City Mini GT2
May 29, 2020
I did a lot of research when comparing side-by-side double strollers. For me, it had to have an adapter for my Britax B-Safe 35 infant carrier or it was automatically eliminated as a contender. I had it narrowed down to two (Britax B-Lively double and the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie double), until Baby Jogger came out with the latest double model. Why didn’t I consider the earlier version? Well I did! I was very interested in the City Mini GT, but it was quickly eliminated as an option due to it not being compatible with my Britax infant car seat. (I really liked a the price that Albee Baby offers the earlier model and the fact you usually can find it on a flash sale offering an additional discount.)
I personally had to weigh the pros and cons between the three strollers for my own personal wants and needs. Unfortunately, there were some things that I didn’t know about the GT2 until I unpackaged and put it together. Unfortunately, during the pandemic I was unable to compare models in person at a store. However, most stores don’t offer the doubles in store, so pandemic or not this could have been an issue.
Overall, I am happy with my decision given minor personal flaws for the time period I will likely get use out of the double stroller. (My first born who is on the higher end of the growth percentile will turn four right before the arrival of my second. I know I will get a year’s worth of use and am hopeful for two.) If I could have a guaranteed two years or more use out of the stroller, I think I would have been able to justify the price tag of the BOB with all the accessories I needed.
It’s definitely going to be an inconvenience to not being able to use the accessories. Another inconvenience is the fact that the five-point completely disengages when the release button is pressed. With my Britax and BOB strollers, I’ve become accustomed to the shoulder and hip strap staying connected (with the option to completely separate them) to make buckling a cinch. I definitely prefer the harness on the Britax and BOB over the Baby Jogger. I fear that it’s going to be even more difficult piecing the harness together when trying to buckle a wiggling child. It’s definitely more time consuming than it should be! I’m also not a fan of having to rethread the straps to adjust the height of the straps. This is due to being spoiled with the easy, to thread adjustment to Britax and BOB offer.
Additionally, the one-hand recline will be missed as the GT2 requires both hands to recline. This makes me fear that a sleeping child may wake when I stop to recline the seat. Also stinks that I’ll have to stop my momentum in order to adjust the recline when a child falls asleep on our power walk.
Even though I could have used the child tray on the opposite side of the infant carrier on the Britax B-Lively (as it’s one piece that is guaranteed to work together at the same time), I think the all terrain wheels on the GT2 is more necessary for my long term needs. In all reality, it’ll be six months at most until the lack of usability of accessories is no longer an issue.
I am excited to have all terrain, all suspension tires without worrying about them going flat.
Another thing to know: You cannot hang items from the handlebar such as a diaper bag. I do not believe I read this in any other reviews I had read. I’m sure plenty of people do, and/or even use a mommy clip to hang items. I personally would be afraid that the extra weight would compromise the mobility of the adjustable features of the handlebar.
The basket is everything you will read about. I personally only use the underneath basket of strollers for small items (mostly toys that my child couldn’t live without but no longer wants to hold once a walk begins). I will totally need to retrieve these items from the side or front, but think I’ll be able to toss them in from the back while walking. I can also easily put my Ju-Ju-Be snack packs in the basket, again from the side.
Overall, I am pleased with my purchase. I think that it will meet my needs in any condition. However, if the Britax B-Lively double offered all terrain tires I would have preferred it for the money and my personal preferences. If my children were closer in age, I would have purchased the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 duallie double hands down. However, I probably also would have preferred to have a smaller double stroller such at the Baby Jogger or Britax models mentioned. I don’t think I would want to take the BOB everywhere, like for adventures that size would be an issue or shopping trips. The GT2 is definitely a nice looking stroller that has a super smooth stroll. In my personal opinion, the upgrades are definitely worth the increase in the price tag!
Pros
- This newer model finally has a Britax infant adapter! (The earlier version of the double did not allow you to use a Britax carrier.)
- Super easy to put together.
- Smooth, one-hand push.
- Large peek-a-boo window.
- Breathable, mesh on the back (when the seat(s) are reclined).
- Basket it easily accessible from the front. However, I?m not sure how well/easy to use the adjustable footrest is going to work.
- Adjustable handlebar.
- All terrain, but not air-filled, tires!
- Hand brake on the side is easy to use and out of the way.
Best Uses
- Walking - on any terrain
- Shopping
- It?s Disney Approved!
Cons
- 5-point harness completely separates when the release button is pressed.
- Have to completely rethread straps to adjust height. This in turn does not allow for a perfect height, as you will have to chose the hole that is closest to your child?s shoulder.
- Cannot have the canopy installed, or fully extend the canopy on the opposite seat, when the Britax infant seat adapter is installed. Also, cannot use the child tray on the opposite seat either. (I predict the same case for the belly bar.)
- The peek-a-boo windows are a plastic/vinyl-like material. I would have preferred the breathable mesh option.
- Adjustable footrest has limited positions.
- There?s not a double parent console made specifically for the double. (I purchased the BOB double console. It?s going to work good enough, but definitely does not fit this stroller the way it?s intended to fit the BOB).