked away. Airline boarding passes fit perfectly! 1 1/2 years later it still pushes effortlessly and is perfect rounding clothes racks a the mall and navigating at restaurants. I love my stroller and still recommend it to people that ask about it.

After thousands of hours of research, I FINALLY purchased a double stroller. Though the Phil & Ted Vibe Brand NEW! Phil & Teds Vibe Buggy With Doubles Kit- Redwas in consideration for a little while, the final pair I narrowed it down to were the Joovy Caboose UltraLight Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stand On Tandem Stroller, Blackand the Baby Trend Sit N Stand PLUS Baby Trend Silverado Sit N' Stand Plus Double Stroller.

Ultimately, what is good for you is going to depend alot on the age of your kids, how often you plan to use it, and under what conditions. My daughters are 3 months and 2 1/2 years old. Realistically, I didn't think I'd be using this double stroller all that much, but I wanted to have one for the times when I knew I would need it. In my case, the winner ended up being the Baby Trend Sit N Stand Plus. Here's why:

PHIL & TED VIBE:Brand NEW! Phil & Teds Vibe Buggy With Doubles Kit- Red
I was initially attracted to this one because of its compact design and light weight. I also liked the Vibe over the other P&T models because you don't need to take the jumpseat off in order to fold it up (according to the website anyway). But in reality, folding this thing up was kind of a pain. Next-- In the "infant + toddler" mode, I kind of felt like I was putting my infant in the glove compartment. Talk about claustrophobic! Thinking down the line, in the "2 toddlers mode", it seemed that accessing your children in this stroller is not all that easy. The jump seat does not recline, and it is not particularly accessible. I pictured myself trying to squeeze a sleeping toddler into that "underbasket" seat and I figured I was asking for trouble. Lastly, I just couldn't justify the cost (nearly $900 with the doubles kit) given that I didn't think I was going to use it that often. However, it did handle well and was very light. Despite its maneuverability, the cons seemed too great in comparison to the cost (plus it is not compatabile with ANY car seat)

JOOVY CABOOSE ULTRALIGHT:Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stand On Tandem Stroller, Black
Certainly a better price than that Vibe! Was surprisingly light and easy to maneuver. It was actually compatible with my Combi car seat (which is rare). My 2 1/2 year old seemed to really like standing on the platform in the store. I actually almost bought this one except for three major things:
1) The folding mechanism is annoying. You need to use two hands. When you have two kids in tow, you often don't have one free hand-- let alone two. Especially if you are someplace like a shopping center parking lot, or a city street, where you need your eyes and ears alert as well as your hands free.
2) It occurred to me that even though my 2 1/2 year old seemed to enjoy riding in the store during the test drive, what would happen after several hours at the zoo? She stills needs a good 90 minute nap everyday, in the middle of the day. I could foresee that this could be a problem because there is no way to carry an infant AND a napping toddler.
As much as I WANTED to like this stroller, I realized that its probably better if your kids are both over the age of 3 vs. having both kids under the age of 3. But I really liked the idea of a Sit N Stand because I knew it wouldn't be long before my oldest wouldn't need to sit in the seat at all, but I probably had a decent amount of time where I would still need the "full seat" capability.
3) The seat/platform area on the Joovy was really small with the infant seat installed. So even if my daughter wanted to sit and take a break, it would hardly be comfortable. (and she's small too, so I can only imagine what it would be like when she got older)

BABY TREND SIT n STAND PLUS Baby Trend Silverado Sit N' Stand Plus Double Stroller
After much research, I discovered the Sit N Stand PLUS. This is a step up from the basic Sit N Stand, in that it can convert from a compact tandem stroller with 2 full seats to a traditional Sit N Stand. Problem Solved!! The back seat even reclines a bit (but not fully) for the toddler to nap. The back seat removes easily, and can be folded up into the storage basket while still allowing room to carry stuff. Even though it officially is not compatible with the Combi car seat, it actually seemed pretty darn secure when I tried it. I can take my infant along, and not worry about the toddler needing to nap. And when the toddler wants to stand and ride, she can do that too. It only takes a minute to take the seat out. Unlike the Joovy, there is plenty of space on the bench seat and in the standing area. The one-hand fold is easy and effortless to use! It includes both a parent tray and child snack tray (with cupholders) and you can access the basket easily from the sides even if your child is in the back seat. It includes full sun canopies for both seats, which are also easily removed when not needed. I put it right next to the Joovy Caboose Ultralight in the store and they had the exact same wheelbase (length from from wheels to back wheels-- so I'm not sure why people are saying its longer than the Caboose? To top it off, this stroller is about $100 less than the Joovy. This stroller is certainly not perfect... it IS heavier than the Joovy or the Phil & Ted and no, it does not turn quite as easily (though not significantly harder either). However, given the cost difference; the frequency of usage that I think I'll have; and the potential longevity as my daughter grows out of the seat and into the standing only preference... getting this one seemed like a no-brainer compared to the significantly more expensive Phil & Ted and Joovy.

My children are 2 1/2 years apart, so we assumed that our older daughter would walk once our younger one was born, and the baby would ride in our stroller. After an entire summer of carrying the baby and letting my oldest sit in the stroller when she tired of walking, I decided to give my back a break this year and invest in a double stroller. With my now four-year-old, a side-by-side wasn't a good option, because she's big and also likes to hop in and out often. We bought the Sit-N-Stand because they sold it locally at Target, but I had to return it because it was like pushing a train. I'm not a big person, and a 30 pound, long, clunky stroller plus sixty pounds of kids was just too much for me. I returned it. I had tried a friend's Joovy, but now I knew that lighter weight and easier steering were critical when you're pushing two kids. The Caboose Ultralight fits the bill. It turns easily and tightly, and the distance between the front and back wheels is shorter than on the Sit-N-Stand, so it doesn't feel like a train. It's also ten pounds lighter (whew!). Both my kids like it just fine, and the sun canopy actually covers them both (others didn't).

If you're looking for a tandem but worried about paying the extra hundred bucks over the Sit-N-Stand (or even the extra $70 over the regular Joovy), I would say it's worth it. Sure, it looks similar to the other two, but it is just so much easier to use. Plus--let's face it--the design and color are just so much cooler than the Sit-N-Stand. Go for it. I was glad I did.

We did some serious research before picking up this stroller for our 3 1/2 year old son and new born daughter. All of the reviews made it seem like the perfect fit for what we were looking for. We selected the product because of the light weight of the product and the reviews but once we recieved the product at home and tried it out it was clear that it would not work for us and we ultimately returned it before ever taking it out of the house. Here was the problem for us. Once the baby car seat is installed there is not enough room for our 3 1/2 year old to sit comfortably on the step. He litterally had to lean forward because the front seat has to be fully reclined to support the car seat. The benh seat does shift backwards but the foot rest for the back seat does not so his feet were behind him. "Mommy I am not comfortable" came out in the first 30 seconds of sitting on the stroller. This was a huge disappointment to us. The Product was beautifully constructed, was very light, has a sharp modern look to it, rides well, and folds easily but if you are in a situation to have to use the car seat with a toddler that wants to sit down I do not recommend it. Hope this helps

I loved my double jogger, but at some point (around 4.5 years/1.5) the seat just wasn't big enough for my oldest, and her elbow was in her baby brother's face. So, we moved on and got the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. My kids are now 5.5 and nearly 3 and they both ride comfortably in the Joovy Caboose. In fact, my youngest won't ride in his umbrella stroller even when big sister is at school--he wants to ride in the Joovy Caboose. The minuses are the tray that is hard to attach and detach, being harder to push than a double jogger, and not turning on a dime. Unfortunately, double strollers are always a compromise, especially with bigger kids. The pluses are a super canopy, great parent caddy with drink holder and zipper pouch, compact size, good fold, and great stability. It requires both hands to push on bumpy surfaces, but is unbeatable for airport travel with two kids, since you can put luggage or a carseat on the rear seat, and make your big kid walk. It is generally very good for indoor use.

I spent a few weeks researching tandem strollers and finally settled on the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. I was very disappointed when it arrived. I used it for a couple of weeks before finally selling it on craigslist, taking a loss, because there are a couple of huge design flaws that I couldn't live with. I then bought the Baby Trend Sit n Stand LX and love it. First of all, it is about $100 cheaper than the Joovy, and, in this case at least, more expensive certainly does not mean better.

I have a 4-year-old and a 2-month-old. I knew that my 4-year-old would want to walk on outings but hop on a stroller when she got tired. I also knew that I'd be using the infant carseat with the stroller for at least four more months with my infant son.

There are three things about the Joovy that I preferred to the Sit n Stand (minor things that are not deal breakers by any means):

1. The Joovy is lighter (by about four pounds), so it is slightly easier to turn and maneuver than the Sit n Stand; its wheels also seem to roll a little more smoothly. However, the maneuverability comes at the sacrifice of function (more about this later).
2. The Joovy neoprene parent organized has a ton of space for keys, wallet, and phone and is very functional. The Sit n Stand parent organizer is a hard shell; it has room for two smaller water bottles, which is great, but neither my keys nor my BlackBerry will fit in the middle closed compartment, thus rendering it nearly useless - it's just too small to be functional.
3. The oversized canopy on the Joovy covers both kids, which is nice on a very hot and sunny day or in case you get caught in a rainstorm. However, the canopy is also bulky and a little cumbersome; when you don't need it fully open, it gets in the way.

That being said, there are many things I prefer about the Sit n Stand:

1. The Sit n Stand is a little lower to the ground and thus feels more stable when moving.
2. The Sit n Stand has a carseat attachment that you can snap the infant carrier into. The Joovy Caboose attachment is really a tray that the infant carrier sits ON TOP OF; it does NOT snap in, something Joovy obviously does not advertise because it's very cumbersome and annoying. To secure the infant carrier on the Joovy, you have to strap it in with an ugly red strap; even with the strap, the infant carrier sits awkwardly on top of the tray and doesn't feel like it's secure. In the instruction booklet, Joovy actually advises that parents check the carrier every few minutes to make sure the strap that holds it attached to the stroller isn't loose. The Sit n Stand attachment is awesome - the carrier snaps right in and is tight and secure in the front seat of the stroller.
3. The Joovy basket is very small and hard to get into. I could barely get my purse in there, much less a diaper bag. The Sit n Stand basket is larger and has snaps on the side that you can open, thus making the basket easily accessible and usable.
4. The Sit n Stand can be folded with one hand; the Joovy cannot.
5. The Sit n Stand actually folds smaller than the Joovy. It's a bit thicker when folded but significantly shorter, so it will fit in all trunks. The Joovy is VERY tall when folded and wouldn't fit in the trunk of my friend's Honda.
6. The front seat on the Joovy is very shallow, only 8 inches. The depth of the Sit n Stand front seat is about 10 ½ inches, making it much more functional for older kids. I could see my son, who's average size, outgrowing the Joovy seat by the time he's 18-months-old. He'll be able to use the Sit n Stand much longer.
7. The Sit n Stand has a removable kid tray that easily snaps off with one hand. Once the younger child is older and bigger, it's easy to remove him/her from the stroller without lifting him/her over the top of the tray. The Joovy tray is very difficult to remove (I actually couldn't do it; my husband had to do it for me).
8. However, the most obnoxious thing about the Joovy, and the main reason I traded it for the Sit n Stand, is that the back toddler bench seat is very small and moves/slides all the time, which is annoying and distracting for the kid AND the parent. Also, when the front seat is reclined (necessary to hold the infant carrier and for a younger child or a child who still naps during the day), it reclines halfway INTO the back bench seat, taking up about half the room of an already small seat. The older child then either has to stand (not great on long trips) or sit hunched forward with his/her feet awkwardly curled behind. This is a pretty big design flaw that I could not overlook. It makes the back seat essentially useless unless the front seat is not reclined. The Sit n Stand back bench seat is slightly larger, and the front seat, even when reclined, does not get in the way of the bench seat. The older child can thus sit comfortably upright even with the front seat inclined. The standing platform on the Sit n Stand is also larger and has a strap that you can buckle behind the child that the child can use for back support; the Joovy doesn't have this.

Considering the above, the Sit n Stand LX is the hands-down winner. For nearly half the price, you get a much better, more functional stroller. Had I "test driven" both, I never would have bought the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. I think the Joovy looks kind of funky and trendy, so people fall for it, but it's a poorly thought-out stroller that is terribly overhyped.

I've been using this stroller for about a week now with a 1 yr old and a 4 yr old. It is VERY lightweight, I compared it in the store with the regular model and to me it is definitely worth spending the extra on the Ultralight model. It is very sturdy too and the ball bearing wheels make it so smooth to push. The sun shade covers both the front and back passenger really well. It was simple to put together out of the box, simply snap on the wheels and tray and you're off. I was carrying around an Evenflo Take Me Too double stroller and a Maclaren Quest before this and this one stroller now replaces them both. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because it is still a little big, i guess it has to be to carry two kids. It folds up very flat but is still rather long - lying down it takes the width of my trunk in my minivan. Nice thing about it being so flat is that I can stand it up in the trunk though which takes up a lot less room. I definitely recommend it.

I needed a stroller for my 2 1/2 year old and 10 month old. I was using my Peg P3 with the baby while my oldest walked, but this only really worked when doing a short errand or when my husband came along and carried him when he got tired. It was time for a double stroller! This stroller was easy to assemble. I was pleased with the orange color. The real test was whether my son would sit or stand on the back. The minute I pulled it out, he sat on it and I couldn't get him off. He rode on it inside the house for a long while. He was wary about standing on it, but I'm sure that in time he'll be more comfortable. I've used it twice so far at malls and he's stayed on it, which is great. My 10 month old has no complaints either. She seems very content. The stroller is definately easy to push, easy to open and close. It fits in the trunk of my small 4 door sedan (although it uses up almost all of the room). The parent organizer is awesome. I was even able to put a Starbucks frappuccino grande in the cup holder! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I think they should have designed the front seat to recline further down (maybe 3 options instead of 2) so that the baby could sleep more comfortably. Yes, it might be a problem for the 2nd child to sit, but they could stand or just walk along side the stroller. Also, there might be times that us parents might only have the younger child with us. Otherwise, this is a great stroller for those parents looking for an alternative to the side by side or long tandems.

Forgive the dramatic title for this review, but really, this stroller is fantastic. I have a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old and it's the best thing that happened to me this summer. We had a Peg Perego which we loved, but the tiny platform on the back required the 5-year-old to do awkward contortions in order to hang on. We've been using the Joovy for about two months now, and so far, so good. It was a cinch to put together (I did it myself in about 10 minutes), and it really is incredibly lightweight for a double stroller. As previous reviewers have mentioned, its one disadvantage is its length. We do not have minivans, but the Joovy fits in the back of both of our Subarus. In the Impreza hatchback, it takes up the entire back. If you remove the front snack tray as well as the sun shade, you can buy yourself a bit more space. But because this stroller makes getting around so easy, I do not begrudge the space it requires. It folds up flat, and easily. The roller-blade technology used for the wheels does make for a smooth ride (and push). The stroller navigates bumpy Philadelphia sidewalks easily (the seat belt for the child sitting in the back works well to keep him from sliding off when the bumps are big or unexpected). I have noticed that the stroller veers a bit like a car with tires that need to be re-aligned when my 46-pound 5-year-old is on the back. I think that the stroller is just straining a bit carrying 70 pounds of kids. When the 1-year-old is in the stroller by himself, it's not a problem. Moreover, the 5-year-old is tall for his age, but he still fits nicely on the back, sitting or standing. He ducks a bit when the sun shade goes down over his part of the stroller, but he's yet to complain as I think he's just happy to be riding. Finally, as one of the posters said, the Parent Organizer that comes packaged free with this stroller is great--it holds water bottles, keys, wallets. Everywhere I go, at least one person stops me to ask me about the stroller. That's no reason to buy something, but it certainly reminds me why I did.

I have been using this stroller since my 2nd son was born 7 weeks ago. My oldest son is 2 1/2 years old. I am very very happy with this stroller. I like to walk every day and this is perfect.
It rides very smoothly. It folds up smaller than I thought it would (it fits in the trunk of our small Saturn). It is very easy to fold and unfold. It is very sturdy and well made. My oldest likes to have options (sit, stand facing forward, stand facing backward, walk).
Others have mentioned problems with the back seat. I have had no problems with having room for my son. If he is going to stand we push the seat forward and if he is going to sit we pull it back toward us. Yes, his feet will drag on the ground if he lets them hang over - but I tell him not to and he stops. I don't see how hanging feet is a problem with the design of the stroller. When he sits he does have to lean forward a very little bit. He has done that for long periods of time and has not complained. It is obvious that the jump seat on the back is dsigned to sit for short periods of time and to allow an active toddler to climb on and off - not for reclining and long comfy rides. Again, not a design flaw, just the fact of this stroller. If you want both of your kids to recline then you need to buy a double stroller.
I have not had a problem with the size of the basket either. But I will say that I never carry a big huge daiper bag. Just a small one with the basics. If I need a bigger bag for day trips or whatever I carry a back pack.
This stroller serves our needs perfectly. We did not want a huge double stroller (we have a small car and we travel to Europe alot and those big strollers just don't fit in small European stores) and our 2 1/2 year old will not sit still if strapped in anyway. This stroller allows me to walk with both our kids while allowing the toddler freedom. I am going on a trip to Europe for Christmas and I am eager to use this stroller in the airport and on the streets of Europe.
I bought this at Babies R Us where it was much cheaper.