Remember when mama was gonna buy you a mockingbird? Did that ever happen? Or did you just hear about it, over and over, right before falling asleep? Well, guess what? Now you can buy your own.
Well, not the bird. But at least a stroller that’s named after it.
If you’re doing your research about those baby and toddler transportation devices you can drive around the neighborhood, you’ll soon find yourself in a rabbit hole (bird’s nest?) of stroller reviews. Allow us to add our own, no nursery rhymes required.
The Ultimate Mockingbird Stroller review (Single-to-Double edition)
Sometimes, a baby device comes around that makes us want to talk about it. It might be good or bad, based on price, functionality, or flexibility. And sometimes, it just reminds us of wanting to play some Tetris.
Confused yet? Good. You’ll figure out exactly what we mean in our ultimate Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller review. From the specs to the pricing, we’ll give you the information you need to make your own decision.
Not a big reader? No worries. Check out our 9-minute video on the stroller, including some of its more unique features, below. But be warned: you just might love it so much that you’ll want to read the rest anyways:
Heads up: The Mockingbird stroller tested for this review was provided free to us by the manufacturer. They received no promises of positive words for us. Also, Fathercraft is reader supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Details in our policies.
Just the specs, baby
As always, we’ll start with some basic info about the stroller. You won’t find any biases or opinions here, just straight-up facts to help you better understand what you’re in for when buying the stroller.
That starts with age and size recommendations for that little precious baby of yours. The Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller is compatible for infants as soon as they’re born, all the way through 50 pounds. Quite a bit of use, in other words. The manufacturer does recommend a max weight limit of 90 pounds if you’re driving around two of those little ones, reducing that maximum weight to 45 lbs per passenger.
Some other important specs and dimensions:
- Mockingbird stroller weight: about 26 pounds, which is fairly light considering that it has the potential to be bigger than your typical single stroller. That weight includes the frame, seat, wheels, canopy, and basket.
- Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller dimensions: Expect a width of just over 25 inches between the wheels, and a length of 33 inches from front to back wheel. That reduces to a 18″ depth when folded. The stroller is 40 inches tall (wheels to handlebar), reducing to 34 inches when folded.
- Stroller materials: the frame is build with anodized aluminum, while the handlebar features leatherette (leather with no animal by-products) for a comfortable grip. The seat and basket are heavy-duty nylon, which the manufacturer promises will ease the cleanup you know you’ll need.
- Wheel type: With the Mockingbird, you get solid-foam wheels, which means you don’t need to worry about pumping air into them, and also won’t get front tires. That does make the wheels a little harder to push.
- Handlebar: includes a center button for a one-handed folding mechanism that allows you to… well, you guessed it. Two side buttons allow you to adjust the height of the handlebar up or down.
- Canopy: weatherproof material with a UPF 50 rating means your little one is safe from sun, snow, and other elements. A spyhole helps you check in on your little one, while a zipper opening on the back allows for more airflow. You also get a sunshade that covers the entire seat, including those little legs.
- The basket: positioned underneat the seat, and accessible from both the front and the back of the stroller. It holds anything up to 25 pounds (12 kilos, if you’re metrically inclined).
- Seating arrangement(s): The seat (or seats, if you buy the second one) can be front- or rear-facing, with multiple reclining levels. Add on the car seat adapter, available for a little extra, and you get up to 20 different configurations in total. Mockingbird even promises a squad configuration coming soon, in which a third kid can cruise along standing at the back while the other two sit and recline.
How much is the Mockingbird stroller? The pricing details you’ll want to know
First things first: you’ll pay $395 for the single stroller, available directly on the Mockingbird website. That includes free shipping, too. Because you’re buying directly from the manufacturer, that’s a lower cost than most competing brands.
And it’s definitely less than the $5,000 you’ll pay for the Aston Martin Silver Cross—yes, there’s an Aston Martin stroller, in case you want to spend the big bucks to feel like 007 with a baby.
For your second kid, you’ll need to buy the additional seat, which costs you another $120, or $515 total for the whole set. BUT, if you know you’re going to want that additional seat down the road, or are ready for it right away, you can bundle the stroller and the second seat to save $20, bringing the price to just $495 (just add both items to your cart, savings are applied automatically). That’s still a good bit less than comparable double strollers like the Upperbaby Cruz, which start around $700.
Looking to get fancy? You can buy some other accessories as well:
- A car seat adapter for $30 makes the Mockingbird compatible with most major infant car seat brands. Check out the Mockingbird website to see if yours will work with it.
- To use the stroller with your infant, you can pay $100 for a carriage that helps it lay down flat in its own little bed, or $30 for a simpler infant seat insert.
- A seat liner to make cleanup even easier will set you back another $20.
- A rain cover is another $20, but you can get a mosquito net for just $10.
- A footmuff for cold-weather strolls around the block is $50. For your own hands, a handmuff around the handlebar costs $30.
- Looking to bring your cappuccino on the trip? A cup holder is $15, while a snack tray for the little one is $30. You can even get an organizing bag to fit the handlebar for $20.
The awesome, the wish it were different, and a verdict
The awesome
The versatility. It’s a great single stroller. And with a simple add-on, it becomes a great double-stroller. Then, you can quickly and easily turn it into a great single stroller again. Perfect for any needs, and quick to change.
- The accessories. Seriously, there’s a bunch, and they’re reasonably priced too. Check them out again in the pricing section above. No matter what you need to customize your stroller, you can probably buy them.
- The practicality. If you do have two kids, and use the stroller with both seats, you’ll be shocked how much more practical the seating arrangement is than your typical ‘double-wide’ ride for two. You can get around, and fit through doorways, much more easily.
- The build quality. Everything seems well-assembled and sturdy, without being clunky. You just never get the feeling like this thing could fall apart anytime soon, which is reassuring.
- The handling. The adjustable handlebar is only the beginning. You can get around quickly in this one, even locking the front wheels for greater stability if you need to.
- The price-quality balance. For what it offers, the Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller is seriously low-priced. It’s cheaper than competitors like the Colugo Complete, while its features and specs are at least as good.
- The looks. Does that matter for the function? Maybe not. But it doesn’t hurt to add some style points as you’re cruising around the neighborhood.
The wish it were different
- The maneuverability. Especially compared to smaller single strollers, going over curbs will be a bit more difficult. That’s normal for this size and weight, but still worth mentioning. The foam wheels may play a role, too.
- The close button placement. It just feels a bit awkward where it is, and also makes it difficult to steer the stroller one-handed without accidentally folding your little one into it like a pretzel.
- The folding arrangement. Once it’s folded, the seat is facing inwards, which makes it less compact and more difficult to store. This is true of the Colugo Complete as well, but can get a little annoying if you need to store it frequently in tight spaces.
- The second-seat folding. Speaking of folding: it might be technically possible, but we were unable to close it while the second seat was attached. Maybe our readers are smarter than we are. (Actually, they definitely are. Probably.)
- The canopy height. John’s three-year old is on the tall side. When he sat in the stroller, his head touched the canopy. Something to keep in mind if you’re considering the stroller for as much use as possible.
- No cupholder included. Okay, so you can buy it for another $15. But we were spoiled by the Colugo Complete, where it came standard. The bar has been set, people.
The verdict
If the above section felt a bit nitpicky to you, you were right. It’s tough to find any big issues with the Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller. And you definitely won’t see us killing a mockingbird here.
A reasonable price combined with the overall awesomeness of the product makes this stroller a strong buy. It’s just one of those projects that naturally stands out from the competition. Any family can benefit from owning this one, which is why we named the Mockingbird Single to Double to our best strollers of 2022 list, as the best all-around stroller.
Just the FAQs: Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller
Does the Mockingbird Stroller go on sale?
Unfortunately, the Mockingbird stroller is not and probably won’t go on sale anytime soon. Don’t spend time waiting for that price to drop. That’s okay, though. The low price, and free shipping, make it a good deal regardless.
What car seats are compatible with the Mockingbird stroller?
Great question, and thanks for asking! According to the Mockingbird website, the stroller is compatible with these car seat brands and models:
- Britax B-Safe 35
- Britax B-Safe Ultra
- Chicco KeyFit 30
- Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip & Zip Air
- Chicco KeyFit 35
- Chicco Fit2
- Chicco Fit2 Air & LE
- Cybex Cloud Q
- Cybex Aton M
- Evenflo Embrace
- Evenflo Nurture
- Graco SnugRide SnugFit (35 & 35 LX)
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock Extend2Fit (Infant models)
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 (all models)
- Graco SnugRide 35 (Lite & Lite LX)
- Maxi-Cosi Mico 30
- Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30
- Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus
- Nuna PIPA
- Nuna PIPA Lite
- NunaPIPA Lite LX
- Nuna PIPA rx
- UPPAbaby Mesa
And here’s the deal: if you can’t find your brand among all of those weird product names and acronyms, Mockingbird promises to work with you. You can contact one of their product specialists to find the best solution for your needs.
The face-off: Mockingbird stroller vs. UPPAbaby Vista V2
If you’re picking between these two double-converting stroller options, which is better? We prefer the Mockingbird, and a quick comparison between the two helps you understand why:
- The price: $395 for the Mockingbird, $930 and up for the Vista V2. Adding a second seat is another $120 for the Mockingbird and $200 for UPPAbaby’s competitor.
- The kid’s dimensions: We knocked the height limit of the Mockingbird above, but it can actually support a taller child (42″) than the Vista (40″). Both support little ones up to 50 pounds. For the second seat, those numbers drop on the Vista to 35 pounds and 36 inches, while they stay the same for the Mockingbird.
- The stroller specs: both weigh the same at just over 26 pounds. They also fold to about the same size, but the Mockingbird is three inches shorter unfolded.
- The folding mechanism: Come on, one-handed? The Vista can’t beat that, and takes way too much effort to fold.
Both are pretty similar in features like maneuverability, adjustable handlebars, and standing ability while folded. Put it all together, and there is no reason to pay more than $500 more for a stroller that’s comparable at best, and inferior at worst.
