Graco RoomFor2 Classic Connect Review

The Graco Room for 2 Classic Connect is a double stroller with a reverse seat and standing platform for older children, and a traditional seat or infant connection for younger passengers. It has a large under seat storage bin, multiple cup holders, and it fold compact with a lightweight frame. It can hold 2 children up to 50 pounds each, the front seat reclines flat, the back bench seat is padded, and it has a one hand fold. It offers a parents tray, and front seat child's tray with cup holder that pivots making stroller entry easier. It comes in one color option.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Room for 2 earned a 4 of 10 for ease of use, tying with the more expensive Phil and Teds Verve with 2014 Double Kit. It doesn't offer many of the bells and whistles of the more expensive models, and this hurt it in this metric.

Storage

The Room for 2 has what looks like a relatively large under seat storage bin. However, the bin itself is difficult to access with primary access being from the sides or between the two seats. This renders the bin somewhat useless for larger items, and it meant our diaper bag, big enough for two, didn't fit through the access hole, even though we suspect it might have fit in the bin itself. The bin might work for holding smaller shopping bags or some groceries, but without a better access hole it can make using it a chore.

Sun Shade
The photo above shows the Graco with an open canopy on the front seat.

The Room for 2 only has a sun shade for the front seat. The rear passenger is exposed to the sun whether riding in the seated position or standing. While this might be an okay compromise for standing children, it is going to be a problem for sitting toddlers trying to gain shelter on a hot summer's day. The front canopy is relatively small and has no back flap. This does improve ventilation, but it limits coverage and means when the shade is adjusted forward to keep sun out of the eyes that it may result in sun on the neck of the passenger instead. You'll need to carry your sunscreen for this product, and you won't have any shelter from rougher weather no matter what. Overall, the sun shade set up is not impressive and feels more like an afterthought to check off a box than a true attempt at increasing passenger comfort.

Convenience

This product has a parent's tray and 2 cup holders located near the handle bar. The tray is useful for phone, key, or wallet, and the cup holders are deeper than most and we didn't have bottles toppling out in our tests. For children there are two cup holders and snack tray on the front of the stroller, but only the front passenger has access to them when the stroller is in motion. The rear passenger might be able to store their drink in this location, but they won't be able to use it when the ride is moving. The cup holders were a nice size and did accommodate the sippy cups we tried in it. It is easier for the rear passenger to use the parent cup holder, especially if they are seated riding backwards. The trays are not removable, but the child tray does swivel to the side so passengers can get in and out easier.

Much like many of the other inline models, we can't help but wonder if the differences in passenger experiences will be a problem for riders of a similar age. While this one isn't quite like the others, because it offers a stand to ride option, it still has a very different experience for each passenger with the front rider having more comfort and convenience options. This can work out well if one of the passengers enjoys the ride while standing or isn't interested in reclining or eating while riding, but if your children are the kind that prefer similar if not identical benefits, then an inline stroller is probably not the best option as all of them in our review had this problem.

Maneuverability

The Room for 2 scored about average for maneuverability with a 5 of 10 final score in this metric. The maneuverability was on par for most of the inline models which all failed to really impress in this metric. Perhaps it is the longer lengths or heavier front ends, but none of the inline design products did great in this metric. The side-by-side models all score higher.

On flat surfaces this product managed fairly well. It is shorter in overall length than many of the inline designs, which meant it managed turns and tight space better, but it still suffered from plastic wheels and double wheel design that we feel makes pushing a chore. This Graco is still nicer to use that its brother the Graco Duo Glider Classic Connect and it was easier to get around on the coarse than some of the competition.

Once we headed off road this product had more trouble. It was okay on grass, again managing the feat better than the other Graco we reviewed, but on gravel it just failed being near impossible to push and it quickly got mired down and deeper in the thick of the rocks until it just failed to move at all. Now arguably you can just avoid moving over rough terrain, and not many in this review did well on grass and gravel, but enough did better that we think there isn't much reason to compromise.

The Room for 2 also isn't great with curbs and stairs are a no go. Curbs can be taken up backwards, since popping the front up high enough to scale most curbs can be hard and could potentially damage the frame. With stairs any inline design is just not a good idea because their extra-long lengths mean physics is working against you and the whole stroller will probably be succumbing to gravity before you have a chance to stop it.

Safety

Safety is a concern for parents and BabyGearLab. We look at each product with a keen eye for safety and possible safety concerns. For double strollers we considered harnesses, brakes, and at what angle and with what weight a stroller will tip sideways or backwards. The Room for 2 earned a 7 of 10 for this metric which was on par with most of the products. None of the products earned higher than an 8 in this metric, with the award winners ranking 7 and above.

Brakes

This Graco has smoother and easier to set brakes than its brother. They are double action brakes that are sandal foot friendly and average to set. They did have more play in them than most of the competition, but actually setting them is half the battle and at least some of the competition was harder to set.

This product has some of the lowest required resistance for sliding in the review. It only took 13 pounds of pressure to push this stroller forward with the brakes set, and only 11 pounds of pulling pressure to move this product back with the brakes set.

Cup Holder

The cup holders are 3 inches deep and set up at the top of the frame near the handle. The height and proximity to the rear passenger make these cup holders somewhat of a safety issue. If taller cup and bottles are used there is a chance they could fall out and onto the passenger. Users remarked that they liked the cup holders a lot and thought the trays were a nice addition.

Harness
The photos above show the harness on the front seat (left) and the back seat (right).

The harness on the front can be either a 5 or 3 point harness. The rear seat is either a 3 point for seated passengers or no harness for standing. Both have adjustable crotch straps, and the front only has one position for the shoulder straps. Both harness were relatively easy to put on and take off. Even adjusting the harness wasn't too hard. The buckle itself is pretty easy to connect, but the smaller button is kind of stiff to press for releasing. One of our users felt the rear seat really isn't a good option for smaller or younger children. While her 4 year old enjoyed the seat, her two year old had trouble sitting still or feeling safe in the back seat.

Tipping

This product tips sideways at about 27 degrees with only two products needing a less steep angle. The lesson here would be to avoid parking or traveling on steep angles to being with. The amount of weight hanging off the back on the other hand is actually really impressive. It could be due to the longer length or the fact that most of the weight in the stroller is in the front. It requires over 76 pounds hanging off the handle bar before this stroller starts to topple. While some of the competition did well in this metric, most were far below this weight and only one required more, the Orbit Baby Helix G3 with Helix Plus Double Upgrade Kit which was 54 pounds itself.

Quality

This stroller scored below average for quality with a 5 of 10. The fabrics seem sturdy, but are lighter than the competition and don't have quite as nice of a feel. But it did have a cleaner look than its brother product the Duo Glider. The stitching was relatively straight with no loose threads or snags. It is pulled tight on the frame and isn't floppy or frumpy looking. The seats are removable and can be machine washed, which is a nice benefit, and preferable over a wipe to clean product.

The frame on the Room for 2 is sturdier than that of the Duo Glider, and scored higher than some of the competition for fit and finish. It is cleaner and nicer looking frame than some of the competition. It doesn't have as many connection points or joints as some of the other products, which means it doesn't flex that much.

The wheels are foam filled plastic tires on plastic wheels. They feel like the flimsiest ones in the group, and they did not feel durable enough to go the distance. If Graco would invest some money in putting on a nice wheel or tire, something with foam filled rubber would be nice, then they might start ranking higher in reviews because the tire would make the product more maneuverable, higher quality, and probably result in less frame flexing when pushed.

The handle on the Room for 2 is kind of low and not adjustable. The best part about the handle is its ergonomic shape that curves to match the resting hand position of the pusher. The foam cover feels nice in hand, and the rubber center helps improve the one handed pushing experience. The diameter of the bar is a nice width and it feels comfortable in hand.

The overall comfort for this product isn't great. There is minimal suspension and the smaller hard tires make for a stiff ride where every bump and rock can be felt in the tushies of the passengers. The front sling style seat lacks any real adequate padding so it fails to contribute any real comfort to the overall ride and the rear seat is nothing more than hard plastic with very minimal padding. Keeping in mind that this is a sit/stand model, comfort really isn't the top priority. The primary use of this stroller is for quick trips and commuting type activities more so than long day trips with napping essentials. However, it seems like it could still stand to kick it up a notch and try to give a little more thought to the passengers strapped inside enduring a joint jarring ride.

Weight and Folded Size

Weight and Folded Size

This stroller is one of the lightest and smallest folded product in this review. It comes in right around 26 pounds which makes it the third lightest product in this review, topped only by Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport All-Weather and the Combi Twin Cosmo which were around 20 and 24 pounds respectfully.

When folded and ready to stow it measure out at 22.5 x 16 x 36 and around 12,900 cubic inches. It smaller weight and size make it a good candidate for commuting and its shorter folded length mean it will fit in more trunks without struggle than much of the competition. The lighter weight means more parents will be able to lift it.

Ease of Folding

This is a true one hand fold product with 3 steps that is relatively simple even when compared to the other products in this review. It is easy to fold and auto locks, but it does not self-stand it is easier to do overall if the brakes are locked and the wheels are turned in. To unfold it requires 2 steps and is also very easy to execute though it might feel awkward the first few times you attempt it. The unfold lock might take some practice as it seems hard to disengage. The fold and unfold processes are both sandal foot friendly and result in a compact product that is relatively easy to carry and lift.

Commuting

The Room for 2 ranked the highest in our tests for commuting with a 5 of 10. Most of the double rides struggled in this category due to overall bulk and heavier weights. Some did poorly for being difficult to fold or impossible to fold and take on public transport like the Orbit which actually disassembles into 4 + pieces you can't possibly carry at once. The room for two is relatively lightweight without sacrificing storage or conveniences like the Jeep did. It can be folded and unfolded with one hand leaving a second hand free for holding onto little ones or packages. In addition, it can fit in smaller space and conforms to the 2'X4' rule on some public transport that allows stroller to come on board without folding them. This can be especially useful if children are napping so they can stay seated even on the bus.

While the long size of this product and low sitting seats didn't earn it any love for being café friendly, it still did better than any product for this metric and would be one of the only ones we'd want to hassle with in public trying to get around with two children relatively stress and worry free. In a café it will probably be best to find a corner spot to park this rig as the handle will stick out no matter what and the seats are too low for a table situation anyway. Probably a corner booth will be your best bet.

Ease of Setup

This Graco received a 7 of 10 for ease of setup and it took almost 10 minutes to get it from box to strolling. The documentation is ranked as good, and it required no tools to complete. The instructions are in 3 languages, but they are color coded by language which is a big plus and cut down on search time for finding the directions we could understand. The illustrations are clear and have the important pieces highlighted in red, which is something that not all manuals do, but it helps significantly.

Best Applications

The best application for this product is for commuting. It offers just enough style and comfort to make going on the town simpler without adding so much that it isn't feasible to transport it. Given its overall lighter weight and smaller size folded or fully open, it lends itself to stowing easily in a trunk or maneuvering a tight shop easier than most of the other products we looked at. While it lacks some of the comfort options and accessories that make other products good as a primary all day roller, this stroller still proved it has what it takes to do the bare necessities with the bare essentials.

Value

This stroller only costs around $150 dollars or less depending on sales. This makes it one of the cheapest in our review, and definitely the highest scoring cheaper model we looked at. It is a good value for what it is and for the simplicity it offers to parents who need something for occasional or even one time use. While it might not work well for twins or even newborns, it will make most parents happy with little frustration if they keep in mind what its limitations are and what the limitations of their children are.

Conclusion

The Graco Room for 2 isn't a flashy stroller and it lacks a lot of the features parents might be looking for. It did not do well in our testing, and it wasn't the best in a side-by-side viewing of the products. It will not work well for twins or two infants because it only connects one carrier, and it can't do longer trips in comfort because only one seat reclines. However, it is a nice product for the price and parents would be hard pressed to find a similar product for a similar price, and it will be impossible to find a better product for a similar price. If what you are looking for is an occasional stroller for those rare trips when you must take two kids and you hate the idea of them being free to roam, the Room for 2 will probably meet your needs without breaking your bank. If you want a product to use on more of a daily basis where long day trips and errand running on are tap it is probably not the best ride no matter what the price and you'd be better off investing more to buy our Best Value award winner, the Joovy Scooter X2 which ranked very high, has loads of features, and comes with a relatively low price tag of under $250.

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