Baby Trend Expedition Double Review

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Ease of Use

The Expedition is harder to use despite having many features that parents want.

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Fold and Unfold

The Expedition is relatively easy to fold, requires two hands to fold, has a manual locking mechanism, and self-stands. It takes four steps to fold (including releasing the safety straps) and requires bending down about halfway, but it isn't complicated or involved. Unfolding is more difficult because it tends to want to fold back up as you unfold it, and the size makes it somewhat unwieldy. It only has two steps, but it does require both hands and some patience.

Storage

The Expedition has divided under-seat storage. It can hold two large diaper bags, but the strap divider prohibits anything larger. The bin's weight allowance is only 5 lbs, so it limits what you can put inside. It has access from the rear and some from the sides, but the top and front lack access.

Each seatback has a large mesh pocket, and we like the location for quick access to items. We couldn't find a weight allowance for the pockets, but the thin mesh will be self-limiting and could stretch or rip if you aren't careful. We like that the pockets have a string to tighten the opening and are adjustable. It also has a parent console with two cup holders and a covered storage tray; it is arguably the best parent's tray in the review.

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The passenger seats have mesh pockets inside that are fairly wide and fit some sippy cups. The Expedition has 2.75-inch deep cup holders high and behind the baby's head in front of the handlebar. The holders have a closed design, and taller or heavier items can fall out while strolling, potentially landing on the baby.

Harness

The Expedition sports 5-point harnesses in each seat. The harness can be difficult to buckle, but unbuckling is even harder because the button is hard to press. The straps spring away from the buckle, which speeds up the unbuckling. Adjusting the straps is only average, as the upper straps tighten with a single pull while the lower straps require significant maneuvering. Shoulder height adjustment is a rethread design with three positions, and the crotch strap is only adjustable in length.

Brakes

This stroller has double-action brakes that require the depression of two pedals. While this style isn't the end of the world, it does leave room for error if you forget to press the second pedal. Double-action brakes are more commonly found on inexpensive strollers. The brakes are difficult to set and release, and are not sandal-friendly (a disadvantage that might leave parents reluctant to set both sides).

Maneuverability

This stroller excels in maneuverability. It's impressively easy to push and steer, nearly matching the performance of much more expensive strollers with rubber tires.

It performs very well on flat surfaces, but it's somewhat wide, and the rear wheels tend to get stuck in narrow spaces because they extend beyond the frame. We had difficulty catching the wheels on the floorboards and couldn't fit it through a 34-inch doorway with a 32-inch opening. Pushing off the beaten path is easy; it moves well over grass and gravel. The larger wheels make it easy for this jogger to make it over uneven surfaces.

Transporting and Storing

The Expedition is light enough to lift or carry short distances. It's not ultra-compact but far from the bulk of larger doubles.

Weight and Folded Size

Weighing 30.6 lbs, the Expedition is on the lighter end of double strollers. While not the absolute lightest, it is still manageable to lift for most.

The Expedition is 18,401 cubic inches when folded. It could be reduced slightly by removing the front wheel.

Kid Ride

The Expedition isn't particularly impressive. It has some good features, like a deep recline that's great for naps, but it lacks others, such as an adjustable leg rest and a smaller canopy with less sun coverage.

Seat

The Expedition does not have an adjustable leg rest, but the padding on the rest feels nice. Both seats have the same recline adjustment, which requires two hands and is fairly involved. The recline has infinite positions, allowing each little one to have the recline angle they need to be cozy.

Sunshade

The Expedition has one canopy. This canopy is small and doesn't extend far enough to cover the leg rest on the seat. It offers ventilation and has one medium-sized mesh peek-a-boo window with a hook and loop closure on the cover. The canopy can be rotated forward, but this limits overhead protection.

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Quality

The Baby Trend brand is usually one of the least expensive options in almost every gear category. Since you tend to get what you pay for with strollers, it isn't surprising that the Expedition provides below-average quality compared to the more expensive options.

The fabric's quality is only so-so, but the padding under the fabric is decent. The piping on the leg portion is raised and feels like it would chafe. The canopies are made of heavier, more durable fabric, with softer canvas on the seating areas. The mesh peek-a-boo window is harder to snag than it looks, but the storage bin is relatively flimsy.

The frame on the Expedition is solid, but it looks flimsy and cheap. It has a lot of plastic components, and there is flex. The overall fit and finish are on the flimsy side. The tires are pneumatic rubber, and the wheels are spoked. The wheels are described as bicycle wheels, which sounds impressive, but we had trouble with the wheels and the rubber staying on. All the wheels had trouble with the rubber falling off at one point or another. The tubes are fine, and they didn't go flat, but it was a hassle and annoying. We suspect the average parent won't know how to fix this and might end up at a bike shop paying money.

The handlebar is stationary and has a smaller diameter, which is never a good thing for something you may need to hold for a longer duration. It has a rubber cover, which we don't like as much as foam for comfort and heat reasons. There is a divide in the handlebar with a plastic portion that sits on the ground when it folds and stands. This means it is challenging to push with one hand.

There is no suspension, which is a shame for a jogging/all-terrain stroller and is short-sighted. However, we can almost forgive this for the price, given that the tires are rubber, and the sling-style seats should make the ride somewhat more comfortable.

Car Seat Commpatibility

The Expedition does not work with any infant car seats from any brand. This means children must be independently sitting with full head and neck control before using this stroller.

Ease of Setup

It took us about 9:20 minutes to set up the Expedition.

The documentation is also average, with a multi-language format that is hard to use. The assembly requires a crescent wrench and a Phillips head screwdriver, while most of the competition does not require tools.

Twins

The Expedition doesn't accept any infant car seats, making it a poor choice for infant twins. For parents looking for an instant option for newborns, this stroller will not fit the bill, as children need to be at least six months old to ride. However, because it has equal seating for both passengers, it could be a good solution for price-conscious parents of older twins and children of multiple ages. If saving money is the plan, most families can still save money by choosing this option for older children and a frame stroller for infant children in our favorite car seats. Both strollers together total close to $300, which is still a very budget-friendly combination and below most double options that accept two infant car seats.

Should You Buy the Expedition?

If you want a smooth-moving stroller for two that you can take off-road without a hassle or go on the occasional jog, then this budget-friendly double is the one for you. While it has some sub-par features like a smaller single canopy, we think you get a great deal in this lightweight stroller for the price, and we believe it is hard to find a better choice for a similar price.

What Other Double Strollers Should You Consider?

If budget isn't a concern or you have more to spend, we wouldn't necessarily choose the Expedition over the easier-to-use and higher-quality doubles like the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie and the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double. Both options have a slight edge on maneuverability, but more importantly, they have more useful features like larger canopies, better storage, and adjustable tracking and handlebars.

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