Top 5 Best Double-Seat Bike Trailers (Plus Budget Options)


There are many double-seat bike trailers for kids on the market.

But which is the best one for your situation?

I have been using one specific double bike trailer for years, which I still recommend today. We got that stroller years ago when I decided to start biking everywhere with my son when he was a baby, but I also needed it to fit my daughter later on.

Here is an up-to-date list of the top 5 best double-seat bike trailers for kids.

This list is based on years of experience using many different bike trailers and teaching others how to get started riding with trailers.

My recommendation for most people: Schwinn Joyrider

My recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider (available on Amazon here), which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.

Keep reading to find the right bike trailer for you!


Top 5 best double-seat bike trailers for kids

These five recommended bike trailers are based on years of personal experience, customer reviews, and affordability.

My assumption is that you want the best bike trailer for your money, and these are truly the best bang-for-buck double bike trailers on the market. All of them have high-end features that would normally cost much more than their current price tag.

If you need help figuring out if your bike is compatible with these trailers, check out my full guide here.

BIKE TRAILERPRICESEATSSTROLLERPROSCONS
1. Schwinn Joyrider
$350 (check on Amazon)DoubleYes– Affordable
– Protective cage
– Stroller conversion
– Wide
– Heavy (40 lbs)
2. Burley Bee
$300 (check on Amazon)DoubleNo– Affordable
– Burley quality and design
– Lightweight (20 lbs)
– No stroller conversion
3. Thule Chariot Lite
$1,000 (check on Amazon)DoubleYes– Highest-quality materials
– Suspension
– Double front wheels
– Lots of storage
– Cost
– Complicated to assemble
4. Aosom Elite
$180 (check on Amazon)DoubleYes– Handbrake for safer strolling
– Bench-style seats
– Large 20-inch wheels
– Double-seat capacity
– Stroller conversion
– Frame is wider than other trailers
5. Schwinn Echo
$250 (check on Amazon)DoubleNo– Comfortable wide seat with a center harness
– Large 20-inch wheels
– High-visibility cover
– Plastic mesh cover
– No stroller conversion

1. Schwinn Joyrider
Best overall double stroller & trailer

Price: Around $350 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit
: 100 lbs (43 kg)

View on Amazon

The Schwinn Joyrider is a steal of a deal at only around $350 for a double-seated trailer that converts seamlessly to an excellent stroller. It has high-end features, such as stroller conversion out of the box, a solid protective cage, large 20-inch wheels for extra smoothness, and large interior space. You get all of that without breaking the bank at just around $350!

I personally have been using the Joyrider the longest out of all the trailers we have, and I still stand by it as the best bang-for-buck bike trailer on the market!

Note: The Amazon description page mistakenly labels this trailer as a “1 Seat” trailer, but that is incorrect. It is in fact a “2 Seat” trailer.

Pros

  • Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
  • Protective cage—Added peace of mind
  • Stroller conversion—Converts seamlessly to a comfortable stroller

Cons

  • Wide—The frame is slightly wider than average double-seat trailers
  • Heavy—On the heavier side of trailers weights (40 lbs)

I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Joyrider, which you can check out here.

Click here to view on Amazon


2. Burley Bee
Best overall double bike trailer

Price: Around $300 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: No
Weight Limit
: 80 lbs (36 kg)

View on Amazon

The Burley Bee is a well-designed, high-quality, lightweight, and budget-friendly bike trailer for frequent riders.

With the reputable Burley brand and high-quality materials, the Burley Bee is one of the best bang-for-buck trailers for anyone looking for a trailer that is just really good at being a trailer.

Pros

  • Affordable—A low price point for a high-quality Burley trailer
  • Burley quality—A high-quality trailer that might turn into a robot
  • Lightweight—Weighs just 20 lbs, which is half the weight of some trailers

Cons

  • No stroller conversion—It’s a minimalist, lightweight trailer

I wrote a full review of using the Burley Bee, which you can check out here.

Click here to view on Amazon


3. Thule Chariot Lite
Best rough-terrain double bike trailer

Price: Around $1,000 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit
: 100 lbs (43 kg)

View on Amazon

Best for active families who want the most out of their bike trailer, the Thule Chariot Lite is a top-of-the-line quality trailer that is worth every penny. Its large wheels and suspension feature make it a great option for gravel riding or mountain riding.

Although on the higher end of the price spectrum, the Chariot Lite is actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than its older brother, the Thule Chariot Cross. For that reason, the Chariot Lite makes the list of exceptional trailers and I would recommend it to someone looking for a trailer that can take a beating.

But why would anyone swing for such a pricey bike trailer?

The Chariot Lite comes with suspension, which adds extra comfort to your child on rough terrain. If you plan on any gravel or mountain rides, then this trailer is ideal for your type of riding.

But if you’re just planning on recreational riding, then the Schwinn Joyrider does many of the same things for more than half the price.

Pros

  • Highest-quality materials—Truly the best components on the market
  • Suspension—Added comfort on rough terrain
  • Double front wheels—Makes for an excellent stroller
  • Lots of storage—It even comes with a pannier bag attached to the back

Cons

  • Cost—It’s a top-of-the-line bike trailer and has suspension
  • Complicated to assemble—It comes with a lot of attachments that are hard to understand at first

I wrote a full review of using the Thule Chariot Cross, which you can check out here.

Click here to view on Amazon


4. Aosom Elite
Best budget double stroller & trailer

Price: $180 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 88 lbs (40 kg)

View on Amazon

I hesitate to even include this budget trailer option in this list because you can get an excellent Schwinn Joyrider trailer for just $350. But I feel a need to include budget options for all budget needs.

The Aosom Elite is truly an awesome budget bike trailer option. It’s my second most recommended budget trailer, after the Schwinn Trailblazer.

It has many features that you would actually expect on a more expensive mid-range bike trailer, like large 20-inch wheels, stroller conversion, and double seats.

You’ll notice that the frame of the trailer wraps around the wheels. The reason for this is to help prevent the wheels from hitting against objects on the riding or strolling.

It also has a bench-style seat! A bench-style seat is a much more comfortable riding experience for kids, as opposed to a hammock-style seat found on Instep trailers.

Handbrake

This trailer is unique in that it comes with a handbrake when using it as a stroller! This feature might come in handy when strolling downhill or jogging. It’s a nice feature to have, but I wouldn’t make a decision solely on that.

Click here to view on Amazon

Pros

  • Handbrake for safer strolling—a unique feature
  • Bench-style seats—unexpected on a budget trailer
  • Large 20-inch wheels—unexpected on a budget trailer
  • Double-seat capacity—wide seats for added comfort
  • Stroller conversion—a great feature for an affordable price

Cons

  • Frame is wider than other trailers—it sticks out a bit more on the sides around the wheels

5. Schwinn Echo
Best budget double bike trailer

Price: Around $250 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: No
Weight Limit: 80 lbs (36 kg)

View on Amazon

Schwinn really got creative with this one. The Echo is a double-seater with large 20-inch wheels for an extra smooth ride and a high-visibility yellow mesh cover.

If you’re looking for a minimalist bike trailer that gets the job done well, then the Echo is an excellent choice.

There’s one thing that really stands out to me that the average person probably won’t consider: it has three seat harnesses!

Why is that important? Well, it’s not to hold three children, but rather to allow for a child to sit in the middle of the trailer when riding alone. This allows the child to comfortably sit in the center without awkwardly sliding to one side or the other. It also comes with a sturdy bench-style seat, which is more comfortable for kids than a hammock-style seat.

Nice touch, Schwinn.

The Schwinn Echo is a steal of a deal for the extra features that you get. You can check the current price and availability on Amazon here.

Pros

  • Comfortable—wide seat with a center harness
  • Large 20-inch wheels—20 inches is the gold standard
  • High-visibility cover—an excellent color for added visibility

Cons

  • Plastic mesh cover—not ideal for getting in and out of the trailer
  • No stroller conversion—It’s a minimalist, lightweight trailer

Click here to view on Amazon


Conclusion

Although there are many double-seat bike trailers on the market, these five are the best bang-for-buck double trailers that you can get for your money.

They all offer something unique for every situation, whether you’re looking for the best overall or for a budget option.

If you can swing for a $350 trailer, I would highly recommend the Schwinn Joyrider to most people.

Still need help finding the right bike trailer?

If you need help finding the right bike trailer for you, my recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn joyrider, which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.

Check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer for more help with choosing a trailer. I also have compiled a list of the top bike trailers for every common situation, which you can check out here.

Ride on!

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Benjy Suzaki

Hi, I'm Benjy Suzaki and I love cycling with my kids. Biking has been a big part of our family life ever since I decided to bike everywhere instead of drive, including to my job in NYC from New Jersey. BikeTrailerPlanet.com is all about how to make biking a priority in your daily life through bike commuting, bike maintenance, and riding with kids.

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