In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Mockingbird Double is a versatile stroller with various seating configurations to meet almost any need of the multiple-child family. The company claims 19+ seating configurations, including the ability to push three little ones if you buy the right accessories. It is compatible with various infant car seats (adapters sold separately), making it one of the few double strollers suitable for infant twins. While we can see why some parents will be drawn to this stroller, it failed to match the quality of the competition, and some of the features make it harder to manage. This stroller is heavy, and the folded stroller is huge. It is also hard to push and turn. Overall, we think there are better options in our best strollers review for most families, even those with twins, and if saving and spending a little more makes every day easier, we believe it is worthwhile for the sake of your sanity.
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mockingbird company hasn't been around very long, and their main product is the single-passenger version they call the Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller. Their company mission is to empower parents with innovative products for a lower price.
Performance Comparison
While easier to use than some of the competition, some of the features on the Mockingbird are poorly planned.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Mockingbird is reasonably easy to use, with a performance in this metric better than average. Unfortunately, while the features might be easy to use, some are poorly designed and don't interact well.
The Mockingbird stroller has a button on the handlebar to initiate the fold.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
Folding this stroller requires two hands. It self-stands and automatically locks in place. You don't need to remove the seats, but you might want to, depending on where it needs to fit. While it could be a single-hand operation, the size requires both hands to balance it, and we repeatedly smashed the stroller into our knees when finishing the fold. The folding lock is very stiff and not very hand-friendly.
The Mockingbird storage bin is large and has a maximum weight limit of 25 lbs. Access is good, but depending on seat positions, it can be more challenging to squeeze past large bags.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The storage bin on the Mockingbird is large and has an interior closable pocket, which helps with organization. The weight limit for the bin is 25 lbs, which is good when carrying supplies for two. Access is good, but fitting a giant diaper bag inside can be challenging, depending on seat configurations. It also has a pocket on the back of each seat, but you won't fit much more than a smartphone inside.
The shoulder straps on the Mockingbird clip onto the side waist straps so you can use it as a 5 or 3-point harness.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The harness on this stroller has soft padding on the straps and the crotch strap. They are easy to adjust, even with the padding in place. The buckle on each seat is stiffer than the average button, but the individual straps are easy to insert into the buckle.
The brake pedal on the Mockingbird is a large press pedal in the middle of the rear axle. It is easy to set and release, but it is close to the storage bin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The single-action brake pedal on the Mockingbird is a press-to-set and release style that is easy on the feet. The brake is stiff, and it takes two clicks before being fully set, so there is a chance you might think you've set it when you haven't.
The front wheels on the Mockingbird can be locked in place to help keep it on track over uneven surfaces, but they don't offer much support and we still struggled.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
Pushing the Mockingbird is pretty straightforward as long as you go in a straight line on a nice flat surface. Turning on flat surfaces takes a lof muscle, as the stroller is long and heavy. This issue gets worse as you put more weight in the stroller. So, it can get challenging to maneuver in crowded or tight spaces with two passengers and supplies for two. You will need to plan and take your time as you move about.
The longer wheel base and frame flex on the Mockingbird make turning an even that requires muscle and planning.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Pushing through the grass and gravel feels like a workout and not a fun one. Our stroller got caught on a slight dip in the grass, and it almost caused the entire stroller to tip over. Locking the front wheels in the forward position did not help much. Moving it up onto curbs or over small bumps was practically impossible, taking all our body weight to lift it even slightly.
The folded Mockingbird is stupidly large with two seats in place. You can take the seats off before folding, but this isn't a useful solution away from home.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Transporting and Storing
If a stroller doesn't fit where you need it to go or you can't lift it, then it isn't the right stroller for your family, no matter how much you love it.
Weight and Folded Size
The Mockingbird is big and heavy, and we find it interesting that the manufacturer doesn't advertise a weight with both seats in place.
This stroller is 35.3 lbs. This weight puts it on par with the double jogging strollers. Only a few strollers in this review weigh more. Many side-by-side options are lighter with a quick fold. This stroller is also large when folded. It was one of the largest in our full-size stroller review as a single stroller. Here it is the largest, measuring 33,163 cubic inches when folded. The size can be reduced if you remove the seats, but this is a hassle to do anywhere but at home. So, if you need compact or lightweight, this is not for you.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Kid Ride
Choosing a stroller with comfort and convenience features for kids is a smart idea.
The seat back on the Mockingbird easily reclines by lifting a lever at the top of the seat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
Each toddler seat on the Mockingbird can recline easily with a lift lever on the back, and the seats can recline flat for sleeping or younger passengers. The leg rest is somewhat adjustable, but there is a point where longer legs will struggle to find comfort with the leg rest.
You can see how the Mockingbird seat sits far too close to one another and if a child was in the top seat or either seat was reclined, there would be an opportunity for kicking the passenger in front.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This stroller can accept two infant car seats (check out our best infant car seat review) or two toddler seats or one of each. Connecting two car seats works pretty well, but the two toddler seats are problematic depending on which way they face. When the two toddler seats are facing forward, it is very easy for the higher passenger to kick the lower seat or torment them with hands if the lower seat is reclined. Without separators that distance the seats like those found on some of the similar competition, these two seats are too close to one another to prevent the eventual, “Mom! He's touching me!”
The toddler seating arrangement on the Mockingbird inhibits truly useful adjustments for the comfort of both passengers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Also, when the toddler seats face opposite directions, they will hit each other when simultaneously in recline mode.
The Mockingbird canopy is nice looking and the peek-a-boo covers has a magnetic closure.
The handlebar on the Mockingbird is adjustable via a rotation method which puts taller pushes closer to the rear axle, increasing the potential for accidental kicking of the stroller.
Sunshade
The sunshades on the two toddler seats are virtually identical. Each has a mesh peek-a-boo window with a cover that closes with a magnet. It is UPF 50+ and has an extendable panel that helps create quite a large shade, reaching past passengers' knees. The only problem is when the canopies are fully open, the peek-a-boo window is in the front, so if the seat isn't facing the pusher, they will need to stop pushing and walk around the stroller to see inside. However, you can then look directly at the child without the window. So the window is only useful when the canopy is open but at its smallest size. The front is detachable for better access, but it leaves it open for dirt or supplies to fall out.
The Mockingbird is higher quality than the average stroller in this review, but it still can't compete with the higher ranking options.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The quality of this stroller can't compare to the higher-end strollers that look very similar. However, its quality is arguably on par with its price tag. It earned a higher-than-average score for this metric.
This stroller's fabric is a tightly woven nylon that fits the seat frames and canopy nicely. It wipes to clean and is somewhat liquid-resistant. The sunshade looks nice and stays taut when open. The passenger bumper and the pushing handles are well-wrapped in leatherette, with only a few errant threads.
The Mockingbird looks nice on its own but side-by-side with the competition it suffered somewhat in comparison with an overall more cluttered look.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The silver frame has a cluttered look with tons of exposed rivets and joints, giving it a messy and involved look that is unnecessary. The wheels are foam-filled plastic with a rubbery material coating them to help prevent slipping.
The overall fit and finish are good, but it struggles to keep up and pales when compared side-by-side with some of the competition. Some of the differences can make owning and using it frustrating.
We tested our Mockingbird with the Chicco Keyfit 30 and 35 infant car seats. Both require a frame adapter and have strange instructions for Velcro straps we couldn't figure out.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Car Seat Compatibility
This stroller is compatible with some Graco models, including the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 and the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX, and Graco Extend2Fit (infant models); some Evenflo seats, Cybex Cloud Q, some Chicco brand seats including the Chicco KeyFit 30, Chicco KeyFit 35, and Chicco Fit2; some Britax infant seats, Baby Jogger, Nuna, Maxi-Cosi and the UPPAbaby Mesa. We tested ours with the Chicco Keyfit 30, Chicco Keyfit 35, and the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 LX.
This stroller can accept two infant car seats with the right accessories, making it suitable for infant twins. There are two locations for attachment, and the toddler's seats easily disconnect, so you can put on the adapter where the toddler seat connects. All the adapters in our tests did not require assembly and were easy to connect. The Chicco seats were the hardest to attach to the adapter but felt the most stable once installed. In our experience, the seat can sit too far forward or back, preventing it from properly latching. The adapter includes Velcro straps and says you “may attach” them for additional security. This phrase and design doNOT instill great confidence in the installation methodology. The photo shows the straps pushing through loops in the car seat fabric, but we didn't find where this was located on the seats we tested. The Graco seat is easier to connect, but it doesn't feel as stable once connected, and we still couldn't sort out where to put the Velcro straps.
Ease of Setup
The Mockingbird assembly is easy, and the manual provides the necessary pictures and information.
We were able to do it almost without the manual on hand. All that is required is attaching the seats and wheels.
Twins
Because this stroller accepts two infant car seats simultaneously and similar toddler seats, we believe it is a potential contender for those expecting twins. To be considered suitable for twins, we like a stroller that allows for infant car seat connection, some lay-flat seats or bassinet, and toddler seats with similar features, comfort, and adjustability. These design choices allow for fewer complications, fewer sibling arguments, and a similar experience for each child.
Should You Buy the Mockingbird?
This inline stroller might look similar to other inline options, but it struggled during testing to keep up with the higher-priced competition and even some of the lower-priced options. With poor test results for maneuverability and weight and folded size, this stroller can be a pain to use in crowded or tight spaces. It is also so large when folded that it is hard to find a place to put this, and you might have to remove the seats even to fit it in your trunk. Given the higher price and disappointing functionality, we do not recommend the Mockingbird.
What Other Double Stroller Should You Consider?
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 Double is an impressive option we'd recommend to anyone. With impressive test results in almost every metric, it is hard to find a better stroller for multiples. However, the Vista is also almost twice the price of the Mockingbird, making it a potential no-go for those with tighter budgets. If your budget is smaller and you want an inline double, the Evenflo Pivot Xpand Double is a good alternative. It has a similar design, is less expensive, and performs better in critical metrics like maneuverability and weight.
