Customer Reviews

phil&teds Inline Sport Buggy w/ DOUBLES KIT (Navy)

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

 

 

NOTE: THIS REVIEW REFERENCES THE PHIL & TED'S SPORT DOUBLE BUGGY (NOT THE e3) AND WAS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE STROLLER AS OF SUMMER 2007

If you're looking for a concise review, look elsewhere. Below is a detailed review (perhaps tediously so) of the Phil & Ted's sport double stroller by feature. We've owned the Phil & Ted's Sport buggy for several months now. I am in my late 20's and my wife and I have a 2 year old and a 12 week old. As I found online reviews were quite helpful in my research, I though I'd return the favor to other multi-child families.

1. Fabric/Materials

Pros:

- High quality fabric, thick and strong with heavy stitching.
- Colors are fun with reflective portions for safety
- Buttons, zippers and hooks in all the right places
- "Runaway" safety strap along with a "frame lock" strap

Cons:

- None

2. Handlebar

Pros:

- Soft, comfortable handgrip (semi-firm foam)
- One handlebar for one-handed pushing if needed

Cons:

- Biggest problem here is the short handlebar. Lack of telescoping feature or simply extending back further leaves some people (1 out of 6 people I asked, plus myself) hitting the doubles seat in the 2-toddler position. (Push it around the store BEFORE you buy)
- Pivot feature (around a horizontal axis) serves little purpose as it does not adequately improve comfort for taller/shorter persons nor does it allow for more compact storage.
- "Play" in the handlebar deviates from the otherwise overwhelming feeling of solid construction and high quality.
- If you ever cut/scrape the foam (easy to do when moving in/out of the car) you'll be irritated by it for months (trust me, I know from experience :( )

3. Frame

Pros:

- Solid and secure, very reassuring (it oughta be based on the pricetag!
- Ingenious fold up with lock for surprisingly compact storage considering its size and functionality (fits into our 2 door hatchback trunk...yah, soon to change)
- Toddler-infant arrangement folds up without disassembling.

Cons:

- I've found an irritating vibration in the right rear frame on 2 of these strollers now. The first one we returned because it did it all the time, the second one does it about 15% of the time. It seems to be related to how the axle seats inside the frame, and did not vary even with a new axle.
- This stroller is heavy! I'm a 5'10" male weighing 185 lbs. It is awkward and bulky for me to move in/out of the car. My wife has a difficult time moving it by herself. Beware those of you who use public transportation! You do not want to have to fold up this stroller and manage to kids at the same time, especially by yourself.
- 2-toddler position requires simple disassembly before fold up

4. Wheels

Pros:
- Easy on/off wheels are a very nice feature and again, ingenious.
- 12" Rubber, air filled tires offer a smooth, comfortable ride.
- 360 degree pivoting front 3rd wheel gives great agility
- Rear kids' fingers protected in 2-toddler position by 2 rear guards over the wheels (an improvement from the first version)

Cons:

- Thin rubber tires and tubes are a sure victim of goatheads and other thorns. This will vary based on your location (we've popped 3 tires already and spend about $40 on sealant and tube protectors).
- Easy on/off wheels are great, but we never use them as taking them off offers little storage advantage and you need them on to protect the tire guards from being damaged.
- This stroller is not for jogging

5. Storage Space

Pros:

- Large storage under the stroller fits most of what you need

Cons:

- lack of standard cup holders and zippered pouch for keys/wallet/cell phone.
- 2-toddler position has the rear child with their feet in the storage compartment leaving little room for anything else.

6. Brake

Pros:

- one brake for both rear wheels
- no chance of accidental unlocking

Cons:

- difficult to both lock and unlock with your foot, especially in either of the 2-child positions (don't try unlocking in Sandals... Ouch!)

7. Hood

Pros:

- Solid wiring inside the hood give eliminates the "flimsy" that accompanies most hoods.
- Hook and button on either side hold the hood tight and secure when open

Cons:

- Minimal sun protection when used as a single child stroller
- 2 child position brings the front child's head quite close to the hood. (Our child seems to like it, almost like he's able to hide)

8. Infant "Cave"

Pros:

- Private, flat space for an infant until such time as they can hold their own head up
- clear plastic cover seals the opening, protecting child from wind/bugs and nosy strangers

Cons:

- slightly awkward transferring child in/out of this cave, but overall a really sound setup.

9. Doubles kit

Pros:

- Pretty much the main reason for purchasing the stroller. This feature sets Phil & Teds apart from the pack
- easy assembly in both 2-child positions
- recline feature
- We had 2 toddlers in the stroller once and the rear-toddler didn't seem to mind the limited view
- At 8 weeks old, our daughter rested securely in the back seat in the 2-toddler position (much earlier than I anticipated, recline helps the smaller child)

Cons:

- Some people will hit the frame of the doubles kit with their knee while walking in the 2-toddler position, ESPECIALLY when reclined ... bad news!!! - test before purchase. (I hit it, my wife doesn't)
- 2-toddler position does not fold up without first removing the doubles kit from the back (a small price to pay for this fantastic feature.)

10. Accessories (We have both the fanny pack (hangbag & belt) and the bug/sun screen)

Pros:

- fanny pack is a must for everyone. It gives you a place for bottles, sippys, wallet/keys etc.
- bug/sun screen is high quality and fits just right. Kids don't seem to mind at all.
- "bumper bar" and "hood" keep the screen off of the front child's face

Cons:

- fanny pack hangs loose and can fall off when folding up the stroller
- a zippered pouch and cupholders should be standard


In Summary... this stroller meets all our needs. Although there are a few problems I have with this stroller, the benefits far exceed them and in some cases even cause them (example: high quality, solid construction causes stroller to be heavy). If you have 2 kids or more, this stroller is a must. When I see other parents struggling with double-wides and super-longs, I'm thankful for every penny spent (all 50,000 of them!)

I would definitely not recommend this item. It is expensive and I really do not understand why the reviews out there fail to mention so many of the problems with this stroller. It is very heavy and cumbersome. Unlike other doubles you can just fold and put away this stroller requires that you pull off the second seat. You have to secure the stroller after you fold it down it does not click into a fastened position like most other strollers. If you are trying to juggle two small children you can imagine how troublesome that is. The front tire often gets stuck and will not rotate properly. The child who sits in the back seat can easily get little fingers stuck in the tires. There are no cup holders so I purchased the Phil and Teds strap on cup holder which we cannot use when my small child is seated in the back because it sits on her head. The break is very difficult to use especially when both children are in the stroller. My previous stoller was an Evenflo travel system purchased 2004 which my mom inherited to have available at her home I now wish I hadn't given it up. I know that fancy, expensive strollers are all the rage and everyone wants the latest trend but when it comes to safety, convinience and just plain old practicality trendy and expensive does not always deliver.

I am so happy with my Sport V2 I can't stand it!!! I scored a super deal @ Costco.com $299 w/ double kit & Lazy Ted (ingenious idea, wish I had this when my son was smaller), thought I would hate the Grafitti print but I actually like it, the pictures do it no justice. I have a 10mo old son, that is already 31" tall, our pediatrtn thinks he will probably end up somewhere around 6'8"...having a tall infant is tough. I looked @ Mountain Buggy, BOB, Bumbleride & various other strollers, none of them offering a tall enough seat back for long term use.
I am so happy w/ the P&T product, but nothing is perfect so here's my 2 cents:
1) lack of parent tray is definitely a bummer however, I did purchase the Jolly Jumper parent tray from Amazon for a whopping $10 & it works perfect (BOB also fits but this was cheaper). You can adjust the straps so the tray hangs flat even with the handlebar adjusted in the taller position. My husband is 6'6" & has no trouble w/ the height/tray adjustment.
2) Lack of child tray is another bummer, I also purchased the Jolly Jumper snack tray...not the perfect solution but definitely will work for now.
3) Canopy is good or not-so-good depending on your outlook...I happen to love it. It removes easily in 2 sec so I don't use it when I'm going shopping or somewhere I will be inside. I purchased the Protect A Bub aftermarket sunshade for addt'l coverage when we are outdoors for extended periods (they also make aftermarket sunshade for jumpseat position).
4) I keep reading reviews that says this is a heavy product & I think to myself..."these people are nuts", it weighs 20lbs! My 10m old weighs 28 lbs! I have a Volvo S80 & it fits lengthways in 1/2 of the trunk. When I fold it I lift by the restraint bar, wheels in first (leaving the entire other half of my trunk free). When I pull it out I hold the same bar, lift the handlebar and when I set it down it automatically opens...Violla!
5) Jumpseat is perfect, I have it on all the time even w/o a 2nd kid...makes even better storage basket to pile shopping bags in. I am 5' 10" & have never hit the back seat while walking. Pushed this all over crowded malls with out once clipping anyones heels or display stands. Very narrow & great turning radious. Jumpseat is easy on/off.
6) Lazy Ted frame is awesome, especially for traveling...you already have the seat with you, the frame comes in a small carry bag just snap it together & attach jumpseat & you have a perfect bouncy seat...really wish I had this month ago, would have never carried that bulky bouncy seat around.
7) Amazing stroller for traveling (especially when pair'd w/ Lazy Ted), the axels come out when the wheels are removed so they will never get bent by the airlines when checking your stroller/luggage.

This is my 3rd stroller: 1st - Peg Perego Pliko P3, nightmare to use with one hand, front wheels caught on everything, no parent tray, lame basket...but it did fold up small. 2nd - Jeep Liberty, liked it but heavy (30lbs), when folded up it took up entire trunk, great storage & parent tray...my son played w/ that steering wheel thing constantly...axle bent (you get what you pay for).

Nothing is ever perfect & if given the opportunity I would definitely suggest a few tweeks here & there but overall extremely happy customer!!!!
Hope this helps, happy shopping.

I bought this stroller when I was 8 months pregnant with my second child. It is a great stroller altogether, but as a doubles stroller it is far superior than that of anything else I have seen. Also, the Graco infant carrier fits well in this stroller even without the adapter kit.

..but what stroller doesn't? I have the doubles kit but presently use it only in single mode. The 2nd seat does easily attach/remove in front or back. Be aware, the 2nd seat recline is helpful only until the child hits the top bar of the seat.

The good stuff: maneuverability, compactness for a double stroller, considerable comfort for both children compared to a ride-along board, toddler seat infront (eg. Valco), toddler bicycle seat in the back), versatility to switch between single/double stroller without having to buy so many different types of stroller.

The not-so-good stuff: definitely not a jogger, design of handlebar/canopy makes it impossible to find a decent vertical bottle/coffee holder, lack of storage when in double mode, brakes are very hard to engage/disengage, hard to lift up the buggy over a curb by stepping on the lower bar without bending the brake bar (I imagine that's not good for the brakes eventually). The canopy is useless as a sunshade and I did buy a suncover. I don't think the fold is that convenient (Mountain Buggy is better) and I sure wish one didn't have to have the handlebar hit the ground in doing so. I'm using the nylon cover from the bumper bar to protect the foam handlebar, since I don't use the bumper bar much now (he's 8 months and not really missing it). I also wished it could store properly upright to save space. I do anyway, but I have to keep the front end of the buggy open somewhat to balance it. The locking strap can handy when carrying it far (eg. house to car) but it's quite tight so I can only lock/unlock it if the buggy's lying down.

I'm 5'2" and 115lbs and I don't have much difficulty lifting in/out of my Mazda 3. I also can carry it up/down my front steps (about 8) in the open or closed position. It's supposed to be only 21lbs and my son's heavier than that.

It is a little pricey ($400 for double) given it's not a jogging stroller, but the compactness/maneuverability and versatility outweighs the cons in my opinion.

I've had issues with the tires on my Phil and Ted's Sport ever since I got it. One tube was defective and kept leaking air. That had to be replaced. Another tire was mishapen which resulted in a bulge when it was inflated. Now, tonight, I was putting air in a tire because it had deflated a little over time. Because the tire does not fit snuggly around the rim, it increases the possibility of the tube bulging out while it is being inflated. It happened as I was pumping air into the tire tonight and before I noticed what was happening, the tire tube blew up in my face with the sound of a gunshot. I small piece of rubber flew into my my nose. It must have been blown out with a tremendous amount of force because it not only left me with a cut on my nose, I feel like I was punched in the face. A few inches in another direction and it would have surely damaged one of my eyes. Phil and Ted's needs to redesign the tire so that the the outer tire fits snuggly around the rim. This is basic design neccessity in an air filled tire. If you have ever tried replacing a tube on a bicycle tire, you know what I mean. Because Phil and Ted's tire fits very loosely around the rim, it dramatically increases the possibility of a tube bulging out creating a dangerous situation.

I had this stroller for over a year now and agree with most of the pros about the stroller - my biggest problem is that the fabric is very difficult to remove and wash in the washing machine. Also, it doesn't come out too clean. The hood barely fit and when it came out, it broke. Also, like others have mentioned, it is very cumbersome to fold, otherwise its a good stroller. If anyone can recommend a double stroller that the fabric comes out easily to wash, that would be great.

Purchased this at a discount. Multiple problems. The wheel lock failed locking the front wheel in place. Then the tires failed, blew out of the rim, then the company dodged servicing it under warranty on a technicality. Very dissapointed :)

I have had this stroller for a couple of months now and have to say that I am very disappointed. I thought that this stroller would be perfect for us, since I have a newborn and 2 toddlers, giving me many options depending on who I am transporting. The negatvies outweigh the positives for me...

What I like:
-The design is cool, and gives me many options either for just pushing my newborn, newborn + toddler, or toddler + toddler.
-It's light and folds fairly easily - in comparison to my Teutonia Mistral (2005)
-The swivel wheel makes it a breeze to push

What I dislike:
-My biggest problem is that when my infant is laying below, and my toddler is sitting on top in the double kit, she is practically crushing his little legs below. This is strange because my toddler is below the weight limit of 20 kg...she is barely 15 kg. This makes the stroller unusable in this position.
-It is very very difficult to remove an infant from underneath, if you have a toddler sitting on top...making it inappropriate for newborns, who can get quite fussy and need immediate attention.
-The storage basket is small and difficult to get to when an infant is laying in the stroller
-The brake is very difficult to release
-No pockets to put keys or wallet...like my BOB stroller or even the MaClaren Quest.
-Too expensive when considering the negatives above.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Stroller, it did take my husband a about and hour or so to put it together. (but it took him about that long with the big huge travel system that graco has for just one baby), i bought it when i was still pregnant and begun using it with my 1st son, i immediately noticed how much easier to steer it was than any other stroller i had before even now that their are two i can still steer with one hand and do one handed U-turns too, Then when baby came it was so convenient to just lay him down with the bassinet open and my other son in the seat above him. now that the baby is able to sit up i have the second seat in the rear like the picture

we did not get the car seat attachment because we got a convertible car seat instead of a infant so i just used the bassinet

i love this stroller, i get awesome comments on it, when baby was first born and in the bassinet, people didn't even know i had 2 baby's and i wanted to "show him" off so i would take him out LOL

when i have the second seat in the back i have to unsnap it and then fold it up i really DO not mind doing that at all it doesn't bother me but i have forgot once or twice and wondered why it would fold right when i tried

i know when my older son starts not wanting to ride or is too big i can then just use this stroller as a single stroller and will be excited that i wont have to buy another

overall i feel this is a good investment if you can afford it, there is a cheaper one called the "classic" and a few more that are more expensive if you want more padding and to be able to fold with the second seat attached to the back get the "Vibe"