Doona Combo Review

The Doona is the first product created by the Simple Parenting™ company. This innovative seat/stroller name is the founder's nickname for his daughter Danielle. Yoav's goal was to take his new baby everywhere without the hassle of a stroller and a traditional car seat. This desire inspired the creation of the Doona. Simple Parenting's goal is to simplify life for parents and babies.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Attaching Car Seat

The Doona has a car seat and stroller that are permanently connected.

Unlike the competition, this product is all-in-one with no additional parts to carry or purchase. This design means there is no problem attaching the car seat to the stroller.

Weight and Folded Size

While the Doona is a heavy infant car seat at 16.5 lbs, it is lightweight in the combo category because the combined weight of the stroller and infant seat is far below other combinations.

The weight of this product is hard to compare. The strollers in this review were weighed alone and configured as they would be to accept an infant car seat. However, they were not weighed with an infant car seat attached. The Doona cannot be separated, so we weighed it with the infant seat and the stroller. The lightest stroller in this review is 10.9 lbs, while the average infant car seat carrier is 10-11 lbs, so combined they are 20+ lbs, or 4+ lbs heavier than the Doona. It is important to remember that unlike other combinations, you will never carry only one part of the Doona, nor will you need to find a location to store the stroller.

The folded size of the Doona is essentially the dimensions of the car seat, 8,150 cubic inches. Don't forget, you don't need to worry about two components, and you'll never need to "fit" your stroller in the car.

Folding the Doona consists of 4-6 steps and is a two-handed operation. The fold includes compressing (above left) and rotating the handlebar and releasing the wheels (above right) so the apparatus can be folded up and under the seat. It isn't difficult, and once you get the hang of it can be done quickly, but it is convoluted.

Maneuverability

The Doona is maneuverable enough given that you won't be using the Doona for your entire strolling years. Because the Doona will only be your stroller for 6-9 months, maneuverability is less of a concern.

This stroller is easy to push and turn, and its smaller overall footprint makes it useful in tight situations. The narrow width means it fits almost anywhere, and the rotating handlebar means you can control the stroller without taking up extra space.

The Doona is not great at moving on rougher surfaces, and it struggles over gravel and grass. It is light enough to pick up and carry over smaller distances, and younger babies shouldn't be moving over super bumpy roads anyway. So, while not the best at off-roading, it is on par with those with smaller plastic wheels.

Ease of Use

The Doona is the hardest stroller to use in this group, which is probably a reflection on its unique status as a car seat that turns into a stroller.

The Doona struggled in the ease of use department not because it is hard to use, but because it has limited features that are a product of being a unique car seat with a stroller.

Storage

The Doona doesn't come standard with storage. There is no basket or pocket, and parents will need to purchase storage or carry a diaper bag.

Brakes

The brakes are single action brakes that are very easy to set and release. The brake pedals are color-coded and located next to each rear wheel. The pedals are stiff to set but lock in place well and feel solid.

Sunshade

The sunshade on the Doona is smaller than the competition and does not come with a peek-a-boo window. While most car seat canopies lack a window, because the Doona is also a stroller means it would be nice if it had one.

Quality

The Doona's quality is good for what it is which s nice given the higher price tag.

There isn't much to the Doona, but it looks like higher-end materials put together nicely. The fabric is sturdy and somewhat soft, and is machine washable and fits the seat well. The frame is rigid and didn't flex much during testing. The plastic wheels are better than most and rotate smoothly. The handlebar is hard plastic and shorter than the competition, but it works well and has a nice shape. The Doona doesn't have any suspension, but this is on par with the frame strollers (the closest stroller type for similarity). Overall, the stroller has few exposed connections or fasteners and looks sleek.

Ease of Setup

This product comes completely assembled and requires nothing more than unpacking it and taking it out of the box.

Accessories

Simple Parenting has a few accessories for the Doona that improve the storage capabilities stroller, comfort, and different bases for the car.

• Doona Rain Cover — This rain cover completely covers the seat and keeps your baby protected from the weather. This accessory is ideal for strolling, and a good addition for any parent that plans to stroll frequently as weather can change without notice.

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