I have a confession: I have been in a long-term love/hate relationship with strollers ever since I became pregnant. On one hand, it’s the baby gadget that gives me freedom, helps me get back into a fitness routine, allows me coffee dates with friends, and gives me a place to safely keep my kids when I am out and about. On the other, it’s the clunky, heavy, hard-to-fold, sometimes finger pinching piece of equipment that seems to always be in the way and takes up all the trunk space in my car.
Strollers have both frustrated and saved me over my past years of motherhood and, as a mom of 5 kids ages 7 and under, I have been through quite a few in search for the “perfect” one. And while no stroller may be entirely perfect, here’s my honest mom of five review of the Century Baby Stroll On Duo Lightweight Stroller.
Century Baby Stroll On Duo: The Details
This double stroller has some great features while still being wallet friendly. When using this stroller, I found it super flexible in accommodating our large family consisting of kids of varied ages. For example, I would have a toddler in back seat with a preschooler in the front one day and then a baby in the back with a toddler in the front the next. Even my pre-K kid wanted to hop in, but she was pushing the 45 inch height limits.
As a suburban mom, I used this stroller mainly on sidewalks with a bit of playground gravel here and there. Overall, it handled admirably on both terrains, although lack of any suspension definitely made the bumps bumpier. As we are still crowd conscious, we have yet to venture out with the Stroll On Duo, but given its tandem design, it would be the ideal stroller for zoos and museums.
Here are a few key details about the stroller:
- Stroller width: 22 inches
- Stroller height: 40 inches
- Weight: Just under 24 lbs.
- 2 canopies
- Can hold 50 lbs.
- Understorage basket
- Child tray included
- Back seat fully reclines
- Infant car seat compatible
Pros & Cons
Pros
Lightweight double stroller
Fabric made with recycled materials
Back seat reclines
Cons
Only accommodates 50 lbs.
Fold can be tricky
Front seat may not accommodate larger kids
Features I Loved
Now that I’ve walked you through the basics of the stroller, here are some of the key features I appreciated:
Double seating
The Stroll On Duo is a tandem stroller, meaning seats are situated one behind the other instead of side-by-side. Not only does this make it narrower and therefore easier to navigate a grocery aisle or crowded venue, it also prevents little ones from fighting. My kids were able to see adequately from either seat, neither fought over seats, and because there were no kicking backs of chairs or fighting over toys.
Eco-friendly
Whenever I see a company that claims to be environmentally friendly, I make sure to look at how they package their product. Century Baby did not disappoint. The stroller came safely packaged, but contained a minimum amount of plastic material—in fact, most of the packaging was recyclable or compostable. And of course, some of the material is made from recycled materials as well.
Easy to assemble
I am the type of person who needs to study IKEA picture drawings in depth and then I still end up putting together a nightstand with a wonky leg. So I was justifiably nervous that I would have to assemble this double stroller. But it couldn’t have been easier. From start to finish, it took me about 20 minutes.
Snack tray
For a lot of strollers, accessories are sold separately, so it was a bonus that the Stroll On Duo includes a snack tray. Although small, it was enough for my son to store his goldfish snacks and toy cars (which are essentials, obviously).
Newborn-ready
One of my favorite parts of this stroller is the back seat which gives the parent the option of making a bassinet. By securing a flat under the rear seat and reclining it all the way, parents can create a lie flat option, making this stroller ideal for an older sibling in the front and baby in the back.
The included Stroll On Duo car seat adaptors also turn this double stroller into a travel system, which is useful if you intend to use your stroller on car trips.
Before You Buy
While there is a lot to appreciate about this compact, lightweight double stroller, there are some definite things to keep in mind before you buy. Here are some of the considerations for this stroller:
- Limited basket access. If you have a child riding in the back seat, it definitely limits access to the storage basket. So if you plan to make a day of it at the zoo and want to haul lunches, diaper bags, and have room for souvenirs, you’re gonna need to bring some supplementary storage.
- No adjustable handlebar. While my 6’ husband and my 5’7” self both found the handlebar position comfortable, if you are taller or shorter, you might not feel the same way.
- Arm bar. One of my biggest pet peeves of this stroller was that the arm bar in the front seat did not swing away. Instead, you have to use both hands to push the buttons on the side and slide it off. This is annoying for several reasons: One, I rarely have two hands free when trying to load/unload a stroller. Two, I now have an extra piece of stroller and nowhere to put it.
- Fold. The company advertises a one-handed fold, but I have to be honest: I had a hard time doing it. After a couple tries (and consulting the manual), I finally got it, but it’s still not a true one-handed fold in my opinion. However, I did appreciate that, once folded, it is pretty easy to push.
- Front seat limits. While I did like the versatility the Stroll On Duo offered for the age ranges of my children, I did find the front seat a bit short. My 2-year-old seemed comfortable enough but his head brushed the top of the canopy. And while my 3.5-year-old didn’t complain in the front, he was definitely too big.
Final Verdict
The Stroll On Duo is not a perfect stroller, but it could be the perfect stroller for the right family.
Who is the right family? One that is looking for a simple, no frills, modern stroller that will take them from newborn to preschoolers, can be a travel system, and is great for neighborhood walks and family outings.
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