A lot comes to mind when you’re thinking of getting the best stroller for your baby. Of course, the comfortability and safety of the stroller are the first things anyone should consider.
However, the ease of monitoring your child and the peace of mind you get knowing exactly how your baby is doing is equally vital. Any stroller that makes it easier for me to bond with my baby while I’m in total control gets the nod from me.
I started my stroller journey with Uppababy Vista as it’s probably THE trendiest stroller in the USA. However, while it was a well-made stroller I quickly sold it as I realized that way too heavy and bulky and pretty useless for two kids that aren’t twins due to seat configurations and weight limit.
Since I was due with my second baby I was on the hunt for the best double stroller out there. I got to test a ton of them.
One stroller caught my eye, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands was a new release from Cybex Gazelle S stroller. After using this stroller for months I’m pretty satisfied with it, but there are a few things I’m certain that you should know about it, so make sure you read the ending.
Full disclosure: I bought this product myself. I wasn’t paid or given a sample, so this review is as objective as can be. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.
Beautiful Design
The Cybex Gazelle S stroller sports a nice design (I’ve had other parents give it glowing compliments).
Its sports top-quality fabrics and the premium design is down to a sturdy aluminum frame and simple color of your choice – navy, black, grey and taupe (I got navy).
This stroller ticks all the important boxes and offers additional functions as well. The extra features are more important than most new users might immediately realize. This list includes the shopping basket, rain cover, car seat adapters (for non-Cybex cars seats), and cup holder. All of those come already included in the box which is awesome for the price.
Check my reviews of the best double strollers.
Cybex Convertible Single to Double Stroller
The thoughtfulness that went into designing the Cybex Gazelle S is impressive. A “convertible” stroller is nothing new, but it takes a little more effort than I’d like to design it well.
The Gazelle S has impressed me as it’s relatively easy to convert from a single to a double stroller. It has plenty of suitable configurations, including a possibility to put the newborn and later younger sibling on the top closer to the parent (Uppababy didn’t allow this due to weight limitations on the seat).
It can support the weight of a toddler seamlessly, regardless of the seat. The construction supports more than twenty different setups for babies and toddlers.
You can adjust the stroller to either face forwards or backward (the parent-facing mode) so that your baby can look directly at you. The Gazelle S stroller also has an additional kid board that can accommodate up to three children. Or two kids and a cat or small dog in the basket 😉
Speaking of the basket, this stroller has a shopping basket that can hold up to 28 lbs of shopping items. It’s removable and falls into the category of extra-large stroller baskets.
Even when I’m not going shopping, there’s usually something extra I like to put in there like a bag or diaper bag. Or a cat actually 😉
When I absolutely don’t need it though or when I add the second seat, I detach the basket and there’s still plenty of room in the underneath basket.
Carseat Compatible
Just like on any other Cybex stroller I’m able to use Cybex’s car seat without any adapters with an adaptable 3-in-1 travel system. While expensive, Cybex Cloud Q carseat is the best on the market.
It’s the only car seat that allowed a flat recline when put on a stroller or taken out of the base, which means that you baby can safely stay in a car seat for a while and there’s no need for an extra bassinet.
While everyone does it in the US it’s simply not safe to go on walks and around town in a standard infant car seat for longer than 2h a day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against routine sleeping in sitting devices as the angle can cause suffocation and damage to airways (I explained it and researched it further when reviewing Doona stroller). Cybex’s car seat doesn’t cause these issues.
Many people ask so I confirm: you can have a fully reclined car seat and toddler seat down below (photo below, both car seat and seat reclined).
Seat Functions
Cybex’s seats are always known for great functions, one of which is a big recline. The seats recline to a pretty much flat position. It’s easy and quick to switch things up a bit for your baby’s comfort.
Cybex Gazelle S has comfortable seat compared to other strollers. They can hold up to 50 lbs for both seat units. I had to buy the second seat unit separately, though (by default, the stroller only comes with one seat).
Some people complain that the seat is on the smaller side. Technically speaking it is, but my toddler was 38″ tall when I bought it and fit just fine. He’s way taller than kids his age so I’d say you can use it up until the older is 4 or so (not that you must need a stroller until that age really, hopefully at least).
Easy Folding
Parents know the frustration when trying to fold your baby stroller and it just wouldn’t budge. I’ve been there. The irritation multiplies when I need to do something else right away.
Gazelle folds easily and quickly. Although it doesn’t have a one-hand fold as it requires two steps, it can be folded with one hand actually which is handy when you’re holding the baby.
I must say I’m usually relieved by how easy it is to fold this stroller. It just never gets stuck halfway during folding like other brands I’ve used in the past. When folded it’s much smaller than any other double stroller I’ve seen and fits easily in my trunk, while many others do not.
Extra-Large Canopy
One of the notable things I look out for in a stroller is its canopy. I don’t go out in the sun without wearing sunscreen. I’m not sure if my babies’ skins will be as sensitive to sunlight as mine when they grow up, but I’ve chosen not to take any chances.
The Cybex Gazelle S stroller has an XXL sun canopy that you can extend (I often take it to the max) to shield your baby from dangerous rays in sunlight. The canopy also comes with a mesh window that your baby can breathe through on really hot days. It’s not only suitable for sunny days; your baby would be home and dry when it rains.
Adjustable Handlebar
I love adjustable handlebars because my partner and I can use the stroller whenever we want. The leatherette handlebar ensures that I have a firm grip on the stroller.
Once it’s my partner’s turn to take our lovelies for a stroll, it’s easy to adjust and comfortable to steer the stroller.
The handlebar’s grip is also easy to push with one hand, making it easy to me to be in absolute control of the stroller no matter what.
Foot Break
You can also lock the wheels so that the stroller does not move when you park it. It’s so natural to hold the brakes – just use your toes!
The Cybex Gazelle S Stroller has a toe-tap function for holding brakes and an all-wheel suspension with frame shock absorption for a less bumpy ride.
Cons of Cybex Gazelle S Stroller
There is no stroller without cons – there’s always something that can be improved. One thing I noticed is that when your shopping basket isn’t filled with something heavy or removed, it’s a bit hard to lift the stroller to the curb.
That said, I recommend putting your purse or baby bag in the basket if you’re using a single-seat shopping option.
That said, since two kids weigh significantly more than one it wasn’t extremely easy to lift it, but we actually solved the issue by getting a kid board. It comes with a pole you attach to the frame and even when we don’t use the board we leave it there. It makes it MUCH easier to put your foot on that pole to lift the stroller.
I cannot say much about the kid buggy board, because my toddler refuses to use it and it’s been months. I’ll update when he decides it’s cool enough for him I guess (1 year later it’s still a no-go).
I recommend Cybex Gazelle S Stroller, but…
The Cybex Gazelle S stroller is now the first tandem double stroller I’d recommend to anyone on top of my favorite travel stroller – Babyzen Yoyo+ and next to side-by-side double ZOE Twin.
It’s easy to take apart and reassemble, and you don’t need any help to do so. It’s also durable with a large canopy that keeps the skin safe.
While future stroller models continue to emerge, I can boldly say I have complete satisfaction with the Cybex Gazelle S stroller. It’s obviously not like Cybex Priam, but considering the price and possibility of the second seat, it’s great.
Now, I’ll be brutally honest. I think Cybex is the best single to double stroller and it was a perfect solution for when the second child was a newborn. But, once your newborn is able to sit it’s definitely better to get a side by side stroller (unless you live in places like Italy, then you won’t be able to enter anywhere with it.
Side by side strollers are easiest to push and kids can interact, which is a must with my little ones. One thing that also happened to us, which might be totally specific to my toddler because he’s crazy curious and gets into everything, but it might be important to mention if your kid is similar…
We were walking with my toddler sitting in his usual position to get in and out at the bottom and the baby sitting on the top. At some point, the toddler got curious about the construction of the stroller and stuck his fingers into the space between the wheel and the protection since he could reach it from the bottom – all while my husband was pushing and bam… accident. Blood everywhere, toddler got a scar from it for life and this is basically when I realized that maybe tandem strollers aren’t always the best.
Lots of questions were asked about traveling and living in Europe with it… if you’re going to live in Europe or need a stroller for traveling then I wouldn’t get a double stroller at all – just two single one, stroller wagon or a single stroller with a buggy board – you’ll thank me later. Most parents in Europe use this setup, because a double isn’t very practical.
In fact, we’ve moved back to Europe for a bit, now with two children, and decided to bring Evenflo stroller wagon and Babyzen Yoyo with a buggy board only. If we just go to a nearby playground or on a flat hike we bring a stroller for the smaller child and a balance bike for the older one.
This setup is great, but if we go to a busier place like a local market, downtown, somewhere cars are moving fast or where they’re not allowed (eg fairs, zoos and other venues) then a balance bike isn’t an option and we bring a buggy board.
It worked perfectly but we ended up purchasing a second lightweight stroller for city trips, because we wanted to be able to let the older sibling rest when we’re out and about all day and then going out for dinner.
Thanks for your review! I am so torn between this one and the Vista. Have you found any child cup holder/snack trays that work for the Gazelle?
Yup! Cybex has its own snack tray with a cup holder 🙂
I am also trying to decide between the Cybex Gazette and Vista. How old was your eldest that the Vista didn’t work for you? Have you used the Cybex warranty?
Thanks in advance!
Cybex Gazelle just came out, less than a month ago so no warranty usage needed yet. Vista never worked when your kids are different ages, unless you want to keep a newborn on the bottom and not close to you, your older one wants to sit facing you (not gonna happen with mine) and you have a small child since the Rumble seat has lower weight limit, so the older kid always has to ride up top, which is really not something you want when they climb in and out.
Would this Gazelle be able to be carried on in airplane? Looking for a good double for Disney trip and everyday use so I’m attracted to the storage options of this stroller. Thanks!
Nope, it’s a full-size stroller. It can be gate-checked though. There’s no double stroller that can fit in the cabin, if you want a stroller to bring into the cabin you’d need to get a Babyzen Yoyo or similar -> https://annaeverywhere.com/best-travel-strollers/
haha! I never thought that a pet can be adjusted in the double stroller especially the cat who can’t even sit on my lap.
Hi there, lovely review. I’m very into this pushchair myself could you possibly tell me the seat measurements please backrest, width and depth and full length of the seat from head to end of foot rest when lying flat. Thankyou xx
I’ll measure it later for you, but my bub is over 36″ and he still has room to grow so probably about 38ish (he doesn’t use the footrest though, because he just doesn’t like any).
In the mode when the front seat is world-facing, and the upper seat parent facing, is it possible to fully recline the upper seat whilst keeping the lower seat upright? we’re guessing no, because it looks like the upper seat would then be obstructed by the lower seat’s back.
Nope, not possible. It’s only possible on strollers where the seats are side by side, otherwise your stroller would be way too long and hard to maneuver.
Hi! How is the push/steering? Does it ride well in all terrains like what you mentioned for your vista review?
Thank you
So far I had no issues with any terrain – we tried cobblestones, uneven pavement with holes and all good. Going up the curb is hard but it’s the case with any double stroller because of the weight (one thing that solved it for us was getting a buggy board and the pole that comes with it helps with that). Steering is great, considering the length of the stroller and weight of two kiddos 🙂
Hi again!
Do you feel the same way about this stroller being an all terrain stroller vs the vista? I read in your other review for the vista you mentioned this:“ It’s an all-terrain stroller that lasted us for cobblestones, uneven sidewalks, mountain hikes, it didn’t fail in those aspects.”
I was wondering if you would say the same about the Cybex gazelle S.
Thank you!
Absolutely! In fact, as I’m typing this reply I just came back with this stroller from the sandy grassy hills and cobblestones and it worked just fine with a carseat and buggy board attached to it (AKA it was easy for me to push it on my own and considering I just had a c-section less than 2 weeks ago, I’d say it’s extremely easy if I was 100% myself 😀
Could you tell me what the wheels are like? I’m curious if they are plastic and how would you compare them to the vista’s wheels?
They feel pretty similar to Vista wheels. Can’t tell whether it’s plastic or hard rubber (even asked my husband now to see what he thinks and he also can’t tell), but either way they’re very sturdy.
Any recommendations on a stroller caddy/organizer that works well on the gazelle?
I don’t have any personal recommendations, because I don’t use any. Just put everything under the stroller most of the time and my phone rides in the cup holder 😉
Thanks alot for the review. I was about to purchase UppaBaby Vista And came across your review. I have a question though, you mentioned in the Vista review that its quite heavy and that its wide..won’t go into an elevator! per Website Cybex Gazelle is as big and heavy..how do you find that? And do you feel its a lengthy Stroller? Is it handy in Restaurants and shops..
Can I attach a Maxi Cosi car seat to it ?
I live in Germany and the lockdown is not allowing me to see things before buying :/ I’d really appreciate your reply!
Question: do you already have two kids or one and planning another one? I would get a different stroller than Vista for just one baby, in the worst case you sell it and get a different thing later. That was the mistake I made and frankly I’ll be gladly going back to my small travel stroller again once my toddler is out of the stroller completely.
Gazelle is significantly smaller than Vista when folded because of the wheels’ position and footrest not folding. But again, depends where you live. Where I used to live previously there’s no way Vista would have fit in the European elevator or corridor. It’s really made for giant American spaces.
No double stroller will be able to just stand in most restaurants without being folded to be honest, they’re just too big, so we just take the car seat out, fold the stroller and use a restaurant high chair for a toddler. Hence why in Mexico for example I see a lot of parents just traveling with two Babyzen Yoyo+ strollers instead of one double stroller.
Here is a list of infant car seat brands and models compatible with the Gazelle S:
Cybex Aton and Cloud Q series (with included adapter)
Nuna PIPA, PIPA Lite, PIPA Lite LX, PIPA RX and PIPA Lite R (with included adapter)
Maxi Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico 30 and Mico Max Plus (with included adapter)
Clek Liing (with included adapter)
Graco SnugRide 30/35, SnugRide SnugLock 30/35 (with adapter)
Chicco KeyFit 30 (with adapter)
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, 4-35 Nido, Agio 4-35 Nido (with adapter)
Britax B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Endeavours (with adapter)
P.S. I’d advise against Maxi Cosi car seat. I know it’s a popular one in Europe and seems price-attractive, but the infant’s head is not protected on sides at all due to its design. The advantage of Cybex is that you can attach Cybex Cloud Q carseat to it without an extra annoying special adapter – it’s an expensive car seat but reclinable so baby can sleep in it like in the bassinet (which is super handy for carrying the baby around, for restaurants, etc., since you can’t really carry the bassinet without the stroller).
How do you find the Cybex cloud q for getting in and out of the stroller with baby in it. Do you have to use both buttons at the same time to get it out? I tried it in store and wasn’t sure if I was doing it wrong but it seemed like it would be hard to take out with a baby in it because you couldn’t grab the handle because both hands had to be on the buttons.
Oh, you can move the handle first, before taking the baby out with it.
How would you compare this stroller to the new Mockingbird Double stroller? I’ve been seeing it all over and I’m curious if you have any experience! Thanks 😊
There’s no comparison really, but they are pretty good with Facebook advertising 😉 Mockingbird is flimsy and many parents report that the frame breaks easily, but for this price that’s understandable. Although the biggest drawback and dealbreaker is the seating configuration for newborn + toddler. You can only do a carseat on top when the toddler seat is facing the car seat, so backward – no toddler would stay seated that way.
You mentioned that the seat reclines flat, is it flat enough to handle an on-the-go diaper change? And is the seat upright (90 degree angle) when in regular seated position?
Thanks for being so thorough and answering questions!
I honestly never changed a diaper in the seat since my older is out of diapers, but the seat is not profiled like on Uppababy, so it’s surely possible. About the upright position no, it’s slightly tilted but my toddler doesn’t mind, he pulls himself up using the handle is he wants to see more.
Can the Cybex Cloud Q recline if it’s on the top position with toddler seat on the bottom facing forward? Would the toddler have to have backward for the Cloud Q to recline? Any other configuration with toddler seat and Cloud Q reclined? Maybe baby on bottom?
Yes, it can – I was actually worried about it too, but it works fine. It’s a tight fit and you sort of need to squeeze the top of the seat in, but it always worked for me. I personally haven’t tried any other configuration, because my toddler would have facing backwards when sitting down or facing me instead of the road, so this works best for us 🙂
Hi! Thanks for the review. I’m considering this stroller but I’m wondering how well it handles on rough terrain? I see in your photos some grass and gravel paths, any complaints?
No complaints so far, we also took it on jungle roads and sandy spots in Mexico. It’s naturally heavy with two kids on it so you know, it’s not a piece of cake to push but unless it has an engine no stroller would be, but we never got stuck anywhere 🙂
This review is so helpful! We have finally decided to sell our double Uppababy Vista for all the same reasons as you. Also, now that my children weigh nearly 60lb combined, it’s becoming harder to push and impossible to pop up onto kerbs. I have been desperately looking for an alternative as they are not old enough to give up their stroller just yet. The only ones I have found are all-terrain jogging strollers like the BOB or the Thule Glide which I cannot lift and I cannot fit into my car. I saw the Cybex but dismissed it because I thought it would be the same as the Vista. Can you – or anybody – tell me whether you can actually use it in all the configurations (seats facing each other for example)? And how easy is it to push with 2 children?
I’ll be real about pushing – Cybex’s strollers are super easy to push, but unless the stroller has a motor (only their Priam single stroller does) it’s hard to push two kids no matter what because they’re simply heavy. If you get side by side like Bugaboo Donkey the weight slightly distributes but you still have to push the same amount of kids’ weight. Although I did find that when you get a buggy board it comes with a pole that goes between the wheels and this pole without the buggy makes it very easy to pop up onto kerbs. Seats can face each other, that’s not a problem.
Hi Anna!
We have a single stroller now that we don’t really enjoy and are thinking about buying the Gazelle now.
Especially as we are planning to have Baby no 2 at some point next year.
I am a bit afraid about the small seat units. I read online that some people only recommend it for kids up to 2.5 years as they might get too tight especially with a footmuff in winter.
I also tried the stroller in the shop with my one year old in the lower seat and it was heavy to lift up over the imaginary side walk.
I like the piggy board bar idea! Hope that will help 🙂
I’d love to hear from you about my seat size concern!
Thanks and all the best,
Ann
Hi Ann,
I’m not going to lie – any tandem stroller is going to be heavy to lift onto kerbs with two kids on it. After all, if you think about it even with 2 under 2, you are lifting 27 lbs of the stroller partially (since parts will be on the ground), then a child (eg. I have an extremely skinny 2-year-old and he’s 25 lbs but most kids his age are about 28-30 lbs. Then add another child or newborn with a car seat or bassinet that’s going to be min 10 lbs with a newborn. It IS a lot of weight, so it’s not going to be as smooth as with a single stroller ever regardless of the stroller especially considering the fact that the weight is distributed lower.
In terms of the seat size… my 2 year old fits just fine. He’s very tall (like a 3-year-old – 37″), but very skinny so not sure how it would fit on a chunkier kid. We also never use any footmuffs – we have one for Babyzen Yoyo but only used it a few times when he was under 1.
This particular stroller aside, I would say wait with a double/convertible stroller till a second child is actually born. That was my personal mistake before my first child was born as I wanted to plan ahead. Convertible strollers are bigger and heavier to be able to hold the weight of two kids and there’s no point in adding the extra weight into the stroller with just one child. Toddlers are also very different – many parents swear by a stroller with a 3-year-olds, others use wagons exclusively. In my case, right after my older turned 2 he really doesn’t ever want to be in the stroller, so we rarely bring his seat anymore (we did use the double a lot between his 21-24 months when the baby was born), but the way things are going I don’t see my toddler going back to the stroller at all, so we might just switch back to Yoyo for the baby – lighter and easier.
Hi Anna,
Thank you so very much for this clear and concise review. You fashioned it perfectly; in all the ways that I would have done if I had written it myself👍
I have been undecided as weather to go with the U.B Vista V2, or the Cybex Gazelle S.
However, after reading your review, I finally feel I have all the answers and insight I need.😃
Hi this is very helpful. I’m currently looking to find a double buggy as second baby is due this year when my first will have just turned 2. A shop assistant told me that it gets quite crammed with two kids on the cybex gazelle and they don’t have much space. Would you agree?
I’ll be real with you: yes, but any stroller that’s not side by side is cramped. On the other hand, the side by side are not good for smaller spaces, so when it comes to double strollers I don’t think there’s an ideal solution. One way or another they will be big and heavy especially considering the weight of kids on it. Quite frankly even though we have ZOE Twin as well (which is lighter), my husband keeps saying we just need to get a second Babyzen Yoyo because there’s always an issue with double strollers in terms of space, portability and weight 🙁
What’s great about this stroller is that you can put Cloud Q carseat on it and this one reclines – so it takes away the need for the bassinet and is very convenient.
Hi Anna, thank you for providing so much helpful information! I would love to use your idea of the Babyzen Yoyo stroller with the Cybex Cloud, but I am finding conflicting information on sites here in the US for ordering them. Some say that the Cybex Aton is the only style of Cybex carseat that has adaptors for the Babyzen Yoyo. Do you know if this is true? Maybe these same adaptors would actually work with the Cybex Cloud as well? Any light you can shed on this would be great, thank you! Oh one more thing, in your experience can you fold the Babyzen up without removing the carseat adaptors? Thank you!
I’ve never used carseat adaptors or put a car seat on my Yoyo. It kind of defeats the purpose of a lightweight stroller, because US car seats are heavy so it just never made sense to me. I always took the baby out of the car seat and put it in the stroller, so can’t tell you about folding with adapters. What I do know, however, is that Aton is the recommended carseat for the adapters. It will work with Cloud, but it’s not recommended because it has a longer base and it’s heavier.
Hi, I didn’t have a Cybex car seat but I had a nuna pipa with my Babyzen and yes you can fold the stroller with the adaptors on!
Awesome review! I was wondering if you have on a special cover for the Cybex Cloud Q carseat?
Are you talking about a sunshade for it? I got mine on Albee Baby.
Thank you for the review! I’m a mom to be for the first time and I was doing research on this model and the vista v2cruz. I tried out the Cybex and had a hard time folding it up. After 30 mins of struggling we discovered that the adapters for the second seat were turned out and couldn’t fold, but once we did fold it in it worked fine. Did you have the same experience when your had the stroller in that configuration? I know, I’m not even on baby 1, and I’m thinking about this stroller if/when baby 2 comes 😅.
Thank you in advance!
What do you mean by the adapters were turned out? Like the seats were facing each other you mean?
Hi Anna, thanks so much for this review! I’m about to sell my Uppababy Vista for exactly the same reasons. I have a toddler and am due with baby number 2 in February. They will have an age difference of 21 months. We’re also planning to move to Italy for one year when the baby is born. The Cybex Gazelle is so far my favorite, but I also came across the Peg Perego Ypsi the other day. Now I’m kind of torn between the two. I really love how narrow the Ypsi is (only 20 inches) and also not too heavy + directly from Italy. I feel like the Cybex has nicer seats and higher quality fabrics though and I don’t really like the folding bar on top of the basket of the Ypsi. But thinking of Italy, maybe the width of the Ypsi is just what we need? Have you ever tested the Ypsi yourself? I know you also live in Italy before, so if you have any advice, I’d appreciate it sooooo much! Dziekuje (I also lived in Poland for a few years before moving to the US :-)).
That’s such a coincidence that you’re planning on moving to Italy and lived in Poland as well 🙂 . In this case, I’ll be real: don’t buy a double stroller at all. Buy two small strollers. A double stroller would be too much of a pain for Italy. Elevators are tiny in Italy and no double strollers will fit even if they’re narrow because of the length (many people leave strollers downstairs if it’s a safe spot but I wouldn’t do it with an expensive stroller), plus many buildings still have stairs to get to the elevator and good luck dragging the double upstairs without removing seats and kids which is super annoying. One of my favorite things to do in Italy was going to all these cafes and restaurants and no way a double stroller will fit any restaurants because it’s too long and bulky, and lifting it to public transportation with kids on is also a pain. I’ve never seen a double stroller on the street in Italy, like never ever, not even in Poland – all my friends just bought two small single strollers. More importantly, I cannot imagine pushing two kids on a heavy stroller (heavy = all doubles that aren’t ZOE Twin which I don’t recommend for Italy) on cobblestones and uneven Italian pavements with holes, especially since when you put the weight of two children and diaper bag (and my older is underweight) it’s already hard to push on smooth paths.
Since your kids will be 21 months apart the older will want to walk and run a lot at this age, so I often feel like for short trips dragging a double is a waste of energy (we really used double regularly until mine was 23 months, now only if we’re out all day) and then he occasionally decides to drink his juice in it and sit down before he runs off again. I tried the buggy board, but my toddler isn’t a fan (some kids love it though) but I just kept one double for all-day trips (but when we move back to Europe in a few months I am selling the double to be honest and buying another Babyzen Yoyo) and just one Yoyo stroller if we go to a playground, store, anywhere because the toddler just walks.
Ypsi is not a bad stroller, but for this price isn’t ideal because of the toddler+newborn configurations (no tandem stroller has ideal configurations, otherwise they’re too long). If you do end up buying it, depending on how fast you’re moving remember that your US carseat is illegal in Europe so you will need to buy another one there. If you won’t buy a car straight away then not a problem. You might need to check if the adapters are the same for EU car seats if you bought the stroller here, because this stroller is only compatible with Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido car seats.
I realize this review is a bit old, but we were just trying the Gazelle in the store, and my biggest concern is lifting the car seat out. We tried it with a cybex seat, and it seems the only way to get it out is by pressing the two buttons on the side and lifting it completely out, then setting the seat somewhere to grab it by the handle. This seemed really unwieldy. I imagine there will be a few times when I’ll need to get the car seat out without waking/moving the baby. I don’t know if any of the seats that are compatible with the stroller allow for removing from a back button and the handle or if I’m just missing something…
I can only speak for Cybex Cloud Q car seat as this is what we had and used with Gazelle S, but it works the same way as on Priam or other models (video here: https://youtu.be/_kyGVxNAjg8). You need to flip the handle first so you can grab is straight out of the stroller. When you press the two buttons the car seat unclicks, but won’t fall out – it’s made to grab it by the handle so like you say: you won’t wake up the baby. We always grabbed by the handle, just like in the video I linked above.
Hi! Thanks so much for this thorough review along with the Vista review! I am prepping for baby number one, and am really liking the Cybex Priam. You referred to the Priam a couple of times in this review, do you have any specific opinions on it? I am with you in thinking that for baby number 1, I would like to only have a single stroller at this point. I’m actually going back and forth between Cybex Priam and its lighter/more compact counterpart the Cybex Mios. Any advice would be so appreciated!
They’re both great, but it depends on where do you live. I wish I went for either with the first baby instead of “prepping for the second child” by buying a single-to-double as well.
The main difference apart from the price naturally are: wheels are more all-terrain on Priam (so for beach walks or snowy hills that’s better and you can even make them super all terrain by switching the front wheels as well or putting skis on it). Mios is lighter to lift but on the other hand the front folding option on Priam makes lifting it a piece of cake. If you lived in San Francisco or somewhere else hilly then I’d say e-Priam is the best if you can afford it 😉 One thing to think about is where do you usually wander with the baby as if you’re just going around the city then Mios will be just fine, but if you think you want to take the stroller off-road on country roads or hills, beaches, hiking trails then Priam.
Hi! Love this review. We have a tall toddler and are expecting a baby in April. We have the whole Vista set (including the rumble seat) and now we just found out we are moving to Switzerland before the baby comes. I am considering a Cybex Gazelle after reading your review, but I am curious if our Uppababy bassinet could clip into the Cybex stroller? It looks like the bassinet is sold separately. Or would you just use the Cybex gazelle seat for the infant in a very reclined position?
I stand by my note at the end of the post – for Europe I would skip a double stroller and get 2 single ones.
Uppababy bassinet is for Uppababy only. You’d need a Cybex bassinet or Cybex Cloud Q car seat that reclines flat. You can use a seat in a very reclined position once they’re a bit older, but not in the double mode. Tandem strollers cannot recline when in the double mode I’m afraid (goes for all of them).
Thanks for the clarification. Re: Europe — how does a mom get by with two strollers if going out alone? My husband will be working and I want to be able to leave the house with 2 kids!
So you love this stroller for two kids, but wouldn’t recommend it if living in Europe? My husband and I are moving to Switzerland in February. We have a 2 year old and a baby due in April. I don’t know how I would get by without a double stroller if I am going to go out with both kiddos by myself. We currently have the UppaBaby Vista (with a rumble seat) but as you explained, the configuration for a toddler and an infant isn’t ideal. Any advice here? Do you think we could make this work in Europe?? We will be living in a brand new apartment complex with ramps/accessible doors.
Yes, basically. You can definitely make it work, but it’s not great solution especially since you need to lift strollers to public transport, curbs and simply get around in European cities. Your apartment might have a ramp, but it’s not uncommon to have steps to the elevator in many apartments, I’ve even been to a pediatrician’s office in a building like that and you’ll be swearing at the heavy double. With the weight of the stroller and kids it would be more of a hassle for me, especially when going shopping or entering a restaurant or cafe. While some people do it, it’s more common to see babywearing + toddler in a stroller, or baby in the stroller and toddler on a balance bike but toddlers just learn they have to walk (but also remember that in Europe you walk more so kids are more used to it and things are nearby – you’ll walk 10min to the playground or preschool, otherwise you hop on a bus or tram). I personally don’t know anyone who uses a double in Europe, even friends with 1 year apart never used it because it’s more of a hassle.
The only stroller I’d be myself midly considering bringing back to Europe as we’re moving to France (but practically Swiss border) is ZOE Twin since it’s lighter and easier to push than tandem but it’s not great on uneven terrain and cobblestones so probably will leave it behind too.
Which footmuffs are compatible with Cybex Gazelle S? I am not able to buy Cybex footmuffs here in Canada. So looking for alternatives.. thanks in advance for any words of advice
We actually only own one footmuff which is the Yoyo Babyzen brand (the only one that folds with Yoyo) and it works just fine on our Gazelle as well. Just used it this weekend actually. Here’s a link for Canadian Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lIbc5h 🙂
Hi! Thanks for the great review!
I was looking for the double stroller! My baby arrives in May and I have 1.3 years old. I am wandering what seats/ attachments I will need. Looks like 2 car seats, a seat for toddler. Since car seat goes into almost flat position, will i need a basinet for a newborn?
Thank you!
Hi! Your 1 year old will ride in a normal seat that’s included. For the newborn either a bassinet or car seat – if you get Cybex CLoud Q it reclines and then you won’t need a bassinet unless you want to use a stroller for overnight sleeping. But for Cybex car seat + seat no extra attachments are needed because the stroller comes with it.
I’m primarily interested in the uppababy vista because it has space to fit my giant toddler car seat in the storage area while also attaching our cybex cloud q infant car seat. Our toddler would then walk alongside or use the clip on board to stand on. We need this configuration as we live in Shanghai and don’t have a car so both seats need to be carried in the stroller. Would this configuration work with the cybex Gazelle S? Or is there another stroller you would recommend that would be better for this scenario? Our toddler car sest is a Joie every stage fx so quite a beast!
I’ll be real: toddler walking alongside the stroller with baby and a giant car seat sounds like an ideal, yet unrealistic version of events 😉
I assume it’s for the taxis since you don’t have a car, right? Do you need to bring this particular giant toddler car seat with you? Personally, I’d never drag the giant car seat under the stroller, it just sounds like a nightmare with two kids and a big pain in the butt to push all these heavy things, while making sure your toddler is fine, or carry him on top of pushing – that’s how it usually ends with mine since he thought the board was fun to ride for about a minute and then refuses it. You could technically do it with Gazelle as well, but it just sounds very frustrating.
I got WayB Pico car seat for those situations – it’s not a perfect car seat, but does the job of keeping the toddler safe in random cars and it’s foldable so I can put it under even the tiniest stroller. Since you live in Shanghai you need the European-style car seat, so you would either need to break off the chest clip, or buy a European car seat. For portability I recommend Nachfolger – it folds so small you can put it under anything with 2 seats on it no problem.
If you really want to keep walking around with Joie car seat, then I’d say don’t get a stroller at all, but get a stroller wagon instead. There are a few that can have an infant car seat attached to it (but none are compatible with Cloud Q because this car seat is too heavy for most adapters (it was my issue as well) and then you can use the space underneath to store the other car seat. It would still force your child to walk when the wagon is loaded and you’d need another infant car seat, so it’s not a perfect solution either. I’d stick to a more portable toddler car seat to be honest.
Hi! Know this is an older post so I’m not sure if you’re still responding to comments. But what about Phil and Teds voyager. I am mostly concerned about uneven roads and sidewalks that are in Latin America (like horrific worse than cobblestone) so that I can go on long walks and get exercise. I would also make grocery runs with it as well. But I have a small, lightweight, maneuverable stroller for airports and malls (smooth surfaces) that I’m getting tired of using on the uneven sidewalks to the parks. I liked many of the configurations for two kids with the voyager (high five mode) for when my toddler rides and the fact that the seat can fully recline for newborns. Have you ever used this stroller. Sidewalks here aren’t wide enough for a double wide stroller plus I’ve yet to see one that’s good for all terrain.
Always responding to comments 😉
I haven’t used it as I’m familiar with it and that would so not work for me with a baby and toddler and I haven’t found the right configurations on it and I’ll tell you why…
1. With how the seats are placed kids will be kicking each other nonstop when sitting in front of each other and you lose the basket entirely.
2. Both facing forward with back seat at the bottom – don’t know a child who’d sit like this starting at the sibling’s seat bum.
3. Both facing forward further away from each other – one kid kicks everything in the basket, plus honestly… it’s a nightmare on uneven terrains because the weight distribution is on two ends. Going on the curb like that will make you hate your life and require you to put the frontn of the stroller on the curb with your hands, then move backwards and push.
4. Which leaves me with the only sane configuration: back seat up top and front lower, both facing forward. Now, after I had this configuration on Gazelle and any other stroller I tried I quickly gave up on it on uneven terrains, and having spent some time in Colombia I surely wouldn’t recommend it for you.
With strollers in this configuration, the older/heavier child needs to be on the top seat, otherwise, it creates an uneven weight distribution and it’s impossible to push on uneven terrain. I wasn’t able to get up the curb once both kids were older (and both are super skinny for their ages) and honestly we swapped to a stroller wagon – Evenflo Pivot Explore. It’s even smaller in width, a toddler can get in and out by himself while the younger sibling rides, and it’s MUCH easier to maneuver and push than tandem style double strollers.
Hi! Thank you so much for this thorough review – it’s so helpful!
My needs are a bit different than the average commenter’s – my second child has some medical complications that require him to come home on oxygen, so I’m looking for a stroller that is large enough to accommodate him (most likely in his infant car seat), as well as his equipment. Bonus points for one that would allow for my 4yo daughter to hop in for a ride every now and again, too.
I’m looking at both this Cybex and the Vista V2. I see you have experience with both – can you tell me if their baskets underneath are comparable in size? I know the Vista’s is large enough to accommodate our needs, but wonder how the Gazelle’s underneath storage compares.
Also, with the Gazelle, if I were to use the extra shopping basket in the top position and a parent facing infant car seat in the bottom position, would I still be able to see the baby in his seat, or would the shopping basket block my view?
Thanks again for such a helpful review!
Baskets on both strollers were comparable in size I’d say. We were always able to stuff a ton in both strollers honestly (felt like less in Cybex at first, but then I thought we had 2 kids so twice as many things were needed so not really the basket’s fault 😀 ).
In regards to seeing the baby at the bottom if you don’t stuff the basket with tall things sticking out of the basket, you can surely see the baby (I was able to when my cat was riding in the basket sticking out so you should be fine).
If your baby has medical needs that require oxygen then I highly recommend either getting a bassinet (that would be bonus of V2 as it comes with the bassinet already) or Cybex Cloud Q car seat (which fits on Gazelle) as then the child can lie flat.
Thank you for your in-depth review of the Cybex Gazelle. So excited to see a review from someone who travels and has moved abroad, as it covers everything I’ve been debating about this stroller. I’m pregnant with my first, but plan to try for a second by the time baby is 10-12 months. I read all your comments about not using a double stroller in Europe (and going for 2 single strollers instead). I live in a pretty modern city in Europe, so minimal cobblestone but still have to deal with the space constraints. I agree with all your comments about the size and maneuverability of a double stroller in Europe, especially when it comes to tiny elevators and steps everywhere. My main concern is I live in the city center and walk or use public transport for everything, and taking two single strollers out alone is not an option. I do see most kids here learn early on how to use scooters or just walk, so maybe that’s the way to handle 2 without a double stroller. 🤔 Curious to know now that you’ve moved back to Europe, how your handling it. Has you son learned to use the ride on board? Do you still think it was the right choice to sell the Gazelle and go for a single stroller? I love the Babyzen Yoyo2 as well, but am concerned about how comfortable the stroller would be for daily use when it’s meant to be a travel stroller.
Here’s what we did what worked and what didn’t 😉
Remember that every child is different… I see a lot of kids on scooters, but for mine the scooter just doesn’t click and my friend had the same issue. What did click was a balance bike (he’s been using is since he was about 2y2m).
We brought one stroller with us – Babyzen Yoyo with buggy board and the balance bike. If we just go to a nearby playground or on a flat hike we bring a stroller for the smaller child and a balance bike for the older one. This set up is great, but if we go to a busier place like a local market, downtown, somewhere cars are moving fast or where they’re not allowed (eg fairs, zoos and other venues) then a balance bike isn’t an option and we bring a buggy board. My older likes to be seated so the Yoyo board works perfectly because it has a little seat. All our European friends do the same, because like you say – there’s no other way to fit a giant double anywhere.
If one of us has to go shopping Yoyo obviously won’t cut it because the shopping basket is too small. But then the local stores are so narrow that if it wasn’t Yoyo I’d need to leave the stroller outside and carry the baby which just isn’t an option (because let’s be real: even shopping with an unrestrained 2-3 year old running around the store is an adventure alone and cannot imagine adding a baby to the mix :D), so there’s no way – we go proper shopping by car at a bigger store or one person goes and other stays with the kids.
The only exception to this rule is when we travel: we bought another small travel stroller for the older child, because when we travel we want to be out all day with a lot of walking and eat out (and for example, you know that in some places dinner is late so kids might be tired) so a second stroller was essential, because while my older son stopped napping at 2 if he’s out all day he might take a snooze in the stroller and buggy board just won’t cut it in those situations.
One thing I feel like it’s worth mentioning because it’s not being talked about enough is that some kids will ride in strollers longer than others and it’s hard to predict (I saw it in my own kids and some friends’ kids too). Some kids straight up refuse a stroller because they hate being seated even around 2 and some would love to be drive up to 5 if they could. My first child now wants to be driven, vs his brother absolutely hates it and wants to walk or stand. So honestly, every set up you imagine before getting to know the kids might have get changed once they grow.
I’m wondering about the recline. If you have the lower seat forward facing and fully upright, can you also have the upper seat parent facing and fully reclined? It sort of looks like it wouldn’t be able to recline without hitting the back of the lower seat.
No, you cannot do this and honestly if you find a tandem stroller on which it’s possible it’s a red flag. Why? Because a stroller like this would be much longer and therefore much harder to drive :/
Hey, very well written reviews. We were going to buy the Vista 2, but saw many similar complaints about the weight for front seat so we did not buy it. Another option was the Cybex Gazelle S. BUT after reading your comments I think we will buy a single stroller first, and then some kind of double if/when baby 2 is here. Some info before my questions: We live in an area with lots of space, so our primary single or double stroller does not need to be too compact. We also do travel quite a bit. Europe, USA, etc. For Europe depending on the type of trip we would either take the compact stroller with us, OR if we had a single stroller that was not too bulky we would check it.
Couple questions: 1) yoyo vs butterfly, I am guessing you like the yoyo more? It seemed to handle a bit nicer than the butterfly, but we found the butterfly folded easier. 2) Single stroller: Can you list 3 options you would recommend I check out? We have been so focused on 2-3 convertibles that we did not look at single stroller options. But I think this is the route we will go as you said all kids are different, so by the time baby 2 comes around we can decide then what we want to do. We do like quality so budget is not a deal breaker. Mainly quality, weight, functionality. 3) If it were you travelling from Canada to Europe, and the baby is big enough to NOT be in a car seat for the stroller, would you take your single stroller OR your compact? I like the idea of the compact, but then you lose some storage which is nice for those longer days.
You’ll definitely need a secondary stroller for travel – compact and lightweight 🙂
1) Yoyo is much better than Butterfly in terms of quality and features. It’s not a perfect stroller, but there’s no perfect one.
2) I love Cybex Priam stroller and Babyjogger City Mini GT or any from Nuna. Honestly we often used our Yoyo as a full-time stroller too because it was so convenient.
3) 1000% compact travel stroller. Keep in mind you’ll have to fit it in elevators, carry it up and down the stairs, fold for public transportation and fit in restaurants that a full-size stroller is just vry inconvenient for travel especially in Italy, Greece, or Spain. In terms of losing storage how much stuff do you actually need? You probably won’t be shopping for groceries all the time with the stroller (also because in smaller centrally located stores your full-size stroller might not fit in the aisle), so you need to hang a diaper bag off the stroller – hence why I say that Babyzen Yoyo is the best because I can hang a bag (or second yoyo stroller actually) off the handly and the stroller doesn’t flip over (it’s not the case with Butterfly, Joolz or other compact ones).
You have been a great help, I will look up those non compact single strollers thank you. I appreciate your feedback about the Yoyo and features. Yes we would need to maybe have the diaper bag (Hang off handle as you said) and maybe a sweater or other small backpack under cargo area. I liked the way the Butterfly folds a lot more, BUT I think I just need some practice with the yoyo and it would be easy.
What accessories would you recommend I buy for the yoyo? I know that you have to buy them all separately right?
And then for now, my last question haha: If we get the yoyo, we would likely put the car seat with adapter on it when they are young. This would possibly eliminate the need for a single stroller while they are an infant? As I know you said you use the yoyo as your full time stroller many times.
The fold of Yoyo is really easy once you get the hang of it… I was actually struggling more with Butterfly because it gets stuck a lot.
In terms of accessories for the Yoyo the bumper bar for sure (it’s a separate accessory – see my full review: https://annainthehouse.com/babyzen-yoyo-stroller-review/). We had both bug net and rain cover and I swear we used these things only once, but I’d probably get the raincover if lived somewhere super rainy. We have a winter footmuff too, but naturally onyl taking it out during the winter. We use the buggy board the most since we have two kids now.
You can buy adapters for the car seat, but if you’re planning on using the stroller for an infant get the bassinet or newborn pack instead. Keeping infants in car seats on top of the stroller is a weird North American trend and no one really does it anywhere else in the world as it’s not good for the infant. The stroller folds with the newborn pack, so it’s more practical than the bassinet 😉
After discovering the Gazelle in store, your essay convinced me that this would be a better stroller than the Vista. Thank you for that!
It sounds like you didn’t use the Cybex cot/bassinet it with the Gazelle, instead favoring the recline mode on the Cloud Q? Is this something you did from newborn to when your child was old enough to use the seat?
Correct, that way my older son could seat facing the front and baby was fine as fell with a fully reclined car seat. Plus, we traveled to another country for the birth so didn’t want to bring a ton of stuff, but if it’s your first baby then I’d definitely get the bassinet!
Oh, any specific reason to have the bassinet AND the reclining car seat? Peace of mind?
I meant either but the issue with tandem strollers and bassinet is that it must be on the bottom if you have an older child (which for me wasn’t an ideal solution) so I got a reclining car seat instead so I could fit it on the top of the stroller 🙂 But if it’s your first child for now it’s much more convenient to use the bassinet for walks.
Thank you for clarifying!
Thank you for the review. I have a toddler and expecting baby no.2. Can I use the seat unit that already comes with the stroller and the car seat at the same time or do I have to buy the extra seat? My toddler will be walking everywhere by the time new baby is in the seat unit
Yes, you use the same seat that comes with the stroller. You only need to purchase an extra seat when your baby moves to a seat because you’ll then need 2 seats (after he’s done with a car seat or bassinet).