Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair review

Voted the ‘Best double buggy with a compact-forward facing option’ in a round-up of the MadeForMums Best Double Buggies, The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double has revolutionised the double buggy market with its ultra-narrow chassis. Measuring just 66.5cm wide, it makes the challenges of urban living with two young children a lot easier, accommodating children from birth through to three years of age.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double has an RRP of £484 which is a fair price for a side-by-side double buggy – more expensive than the Ickle Bubba Venus Double pushchair at £329 but cheaper than the Mountain Buggy Duet V3 at £729. What sets the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 ahead of the rest is its slender, lightweight frame which makes it ideal for city living.

Tested by

Kirstie and her husband Jack have two young sons aged 2 years and 14 weeks. Kirstie is currently on maternity leave and tested the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double both in the town and the country, trying it out both in and around her local shops as well as in more rural, off-road terrain.

What were your first impressions of the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The first thing I noticed when unpacking the box was how few parts there were and how small the chassis appeared; I expected it to be quite complicated and cumbersome, but it wasn’t at all. The components were all light enough for one person to handle.

MFM parent tester Hollie’s first impressions were very similar, stating “When the box arrived I felt sure I had the wrong item as I thought there would be no possible way a double pushchair would fit in something so small.”

How easy was the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair to assemble?

I searched and searched, but there was no instruction book enclosed with our delivery of the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double buggy, but after a quick Google I found a PDF of the instructions online (which was quite handy as I could zoom in on the pictures). I think this may have just been our delivery, as fellow MFM parent tester Ruth explained the image and written instructions as being “very clear and in plenty of detail.”

To be honest, the pushchair is really so simple to build that it would have been very easy to do so even without the instructions. It took less than 5 minutes to put together by myself. Everything simply clicks into place and no tools are required.

The newborn carrycot comes flat packed in its box with instructions. They were a mixture of step-by-step images and words which I found much more helpful than illustrations alone. I referred to the instructions while putting it together and adding it to the frame, and found it pretty straightforward.

How does the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair compare to previous versions?

Baby Jogger has two other side-by-side pushchairs: the City Mini GT2 Double and the City Mini 2 Double. The GT2 Double is an all-terrain buggy designed to last children from birth up to 22kg (approx five years) but is wider at 76.5cm. The City Mini 2 on the other hand, is also 76.5cm wide but can be converted into a travel system and is designed to last children from birth up to 22kg (approx five years).

The City Tour 2 is narrower than its counterparts with a whole 10cm shaved off the width, coming in at 66.5cm wide. Its smaller stature does mean it won’t last as long with your children – it is only designed to last from birth to 15kg (approx 3 years).

Unlike the other Baby Jogger models above, the City Tour 2 Double is not a travel system or an all-terrain buggy, but it is lighter and more compact. It also has a one-handed quick fold system, an improvement on the previous model which was criticised for requiring two hands to fold.

What is the carrycot like for the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The carrycot’s design and quality are excellent. It’s a very robust bassinet despite being lightweight at just 2.5kg. Lifting it can be done easily with one hand, even with a baby tucked inside.

The carrycot is very narrow at just 30cm wide, but to have a truly compact pushchair sacrifices have to be made somewhere. It’s designed to cater from birth up to 9kg, but I think most babies are likely to outgrow it width-wise before hitting the weight limit.

My newborn, even at 9 weeks old during testing, felt a bit snug in it with his pram suit on and so I can’t honestly see him still fitting into it come 6 months old. My son isn’t a particularly big baby, but now at 14 weeks old, I find it’s a bit of a squeeze. I’m having to turn him slightly on his side to lift him out more easily. Fellow MFM parent tester Lucy found that at just 10 weeks, her daughter was reaching maximum size for the carrycot, explaining “her feet were almost touching the bottom and she barely had any space to stretch her arms out.”

The padded mattress is firm but comfortable, within a few minutes of walking my son tends to drift off to sleep, provided the terrain we are walking on isn’t too rough. The mattress, which has a machine-washable cover, doesn’t seem particularly breathable using the MadeForMums breathability test, but there is very little room for manoeuvre inside the carrycot and it would be impossible for a baby to have enough room to roll over and go face down inside it. The foot cover is quilted and windproof, so it feels like the baby is well protected from the elements, and it is also showerproof – a necessity in Britain.

The carrycot is designed so the straps to lift it are housed in gaps between the foot cover and the bassinet, and tucked into inside pockets while the carrycot is attached to the pram. This is a nice idea so your baby doesn’t accidentally catch an arm or leg in them, however, I preferred to leave the straps out altogether because my baby is a light sleeper and I found pulling the velcro apart to untuck them to then lift the carrycot off the frame would wake him up.

How easy is the carrycot to add on/take off the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The mechanism for attaching the carrycot and removing it again is genius. You slide the two adapters into either side of the seat (handily they are labelled left and right, although it’s still a bit fiddly) and then it’s simply a case of sliding the carrycot into those until it clicks into place. It feels surprisingly sturdy - the bassinet doesn’t move around at all once it’s on the chassis.

Although the seats on the buggy are forward-facing only, the carrycot is parent-facing so you can see your newborn at all times.

To take the carrycot off, you hold the straps in one hand and then hold down a little lever at the front with the other before lifting it off. There is no tugging or wrestling with buttons, it’s unbelievably easy and clever – and frankly, an absolute godsend when you are dealing with two young children at once.

The adapters can be a bit tricky to remove as you need to press the button in and lift it at the same time.

Can the carrycot on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double be used for overnight sleeping?

According to Baby Jogger’s website, the carrycot can be used for overnight sleeping when not used on a chassis or stand. This is great news for any parent travelling with a toddler and a young baby. The carrycot also collapses down to be flat, saving on storage at home or away.

What do you think of the seats on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

Straightaway I was very impressed with the look and feel of the fabric seats. The pushchair we tested came in the Pitch Black colourway and the padded seats felt both comfortable and durable, while still looking stylish. The print of the fabric isn’t just matt black – there is a subtle but clever two-tone pattern which means mud and dirt don’t show up. MFM parent tester Lucy found that whilst the fabric from the seats can be removed and washed, she was able to “easily clean using a damp sponge without removing them.”

The seat itself is fairly narrow. Despite my 27 month old being quite petite, he still fills the space. The pushchair is designed to accommodate children up to the weight of 33kg (roughly 3 years old), but I think it would be a bit of a squeeze by then. I’m not sure how comfortable it would be for an older pre-schooler.

What is the harness like on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The seat has an adjustable five-point harness with two chest pads, making it both comfortable and secure. The only downside to the five-point harness is that two of the sections slide apart, which isn’t hugely handy if your toddler is having a tantrum and resisting going in the buggy as it can ping apart.

MFM parent tester Ruth, however, loved the harness saying “Unlike other buggies, the five-point harness is connected one at a time, which is a huge help when you have a wiggly toddler and don’t need to have steady hands to line up the clips for it to secure.”

Does the seat recline?

The multi-position seat on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double is easily adjusted with a cord and clip at the back; it can lie flat for younger babies or sit upright for curious toddlers who prefer to watch the world go by. I tended to put it in the most upright position before placing my toddler in the pushchair because it’s slightly trickier to hold the seat up and adjust it at the same time with a child in it.

I found I had to lean into the back of the seat with my shoulder to hold it up while I tightened the strap at the same time. Releasing the strap is very easy and can be done smoothly if your toddler doses off and you want to lie them down to sleep for longer.

There’s also an integrated calf support which you can raise to make your child even more comfortable, although I found my son tended to put his feet on either side of it rather than on it.

Although the frame is compact (66.5cm wide), my toddler and baby both looked perfectly comfortable sitting side-by-side. My toddler loved being able to peep into the carrycot and check on his little brother while we were out and about, and enjoyed putting his toy cars on top of it too.

The only downside was that the carrycot sometimes obscured my toddler’s view of what was happening in the street, which he found frustrating if something was exciting like a fire engine going by!

What are the hoods like on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The hoods, in particular, are worth a mention – they are very sturdy and showerproof, and the hoods on both the seat and the carrycot stay in place, not getting whipped back or buffeted by gusts of wind. Both are generous in length and have pull-down UV50+ sun canopy extensions which are a welcome addition – they fill that awkward gap where the late afternoon sun creeps under the hood and invariably into your toddler’s eyes. The main hoods on the pushchair also have peekaboo windows so you can keep an eye on your little ones if the hood is fully extended.

How easy is it to fold the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The City Tour 2 Double is an absolute dream to fold. It does take a bit of practice but is very easy when you know how and several people remarked on how smart the folding mechanism was.

It has a one-handed quick fold system (though I personally tended to use two hands) with a release button on the handlebar which then collapses the pram. From there you simply concertina it and secure it with a clip. I found watching Baby Jogger demonstration videos on YouTube made it much clearer, but it takes seconds and can be done by one person.

It’s worth mentioning that you can’t fold it with the carrycot attached, but the rest of the pushchair folds as one without having to remove seats, wheels or handles.

MFM parent tester Hollie agreed, stating “It took me a few attempts to master folding it up and down smoothly, but once you’ve done it a few times it is SO easy.” However MFM parent tester Ruth did struggle a little unfolding it again, saying “I definitely needed both hands and my foot to try and open it up. It felt like I was wrestling with it every time.”

How compact is the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair when folded?

The City Tour 2 folds up very small (63cm x 63cm x 25cm) so is ideal for travelling or tucking away in a cupboard. It has two straps across each seat making it easy to pick up and put into a car boot. Even with the carrycot in its unfolded state, both it and the buggy take up very little room in the boot, leaving plenty of space for other bags. It can stand on its side when folded, but I preferred to lie it flat so it didn’t topple over or get scuffed.

How easy is the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair to push and steer?

When it comes to handling different terrains, the clue is in the name. The City Tour 2 Double is far more suited to city living than rural settings.

In the town, on smooth pavements and in shops, the City Tour 2 Double is lightweight and fairly effortless to push and manoeuvre. It can be pushed easily with one hand, even with two little passengers on board. On a flat surface, it really does glide along silently, feels very stable and the wheels turn 360 degrees, making it easy to steer in tight spaces like shop aisles. MFM parent tester Ruth agreed, saying “I literally felt that the buggy was gliding along as I pushed it along down the path.”

It is, however, far trickier to push on less forgiving surfaces such as pavements with potholes and long grass, and is an absolute no-go on gravel or bumpy country tracks.

There is suspension in the front wheels, but on bumpy surfaces, it barely has any impact as the pram jiggles around a lot. During one country stroll, my Dad likened it to pushing a shopping trolley! On a forest walk, I took my newborn out and carried him as he was being wobbled around so much inside, and the pram often came to an absolute standstill when the wheels hit the odd stick, let alone tree roots, even when in the forward-locked position.

It fares okay on mud if it’s not too wet, so can easily cope with a trip to the park, but much like trying to push through gravel, the pushchair quickly becomes marooned in long grass or wet mud because the wheels are too small to cut through it – especially when weighed down with two children.

I found it quite hard to lift it up kerbs when the toddler was in it because the weight distribution of the children is more at the front of the pram. The handlebar isn’t adjustable, and as I’m just 5ft 4in tall, I felt I couldn’t really lean down on it to get my weight behind it to tilt up – it was definitely a test of my pelvic floor muscles. When it was just the baby it was much lighter to lift, but it’s something to bear in mind for mums who are perhaps recovering from a c-section.

In comparison, when it comes to off-roading, the Out ‘n’ About Nipper Double buggy is far superior to the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double. But in fairness, the clue is in the name – the Baby Jogger is designed with city living in mind. The Nipper Double has three large wheels with big treads and substantial suspension, so is better equipped for ‘proper’ walks, compared to the City Tour 2 Double’s four small wheels. The Nipper Double’s three wheels make it easier to push in general, and the weight distribution is at the back so it’s far easier to tilt back to lift kerbs of any height without feeling the strain.

Overall, MFM parent tester Ruth summed it up well by saying “I don’t feel this buggy would be any good for taking my son to walk in the woods as the plastic wheels wouldn’t be able to absorb the impact, but it is a perfect buggy for general day to day use.”

How easy is the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 pushchair to use on public transport?

I managed to get the pram onto a low-liner town service bus which had an area for prams/wheelchairs, and when tucked into the side it didn’t block the aisle. If someone had boarded in an electric wheelchair we would both have struggled for space and probably spilt into the gangway. You would not get this onto a stagecoach type bus with steps, it would have to be folded and stowed in the luggage hold underneath, but it would easily fit onto an accessible train and Tube doors are so wide I would have no qualms about taking this on the London Underground.

This buggy has made us rethink a city break to London – this buggy is so small and lightweight when folded that we would have no issues fitting into lifts at Tube stations, even those without step-free access.

What’s the chassis like on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

I think the chassis design is really well-thought-out and executed. It’s simple, stylish and advertised as having an ‘ultra-narrow width’ – and at 66.5cm it really isn’t much wider than a single buggy.

It’s actually surprising how narrow it is; many times I assumed I’d get stuck going into local shops with their little doorways, but there’s nowhere yet I’ve been where the pram couldn’t go too. The frame, although lightweight (10.5kg), is strong and solid; it never feels like it’s going to twist or topple. It has a matt black finish with the Baby Jogger logo on either side, but unfortunately, it is quite easy to scuff if not being careful when opening/closing the pram.

Is the handlebar adjustable on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The handle height on the City Tour 2 isn’t adjustable and at 5”4, although I found it comfortable to push, I did struggle sometimes trying to lift it up steeper kerbs or steps – someone shorter than myself might struggle more.

The handle itself was the perfect size for wrapping my fingers around; it’s smaller than your average handlebar which is more to my liking and although it’s not padded I still found the solid rubber comfortable to hold.

What are the wheels like on the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

Like the rest of the pushchair, the City Tour 2 Double’s wheels are small (13cm) in diameter. This is great in terms of space-saving, folding and storage, but the smaller wheels do struggle on tougher terrain.

They don’t have a tread, but they do feel very solid thanks to their durable rubber composite construction (which also makes them very easy to wipe clean – particularly helpful when we were unfortunate enough to run over dog mess).

The two front wheels swivel making manoeuvring easy, but they can be easily locked in position with a little tab too.

How good are the brakes?

The footbrake is very impressive – rather than having a big bar that gets in the way and accidentally kicked, it has one small, subtle tab on the right-hand side, which is simple to press on and flick off again. It’s small but mighty, with a very powerful hold – once engaged, the pram doesn’t budge an inch.

What is the storage basket like on the Baby JoggerCity Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The basket is great – with a 5kg capacity, its proportions are incredibly generous. There is enough space for a small changing bag or small supermarket shop and it’s deep enough that items don’t fall out. It's easy to fetch things out of the basket and it’s made from a lightweight mesh which means you can easily see what you’re looking for without needing to pull everything out.

The only criticism would be the central bar effectively divides the basket access into two, so you wouldn’t be able to get a changing bag in the style of a backpack underneath. One of our MFM parent testers also commented: “The basket space under the buggy is rather compact considering it is a double buggy.”

What’s in the box?

• A foldable chassis
• 4 x wheels
• Carrycot
• Carrycot hood
• Mattress
• Adapters

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• A weather shield raincover (£34)
• A padded belly bar (£29)
• Parent console storage pouch (£39)

Can the pushchair be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

No.

What would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

Before purchasing, it would be useful to know that the pushchair does have limits when it comes to certain terrain. If you live rurally then this probably isn’t the buggy for you.

It’s also worth noting that despite the brand name, this Baby Jogger pushchair is not suitable for jogging.

Who would the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair be most useful for?

It is best suited to a city-living family with pre-school children or babies, predominantly using the buggy in an urban environment or city break.

Is the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair worth the money?

With an RRP of £484, the City Tour 2 Double falls midway in the price scale when it comes to side-by-side double buggies, although the separate carrycot is an additional RRP of £120 on Baby Jogger’s website. Other websites like www.direct4baby.co.uk do sell both as a combined package for £559.

You do get what you pay for – there is no other pushchair on the market that is as narrow as this one and so easy to fold and store, so it really is unrivalled in that respect. Your money buys you a well-made, robust buggy that has been cleverly designed with city-dwelling parents in mind, particularly those living in flats where storage space might be limited.

The pushchair doesn’t come with any additional extras like a raincover, which for that price I would’ve expected to be included – I see that as a necessity rather than a luxury in the British climate. Other customers at Boots.com felt similar – that a raincover should have been included for the price.

It’s not as expensive as similarly-designed pushchairs like the Bugaboo Donkey 5 Duo carrycot and seat pushchair (RRP £1645), but it’s also not as cheap as the Ickle Bubba Venus Double Stroller (RRP £329.99), although both those models come with raincovers as standard.

How does it compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double pushchair?

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double is available at Boots and Direct 4 Baby.

MadeForMums Verdict:

The City Tour 2 Double offers a revolutionary ultra-narrow and lightweight chassis, easy folding function and compact proportions when folded, challenging the constraints of city living. It may be small, but it is very mighty and an absolute must-have for busy, urban families.