The Duo Sport has a twist mechanism on the handle that makes it easy to fold – and it’s possible to complete the whole process with one hand, though it took me a few attempts to master the technique. For a double buggy, it’s very flat when folded and the storage lock engages automatically. It will even stand on end on its own when folded, which saves you from having to bend down to pick it up.
What we love
The price is a lead factor for choosing the Graco Duo Sport; a double buggy under £150 has to be worth a look. The large shopping basket is a winner, too. It’s so easy to access from the rear and it’s a real boon when doing an ‘essentials’ shop (milk, bread, nappies, etc) at the supermarket. I can cram so much into it!
Fynn, 3, is at the 15kg maximum weight limit for this pushchair. Even so, it easily accommodates both him and his little brother, Harry, 9 months. The seats are independently adjustable, which is ideal when Harry nods off. A pull of the rear strap and toggle allows his multi-position seat to recline almost flat. The two large hoods also operate separately, so there’s no problem if I need to shade Harry from the sun but Fynn doesn’t want his hood down.
I did expect the Graco Duo Sport to feel wide and cumbersome, but was pleasantly surprised how narrow it is. Its length gives it an advantage over many tandems, too, as it’s no longer than a single pushchair and therefore easy to see what’s in front of you.
What to watch out for
Side-by-side or tandem? When choosing a double buggy, your first decision is whether to opt for two adjacent seats or one behind the other.
Many mums prefer a side-by-side pushchair because it enables the two children to interact. Fynn and Harry started out enjoying the novelty of sitting next to each other, but it soon wore off. Perhaps if Fynn had been familiar with this layout from a younger age, it would have been more successful. He is used to a tandem double buggy, and the temptation to push and poke his adjacent brother is just too great.
The Duo Sport doesn’t have a seat divider, so Fynn is able to spread out – and squash Harry. Consider your children’s age difference, temperaments, and how well they get on before choosing this style of pushchair. Fynn and Harry are better in separate seats one behind the other – and Harry is too young to complain about always getting the rear seat!
While the Duo Sport feels narrow when pushing it, problems do arise trying to access shops. I live in an historic market town and the pushchair won’t fit through the single-width doorways of the older buildings. Very frustrating! Another downside is that I can’t fit it into the car boot – the first time I’ve encountered this problem with a double pushchair.
I find the Duo Sport hard on cornering too, although I think that this is probably due to Fynn being at the top end of the weight range for this pushchair. More alarmingly, it has almost tipped up several times when going down kerbs.
Who is the Graco Duo Sport best for?
Mums after a lightweight pushchair for general use, that’ll see both children being able to have the front seat!
The Graco Duo Sport encourages siblings to interact and chat to each other. It’s lightweight and well priced for a double buggy, with features that allow each seat to be altered to suit the child. Small doorways and car boots may be problematic, but the big basket makes it ideal for shopping in larger stores and shopping centres.
