Britax B-Ready Double Review

Old B-Ready Double vs. New B-Ready Double

Britax completely redesigned the frame of the B-Ready and improved certain features with a larger basket and a canopy that extends further. This also means that 2015 parts (second seat and lower infant car seat adapter) are not interchangeable and will NOT fit the new frame. While the fabric has remained the same, the design has changed with the main stroller seat coming in 5 colors, but all sunshades are black. Also, the second seat is ONLY available in black. The rear wheels are larger, which should improve maneuverability and the connection for both rear and front wheels is also different. All of these changes added an extra 2 lbs to the weight and increased the price somewhat. We now link to the new B-Ready. Below you can see the older B-Ready Double on the left and the 2017 version on the right.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The B-Ready only earned 5 of 10 for ease of use, which is a reflection on the potential daily experiences with this product and its performance.

Fold and Unfold

The B-Ready has an easy fold that requires two hands with five steps. You need to bend about halfway, and it auto-locks and self-stands, which is nice as you might be juggling infant car seats or two babies. However, given that competitors only have one or two steps, it is a more involved process.

Unfolding is more complicated requiring two hands and bending half-way. If you have nothing to compare it to, the process may seem like a good one, but it struggles to match the competition.

Brakes

The photos above show the color code of a set brake (left) and a released brake (right).

This Britax has single action brakes with a convenient color coding system that tell at a glance if the brake is set. The brakes are easy to set and release with a second tap on the pedal making them sandal and barefoot friendly.

Storage

The storage bin has a maximum allowance of 10 lbs. It is relatively large, and we fit our extra-large diaper bag inside. It has access from the back and unique zippered openings on each side. Unfortunately, this is all only true when using the B-Ready with one seat. With the second seat, the bin is virtually useless as it becomes the second passenger's foot space. The bin is also likely to get dirty babies learn to walk and get dirty shoes. No storage option will make life with two challenging.

It has one adult cup holder that clips on the frame. It is removable, and a basket design that prevents the collection of gunk and liquid. While it is removable and easy to clean, we don't like the awkwardness when the stroller is folded. This holder is compatible with our test baby bottle, water bottle and sippy cup.

Sunshade

The B-Ready has a canopy on both seats. The sunshade on the main seat is larger than the second seat, but the second seat garners some protection from the seat in front of it. The main canopy is large with a large, mesh peek-a-boo window. The window flap has a magnetic closure cover. The second seat canopy is about half the size of the main seat, with a mesh window and magnetic closure, but the window is smaller than the main seat window.

Harness

The seats both have 5-point harnesses with the same buckle and adjustment method. The harnesses are easy enough to get on and off, and very easy to adjust. The shoulder straps on the main seat are a non-rethread adjustment with two settings. The second seat is a rethread adjustment with infinite height possibilities. The crotch strap on both seats has only one position, but it is adjustable. The buckles are the same and stiff. You need two hands to remove the straps as they will not pop out automatically.

Seat

The leg rest on the front seat is padded and adjustable. The front seat also has a footrest, but the back seat has neither a footrest nor a leg rest. Also, when the back seat reclines the lack of leg rest results in the baby's legs hanging uncomfortably.

Both seats have a one-handed recline feature with four positions. The pull handle style of recline is easy to operate compared to much of the competition. The main seat reclines further than the second seat, but not enough to cause interference with the lower passenger. The main seat reclines facing either direction.

The photos above show the B-Ready with the seats upright and canopies closed (left) and the seats fully reclined and the canopies completely open (right).

The B-Ready comes standard with integrated adapters for attaching two Britax Click & Go infant car seats. The car seat attaches to the same location as the standard seats and the process is quick and painless.

Car Seat Compatibility

The B-Ready accepts two infant car seats and is compatible with some Britax, Chicco, Graco, and Peg Perego (click and strap). We tested the B-Ready with the Britax B-Safe 35, Chicco Keyfit 30, Graco Classic Connect 30, and the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35. None of the adapters require assembly, and the toddler seat needs to be removed for attachment. All of the seats click in place with the exception of the Peg.

The Graco is the easiest seat to install, but it is wobbly once secured. It earned the highest score, with the Britax right behind it. The worst of the group is the Peg that was hard to install, remove, and felt unstable. Also, we worry parents will forget or forgo the strap. The Britax seat is probably the best overall with no adapters, no chance of incorrect installation, and it feels the most secure.

Ease of Setup

The B-Ready isn't that easy to put together taking over 11 minutes from start to finish. It has a great instruction manual, with clear, concise, illustrated instructions. It isn't difficult, it just takes more time with more parts.

Maneuverability

The B-Ready is a nice mover earning a score of 7 of 10 for maneuverability. The foam filled rubber tires and single front wheels design make it easier to push and turn than those with plastic tires or dual front wheels.

This product rolls and turns smoothly, though not as well as the jogging strollers. Thanks to a smaller footprint, it manages well in tighter spaces, and while some parents feel it is large, it is smaller than side-by-side products and shorter than other tandem options. The frame has more flex than it should which gives the overall experience of a large American car from the 80s rather than a nimble sports car. The B-Ready performed almost as well off-road maneuvering over grass and gravel better than much of the competition.

Weight and Folded Size

The B-Ready is a beast of a stroller, and there is no way to sugar coat the 37.7 lbs weight. Because of its weight, the B-Ready earned the low score of 3 of 10 for weight and folded size.

The folded size of the B-Ready is 19,622 cubic inches. It isn't the largest package, but the weight and the awkwardness make it hard to lift and near impossible to carry.

Quality

Quality helps bring the B-Ready up in the overall rank with a score of 7 of 10 where the high is 9.

The fabric is similar to that found on the Baby Jogger City Select but it feels nicer, has better padding, and the fabric is smoother. The shoulder height-adjustment is a soft suede-like fabric that feels durable and good on the cheek. The footrest on the main seat is a nice heavy rubberized fabric that is easy to clean, but the second seat has baby's feet inside the storage bin which doesn't feel as sturdy and is not as easy to clean.

This stroller has a nice solid looking frame, but the connections could be tighter as it has a lot of flex. The tires are puncture proof foam-filled rubber, and the wheels are hard plastic. The overall fit and finish of this stroller are nice, but frumpy compared other competitors.

The handlebar is adjustable by rotating the bar on a pivot on either side of the frame. The bar feels good in the hand, and we like the size of the handle and the rubber center. We also like the slight ergonomic curve of the handle, and the foam feels firm.

This stroller offers all-wheel suspension. On the front, the shocks are on the wheels, and in the rear, they are on the frame and fail to provide the same level of suspension as the front wheels. This creates an arguably less comfortable ride for the back seat passenger.

Twins

The B-Ready could work for twins and would work well for infant twins as the frame can accept two infant car seats. That being said, this stroller is the heaviest in the group, and we think two children of equal size will become a burden on the pusher as they grow larger and increase the overall weight. Also, this stroller is the style where one seat sits below and almost under the main seat. This means a different rider experience for each seat, one that is so different that the passengers will likely argue about who gets to sit where.