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. It features a side-by-side design, excellent maneuverability, and folds without the heft you might expect. Its three-wheeled design and pneumatic rubber wheels make it a great mover that turns easily and handles almost any terrain. The fold is easy, both seats recline with extra ventilation, and the under-seat storage accepts larger items up to 5 lbs. We think budget-conscious parents will be excited to find a great stroller that offers this many features, is easy to push and turn, allows for jogging, and is smaller and lighter than much of the competition.
Best on a budget that is easy to push and turn, even in small spaces, but regular runners might be disappointed
Hauls kids and gear, yet folds and stores easily
This simple, no-frills wagon is easy to fold, but it has no brakes, making it one we don't recommend
Below-average stroller with poor performance during testing, which doesn't make the lower price worth the savings
Difficult to use inline with hard to use storage and lower quality materials
Rating Categories
Baby Trend Expedition
Radio Flyer City Lux...
Radio Flyer 3-in-1 E...
Graco Ready2Grow LX 2.0
Baby Trend Sit N' Stand
Ease of Use(40%)
4.5
6.0
4.9
4.2
3.2
Maneuverability(25%)
5.6
6.0
5.5
3.8
3.5
Transporting / Storing(15%)
6.0
8.0
9.2
5.2
3.9
Kid Comfort(10%)
6.6
3.4
3.1
2.5
2.3
Quality(10%)
3.5
4.8
5.0
3.0
2.5
Specifications
Baby Trend Expedition
Radio Flyer City Lux...
Radio Flyer 3-in-1 E...
Graco Ready2Grow LX 2.0
Baby Trend Sit N' Stand
Measured Weight
30.6 lbs
31.2 lbs
21.3 lbs
32.7 lbs
31.3 lbs
Capacity Limits
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 50 lbs/42 in
Minimum: 12 months Maximum: 120 lbs
Minimum: 18 months Maximum: 150 lbs
Minimum: 3 months/12 lbs Maximum: 50 lbs/45 in
Minimum: Child must be able to sit unassisted Maximum: 40 lbs/40 in
Measured Folded Dimensions
32.8"W x 16.5"H x 34"L
24.3"W x 32.5"H x 14.4"L
21.25"W x 32"H x 13"L
26"W x 43.5"H x 18"L
24.8"W x 17.3"H x 49"L
Folded Volume
18,401 cu in
11,372 cu in
8,840 cu in
20,358 cu in
21,023 cu in
Number of Car Seats Accepted
0
0
0
2
2
Included Car Seat Compatibility
None
None
None
Graco
All SnugRide Click Connect Models
Universal
Click-in Car Seat Adapters
None
None
None
Graco
All SnugRide Click Connect Models
None
Strap-In Car Seat Adapters
None
None
None
None
Universal
Handlebar Height - Min/Max
40.6"
Front: 13"/36"
Rear: 12"/43"
13"/36"
43"
41.4"
Recline Front/Left Seat
Deep
None
None
Mid-Level
Shallow
Recline Rear/Right Seat
Deep
None
None
Shallow
Mid-Level
Storage Basket Size
Large
Small
Small
Very large
Medium
Sun Shade Size
Small
Large
Large
Small
Small
One-handed Fold
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Locking Fold
Manual
Manual
None
Auto
Auto
Self-standing Fold
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sandal-friendly Brake
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Included Accessories
MP3 Speakers
None
None
Cup Holder
None
Average Setup Time
10-15 min
20 min
10 min
20-25 min
5-10 min
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.
company info
Ease of Use
The Expedition is harder to use, despite offering many features parents want.
While it isn't the most disappointing in the group, you can tell some of the savings is a result of design choices that cost less and are harder to use.
We found the red pull up loops to initiate the fold on the Expedition are stiff and take some work to jiggle loose. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The lock on the Expedition is manual, but works well. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
The Expedition is relatively easy to fold, requires two hands, 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, and size makes it somewhat unwieldy. It has only two steps, but it requires 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's weight allowance is surprisingly only 5 lbs, so it limits what you can put inside to almost nothing. It does have 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.
The back pockets on the seats are a nice addition for added storage. Credit: Abriah Wofford
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. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The passenger seats have fairly wide mesh pockets on the inside and can fit some sippy cups. The Expedition has 2.75-inch deep cupholders, 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.
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
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: 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 adjustable only 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
This stroller has double-action brakes that require depressing 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
This stroller holds its own in maneuverability, outpacing some inline options and wagons.
It's relatively easy to push and steer, but it fails to match the performance of much more expensive strollers with rubber tires. We don't think it will disappoint, but it isn't as nimble as some might expect based on its three wheel desgin.
The front swivel wheel on the Expedition can be locked in place for jogging or easier pushing over uneven terrain. Credit: Abriah Wofford
It performs very well on flat surfaces, but it's somewhat wide, and the rear wheels tend to get stuck in narrow, tight 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 a breeze; it moves well over grass and gravel. The larger pneumatic 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
The Expedition is light enough to lift or carry short distances and self-stands. 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 the double-stroller spectrum. While not the absolute lightest, it is still manageable for most to lift.
The Expedition is 18,401 cubic inches when folded, which is about average. Removing the front wheel reduces this slightly, but that isn't something you'll be able to do in a hurry.
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
The Expedition offers better features for kid comfort than some competitors, earning it an above average score here. It has some good features, like a deep recline that's great for naps, but it lacks others, such as an adjustable leg rest or a larger canopy (or dual canopies) with more sun coverage.
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. There is a gentle angle leading to the fairly large footrest. 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.
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 shared by both seats. This canopy is small and doesn't extend far enough to cover the seat's leg rest. 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.
These images show the Expedition with the seats upright, the canopies closed and fully open, and the seats reclined.
Continuous Sleeping Comfort
One of the best things about a stroll for parents is that it lulls your little one to sleep. We tested the Expedition on a short course with average terrain to see how often the jostling might wake passengers. The pneumatic tires helped absorb some bumpiness, but the lack of suspension and the cheaper steel frame resulted in it registering eight potential wake-up events of moderate intensity, particularly over bumps and cracks. Since this was a below average number, the Expedition offers a fairly smooth ride, with fewer potential wake-up events than many top contenders.
The Baby Trend Expedition is a 3 wheel jogging style side-by-side stroller. Credit: Abriah Wofford
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 beneath it 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 many 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 paying at a bike shop.
The handlebar is stationary and has a smaller diameter, which is never ideal for something you may need to hold for an extended period. 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 Compatibility
The Expedition does not work with any infant car seats from any brand. This means children must be able to sit independently 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, whereas 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 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 by choosing this option for older children and a frame stroller for infants 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 hassle or use for the occasional jog, then this budget-friendly double is the one for you. While it has some subpar 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 3 Double. Both options have a slight edge in maneuverability, but more importantly, they offer more useful features, such as larger canopies, better storage, and adjustable tracking and handlebars.
