In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Baby Trend Expedition Double is a potential favorite double stroller for parents on a budget with a three-wheel design and pneumatic rubber wheels that make it a great mover, easy to turn, and capable of handling almost any terrain. This stroller is the least expensive side-by-side option in this review, but it earned the second-highest score for maneuverability and a good score for weight and folded size. It is easy to fold, offers equal reclining with added ventilation, and under-seat storage that accepts larger items. We think parents on a budget will be excited to find a great stroller that offers this many features, is easy to push and turn, also allows for jogging, and is smaller and lighter than much of the competition.
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Baby Trend was the first company to create a sit and stand style stroller and the first to offer a diaper pail that works with ordinary kitchen trash bags. This company began designing baby products over 26 years ago with walkers, bouncers, car seats, and strollers included in their lineup. Baby Trend makes affordable gear for children.
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Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
The Expedition is harder to use than some of the double stroller competition, despite having lots of features parents want. During the testing of each testing metric, we perform a sub-set of detailed testing that is weighted and makes up the total metric score.
Ease of use is important because it impacts your daily experience when using the stroller.
We found the red pull up loops to initiate the fold on the Expedition are stiff and take some work to jiggle loose.
The lock on the Expedition is manual, but works well.
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 safety straps release) 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.
The storage bin on the Expedition is good, but would be better if it weren't divided down the middle and there was no strap on the back.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The Expedition has divided under-seat storage. It can hold two large diaper bags, but the strap divider prohibits anything larger. The bin has a weight allowance of only 5 lbs, so it limits what you can put inside. The bin 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 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.
The back pockets on the seats are a nice addition for added storage.
The parent tray on the Baby Trend Expedition Double is the nicest one in the review with a large covered storage tray and dual cup holders. However, we caution parents about using cup holders while strolling as testing reveals that items can and often do fall from holders on most strollers.
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, and the items could potentially land on the baby.
The buckle on the Expedition is stiff, but the straps pop out on their own. The shoulder straps can be removed to make 3 point harnesses on both seats.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
Harness ease of use affects your experience each time you put your child in the stroller. 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.
The double action brakes on the Expedition can occasionally skip across the gear teeth and feel like they are engaged when they aren't.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The Expedition 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).
The pneumatic rubber tires helped the Expedition earn a high score for maneuverability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
Maneuverability is where this stroller shines, performing better than much of the competition. This is impressive, given the large price difference.
The best in the group are far more expensive, have rubber tires, and only score slightly higher.
The front swivel wheel on the Expedition can be locked in place for jogging or easier pushing over uneven terrain.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Expedition did a great job on flat surfaces, but it is somewhat wide. The rear wheels tend to get stuck in narrow spaces because they stick out past the frame. We had difficulty with the wheels getting caught on floorboards, and we couldn't get it through a 34-inch doorway with a 32-inch opening. Pushing off the beaten path is also easy, and it moves well over grass and gravel. The larger wheels make it easy for this jogger to make it over uneven surfaces.
The Expedition is surprisingly light and small for a three wheeled jogging stroller.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Transporting and Storing
Being able to lift and carry your stroller is important, depending on how you plan to use it. Your choice might also be impacted by the size of your home or car space allocated to the stroller.
Weight and Folded Size
The Expedition weighs 30.6 lbs, making it the lightest jogger in the review and one of the lightest doubles overall. The heaviest stroller is 39.7 lbs.
The Expedition is 18,401 cubic inches when folded, which is on the larger side but still below the average of 18,900, and it could be reduced slightly by removing the front wheel.
These little Expedition passengers include a 2.5 year old, that is 30 lbs., 37.5" tall and a 5 year old that is 40 lbs. and 44" tall.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Kid Ride
We think parents should consider the comfort and convenience of the stroller they choose with attention to form and function that impact the ride.
The recline feature on the Expedition is easy enough to operate, but it does require two hands to operate.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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, and it requires two hands and is fairly involved. The recline has infinite positions, which will allow each little one to have the recline angle they need to be cozy.
The peek-a-boo window is a good size, but the mesh is flimsy and the cover attaches with hook and loop closures.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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 it 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.
The plastic components on the Expedition give it a flimsy look and feel.
The canopy on the Expedition is small compared to the competition and we wished it was larger like the Joovy Scooter X2.
The photos above show the Expedition with the seats upright and canopies closed and fully open, and seats reclined.
The Baby Trend Expedition is a 3 wheel jogging style side-by-side stroller.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The Baby Trend brand is usually the least expensive in almost every gear category. For strollers, you tend to get what you pay for, so it isn't a surprise that the Expedition provides below-average quality compared to the more expensive options.
The fabric is only so-so for quality, 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 we think 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 will need to be independently sitting with full head and neck control before using this stroller.
Ease of Setup
Setup for the Expedition is average, with a setup time of 9:20 minutes.
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. Most of the competition does not require tools.
The Expedition could be used for older twins or children of different ages. These little models are 2.5 years old, 30 lbs. and 37.5" inches tall, and 5 years old, 40 lbs. and 44" inches tall.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
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 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, 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.
