Customer Reviews

phil&teds Sport Double Kit

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

 

 

OK, no stroller can be everything you want, but I'm happy with my decision to go with this one. My top priorities were that I needed an all-terrain stroller that could convert to hold 2 babies. That left me with 2 options: the Phil & Ted or the Valco. I found this stroller to be lighter, easier to maneuver and more portable when folded than the Valco, so I bought it. Now that I've used it almost every day for a month, here are my thoughts:

PROS
- Good handling on the ancient city sidewalks in my neighborhood, which means a lot since it looks like an earthquake ripped through town where I live.
- As mentioned, the ability to convert to a 2-baby stroller is a major selling point. We didn't buy the doubles kit since our first baby is still a newborn, but we plan to have a second in a year or so and we're happy that a second stroller won't be necessary.
- Appropriate for use with a newborn through big toddler. Total weight for stroller is 88lbs! (55lbs for main seat and 33lbs for rear seat)
- Good quality materials and construction. This stroller looks and feels like it will last a long time.
- Sporty good looks with reflective trim.
- Fenders on rear wheels keep the mud and muck from splashing up.
- Adjustable handle means both me (5'3") and my husband (6'3") are comfortable when pushing the stroller.
- Wrist strap offers an added sense of security.
- Basket below is a good size.
- Peek-a-boo flap at top of canopy also has a convenient pocket.

CONS
- This kind of stroller (jogger style) has a long wheel base, so you can't turn on a dime like you can with other strollers. It feels big and clumsy in small spaces. I'm always bumping into walls and rolling over people's toes in my elevator and the corner grocery store. This might not be an issue for suburbanites.
- Another compromise: heavier and less portable than other types of strollers, so it's a nightmare on public transportation. However, it fits easily in the trunk of our sedan when folded.
- Takes a lot of effort to switch seat positions. Unlike other strollers which allow you to adjust position quickly and easily while the baby is seated, this stroller uses several buckles and zippers. It's a bit labor-intensive with my light little newborn in the seat. As he gets heavier, I'll probably have to take him out of the stroller in order to switch seat positions. Bummer!
- Sun canopy does not offer enough coverage, but this is a pretty common problem with strollers. I bought the e3 sunshade and rain cover and they work fine (although they don't fit perfectly on the Sport Buggy).
- No shock absorbers like some other high-end strollers (Bugaboo, Stokke), but those strollers are also several hundred $$$ more expensive. Would be a nice improvement, though.
- Foot brake on rear wheels is clumsy to use (but very secure). Would be nice if they could improve on this.
- Accessories like the handle storage bag and infant car seat attachment are poorly designed and seem like afterthoughts.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this stroller. Feels great on the street, baby is very comfortable inside, and it will be great when baby #2 arrives. Looks like we will still need a lightweight umbrella stroller for use on the metro, but this is an excellent primary stroller that we'll use for years to come.

I saw the Phil and Ted's E3 stroller and was instantly in love with it. It has a simple design that looks sturdy. It seems to be constructed to last a long time. It has the ability to add a second seat so in can grow with your family. I have used it running and it is great, very smooth and easy to handle. My daughter fell asleep in it on the runs I have gone on. You do need to add some type of shade to keep the sun out of a child's eyes but the Kiddopotamus Rayshade Stoller Sunshade works really well for only $15-20. The version I purchased is the 2006 version. The 2007 version has several new features such as a window to view your child easily, they added a pocket for keys etc. and probably the biggest for my wife and I is an adjustable handle. The old version you had to pull out the handle and reverse it. I am 6'2" and my wife in 5'1".
The major draw back that I have come across so far is that after having the stroller for only a little over one month. It is starting to come apart at the seams. After some doing I was able to track down the US distributor and they were very nice and are sending me a replacement cover. BUT they told me this kind of damage is normally considered normal wear and tear. I have this as my walking/running stroller. I have another stroller that is in my car and goes to the store, on trips or such. So I do not see this as normal wear and tear. I would caution you that for the cost of this stroller and the fact that everything seems to be an add on to this stroller you might consider others as well. I really wish I could say only positive things about the stroller. It really is a nice piece and I believe that I will enjoy it; I just worry about the craftsmanship of the overall product.
RayShade® UV Protective Stroller Shade Improves Sun Protection for Strollers, Joggers and Prams Black

PROS:
- Can steer with one hand, even loaded down with two kids.
- Could jog with two kids, if I were inclined to.
- Front wheel can lock or can swivel.
- Maneuvers easily in tight spaces, even with two kids.
- Fits in the trunk of my Honda Accord.
- Can remove all three wheels if you need to fold it truly flat.
- When using with one child, roomy basket with good access.
- The main seat can lie completely flat.
- Looks cool (if you care about such things).

CONS:
- If you have a kid in the "rumble seat," you can't hang your diaper bag on the handle -- you end up knocking that kid in the head with it -- the bag has to go in the basket (or on your shoulder).
- Hard to access basket when the doubles seat is in use. Fortunately, my kids like to sit with their feet in a "V" rather than in front of them when sitting in the "rumble seat," as we call it -- which leaves more room in the basket.
- Heavy, and unweildy to fold/unfold.
- Does not fold with the doubles seat in place in the rear position -- you have to remove it -- which is not a big deal, but a minor design annoyance.
- Cumbersome to lock closed in folded position, but I don't need to do so often.
- Also, when I fold it, I end up resting it on the handle, which would have torn to shreds by now, except that I covered it with the cover from the "grab bar," and stopped using the "grab bar."
- No parent or child tray. (the BOB handlebar console fits well, though)
BOB Handlebar Console With Water Bottle Holders Black

BOTTOM LINE:
Has some drawbacks, but I feel it's the most maneuverable double stroller on the market, and hey, it fits in the trunk of my sedan.

This is the most expensive baby item we have purchased so far, but it is SO worth it!!! We LOVE this stroller! Our baby is 5 months old, and we have been using his Graco snugride car seat with the snap-in frame as our stroller - I wish we had gotten this (with the cocoon) and used it from the start. It is a really smooth ride, turns on a dime, is easy to get up and down stairs, and is super cool to boot! We bought the doubles kit, as we are currently in a nanny share with an older baby (and also plan to have another kid at some point pretty soon), and I envision this as being our only stroller purchase for the next 6 years. Our nanny - who has rejected another double stroller in the past for being too heavy and difficult to maneuver - took this out for the first time yesterday with the two babies and came back RAVING about it. Since our baby is younger, he gets the back seat - but he seems perfectly happy back there. And he'll get to move up to the front seat if/when he has a younger sibling.
Other plusses: We live in a small condo, and this one stroller will kill several birds with one space consuming stone. 1) It's really easy to convert from single to double, and the doubles kit is very compact. 2) You don't need a separate newborn stroller, as you can set this one up to lie flat. 3) You can even stroll with newborn plus toddler by putting the doubles kit on top of the flat newborn (great for when we have #2)! I think the only scenario it wouldn't work well for is twins, as the double set up assumes one larger baby and one smaller baby. All in all, I would highly recommend this stroller - particularly if you plan to expand the family and don't want to buy another stroller(s) down the line!

I got this stroller after seeing it in use in Chamonix. I thought it looked like the perfect double for traveling and going out into the wild. So far the stroller is great as a stroller. Only thing is it is a bear to fold down and even worse to secure in the folded position. It is a bit heavy for me to lift into my van and it takes both hands and a foot to get it stowed. The brake also really sucks if you need to brake or unbrake in a hurry. It is a very rigid and slippery piece of bent metal so I have found it easier to just park it against something stationary instead of using the brake. The accessories are pricey and not too useful either. The handlebar bag is essentially a water bottle fanny pack with no real way to securely attach to the buggy. I was disappointed by that cause the girls need to have drinks on our outings so now I am left to carrying them like a fanny pack. Overall the ride is nice, the turn radius is excellent the size is great but the difficulty stowing and storing and the accessories make this a really expensive choice for travel.

I just spent 45 min trying to clip the bottom clip to convert the sport back to a toddler position from newborn position. The straps for the bottom clip just WILL NOT reach. I am pretty strong - I carry around 2 kids all day long & I can't force them to reach to clip.

I have never been so frustrated with a piece of equipment in my life. My 2 yr old is screaming my baby is screaming and I am so irritated that I can't get this to convert I am about to throw the whole stroller out the window.

I saw this in the airport and looked all over for it. I now have it in Red, with the double seat, the car seat attachment, and the caddy for the handle. This works great in all modes, I was able to easily maneuver it with two 1 year olds in a pumpkin patch with one hand.