Anyone know about kolcraft Contours Option Tandem Stroller

[melrose7]

I just saw this while browsing online for double strollers. I have a 20 month old and am due it july so I've been looking at many doubles. Does anyone have this or know anything about it? I am looking for a stroller to use at the mall, zoo, fair, vacation. It doesn't need to be very small since i have a minivan. I am also concerned about the seat size since my 20 month old is already 34 inches. thanks

[LarsMal]

Here are some reviews I found on Amazon. Now I'm wondering if I should return my Elite Double and try this one.

I did read a review on this stroller here on the BBB and it wasn't a very good one.

hmmm....

[LarsMal]

oops...here's the link

http://www.amazon.com/Kolcraft-Contours-Options-Tandem-Stroller/dp/B000J2DQPA

[lv_777]

I am contemplating buying this stroller, I have a 2 month old and a 16 month old. From the reviews that i've seen, the main problem is that the seats seem shallow, however there are some people who dont have that problem. The picture on the website shows a toddler in the seat and he looks pretty comfortable. i just wish there was a place where i could see it for myself. I'm trying to decide between the graco quattro tour duo coming out or this one, who knew that looking for a double stroller would be so hard? I read reviews of the Contours Options Single stroller, and the seat size wasnt an issue, so i really dont know what to think.
If u get this stroller, let me know what u think. I am hoping to make the decision soon b/c its really hard for me to get out of the house unless i have some help.
Thanks :)

[melrose7]

I just keep looking atthe pictures online at amazon and the seats jsut look small. my 20m old isn't big, tall, and skinny, and not sure how she would fit in there. i am hoping some stores start to carry it soon. i have a couple months to decide but it sounds like you need one now. what do you know about the new graco? any better? good luck

[LarsMal]

I have an 18 month old and 2 month old so I know exactly how you are feeling! I was trying to hold out for the new Graco, but I just couldn't wait any longer. The thing I don't like from the picture on that one is that there is a cup holder on one side and a snack holder on the other, but the bar doesn't go across.

I went with the Elite Double. I've still only used it once, so I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Luckily most of the places I take the kids by myself have carts, so I sling DD and cart DS. I think I am going to get an InStep Safari 3-wheeler for the neighborhood, too. I've heard good things about those.

Let us know if you find anything good!

[infocrazy]

Well, you have officially given me an option for a double! I have really been looking and this one seems great! and OMG it actually can hold a Combi Connection which I have yet to find other than Combi!

I am also worried though about the seat size since DS was 33" at his 18 month appt. I am also curious about the handle height as DH and I are both tall. Don't you wish they'd put the models' specs on there?

As far as I can tell, there isn't a B&M store around me that carries it so any IRL info is GREATLY appreciated!

[onthebrink]

I will have a 16 month old and a newborn in three months so I definitely need a double stroller. Online this is the stroller that I kept going back to, but not being able to see it in person scared me. I have the Graco single stroller and I like it just fine, but I dislike the duo for some reason. The front seat to me is too short on the back and my son was flopping all over the place as the one I tried did not have the harness seat belts. So I took a leap of faith and ordered the Kolcraft Contours Option. I would be able to return it to the store and would only be out the shipping charges so it was worth the risk. Here is my assessment keeping in mind that my baby isn't here yet and we haven't officially used it out and about.

The seats are shallow, but my son seemed comfortable right now. He is currently 20 pounds and 30 inches. I don't think he will outgrow it too soon. It has the five-point harness seat belts with a comfort cover which I really like and each seat comes with a head support which I removed for my son. The foot rests are adjustable which seem nice as song as the seats are not facing each other. I did not yet try the baby seat adapter yet. The wheels are plashic, but it rolls very smooth and the handle is at a good height..my husband is 6'1" and he said it was comfortable. It is lacking a snack cup and cup holder for the baby seats but I am thinking there might be some sort of attachable ones we can find. Otherwise, the bars are cushioned and comfortable and swing away very easily. But there are two cup holders and a small storage bin for the parents. The seats can be removed very easily. In order to fold it the front seat needs to be removed, but again it is easy to do. Folding is a little more diffult than the Graco, not one handed. And the stroller is big and a little heavier, but not by too much. Any double you get is going to be huge and the way I see it I won't ever be able to do any of the double strollers with one hand. I love the fabric, it is sporty and not cutesy and appears very durable. The basket is very large. I am happy I ordered it and I think it will be good for a while.

[lv_777]

Hello, i have a couple of questions to ask you if u dont mind, u are the only person I've found who actually HAS this stroller that I can correspond with. I'm just wondering if you found the stroller quite big, I am 5' tall, and i read that the Contours Option Tandem stroller is about 52" long. My hubby is 6' but he wont be using the stroller as much as me, so I wonder how comfortable i will be pushing this stroller. Also did u find it hard to push around? The size and maneuvering is the biggest thing for me. I live in Canada, so shipping plus customs is expensive enough without having to pay to ship it back. Also, do u have any pictures of it that u could post?

Thanks!

[onthebrink]

Hi...I am 5'4" and I find it comfortable. I measured it and from the handle to the front wheel it is 52" like you said. But from front wheel to back wheel it is 38"...the Graco site has the duoglider at 35.5" so not too much difference. The handle height is about 40". I didn't find that it felt any different than the doubles that I tried in the store...actually they are all huge and unwieldy in my opinion, but a necessary evil I guess. I pushed it around the house through the furniture, into different rooms, turned around and I found it maneuvered quite nicely. But I only had one 20 pound child in it so I don't know if it will more difficult with another baby and seat. The stroller is a little wider than the Graco but to me it just made it feel more solid. Also, I measured the depth of the seat and it is 9" as I know a lot of people have concerns with that. It really stinks that this isn't available in the stores to try and I understand your concerns regarding the size completely. But I would say if that is your only concern, if you are comfortable with the other double strollers this shouldn't be much different. I do not have any pictures right now, but the kolcraft site has many pictures on it and it is exactly what it looks like. Good luck!

[nfowife]

if you go to strollerswap and look under the photos section, someone posted pics of theirs so you can see how it looks, folds, etc.

groups.yahoo.com/group/strollerswap

[lv_777]

Thanks for the info! I'm still pretty indecisive about it. I think i'm just gonna hold out until the Graco Quattro Duo comes out in mid-April till I make a decision. The wheel base is supposed to be about 29", thats alot smaller than the Kolcraft so I'll wait to see the duo in person. What really attracts me to the Kolcraft is the look and the different seat positions. But the toddler in the pictures on strollerswap is only 21 months old but looks like he barely fits so i dunno. I'm really wish i didnt have to wait, I want one now!! Oh well.

Thanks again for the help

[autumngrrl]

By sheer coincidence I just saw this stroller today at Albee Baby in NYC (I went in to buy a Maclaren Volo). DC #2 is due in 2 months, so it caught my eye. I've been looking at other tandems, specifically the Jane Twin Two (the 4-wheel version of the Powertwin), so I was really curious to see it.

Here are my observations:
1) It's HUGE (53" long)
2) It's HEAVY (I just called Kolcraft to get the exact weight; with the 2 seats, it's 54 lbs)
3) The seats look very small; compared with the bugaboo (which we have been using for 1.5 years), they look about 20% smaller. In fact, there was a bugaboo right next to the stroller so I could visually compare, and I queestioned whether or not my 2 year old would fit at 34.5" tall.

It's a great price and apparently it's got a lot of flexibility (seats that go front or back, or can be removed to fit an infant carseat), but for living in NYC, it seemed gigantic. If you don't worry about tight spaces or navigating up and down any steps, it will be more useful.

Hope that helps.

[melrose7]

do you think your 2 year old would fit? my 20m old is already 34 inches and my baby is due in july. i am afraid she will be too big since the seats look small. are you still thinking of the twin too? what do you like about that? thanks for the help.

[autumngrrl]

My son is also 34"; he wasn't with me so I couldn't try out the stroller, but I think he'd fit for a very short time (6 months max). I want a stroller that will last at least a year. You have to think about how long you want it to last for you.

I like the Twin Two because side-by-sides don't work for me in NYC (my front door is too narrow so the stroller wouldn't even fit in the apt, or the elevator, or the corner market, etc). It's got tons of pretty small too, and it's expensive, especially since I'm dubious it'll last a year (and it's expensive to last less than a year!)

There are very few options in the front-back tandem doubles; a popular one in NYC is the Phil & Ted's E3, because it's so compact. But I don't love the tiny seat on the bottom. Another stroller I'm considering is the ABC buggy w/ toddler seat.

[autumngrrl]

My son is also 34"; he wasn't with me so I couldn't try out the stroller, but I think he'd fit for a very short time (6 months max). I want a stroller that will last at least a year. You have to think about how long you want it to last for you.

I like the Twin Two because side-by-sides don't work for me in NYC (my front door is too narrow so the stroller wouldn't even fit in the apt, or the elevator, or the corner market, etc). It's got tons of pretty small too, and it's expensive, especially since I'm dubious it'll last a year (and it's expensive to last less than a year!)

There are very few options in the front-back tandem doubles; a popular one in NYC is the Phil & Ted's E3, because it's so compact. But I don't love the tiny seat on the bottom. Another stroller I'm considering is the ABC buggy w/ toddler seat.