The Product: Premium Double Stroller

A huge fan of Phil & Ted’s strollers since the original E3 came out, I have been eagerly awaiting the company’s new top-of-the-line Vibe buggy—and it’s just in time for baby No. 3! We received the Vibe buggy about a month ago and have been testing it out since. If you are new to Phil & Ted’s strollers, I suggest that you first check out my Sport Buggy Review. The Phil and Teds Vibe was formally going to be called the Phil and Ted's GT and went on sale in the US in the April 2008.

Recommendation: Phil & Ted's Vibe Buggy Stroller Review

The Vibe is clearly a step up for Phil and & Ted’s. It looks a little more trendy and expensive than the Dash, Sport Buggy or Classic thanks to the all-aluminum frame, which also helps shed a few pounds and puts it in the league of more upper-class strollers such as the Bugaboo. New features also make the stroller more user-friendly. My favorites are the hand brake, which allows you to lock and unlock the wheels without taking your hand from handlebar; the removable, washable insert pads; the improved connectors, which make attaching the second seat much easier; the plastic foot tray, which is easy to clean; the adjustable handlebar; and the multi-position sunshade. The ride is very smooth—a noticeable improvement over the Sport Buggy. However, the Vibe Buggy does seem a little wider than its predecessor, sacrificing a bit in turning radius and nimbleness.

The Phil and Ted’s Vibe is really easy to assemble and most of the major parts have been made to “quick release,” which is great for traveling; we had it assembled in a matter of minutes. The biggest challenge of the Vibe Buggy was figuring out how to fold it. The pictures are clear, but it at first seems as if you’re bending the stroller the wrong way when you fold it up with the doubles kit attached. I assume that regular use will make this easier; there’s a learning curve to folding most strollers, and its definitely an improvement over having to remove the doubles kit each time. Most strollers have a unique way of folding that you just have to learn from repetition and it’s taken quite a bit of clever engineering to get the Vibe to fold as flat as it does with the seat attached. My only complaint with folding the Vibe with the double seat attached is that it exposes the removable seat pad liners, which get dirty very easily, particularly in the trunk of your car. This is a good reason to get the all-black model.

Highlighted Features:
•           Adjustable handle with one-touch brake
•           Slide and click doubles kit
•           Folds with doubles kit attached
•           Zip-on storm and sun covers

All in all, this is a great stroller. Phil & Ted’s has clearly upped the ante, giving consumers a ton of choices and features with all of the new models. Those who are willing to spend the money should be really happy with the Vibe.

Devil's Advocate:

The handlebar brake button is easy to hit by mistake, which can cause the stroller to brake unexpectedly. But, the really difficult choice here is which model to get. How much money is it worth to get more features? In my opinion, going from one to four models was probably too much. Phil & Ted’s should just have offered a basic model and a high-end one—plus accessories to customize each. My advice would still be to get the Vibe if your bank account allows: good strollers with good features keep moms and dads happy.

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