Best Travel Stroller for Two Kids – Life-Changing!

Traveling with a 2 year old and a 4 year old for 2 weeks in Europe can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating narrow cobbled streets, crowded markets, and the public transport system. As a parent, I knew I needed a compact stroller that could carry both children comfortably while being easy to maneuver.

After extensive research, I found the best travel stroller for our needs: the Thule Shine Stroller with the Rider Board attachment. This particular set up proved to be an excellent choice for traveling around Europe with kids.

The Thule Shine Stroller is lightweight yet sturdy, making it perfect for long days exploring. The Rider Board attachment was a lifesaver, allowing my older child to hop on and off while my younger one stayed seated.

Why I Love the Thule Shine Travel Stroller

1. Perfect for Navigating Europe’s Challenges

The Thule Shine is a lifesaver for parents exploring European streets, especially in old towns with narrow and winding paths. Its compact design makes it easy to push through tight corners and bustling streets, while still fitting comfortably on metro trains and in smaller eating areas. Though it’s not the lightest weight stroller, the extra weight is a small trade-off for its ability to comfortably accommodate 2 kids.

The seat can switch from forward facing to rear facing, and the handle bar length is adjustable, making it comfortable for both me and my husband to push without stepping on the rider board. The storage basket is larger than most, which is essential for a double stroller setup. While it’s barely too wide for some metro entries, cities like Paris and New York have doors for strollers and wheel chairs, making it easy to navigate.

2. Effortless Folding for On-the-Go Families

One of the standout features of the Thule Shine is its easy one hand fold, which is a game-changer for packing and unpacking between destinations. Whether folding it for the airplane, the Eiffel Tower, or security check points, it collapses to a travel-friendly size, making it easy to carry or stow away. The handle bar length is also adjustable with one hand, a big bonus when hopping on and off crowded busses and metros. This feature ensures you can quickly maneuver the stroller into a tight space without hassle.

3. Comfort That Keeps Kids Happy

Traveling can be tiring for kids, but the Thule Shine ensures they stay comfortable with its comfortable seat, adequate padding, and multiple recline positions. The adjustable canopy keeps the sun out even when kids are leaning back, and the peek-a-boo window lets you keep an eye on your child. The seat reclines close to completely flat, perfect for long naps, and the foot rest area is adjustable for added comfort.

4. Built to Handle Any Terrain

The Thule Shine isn’t just aesthetic—it’s built to last. With all wheel suspension, it effortlessly handles cobblestone streets, grass, dirt, and hills. Whether you’re exploring historic cities or venturing into nature, this stroller is built to handle it all.

Why a Double Wide Stroller Isn’t Ideal for Travel

Traveling with two kids in Europe taught me that a double wide stroller is more trouble than it’s worth. The streets and sidewalks are often narrow, and many shops and doorways are too small for a double stroller to fit. Constantly folding the stroller to navigate public transportation or tight spaces became a hassle, making it feel like more work than it was worth.

Instead, I found a better solution for our family. My older toddler enjoys walking and only needed to ride in the stroller about half the time, while my youngest relied on it more.

For those moments when I needed to carry both kids, I used our Ergobaby soft carrier. If my older kid wanted to ride, I could wear my baby or use the carrier to free up the stroller. This setup was far more practical for short amounts of time and made traveling much smoother.

Why the Rider Board is a Game-Changer

The Rider Board was the perfect solution to turn our Thule Shine Single stroller into a double stroller. It clipped on easily, and when not in use, we could fold it up and secure it with the thick elastic provided by Thule in the box. My toddler, who’s almost 4 years old but short for his age, loved to stand on the board while we pushed him. He could easily see over the top of the stroller, which kept him entertained and engaged.

One of the best parts of the Rider Board was its versatility. My toddler enjoyed sitting on it with his legs either resting on the bar it was attached to or stretched out into the basket. We’d lay the soft carrier or a jacket on his lap, and he’d happily play with his mini magnetic blocks.

When he was really tired, he’d even lay underneath the stroller in the storage basket, with his legs stretched out onto the Rider Board. This was a lifesaver when our baby was already in the stroller. While I couldn’t find the max weight capacity for the underneath storage, it never seemed to strain the basket—though I’d recommend trying this at your own risk!

A quick note: I’ve tried a different stroller with a rider board attachment before, and it was a nightmare. We kept stepping on the board, and it wasn’t comfortable to push. The Thule Shine, however, is a dream. Its handle bar is adjustable, so when fully extended, you walk further back and avoid stepping on the board. Even at 5’3 and short, I had no issues pushing it while my toddler rode.

Why the Thule Shine is the Ultimate Choice

The Thule Shine Single stroller was a great addition to our travel gear during our recent trip to Europe. Its adjustable seat, handle, and footrest made it incredibly versatile, while the rider board attachment was perfect for our four year old. Together, this setup allowed us to effortlessly navigate the narrow streets and cobblestone paths of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

What truly stood out was how well the stroller adapted to different terrains and situations. Whether we were exploring bustling cities or quaint villages, the Thule Shine proved to be a reliable companion. Its compact design and thoughtful features made traveling with two kids not only manageable but also enjoyable.