Britax B-Ready Double Frame Review

The Britax B-Ready is a multi-seat option stroller 14 possible configurations including the use of 2 car seats. The frame is compatible with the Britax Chaperone, B-Safe car seats, the bassinet, and regular seat options. The frame of this stroller will also work with other brands of infant car seats; some of the possibilities are Graco, Chicco and Peg Perego models. This stroller works for children from birth up to 50 pounds. It has nice quality tires and a simple fold mechanism that auto-locks. It offers a height adjustable handle bar, one-step brakes, and all wheel suspension.

We also reviewed the Britax B-Ready Double in our Double stroller review. We encourage you to read this review for a more in depth look at the B-Ready and how well it performed with two seats against other double products.

Ease of Use

The B-Ready earned 5 of 10 for ease of use, tying with the Bugaboo Donkey Twin and higher than the Orbit Baby Helix G3 Double Frame. The best performer for this metric was the Joovy Twin Roo which earned a 7.

Storage

This product has a relatively nice sized storage bin under the front seat. The main drawback is the bin can be difficult use when the lower seat is installed. There is however good access from the other sides and none of the storage is sacrificed for the second infant carrier. Alternatively, when the second seat is used, the storage becomes the leg room for the rear passenger. The bin also has a nice zippered access panel in the front which seems like a thoughtful addition.

Sun Shade
The photo above shows the B-Ready with open sun shades.

The B-ready has an average size sun shade but with carriers in place it should work well to cover the entire carrier for added protection. It has a peek-a-boo mesh window for spying on passengers and the magnet closure system is silent so you won't disturb sleeping babies when peeking. The canopies are heavy canvas material that feels like it will endure well over time.

Convenience

The B-Ready has no parent tray, and only 1 cup holder. There isn't much in the way of conveniences for parents or passengers with the B-Ready used as a frame stroller. Any nice additions like belly bars and adjustable leg rests are all part of the seat attachments, not part of the frame itself or the infant carrier seats. For more information on the seating or extra storage that comes with the seats of the B-Ready as it pertains to being a double stroller please read the Britax B-Ready with Second Seat review.

Maneuverability

The B-Ready scored earned a 5 of 10 for maneuverability, this was below the average score of 6 for this metric. This product really should have performed better against the more square bare bones frame strollers, so it was a little bit of a surprise that it didn't.

This product is a little stiff to get moving and has significant sway in the handle bar once rolling. It managed fairly well in the obstacle course, but the wider set rear wheels had more trouble than some catching on baseboards and chair legs. The nicer rubber wheels did help it over the rougher terrains better than the foam filled plastic wheels did, but it still didn't do as well as the Bugaboo Donkey Twin when it came to off road capabilities. However, if you are not testing products side-by-side, you are likely to have few complaints as it maneuvered well enough and wasn't wobbly or flimsy feeling.

It is easy to push and turn around corners, but the longer length means anticipating a turn before you make it to avoid hitting objects in your path. It did manage stairs and curbs better than some of the competition, but it is a heavier product so you will need some strength to pop up either end to start the process.

Safety

Safety is always a concern for any baby product, but possibly more so with strollers. We look at a variety of potential safety concerns with the frame stroller category. Specifically, we reviewed the brakes, cup holders, and potential for tipping. The B-Ready tied with the Orbit for safety with a top score of 7 of 10. The other products in this review came in with 6s.

Brakes
The photos above show the color coded brake pedals.

The brakes on this product are easy to set and release. They have a push to set, push to release system that is easy on feet and user friendly. These brakes have the most play when set out of all the products in our review, wiggling about 1 ½ inches. This isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but it was more than any other in our review.

For sliding resistance, the B-Ready requires about 42 pounds of pressure pushing on the bar to move the product forward. It requires about 25 pounds pulling to slide it back. These results are better than any other product in our review.

Cup Holder

The cup holder on this product is set lower on the frame than many of the double strollers, but on par with the frame models. The deeper depth and lower position make it less of a safety hazard than if it sat up higher or was too shallow to hold cups and bottles firmly.

Tipping

The B-Ready tipped over when tilted at a 29 degree angle on our tilt board. This is about average for the double strollers, but was the deepest angle for the frame strollers, with the closest competitor being the Bugaboo which tipped at 27 degrees.

It only takes about 28 pounds hanging off the handle bars before the B-ready fell over backwards. This amount was second to last in our review and only the Bugaboo required less weight. Still 28 pounds is nothing to sneeze at and is still more than the average diaper bag weight.

Car Seat Attachment

Car seat carriers snap into the B-Ready very easily. It is a snap in place process that does not include any additional straps or steps. The frame will accommodate the Britax CLICK & GO integrated adapter system which works with the BRITAX CHAPERONE and B-SAFE car seats. When used with an Infant Car Seat Adapter Frame, other products like the Chicco Key Fit, Chicco Key Fit 30, Graco Snugride 32, Graco Snugride 35, and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio will also work with this frame. The seats are a little harder to get off the frame than get on, and the stability is a little wonky compared to the competition.

Weight and Folded Size

Weight and Folded Size

The B-Ready weighs in at 24 pounds without seats and measures 27 x 18.5 x 33 when folded. It is approximately 16,400 cubic inches total. Only the Joovy Twin Roo and the Baby Trend Snap-n-Go Double were lighter.

The fold is relatively compact for a double stroller, but less impressive as a frame product. Only the Bugaboo Donkey Twin is a bigger overall package than the B-ready when folded.

Ease of Folding

This products is relatively easy to fold if the steps are done in the right order. It isn't an intuitive fold, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy to do accomplish without too much fuzz. The handle just barely clears with the car seat adapters in place, but it does and it works well. This stroller auto-locks and self-stands. It takes 5 steps to fold this stroller and it is sandal foot friendly. It takes 5 steps to fold this product and this does not include removing the carriers. Unfolding is easier requiring 3 steps instead of 5. The fold of this product is unique, but compact.

Commuting

This product is heavier than most of the competition, but is lighter without the seats that with them making it somewhat easier once folded. It still did not do well for commuting given its overall larger footprint and heft. It can be an unwieldy stroller when you think about the frame, carriers, diaper bag, two children and whatever you might be storing in the bin. This can make it daunting to use for commuting, but it might be better instead as a primary stroller you don't plan on folding and storing much. In addition the over and under attachment of the car seats means that only one of the little passengers is going to have a good view at a café.

Wider rear wheels make maneuvering in small spaces more difficult. It can and does manage better than the double wide double strollers, but it doesn't do as well as the narrow frame strollers which simply had less going on and therefore were easier to commute with.

Ease of Setup

The B-Ready is easy to set up and takes about 6 ½ minutes before you will be ready to roll. The documentation is easy to read and laid out in an understandable format. There are plenty of illustrations for people who need a visual to "see" things clearer. This stroller scored an 8 of 10, tying with the Joovy and the Baby Trend.The Orbit and the Bugaboo were the hardest to assemble with lots of parts and less impressive documentation.

Best Applications

The Britax B-Ready will probably draw in parents who just want to make one decision and then move on. It feels like a good fit for twins from infancy to 50 pounds with just a few adapters and extra seats to buy as you go. Unfortunately, this product didn't score well in either category of double stroller or frame stroller, and it larger price tag for the main ride plus attachments makes it more expensive than buying two different products that won awards and performed well.

Buying a car seat frame stroller and then a double stroller might be a more viable option, unless parents just don't want to have to buy two products or hassle with getting something new when children outgrow the first product. The last thing to consider would be if you are sold on the idea of the inline product, then this might be a good option. Because the inline options were relatively expensive buying two products will not be wise and will not save money if you want one of the top products. In that case buying the B-Ready for all stages might just be the right choice.

Value

The B-Ready has a price tag of around $400 for just the main stroller and one seat. The car seats are extra as are the adapters. This makes this product not the best value in the group. Several of the frame stroller options were around $100 due to their minimalist nature. The nice thing about this is you can then purchase one of the award winning double strollers in addition to the award winning frame stroller and still spend less over time than buying the B-Ready. This makes the B-Ready not a great value. Purchasing the Joovy twin Roo and the Joovy Scooter X2 will cost around $350. Yes, you will still need to buy two infant car seat carriers, but in the end you will still be saving money on the whole project.

Conclusion

The B-Ready scored 3rd out of 6 products in the frame stroller review. It isn't a bad product and it does have a certain charm and quality. It is versatile and easy to use with seats that snap in place and car seat configurations that allow lots of options. Unfortunately, the B-ready just isn't great. The storage can't be used with seats for older children, can't be accessed from behind with car seats in place, and there are no other conveniences. The main problem with this product is that it is just an average product at an above average price, which means you will get adequate performance at a premium price, and that makes this a stroller we don't recommend.

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