Joovy Zoom X2 Double Review

Joovy is a family company that started in 2005. They have locations in California and Texas. The Joovy group strives to create original, functional, and quality products. With a variety of baby products to their name, Joovy's lineup includes lots of gear, from unique bottles in our best baby bottle review to intriguing strollers.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Joovy earned a slightly higher-than-average score for ease of use.

Fold and Unfold

This stroller has a one-handed fold and requires two hands to unfold. You need to recline the seatbacks fully to begin the fold, and it has an auto-lock feature when it is completed.

The requirement of reclining seats isn't a tricky part of the process, but it feels like it shouldn't be part of the process.

Imagine your bus arrives, and you frantically unload kids and your diaper bag, so you can make adjustments before you can even begin folding. Other double joggers are a simple twist, slide, and pull on a handle. We often had trouble during testing with the sunshades popping out of place when folding. We couldn't find a way to secure or lock the shades in place. It also rolls back somewhat when folding, so be careful of your shins. Unfolding requires two hands, but the operation runs smoothly, other than the canopies falling off occasionally.

Storage

This stroller has a storage bin under the seat, inside stow pockets for the kids, and a parent handlebar organizer with a zippered compartment and cup holders. The bin is pretty large but has a limit of 15 lbs, which is half that of the highest weight limit in the group.

The stow pockets are suitable for small treasures, snacks, or water bottles. They are easy to access and have an elastic top to help keep things secured in place. The parent organizer is better than some with fairly deep cup holders, and we like the zipper to help prevent items from falling out or being easily stolen.

Harness

The Joovy has a 5-point harness that can be used as a three-point harness by unclipping the shoulder straps from the buckle. While we don't recommend it, it is possible. The shoulder straps are a rethread style for height adjustment, and the straps move smoothly for size. There are two prongs on each strap that inserts into the buckle. The buckle is easy to press, not too hard or soft. There is a loud audible click when the shoulder straps are in place.

Brakes

The Zoom brakes are troubling compared to the competition, and while the pedal is easy to press to set, fully engaging the brakes during testing gave us trouble. When we pressed the brake pedal, it felt like it engaged, sounded like it engaged, and appeared to be engaged, but alas, when we slightly bumped the stroller, it rolled away. This meant the brake gear was only partially engaged, but the teeth of the gear were not fully locked in place. It works fine if you give it special attention to ensure the teeth are fully engaged. Still, we worry that parents will grow weary of the extra precaution and forget to give it the attention it requires, and our previous testing of competing strollers shows us it doesn't have to be this hard. Our brake experience during testing makes it a stroller we wouldn't recommend to a friend.

Releasing the brake is not easy to comfortable. It requires lifting the brake using the top of the foot, and it took more pressure than the competition to complete. Once you get the brake set, it doesn't want to disengage without some force. It did hurt the top of an exposed foot.

Maneuverability

This jogger has better maneuverability than some competition, thanks to the swivel front wheel, three-wheel design, and rubber air-filled tires. Typically this stroller style is easy to push and turn and, dare we say, almost fun. It performs better than the wagons and many traditional strollers, on par with the other joggers.

The rubber tires provide a smooth ride, and it feels lighter as you push it than many traditional options that weigh less. It is wider than some others, with some slow movement required through tight doorways. It is possible to push with one hand on flat surfaces; the handle was well shaped for one-hand movement. It has a tight run radius. It is a little longer, and moving through multiple doorways with a 90-degree turn in the middle was more complicated than other joggers.

Pushing over uneven terrain is also a pleasure. Still, you can feel the lack of suspension compared to the higher-end joggers with suspension or adjustable suspension, which resulted in a little more reactive jostling over bumps. It moves easily over grass and gravel, and sweaty palms will love the foam-covered handlebar.

This jogger does not have an adjustable handlebar, which makes it less convenient and ergonomic for parents of varying heights. Our tester was under 5'5, and it was high for comfortable running or pushing on rough terrain. Also, the button in the middle of the handle is a poor design, making it harder to push from the center if you are going straight.

Transporting and Storing

Double strollers are typically big and heavy because they must be big enough for two. Being able to lift and stow your stroller is something to consider before buying. The shape of this stroller resulted in struggling during testing to fit in a sedan trunk in one piece. We struggled with his stroller, which was a tight squeeze.

Weight and Folded Size

This jogger is lighter and smaller than some jogging competitors, but it is not a small or lightweight option. Our measurements show a weight of 30.6 lbs and a folded size of 23,772 cubic inches.

Kid Ride

Cozy kids can translate to a longer ride. Having a comfortable seat with good legroom and larger canopies can potentially keep little ones happier for longer frustration-free adventures.

Seat

The Joovy seats are sling-style seats with adequate padding for comfort. The seats recline deep enough for cozy napping, with a slightly angled, non-adjustable leg rest and a plastic footrest. The footrest is somewhat narrow as it angles inwards to a single front wheel, which is typical for this stroller style. We suspect taller kids will end up with a dangling leg at some point. The recline toggle is a plastic part with two straps and requires two hands to work. When reclined, the seat has top mesh ventilation to help combat hot summer days.

Sunshade

The sunshades are large compared to some options, but they aren't as impressive as those on other joggers that score higher. We also had trouble with them staying attached, and they seemed to pop off easily when bumped or brushed into. This could get very annoying over time. There is no traditional peek-a-boo window. However, the canopy rotates forward, and there is ventilation mesh you can see through if the seat is reclined.

Quality

The Joovy is of average quality but struggles to compete with other higher-end jogging strollers. It is a nice-enough stroller, but the differences are apparent if you see it side-by-side with some competitors.

Overall the fit and finish on the Joovy are pleasing. The frame is sturdy with just a little flex, and the fabric and components generally fit it well. We think the canopy design needs some help, both with the strange nylon-type cloth it is wrapped in. It was frustrating during testing to have them regularly dislodged for no significant reason, especially during folding. It also doesn't have a peek-a-boo window and relies on pulling the canopy or using ventilation mesh when the seat is reclined. Both design choices feel like corner-cutting to us.

The difficulties we experienced with the brake also indicate quality concerns in design or manufacturing. We think a higher quality product would be easier to use without possible error.

Car Seat Compatibility

This stroller is not compatible with any car seat from any brand.

Ease of Setup

This stroller is pretty easy to assemble, with a time of fewer than 20 minutes.

Setting up the KJoovy is not complicated and requires putting on the shades, wheels, and the parent tray. The manual offers pictures of the actual components helping to avoid any confusion on part names and what goes where. However, it doesn't include all the steps, and for some just shows the finished product and not how to get there. It felt like more components than it was, and it might have been quicker to finish if the manual had shown the parent tray installation steps.

Twins

This stroller doesn't accept any infant car seats, making it a poor choice for twins. While it would work for older babies who are ready to roll sans a car seat, we think it might be a misstep for parents who want a stroller that works from day one. The similar seating arrangements will help parents avoid fights over who will sit where; your baby will need to be able to sit up independently, somewhere around six months old, before utilizing your stroller. You could pair this stroller with a frame stroller that accepts car seats, or if there are two parents, each one could wear a baby until they are ready to ride.

Should You Buy the Joovy Zoom 2?

The Joovy Zoom is a nice jogger with some useful features at a lower price for a jogging stroller. However, it doesn't offer enough to make it better than some budget-friendly joggers that cost significantly less (and score lower, too), and it isn't as impressive as the top-end joggers in this lineup. While we wouldn't be mad if it were gifted to us, it isn't one we'd necessarily recommend to a friend looking for a double stroller or a stroller for two.

What Other Double Stroller Should You Consider?

If you want a jogger for two, the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double is the one we love. This high-quality jogger has a quick one-handed fold, is relatively compact, has great storage, comfy seats, and giant canopies. With suspension and rubber, air-filled tires, it is hard to find fault with the Thule. If your budget doesn't allow it, the Baby Trend Expedition Double is also a nice choice. While it scored lower than the Zoom, it is also significantly cheaper. We think parents will appreciate the savings over the minor benefits the Zoom might have over the Expedition.

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