After 2 months of attempting to heave ho our two boys (at the time ages 2 months and 20 months) around in the Graco Duo Glider tandem stroller my husband and I decided to give another model a shot. The agony of the difficult maneuverability and stream of curse words emitted every time we used our Duo Glider made it painfully apparent that we would have to find another model.

Once bitten by the Graco brand, we decided to go garage sale-ing for another double stroller so that in the event we disliked it, we wouldn't be out of pocket a great deal of money. As luck would have in, within our kid-packed neighborhood we quickly found and purchased a Graco Duo Rider for under $40.

**Please note, our Duo Rider is 3 or 4 years old, so it is not the most current model that Graco makes, but as far as construction, design and basic function go, the features are still very similar. Since we also own Graco's front-to-back Duo Glider, I will attempt to give a comparison of the two designs.

What a difference a design makes! Although a side-by-side model does have some drawbacks, the Duo Rider has some distinct benefits over the front-to-back models.

* The side-by-side design! Each child has their own space including ample legroom. No cramped legs and no danger of smushing someone's head or feet by reclining one of the seats. And it has become much more difficult for my now almost 2-year old to pester his 5 month old brother in the side-by-side position. A definite bonus. The Duo Rider's seats both fully recline giving each child a comfort not afforded by the Duo Glider (our model has 2 seats that only moderately recline). Both children also have equal access to a good view and it is easier to stroll the kids right up to something for a peek than it is with the front-to-back model which I usually have to drag sideways so both kids can see something up close (like at the zoo).
* Accessibility. Even with both seats reclined, I find it very easy to access items in the very roomy and ample undercarriage basket. In our front-to-back stroller, it is nearly impossible to recover anything from the basket when the rear seat is in the recline position.
* Durability. As I mentioned, we purchased a used Duo Rider. Despite the fact that the stroller is several years old, it is still in remarkably good shape. The seat material is still clean and in excellent condition - no pilling, no tears, no loose seams or stains. The frame itself is still new-looking and sturdy and the wheels still provide great maneuverability. Our Duo Glider front-to-back stroller has been used for less than 5 months and already the fabric on the rear seat is pilled and worn looking.
* Long-term use. This is the real plus. Because of the design of the Duo Rider I can easily see our family using this stroller when our boys are both of preschool age. My 2 year old sits comfortably in the seat and because the seats fully recline, I have felt comfortable using this stroller since my infant son was 2.5 months old. Our front-to-back stroller already seems to cramp my 2 year old and because of the lack of full recline and the overall seat design, I would never seat my infant in this stroller without his carseat until he were at least 7 or 8 months old - a definite drawback. I can't see us using this design when the boys get older.
* Maneuverability/Weight. I thought that a side-by-side stroller screamed "wide load" and thus would be difficult to manage. Not so! I have found our Duo Rider to be remarkably easy to handle, unlike our Duo Glider which is like pushing a wheelbarrow full of boulders. The Duo Rider makes turns easily and is quite easy to push. As for the weight of the stroller itself, the Duo Rider folds flat and is featherlight in comparison to our Duo Glider front-to-back model.

DRAWBACKS? There are a couple, but nothing that would prohibit me from highly recommending this stroller. Among the drawbacks:

* Wide load! It is a wide stroller. Pushing this stroller gives you a strong idea of what the physically challenged have to face on a daily basis. Sidewalk ramps are sometimes too narrow for this stroller and we have difficulty fitting through the doors of many retail facilities. Small elevators are also difficult with this model. FORGET taking this baby to the mall. You'll never get past the foyer of most major department stores without taking a few racks or a few unsuspecting shoppers with you! However, this is an ideal stroller for amusement parks, zoos, or any other outdoor or crowd-heavy environment. This stroller really does scream "clear the way" and parts crowds with the efficiency of Moses parting the Red Sea. One can often feel sort of silly pushing this stroller as well. Sometimes I feel like I am pulling a rickshaw or pushing an apple cart. But that's just me... ;)

* Size when Folded. Our Duo Rider folds flat but remains as wide as it is when opened which sometimes makes it unhandy to use as our "everyday" stroller. It doesn't fit well into our smaller car.

* Not recommended for newborns. I don't think I'd feel comfortable wheeling a tiny baby in this stroller. Although the seat does recline all the way, the harness seems too flimsy to securely hold an infant. Again, this is just my opinion. We began using this model when our youngest son was 2.5 months and I felt comfortable with him in it at that point.

If you don't mind the wide size of this stroller, I think it has several advantages over the front-to-back models and I highly recommend the Duo Rider.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 40