Red Kite Push Me Twini double buggy review

Competitors such as the Baby Jogger City Mini Double costs £449, while the Out ‘n’ About Nipper v3 is priced at £409.

We wanted to get a cheaper buggy to be able to take on holiday so if it does get a bit bashed about on route it wouldn’t be the end of the world. The Red Kite Push Me Twini sounded like it could fit the bill – lightweight, value for money and a side-by-side buggy.

Given its price I have to admit my expectations weren’t especially high in terms of its quality but I was proven wrong. Not only is this double buggy a good deal pricewise, it’s also the lightest of any double buggy I’ve used, easy to steer, compact and has handy features including individual reclining seats, a sun canopy, adjustable leg rests and a peek-a-boo window.

Plus it won the silver award in the MadeForMums Awards 2017 in the double buggies category, described by judges as ‘light’, ‘easy to steer’ and ‘excellent value for money’.

See more award-winning double buggies here

It was also a hit with the boys. Ellis loved the adjustable leg rest and the bumper bar.

The main criticism I have of this buggy is I found doing up the buckles on the harness a nightmare. I found them really stiff. And although the buggy is easy to fold up and take down it does require two hands. I had to turn it on its side to put it up which I found slightly awkward.

Buy the Red Kite Push Me Twini from Red Kite, Argos, and Amazon.

First impressions?

I liked the design of the Red Kite Push Me Twini. Looks wise it’s very similar to the Baby Jogger City Mini Double, but a more budget version. Pushing the buggy was a breeze, it’s super lightweight even with both boys in it. And I was pleasantly surprised at how effortless it was to steer.

How does the Red Kite Push Me Twini compare to other twin and tandem buggies you have used?

This is by far the lightest tandem or twin buggy I’ve used, especially handy for me as I have to lug buggies by myself up and down the stairs to my flat. It has lots of similar features to my Baby Jogger City Mini Double – a sun canopy and individual reclining seats, plus it has adjustable leg rests to boot.

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What is the benefit of having a side-by-side pushchair?

We already have a Baby Jogger City Mini Double and both my little boys love it. Ellis is just over two years old and Theo is one year, and they like being able to sit next to each other and see what’s going on. Having them side-by-side is also handy for me because it lets me talk to both of them at the same time without either feeling left out.

How comfortable does it feel for your little ones?

I have to admit I didn’t think this buggy looked as comfortable as either the Baby Jogger City Mini Double or the Baby Jogger City Select. I was expecting protests from Ellis, being a fussy toddler, so was pleasantly surprised that neither of my boys minded being in it. In fact, Ellis was super excited by the bumper bar. We’ve never used one before and he kept asking for it when I went back to using our usual buggy.

How is interacting with your little ones when in the buggy?

One of the best things about having a side-by-side double buggy is that it makes it easier to interact with both of your little ones at the same time. You can see both of them and they have the same vantage point. Ellis loves to give me a running commentary on just about everything so he was in his element in this buggy as we could easily chat while we were walking along. It also means Theo isn’t left out either as he and his brother have their own conversations, or hold hands, while we’re on the move.

What do you think of the seat size?

The total buggy width is 76cm, the exact same size as the Baby Jogger City Mini Double, and slightly wider than the Out ‘n’ About Nipper v3 which is 72cm. This gives a generous amount of room for the boys to sit next to each other. At the same time it’s still fairly compact and fits though most standard doorways in public places.

Does it recline? How many recline positions are there, do the seats recline independently?

Each seat reclines independently, particularly handy if you have two little ones on different nap schedules. It means if Theo needs his morning nap I can lie him all the way flat without disturbing Ellis as he can stay sitting upright. There aren’t different reclining positions as such, it’s more a case of you recline the seat back to the position you want it in varying degrees from upright all the way back until the seat lies flat.

What do you think of the height of the buggy?

The height of the buggy (103cm) makes it slightly shorter than my Baby Jogger City Mini Double (105.5cm) but there’s really not much in it. Both boys can easily see out, something that’s very important as they both enjoy a good nosey at everything going on.

Is the frame strong, durable?

The frame doesn’t feel as sturdy as the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. For what I’d use it for it should hopefully last but I don’t know whether it would stand the test of time long-term with constant every day use. The brake pedal is already quite scuffed and I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks.

What is the weight of the buggy like?

Price aside, one of the best plus points about this double buggy is how unbelievably light it is. Coming in at a mere 10kg it’s even lighter than my Baby Jogger City Mini (11.8kg) or its rival the Out ‘N’ About Nipper v3 (12.7kg). This is a real bonus for me as I constantly have to carry the buggy up and down the stairs by myself.

We’ve got more of the best lightweight double buggies here

Would you recommend the Red Kite Push Me Twini from birth?

The design of this double buggy means that you can use it for newborns in the fully reclined position without having to buy any extras. It also has a mesh vent so I can see Ellis or Theo if they’re lying flat. And the hood has a see-through window so I can keep an eye on them if they’re covered up when sitting upright.

In chillier weather I’d definitely recommend adding some kind of padding, a sheepskin, better quality footmuff or blankets to cocoon them in though as the footmuffs supplied feels quite thin and cheap. I don’t think they’re thick enough to use for winter but could be handy between seasons on a spring day when the weather’s just starting to warm up.

What do you think of the fold system?

It’s simple to fold down the buggy.

1. Make sure the seats are upright and the hood is up

2. Put the brake on

3. Lift the red safety catch on the left side of the buggy

4. Push the button in the middle of the handlebar

5. Fold the buggy forwards and in on itself. Done!

I found it trickier putting it up as you need to squeeze the frame together to release the catch. It took me several goes before I could get the hang of it.

Is it compact when folded?

The buggy folds down to less than half its height, atH42cm x W74cm x D80cm. It isn’t as compact as the Baby Jogger City Mini Double which folds down to just 28.5cm in height but it’s still pretty good going.

How easy is it to store?

Really easy. When folded down I can leave it in the boot of our car or my communal hallway and there’s plenty of room to get past it.

What do you think of the handle?

The height of the handle is fixed but this has been the case with all the other double buggies I’ve used and I’ve never found that to be a problem. Likewise, my partner who is 6ft 1in, had no problems steering it. The button to fold the buggy is located in the middle of the handle but that didn’t make any difference to the way I was able to manoeuvre it.

What do you think of the hood? Can it be used as sun protection?

The hood gives OK coverage but Theo was squinting a bit and shielding his eyes when we were out and about so if it’s a super sunny day you may want to use additional sun protection. It has a nifty zip so you can vary the amount you extend it. The hood also has a see-through window that allows you to keep an eye on your little ones, and they can feel reassured as they can still see you too. But unlike the Baby Jogger City Mini Double it doesn’t have individual hoods, it’s just one big one. So if one of the boys is asleep I’d have the see-through window down to block out the light which would limit the interaction I’d be able to have with his brother.

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What are the basket and storage pockets like?

The basket is roomy with plenty of room underneath for me to load with shopping. If you’re putting shopping bags in it then you need to do it from behind, I couldn’t fit them in sideways. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as annoyingly items often fall out of the side of my other buggy’s shopping basket.

There are two storage pockets at the back of the buggy located on the right-hand side. These are much bigger than the ones on my Baby Jogger City Mini Double and you can drop them down to use them when the buggy is upright or fully reclined, although they are right by where Ellis or Theo’s head would be so you may not want to put anything sharp or bulky in them.

The larger one would be useful for storing spare clothes or nappies in. The smaller pocket is quite narrow, I can just about fit my hand down to the bottom of it and I’ve got small wrists.

How easy is the Red Kite Push Me Twini to push?

The Red Kite Push Me Twini pushes smoothly and easily. Mounting kerbs isn’t a problem and it doesn’t feel too heavy, even when loaded up with shopping. One advantage I’ve found with using a tandem buggy is the weight of your two little ones is evenly spread. I struggled with the Baby Jogger City Select and had to use all my strength to tip it so I could get over kerbs.

How does it ride on different surfaces?

The buggy has a lock system so you can prevent the wheels from moving left or right, giving you more control on uneven surfaces or if you’re on grass.

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Locking the wheels in place meant I could smoothly maneuvere the buggy in the park, which is where I spend a lot of time with the boys. It also didn’t require much effort on my part to be able to get the buggy over kerbs or onto the bus.

How is it on public transport?

As I don’t drive a major consideration for me is whether I’m able to get a buggy on public transport. Using it on the train and underground was relatively hassle-free. Where I had an issue with this buggy was physically being able to get it onto buses because there was never any space.

Often I’d have to let two or three buses go because there was already a pushchair on them and this buggy took up too much room. But I have the same problem with trying to get the Baby Jogger City Mini Double on the bus

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What do you think of the wheels?

The buggy has four wheels at the front to ensure even weight distribution. It felt well balanced and I wasn’t worried about it tipping over. You can lock the wheels in place to stop them moving about on uneven surfaces. And it was a smooth ride for the boys, they were both happy being in the buggy.

Tell us about the brakes

The brake is located in the middle of the axel at the back of the buggy. To put the brake on you just push your foot down on the right side of it and it clicks into place. And to take the brake off you do the reverse and lift it upwards with your foot. I did find the buggy moved slightly with the brake on so I would always keep hold of it on public transport, or in the street, just in case.

Does the Red Kite Push Me Twini fit in the boot of your car?

As we have two little ones we have a Volvo XC60, which is a big car, so getting the buggy in the boot with room to spare wasn’t a problem.

What age child is it best for?

The Red Kite Push Me Twini can be used from birth up to 15kgs in weight, with a total combined weight of 30kg.

What’s in the box?

• Buggy with extendable hood and shopping basket
• 2 footmuffs
• 2 bumper bars
• Raincover

Is it easy/hard to build the product?

Putting the buggy together was pretty quick, it took about 10 minutes, but we have had plenty of practice in constructing buggies before. The instructions were straightforward and included illustrations of various components which made them easier to follow.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the Red Kite Push Me Twini?

The one thing lets this buggy down is the harness clasps, they’re a bit cheap and nasty and I struggled to open and close them. And while it’s not complicated to fold the buggy you do really need two hands to be able to do it, making it tricky if you’re trying to juggle two little ones and a flight of stairs.

Who would the product be most useful for?

Mums and dads on a budget or that are looking for a cheap second buggy to take on holiday or leave at the grandparents.

Is there anything unique about the Red Kite Push Me Twini?

I was surprised that the buggy comes with two footmuffs, bumper bars, and a raincover, the latter being something of a necessity. Sadly the footmuffs weren’t the best quality, they were on the thin side, but they would do for in-between weather days when it’s not freezing but not warm enough to go out without a coat.

Is the Red Kite Push Me Twini good value for money?

I still can’t believe that the Red Kite Push Me Twini only costs £200. When you compare it to other buggies with similar features it’s ridiculously cheap. Plus it includes a raincover, bumper bars and two footmuffs. It would be fair to say you get what you pay for though and in this case it definitely feels like the poorer relation to the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. But depending on what you need the buggy for and how often you use it this is a great buy.

MadeForMums verdict:

Without a doubt this is a bargain buy. Cheap and cheerful, with nifty features you’d expect to find on more expensive buggies. It’s ideal of you’re on a budget or after a second buggy. Just watch your fingers on the buckles.

Read more about buying a double buggy:

• 10 of the best double buggies
• Buyers' guide to double buggies
• 12 of the best double buggies for a toddler and baby

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