Get the Joovy Qool Stroller if you have three stroller-riding children or plan to have a few children and want an affordable modular stroller. What’s so great about this particular stroller is you can use it for one, two, or three children. Keep in mind, one of the children needs to be old enough to ride on a backseat meant for older toddlers and preschoolers.
Find out all of the wonderful benefits and multiple ways you can use this stroller to get your children around safely and easily. You will soon learn just how many benefits this stroller has and why it’s blowing the competition out of the water.
Also, the price offers a better value than competing modular strollers.
Joovy Qool Stroller Review
The Joovy Qool Stroller includes four configurations out of the box and over 50 ways to customize. Add on additional accessories for even more usage from this stroller. Yes, the price is higher than a stroller you can pick up at your local general store, but it does more too!
Let’s look at the various features and then look at any concerns to help you make an informed decision if this stroller is right for you.
Honestly, the only thing boring about this stroller is the color options! Otherwise, we think this is the right stroller for most families, especially if your family plans on growing.
Important Benefits of the Joovy Qool
It’s Modular!
Looking at this stroller, it looks rather simple, but it’s not as the main seat can come off, and you can change the design thanks to the modular layout of this stroller. As a matter of fact, you can change the stroller’s layout to meet your exact needs.
Inside the box, you get only get the toddler seat, but you can add in car seats, another toddler seat, a bench seat for big kids, or even a newborn bassinet. Simply grab a set of adapters and add what you need to the frame. The car seat or car seats also need adapters.
Now, mind you, all of the accessories drive up the cost. However, this is true of all modular strollers, and the price point for this option starts up much lower.
Another great feature of this stroller is the layout. Change the direction of any seating option you choose to front or back. What’s even more unique about this modular stroller is the height choices, as you can choose from three locations on the frame for a single child.
With a single child, you get 21 different combinations. Using the stroller as a double stroller, the combinations go up to 52 different layouts. Add on the third seat for four more child seating options bringing the total to 56 different seating options on one stroller frame.
The picture above only shows you a fraction of the different options available to re-arrange the stroller to your needs. Of course, you get all those options only when you have all of the accessories. You can always add on accessories as you need when your family grows.
Lovely Canopy
The Joovy Qool Double Stroller offers an extensive canopy. Keep your baby safe from the sun, rain, and wind with the five-section canopy. A great feature is that the canopy has a zipper, so you can take it from three partitions to five for added protection.
However, none of the canopies for this stroller include a peek-a-boo window. It does have a fold-up back panel with mesh instead of a plastic window, though, so you can check on your baby without disturbing them or making eye contact.
Neither the toddler seat nor the newborn bassinet offers this window that would offer so much value. Honestly, though, this is our only big issue with the stroller. If you want a peek-a-boo window though, you may want to check out a different modular stroller.
Weighty But Stable
The stroller is heavy with just the one toddler seat as it weighs 30.6 pounds. This is not a lightweight stroller but a full-sized stroller. However, the weight helps to provide stability.
Opened up, the stroller measures 39.96 x 24.8 x 40.16 inches. Folded, the stroller measures 17.72 x 37.01 x 24.8 inches.
If you want to use the stroller for babies ages zero to six months old, you will need either the bassinet or a car seat adapter for the stroller. This is because the company recommends the toddler seat for children ages six months and up.
Use the toddler bench for children ages three and up and it can support up to 55 pounds. The toddler seat also can support a child up to 55 pounds. Also, the bassinet can support a baby who cannot situp up to 20 pounds.
Furthermore, the basket underneath the stroller can hold up to 25 pounds.
Most strollers can support children up to about 45 to 50 pounds max, while this stroller gives you, even more, allowing for 55 per seat. A high weight capacity makes this stroller even more useful. Overall, you can hold 135 pounds in the stroller, which translates to 45 pounds per kid if carrying three kids in the stroller.
Double the Fun
Families with twins and an older child will love this stroller with all of the different accessories available. What’s so great about the stroller is you can use it for your first child, then add-on accessories as you have more children. Even if you have a set of twins, this is a great stroller so long as you do not mind purchasing extra accessories.
As you can buy two bassinets or use two car seats, the stroller works perfectly for newborns too. Also, while many modular strollers only offer a boogie board for older children, the Joovy Qool Double Stroller offers a bench seat you can buckle them into for longer drives.
Whether you have one, two, or three children under five, this stroller is ready to work for you.
Sealed Wheels and Simple Brakes
If the modular design was not enough to make you fall in love with the Joovy Qool Stroller, then the wheels will. Driving strollers often feels like pushing a shopping cart with terrible wheels that do not move the way you want. The tires swivel and lock too for extra usefulness.
With the Qool, the wheels are sealed to prevent dirt and debris from getting inside the grooves. Also, the front end offers suspension, too, so your baby can even stay asleep on bumpy roads. The design of two bigger back wheels and smaller front wheels makes turning and navigating a breeze.
The brakes are down by the back wheels with simple click buttons you operate with your feet. One on each side lets you activate the front of the back wheels quickly and efficiently.
Lastly, the stroller’s weight with three children on board can make going over large curbs difficult. However, this can be true of any stroller.
Adjustable Handle Bar
Moms and dads of every height will love the stroller as it comes with a telescoping handlebar. No more hunching over for a stroller that is too short or standing uncomfortable with a stroller that is too tall.
Moreover, the handlebar comes with grippy material to make pushing the stroller more comfortable. All this and the stroller is safety tested for 100 percent flame retardants, so you know it’s free of harmful chemicals.
Comfortable Seat
The seat looks like a high-end seat with tons of legroom and a foot bar. A safety bar in the front helps to keep your baby in and hang on to if they feel the need.
Next, the harness offers five points of contact with padding around the shoulder and the crotch for added comfort. All this on extra soft and durable fabric and a deep seat ready to last for years.
The seat also comes with multiple harness shoulder slots to adjust the height to fit the baby properly.
Adding the seat to the stroller is as simple as clicking it into the pre-designated spots on the frame. The same for the other attachments, so you can focus on your children and not the stroller.
Like with most high-end modular strollers, this one does not include a toddler tray. A tray is available separately for a little extra money. Those on a tight budget will definitely find this additional cost frustrating.
As for recline, you get multiple options to recline the seat down to almost fully laying down. Mind you, the more children in the stroller, the fewer recline positions available.
Car Seat Compatibility
A wide variety of car seats work with the Joovy Qool:
Britax: B-safe 35 Elite, Ultra, Bob-B-Safe and 35
Chicco: All KeyFit models
Clek: Liing
Cybex: All Aton Models except M, Cloud Q
Graco: SnugRide Sung Lock 35 Series, Click Connect Series
Maxi Cosi: All Car Seats except Mico Max Plus
Nuna: Pipa and Pipa Lite
With all these options, finding a car seat, you like capable of working with the Qool will not be a challenge.
Shallow Basket and No Organization
The basket, while both wide and large, is not very high, so your children will have plenty of legroom. It can support 25 pounds and works perfectly with any configuration, thanks to smart planning. Put anything you need in the storage basket underneath with enough room for the family dog depending on how many kids are on the stroller.
Sadly, the stroller does not include a parent organizer on the handlebars limiting your storage options. Of course, you can purchase one but for an additional cost.
Difficult Folding
Folding the stroller isn’t the easiest, especially with multiple seats. You have to remove multiple seats to fold the stroller. It’s heavy to which makes it a bit difficult to load into the trunk.
Multiple seats not attached means the stroller will take up a significant amount of space in your trunk too.
The stroller folds down in a forward motion with two hands-on levers on the side. It’s not as easy to fold down as Chicco strollers, but has all of the other benefits.
Concerns About the Joovy Qool
Weight
The stroller is over thirty pounds which makes it very heavy. As it’s big and bulky, you may have difficulty getting the stroller into your trunk. Shorter moms (raises hand) may have an even more difficult time getting the stroller into the car as it’s so bulky. Furthermore, the extra seats do not fold with the stroller, making for more you need to store in the trunk.
Measure your trunk to make sure you have enough space for all of the pieces you plan to buy with the stroller.
Folding
Additionally, those additional bulky seats are more pieces you need to attach to the stroller every single time you fold it and unfold it for storage.
Folding the stroller is already a bit of a chore that requires both hands and an awkward motion. Moreover, the stroller does not stand when folded, which means you have to lay it flat for storage.
While not a necessity, storing a stroller standing up saves floor space in your closet or garage.
Accessories
Every feature parents want ends up being an additional accessory and cost. While the stroller is a lot more affordable as a base model, it’s not as affordable once you add on a parent organizer, toddler tray, the three-figure second toddler seat, a bassinet or two, adapters, shopping bag, rain cover, and bench seat.
While all modular strollers work a la carte, the prices for accessories on this stroller are as high if not higher than the accessories for other name-brand strollers. All these additional costs can easily raise the price over a thousand dollars.
Storage Space
While the stroller has plenty of storage in the basket, it’s easy to lose access to the storage with the second seat take and the bench seat.
Leg & Head Room
Yes, the handlebar adjusts, and the stroller works in various ways, but the stroller does not leave a lot of space for your children’s feet. The footrests do not adjust or move in any way to accommodate sleeping babies or growing children. Moreover, the child in the bench seat does not get a lot of headroom either.
The Joovy Qool vs. Thule Sleek
The Thule Sleek, while an amazing stroller, definitely starts at a much higher price, and you still need to add items to allow it to work for multiple children. Two features we love about the Thule compared to the Qool are the easier access storage basket and the canopy, which includes mesh and a peek-a-boo window. Also, the Sleek stands when folded, which offers a significant advantage over the Qool.
However, while the Qool offers a bench seat with a seatbelt for older children, the Thule offers a glider board for older children to stand on. We much prefer the bench with the seatbelt as older kids move too much. Another point for the Qool besides the dramatically lower price is the accessories like the bassinet and toddler seat are all much more affordable too.
Both are fabulous and whichever you prefer really comes down to budget, and if you want full-wheel suspension, the Thule is the way to go as the Qool only offers front wheel suspension.
The Joovy Qool vs Uppababy Vista V2
The Uppababy Vista V2 offers all the same modular designs as the Joovy Qool but at a significantly higher starting point price-wise. However, the Vista V2 is absolutely gorgeous in comparison to the Joovy Qool, with better color options.
One feature that stands out about the Vista V2 is you can purchase a stand for the bassinet and allow it to work double duty in your home. Also, it stands when folded too. With both strollers, though, you will need to spend a small fortune to get all of the additional components to take full advantage of the stroller.
Choose the Uppababy Vista V2 if you want suspension on the front and back, as the Joovy Qool only has front-wheel suspension. Also, the Vista V2 includes more for the price as it comes with a bassinet and even a bug and rain shield along with a bassinet storage bag. Keep in mind the Vista V2 uses a boogie board for older children instead of a bench seat with a seat belt.
FAQs About the Joovy Qool Stroller
Can I use the Joovy Qool at Disney?
Yes, the stroller meets all Disney Park requirements making it a great choice for your next amusement park visit.
Is the Joovy Qool good for runners?
No, the stroller has four wheels making this not the best option for a jogging stroller. Best to stick with using this for travel and errands or walking.
Does the Joovy Qool include a cup holder?
Sadly, no. The parent organizer can hold bottles, but if you want a dedicated cup holder for coffee, you will need to buy a third-party option.
Final Thoughts About the Joovy Qool Stroller
If budget is your biggest concern and you want a modular Stroller, the Joovy Qool is a perfect option. We love that the stroller offers a bench seat for an older child with a seat belt. It has all the features you need to cart around three children with tons of options to make the stroller work perfectly for your family.
