Joovy Caboose In-Depth Review

The most popular of the Joovy strollers, the Caboose is a sit and stand weighing 26 pounds with a 38-inch length. The Caboose has features such as a large sun canopy, front mount car seat adapter, two-position reclining seat, large storage basket and foam handles both for parent and for the standing child.

The Caboose is most basic sit and stand model that Joovy carries, but it has gotten a huge number of glowing reviews for its durability and ease of use. Parents write in again and again saying that this stroller "saved my life" because it was so much easier for their older child to stand on the platform in back.

This may not be the lightest nor the shortest sit and stand model, however, it is still easy to maneuver and steer and isn't too long. There are seven color schemes to choose from and the Joovy Caboose tandem stroller has received hundreds of reviews online with an average 4-star rating. Read on to find out why parents love this stand-on stroller.

Joovy Caboose Features:

• Car seat compatible; accommodates most major brands with universal adapter
• Compact fold
• Locking front swivel wheels
• Large sun canopy
• 5-point safety harness in seat, 3-point harness on rear bench
• 2-position reclining seat
• Bench slides forward or backward to accommodate various child height
• Removable child snack tray with cup holder
• Foam covered handles for both parent and standing child
• Large storage basket beneath seat with elastic sides
• Storage pocket on seat back
• 26 pound stroller weight
• Comes in 7 fashionable color schemes

Lighter weight, compact and sturdy

Joovy Caboose tandem stroller is an excellent choice for two children because it offers all the features of a full tandem stroller, and yet it is lighter than most double strollers and it offers freedom of movement for the older child.

With freedom of movement comes a need for sturdiness and that's what you'll get with the aluminum framing; it has square tubing. According to a review, the square tubing makes the Joovy Caboose frame stronger and more rigid than strollers with oval or round tubing.

The Joovy Caboose is lightweight compared to other brands of tandem or sit-and-stand strollers at 26 pounds. For comparison, the most basic Baby Trend Sit N Stand stroller is 27 pounds and the Mia Moda Compagno weighs in at a hefty 34.4 pounds! If you need even lighter weight for your sit and stand stroller, you might want to check out the Caboose Ultralight; it weighs only 21 pounds.

You will appreciate how compactly the Caboose folds down. A mom mentioned in her review that she loves the Joovy Caboose because it folds about as small as a single stroller. Its canopy and child tray nest compactly when folded, which adds to the valuable storage space you need in your car or closet.

What's it like to steer?

The Joovy Caboose stroller is easy to maneuver. It can go through store doors easily compared to a regular side-by-side double stroller, making it extra convenient for busy moms. A shorter wheel base means it has short "footprint," making steering virtually effortless. Moms enjoy pushing the Joovy Caboose as it is not as heavy as other tandem or double strollers, which becomes more difficult as children get bigger. It pushes easily, allowing smooth rides for your two precious passengers.

How versatile is the Caboose?

Picture this: the Caboose allows a baby to ride in front and an older child can enjoy standing on its patented platform at the back, and when the older child is tired, he can turn around and sit on the padded rear seat. A pleased mom said in a review that her two children love to swap seats while they are strolling at the park.

Parents can also carry their newborn in the front seat, since the Joovy Caboose tandem stroller comes with a universal car seat adapter that is compatible with many other brands of infant car seats such as Baby Trend, Chicco, Combi, Evenflo, Graco, Peg Perego, Maxi Cosi, Britax and Safety 1st.

The canopy and fabric

The Joovy Caboose tandem stroller comes with a large canopy. It protects your two children from the elements, and keep them comfortable in their seats. The fabric on the Joovy Caboose is made of high quality nylon, just like the fabrics used for making luggage and backpacks, which makes it highly durable, fade resistant and long-lasting.

Comfortable padding

What safety features does the Caboose have?

For safety, the Joovy Caboose stroller comes with padded harnesses that have reflective stitching, which is great for extra safety at night or in a low-lit area. The front seat has a 5-point harness, while the rear seat has a 3-point harness. These safety harnesses keep your children safe and secure in their seats during rides.

A happy mom mentioned that her toddler loves to climb in and out of the Joovy Caboose on his own; she does not need to lift her heavy toddler anymore. In addition, she loves the fact that she can push her two kids from her car to the store at once and keep them safe, particularly in a high traffic parking lot.

What is the storage space like?

What about accessories?

Although the Joovy Caboose tandem stroller does not come with a parent tray, it is not much of a problem. A savvy mom said in a positive review that she bought a cheap parent tray and it worked perfectly. A mom also loves the removable seats and made her own seat covers for her two boys in fun, colorful fabrics.

The Joovy Caboose has extra accessories that can be purchased, such as the Joovy Cool Essentials Parent Organizer with a two cup holder and zippered pockets, adding an additional 2 feet of storage!

A Snuggin Go is a Joovy recommended product, and it is a body positioning pillow for your child's comfort and for better breathing. Parents can also buy a rain cover and a sun filter that provide extra protection against the elements.

See this Joovy demo video:

How much should you pay for this stroller?

The Joovy official website has the Caboose listed at a suggested retail price of $149.99. Looking around at different web retailers, I've noticed that most charge full retail price. Prices tend to fluctuate, of course, but as of the time of this writing, Amazon has the lowest price for the yellow "Lemontree" color.

What others are saying

The first thing I noticed when reading reviews about the Joovy Caboose was that parents remarked right off the bat how easy it is to assemble this stroller. That's handy to know when you're ordering it online and you know you're going to have to be the one to put it together!
"It was super easy to put together, I did it myself in about 15 minutes."

There are also a few comments from parents who use the car seat adapter and they remark at how convenient it is that their brand of car seat fits just perfectly.

Several parents have taken their Caboose strollers with them on flights and on vacations and it has held up well. One family took this Joovy stroller with them to Thailand where the sidewalks are just awful for strollers.

It maneuvers quite well and the older child absolutely loves being on the "big kid" seat with the freedom to get in or out. This makes life much easier for mom, too. Read what they say:

A mom from Lancaster, PA loves the Caboose because it is easier to maneuver than her full sized double stroller and it's smaller, too.

Lisa from Canton, Michigan can shop at the mall because she can now strap in her 3-year-old son so he doesn't run around.

Jen calls it a great stroller for the size: it is not as big or bulky as other doubles and she likes the easy maneuverability, especially since her sons weigh 65 pounds total.

Disadvantages

The main negative comments involve the hefty weight of this stroller. Many parents, however, don't give low ratings for this fact - it's not a deal breaker for the Caboose.

A couple of Caboose owners have remarked that this stroller is not nap-friendly. There is certainly some merit to these comments because the front seat only has two reclining positions and the farthest it reclines back is not flat, but 130° (get out your compass from geometry class!). Some children can sleep semi-reclined and some cannot.

The storage basket can be a bit too small and difficult to access for some parents and some miss having a parent organizer and cup holder.

Where Can I Get the Best Price?

I have constantly seen the best price for the Joovy Caboose on Amazon and at the time of writing, all colors are available. Some at a discount!

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