double stroller: kolcraft contours LT tandem or Baby Jogger City Select?

daisycook · March 2012

The first is half the price, but I'm not sure about the quality? I will have a 20 mo. old and a newborn. The City Select is $500 and that is not including a second seat or other necessary parts that total close to $300. $800 for a stroller seems quite excessive but I REALLY like the concept of the City Select.

I am very petite and can't see myself pushing around a 45 lb. stroller, like some of the gracos and chiccos. The City Select weighs about 27 lbs I think and the Kolcraft 34 lbs.

Or, recommend your double stroller!

sunflowergrl · March 2012

My friend has the city select, and was really disappointed with how the infant car seat latched into the seat. She said it was loose and wobbily. Because of price, I decided to go with the Kolcraft. (Doesn't hurt, that I found it on craigslist for $100!) I've used it with my DD1 and her friend, and with 2 toddlers, it steered really well, and I loved it. Since I'm still waiting for DD2 to get here, I can't vouch for the baby seat. But, so far, I'm super happy with it.

I've started to think the city select is overrated and overpriced. I guess the only thing I can say it's got over the kolcraft, is that it folds up easier. But it's not like the kolcraft is difficult, it's just not super easy like city select.

vixen3031 · March 2012

I got the city mini gt by baby jogger. Not sure how it will do but reviews were great!

katcarls · March 2012

Just FYI, the 27 lb. weight you listed for the City Select is when it's being used as a single stroller. It weighs 34 lbs. when you add on the second seat.

I would suggest loading up both seats and trying them out in a store. That style can be harder to push and steer because of the long wheel base. That's one of the main complaints I've seen about the City Select. If you want a tandem with a better push you may want to look into Phil & Teds, Mountain Buggy, or the Britax B-Ready.

Good side by side double strollers tend to be much easier to push and steer, so you may want to consider one of those instead. They're also lighter and fold more easily and compactly which might be important for putting them in and out of your car. Good side by side options: Bumbleride Indie Twin, Mountain Buggy, Baby Jogger City Mini or City Mini GT Double. All the ones I listed will also fit through a standard doorway.

duckiegrl · March 2012

The 27 lbs is as a single. A city select as a double weighs about 34 lbs. So they weigh about the same. You can get a better deal on Albee baby (new - $550, comes w/second seat in diamond color) on the city select or Craigslist (if you don't mind used).

I'm planning on getting the new B-Ready w/second seat.

MsNessa · March 2012

I have the City Select and I love it. (Though I haven't used it for 2 yet.)

I went to a store that had a bunch of different double stroller choices (including the Britax B-Ready, Uppababy, Graco, etc.) and tried them all out. The City Select was by far my favorite.

It's definitely pricey, but I knew I would get a lot of use out of mine. I think a lot of it depends on how you will use the stroller (where and how frequently).

allisonmarie22 · March 2012

Agree with PP that BJCS is overrated and overpriced. I test drove both and even going in convinced I would hate the Kolcraft, I came away unable to find any reason to spend the extra money. We got the Kolcraft. I've obviously not had a chance to use it yet, but I can tell you it drives well, snaps the carseats in very securely, and is much easier on the wallet.

The only downside is that it is HEAVY. Almost 50 pounds.

dojo1 · March 2012

sunflowergrl:
My friend has the city select, and was really disappointed with how the infant car seat latched into the seat. She said it was loose and wobbily. Because of price, I decided to go with the Kolcraft. (Doesn't hurt, that I found it on craigslist for $100!) I've used it with my DD1 and her friend, and with 2 toddlers, it steered really well, and I loved it. Since I'm still waiting for DD2 to get here, I can't vouch for the baby seat. But, so far, I'm super happy with it.

I've started to think the city select is overrated and overpriced. I guess the only thing I can say it's got over the kolcraft, is that it folds up easier. But it's not like the kolcraft is difficult, it's just not super easy like city select.

Different seats fit differently. My peg fits like a glove.

sometimesalwayschaotic · March 2012

We went with the Kolcraft. There are actually two different kinds Options II and Optima. We got the Optima which is about 10 lbs lighter than the Options. We took DD for a walk in it on Saturday and it worked quite well. Of course, she's only 19 lbs and we only had one child but it handled nicely and you had to hold it back on small hills. I think it will still push well with 2 kids. We actually bought it at buy buy baby and took in a 20% coupon from bed bath and beyond. That causes the price to be a LOT better also. It's a beast but pushes really well especially when compared to the Gracos and Chiccos.

LCLaw3 · March 2012

I bought the City Select for this specific reason and it was my best purchase! It was expensive at the retail stores, so I went on ebay and found it tax free and almosty $200 less than retail. I used gift cards and BRU coupons to get the parts, but I'm sure you can probably find these on ebay. Check Craigslist too, because you never know.

I only wanted to spend money once on a stroller, so I decided to "splurge" up front on the City Select. A few downsides though....it folds nice, but isnt equipt to hang in your home or garage; they suggest you keep it in your house bc the weather may have an effect on the nylon...and for me it just doesnt fit all that great in my home; and its a bit complicated to understand (at first) with poor directions - DH and I had a horrible time getting it together and figuring out which button or slot was for which feature...and then we had to remember it. Still love it though, despite all these flaws!

lnh2008 · March 2012

I have the City Select. One of the main selling features for me was the option to convert back to a single stroller. My DD will soon not be interested in riding in a stroller and I don't want to push around a 2 kid stroller with 1 kid in it. Just a random personal thing. Also I agree with another PP it depends on the car seat AND if the attachment is on the stroller properly. I have a Graco car set and it fits perfectly. I also like the stadium seating. We did try the Kolcraft but I felt the City Select was a smoother ride and my DD look uncomfortable in the Kolcraft. My advice would be to go by a store that has both and test them out.

Daisy22 · March 2012

I love my city select. It's so nice to have a single or double especially as your oldest starts to maybe walk more. I knew I couldn't get one where one child was behind the other and this was the one stroller that both kids could see out. Plus DS2 until just recently wanted to face me instead of forward so I could get DS1 facing forward and dS2 facing me. The basket is huge which is nice whne out and about. It was worth every penny for us.

cs1007 · March 2012

I cannot speak for these particular strollers, I have a BOB single and am purchasing a City Summit Double. When it comes to a stroller, I really think quality is most important. It may be a little more money, but in the long run, a nice stroller can make a HUGE difference. I originally registered for a Chicco stroller before getting the BOB and I HATED IT. Quality was poor and once DS was out of the car seat bucket he hated riding in the Chicco. He will be 3 in June and will still ride in the BOB comfortably for hours!

You could also check craigslist for a gently used one. Also, albeebaby.com is having a great sale on Baby Joggers with free shipping too GL!

hoping4sticky · March 2012

duckiegrl:

The 27 lbs is as a single. A city select as a double weighs about 34 lbs. So they weigh about the same. You can get a better deal on Albee baby (new - $550, comes w/second seat in diamond color) on the city select or Craigslist (if you don't mind used).

This. I was surprised when we went to buy buy baby and I liked the city select. I expected to like the double city mini. I debated, really debated, but after seeing multiple used city selects sell for 400-450 on craigslist I finally bit the bullet and got the new one on albeebaby, hopefully I can recoup a good chunk of the cost later. The other debate was saving the money and going for the diamond, also glad I did. It is way more gray than the pictures make it seems, and I've already had no problems wiping it clean.

Bdaisy · March 2012

I love love love my city mini double. I got it almost 3 yrs ago when I had my 2nd son. I still use it with my 5 yr old and 2 yr old. I did get the car seat adapter but ended up just laying the seat down and putting him in it that way, even as an infant, he was so far back he wasnt going to fall out.It is super easy to fold and set up, I've even taken it on the airplane. It has wheelchair specs so it fits through doorways just fine. I bout the cupholder accessories for the handle and the cooler for the bottom. I would definatly buy it again.

nadineczekaj · April 2014

I did hours and hours of research and couldn't decide, so I ordered both to try them out. Both are about the same weight when both seats are on, although the City Select seems heavier to me when I lift it. Both have similar fabric (I got both strollers in all black with black frames to hide dirt and stains best). The CS has an adjustable handle that my tall (6 ft 2 in) husband likes. you have to extend the handle when you have the car seat on anyway. CS has a 45 lb weight limit while the Contours Options has a 40 lb limit. the CS has bigger wheels that absorb some shock better, but aren't really any easier to push than the CO hard wheels. both strollers are really long and i have to make sure i don't push the front child into elevator walls, etc. when we get into tight spots. the CO seats are easier to recline. the CO bottom bag area is the largest i've ever seen! the CO comes with 2 removable belly bars and the car seat attachment. both of those are add-ons for the CS. the hoods are larger and come down lower on the CS and have a magnetic flap you can open from the top to check on your little one without waking them. CO does not have this feature. the seats on the CS seem a bit deeper than the CO and recline back further. i got the parent console for the CS (additional option), but it's kinda disappointing. it just hangs crooked and it has no definition. it won't hold a larger drink and it is squished when i have the car seat in. the CO comes with one cup holder that attaches to the side of the stroller- this sometimes gets caught on displays when we are in a store. there is no other tray area on the CO. i have purchased a 3rd party rider board to attach on the back of the stroller for my older one to stand on. this could increase the stroller capacity to allow for 3 kids, if need be. i plan on letting my older one ride when she doesnt want to be strapped in, but have the option of letting her sit or nap if she gets tired. both strollers have very nice features. the CS can be used as a single stroller, but for over twice the price, i'm not sure it's really worth it. the CO has great included features and you can always buy a nice single stroller PLUS the CO double for the same price as the CS.