Graco is a trusted brand name in the baby gear space and its Modes Adventure Stroller Wagon is a testament to that. This stroller wagon can transport two children up to 50 pounds per seat and features three-point safety harnesses for a secure ride. If you have an infant, you can add the Graco infant car seat adapter (sold separately) and still have plenty of room for your second rider.
Although the canopies can stay in place, we recommend removing them for a more compact fold. It features multiposition reclining seats for children ages 6 months up to 50 pounds each (but can hold up to 112 pounds total, including cargo). One of the seats folds down and zips to the other side to create a flat space for hauling cargo or on-the-go diaper changes. The padding on the seats is a little slice of luxury, but there’s no mesh, so we’re unsure how well the heavy material would fare in warmer weather.
Still, we tested stroller wagons ranging from $170 to $899, with many having the same great features, like canopies, storage compartments, and safety harnesses. Bells and whistles like reclining seats or a four-seat stroller wagon will result in a higher price tag, so you’ll want to consider what you can’t live without. Additionally, expect to pay more for luxury brands like Keenz and Larktale. A significant drawback to this stroller wagon is its assembly, which required us to put the wheels on axles, bolt the pull bar to the stroller, and attach many other pieces. We finished putting everything together in about 30 minutes by closely looking at the instructions.
It requires no arm strength to push or pull the durable steel frame on sand or grass, and it turns beautifully around corners thanks to front swivel wheels. One of our favorite features is how we could pop the stroller wagon up with one foot over concrete blocks—a handy feature if you need to go over a curb. Finding a stroller wagon that works on sand can be tricky; many brands make the claim, but don’t deliver when put to the test.
Some stroller wagons offer multiple adapter options for different brands of car seats. Others only accept car seats from the same brand, while others don’t accommodate infant car seats at all. To determine maneuverability, we went on a brisk 10-minute walk with each stroller wagon and took them around the lab’s obstacle course. We pushed and pulled the stroller wagons over grass, tile, sand, and paving stones, and went up and down a step and curb to test the stroller wagon’s performance in different scenarios. If possible, we executed a three-point turn in a tight, narrow space to understand each stroller wagon’s turning capability. For four-seater stroller wagons, we buckled in two additional sandbags and repeated the entire process.
There are additional exterior storage compartments on the front and back of the stroller wagon and one parent cup holder for a water bottle. We first had our team of experienced parenting editors set a timer and assemble each stroller wagon. Next, we placed 25-pound sandbags into the stroller wagons to replicate children’s weight and adjusted safety harnesses, canopies, and other features. We also evenflo car seat loaded the stroller wagons with baby gear, like a diaper bag, water bottle, toys, and more, to feel the difference in weight. We then pushed and pulled each stroller wagon across sand, artificial grass, and paving stones to determine maneuverability in different terrains. After thorough testing, we chose the 10 best stroller wagons and sent them home with our editors to use with their children.
The Keenz Original 7S is a great choice if you’re a beach-loving family. This two-passenger stroller wagon can be pushed or pulled and does really well on all types of terrain, including sand. We recommend reading the instructions before attempting to fold the stroller wagon.
Katrina tested the Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Double Stroller Wagon and loved the special seats for kids and spacious footwell. The rubber tires fared well in the lab on various terrains (although it was a bit slow pushing on the sand). We also appreciated how evenflo stroller wagon the wagon handle stores upright when you want to push instead of pull. We think the price is fair for all the attractive features of the Larktale Caravan. It has lots of space for kids, plenty of storage compartments for the whole family, and handy add-on features.
However, its 34.5-pound weight felt heavy and made it difficult to maneuver on the sand. The Little Folks by Delta Children City Wagon Cruiser gave the Keenz 7S 2.0 a run for its money (at more than half the price). We love how the compact, sleek design is lightweight and features many storage options. For example, there are two cup holders and a pocket on the removable center console to store drinks and snacks—though we wish it had more room in the console’s pocket for toys and other items. The console’s material feels flimsy and is our least favorite part of the stroller wagon’s design. Still, you’ll find an additional cup holder and side pockets for adults to store their necessities, like a water bottle and phone.
Despite the less-than-ideal assembly, the Radio Flyer wagon folds like a champ. To fold it, simply unsnap the canopy cover and push buttons on each pole to release them into the frame. A handle in the middle allows the unit to fold up to an impressively compact size and doubles as a carrying grip. First, the stroller wagon arrived folded with the instructions inside, so we had to figure out how to open it to retrieve the directions. Once we determined how to unfold the stroller wagon, it was smooth sailing—just like its maneuverability. The all-terrain wheels provide excellent maneuverability, even with the weight of children inside.