Joie Aire Twin double pushchair review

The Joie Aire Twin is the purse-friendly brand’s answer to a side-by-side double buggy. It claims that the stroller is lightweight – the holy grail if you need a double buggy – as well as being easy to fold with one hand.

It also says that, thanks to seats that recline independently of each other and separate hoods, the Joie Aire Twin will suit children of different ages as well as twins. Although the seats recline flat so it can be used from birth, it does not have a carrycot option, and it cannot be used as part of a travel system.

Tested by:

Jenny, who lives in Hertforshdshire, tested the Joie Aire Twin with her two-year-old twins, Cooper and Cameron, for strolls in the park, shopping trips to the local high street and nursery runs.

What were your first impressions of the Joie Aire Twin stroller?

My first impressions were really good. As soon as I took the buggy out of the box, I was impressed with the quality of materials and its sturdiness. It just looked and felt very well made. The fact that it was stylish was a bonus.

How does it compare to other lightweight twin pushchairs you have tried?

I usually use the Baby Jogger City Mini Double (£409.70 on Amazon), which is actually the same weight as the Joie Aire Twin at 11.8kg. I found the Joie Aire Twin easier to fold, but it doesn’t ride as smoothly as my City Mini Double, but as the Aire Twin is more than half the price, I would be willing to overlook this.

My boys also loved the Joie Aire Twin because they can sit more upright in it than in the City Mini Double or the Mountain Buggy Duet (£579).

What age is the Joie Aire Twin suitable for?

According to the manufacturer’s guide, the Joie Aire Twin can be used from birth with the seats reclined flat up until the child is 15kg (roughly three years old). My boys are fairly big for two-year-olds and they looked very comfortable in the buggy, so I think they would still fit in it when they’re three.

Joie says the pushchair is suitable for siblings of different ages, and I would agree – the seats (and hoods) operate independently so one can sit up while the other naps. However, you can’t change the seat direction for babies – the seats both face forwards. This was not a problem for me as even from birth my boys were forward-facing. Also, at this age I find they would much rather see the world than face me.

Are the seat units comfortable and spacious enough for your children?

In common with around a fifth of Argos parents, I think the seats are both comfortable and spacious. They are well padded, with double-sided liners, and each also has a two-position leg rest.

My twins loved this buggy from the moment they saw it and had no problem jumping in and at times didn’t want to get out – which is virtually unheard of – so I can only assume they found it comfortable.

It’s worth noting that there is no division between the seats, which could be an issue with some siblings(!), but I think my boys preferred this – many Argos parents also said that their kids enjoyed sitting next to each other. In our case, I think this would only be a problem if one wanted to have a nap while the other wanted to stay up and play.

How many recline positions do the seats of the Joie Aire Twin have?

As mentioned above, each seat can be put back independently and has multiple positions, which is very handy. They’re very easy to recline and pop back into the upright position with the minimum of fuss. With the leg rests and the full recline, I would be confident that my boys would be able to have a good nap in the buggy.

What did you think of the harness? Is it secure?

I loved the five-point harness. In my experience, some harnesses can be a real hassle to clip together – not ideal when you are dealing with a stubborn toddler who is refusing to sit in the buggy. Not so with the Joie Aire Twin – you just have to slip their arms under the straps and clip the two buttons into the harness, which can be released with one click of the button.

I also liked the fact that the straps have three different heights, meaning it can be adjusted as the children grow. There is also a removable bumper bar for extra security.

Is the Joie Aire Twin easy to fold?

Like 40 per cent of Argos parents, I am so impressed with how easy and quick the Joie Aire Twin is to fold and put up. As Joie promises, it really is a quick, one-hand fold.

It works through two grey buttons on the handlebar:

• On the handlebar, push the left button out and push in the second, bigger button
• Push down to fold

How compact is the pushchair when folded and unfolded?

Unfolded, the Joie Aire Twin measures L 80.5cm x W 76cm x H 102cm. Once folded, I think the Joie Aire Twin is really compact, measuring L 78cm x W 30.5cm x H 98.5cm, but although 10 per cent of Argos parents shared my opinion, just under 10 per cent felt that the buggy is bulky when folded.

A bonus is that it’s freestanding when folded so it’s easy to store away.

Does the Joie Aire Twin fit in the boot of your car?

With three boys, we had to change cars from a VW Golf to a VW Touran, meaning we are lucky enough to have a big boot. The Joie Aire Twin fitted perfectly inside, leaving us with more than enough room for shopping and other bits. However, a fair number of Argos parents said it either didn’t fit in their boot or that it took up a lot of space, so check your boot dimensions first.

How narrow is the stroller?

As the Joie Aire Twin is only 76cm wide, I didn’t have any trouble fitting through doorways, but this aspect received mixed reviews from Argos parents, with 12 per cent saying it fitted through most doors at home and in shops, and 7 per cent saying the opposite.

How lightweight is the Joie Aire Twin?

As Joie says, the Joie Aire Twin is impressively lightweight for a double stroller – this was one of the most-praised aspects of the pushchair, with 39 per cent of Argos parents remarking on it. It weighs 11.8kg and thanks to the sturdy frame and small wheels it feels fairly easy and light to lift.

How easy is it to push and steer on smooth surfaces?

In common with nearly a third of Argos parents, I found it nice and easy to push on even, flat surfaces, feeling sturdy and smooth.

However, I struggled to mount kerbs due to the small wheels. I used all my weight to push down on the handlebar and I simply could not get the wheels up – instead, I had to reverse up every kerb. Having said that, my husband tried and had no issue – and neither did any Argos nor Amazon parents.

How does the Joie Aire Twin handle more challenging surfaces?

Although it has all-wheel suspension, I found it slightly tricky to manoeuvre on grass in the park, but only a small number of Amazon or Argos parents mentioned this in their reviews.

How did you find it on public transport?

With my eldest on the scooter and the twins in a double stroller, we either drive or walk everywhere. However, a fair number of Argos parents said taking it on the bus was no problem.

How is interacting with your children when in the Joie Aire Twin?

I loved the fact that there are peekaboo windows in the hoods so you can check on your children – very useful when it is nap time and you can’t stop the forward motion in case it wakes them.

Do the hoods provide decent cover?

The hoods are great as they are UPF 50+ and come a decent way down to protect my boys from any glare. I like that the hoods are dark, too, rather than brightly coloured, as I feel it is important for nap times.

Each hood can be adjusted separately, and they were lovely and quiet to pull back or extend. I would have liked them to have come down a bit lower, but for the price of the buggy, this is more of a wish, than a complaint.

What do you think of the wheels on the Joie Aire Twin?

It has small, lockable swivel wheels, but I think larger wheels would really help when mounting kerbs and tackling more difficult terrains.

Does the frame feel strong and durable?

The frame is sturdy and durable. I did not find it flimsy or wobbly, even when struggling with grass surfaces or attempting to mount the kerb. It has a good solid finish that gives me confidence this product will stand the test of time.

What do you think of the handlebar?

It would have been nice to have an extendable handlebar for taller parents, but as I am 5ft 5in, it was the perfect height for me. My husband is 5ft 9in and didn’t find it a problem to push, either. Taller parents might want to double check, though.

Are the brakes effective on the Joie Aire Twin?

I absolutely loved the flip-flop friendly brake, it was in the right position and easy to use.

Is the Joie Aire Twin’s basket easy to access and a good size?

The basket is one of my favourite features: with three boys I am forever schlepping bags around. This large, easily accessed basket means I have plenty of space to store everything when out and about. Its generous size was a hit with plenty of Argos parents too, although a few mentioned that it is hard to access if both seats are reclined.

How did you like the look of the pushchair overall?

The Joie Aire Twin is stylish and great-looking. We had the Rosy and Sea design, which has double-sided liners that are pink on one side and blue on the other – a nice bonus. The colours actually look nicer in real life, not as bright as in pictures I had seen, so I was pleasantly surprised. If you prefer darker colours, the Aire Twin also comes in Dark Pewter, with black-and-grey striped liners.

Is the Joie Aire Twin easy to build?

I’m very impressed with how easy it was to build the product. It came almost fully built, I just needed to add the wheels and extend the basket. It took me less than 15 minutes. The instructions were very clear and concise but I barely needed to refer to them.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Hoods
• Wheels
• Bumper bar
• Basket
• Rain cover

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy?

No, there aren’t additional extras that you’d need to get.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the pushchair?

The fact that it is tricky to tackle kerbs (even the smallest ones).

What was your favourite feature?

I’d say it’s a tie between the one-hand fold and the big basket.

Is the Joie Aire Twin stroller good value?

The Joie Aire Twin is great value for money – a view shared by 15 per cent of Argos parents and a third of Amazon parents. Sure, pitched against pricier double buggies it may feel like it could ride smoother, or not have as much suspension, but for the price you pay and what you get it is well worth it.

Where can you buy the stroller?

The Joie Aire Twin is available to buy from Amazon, Argos and Boots.

MadeForMums verdict:

My twins and I loved the Joie Aire Twin and am astounded that such a well designed, stylish and good-quality buggy costs less than £150. It’s easy to put up and the clever, one-handed fold makes it easy to collapse, plus I had no trouble fitting it through doorways.

It makes a great everyday choice for twins or siblings. It would also be great for parents who want an alternative lightweight buggy for holidays or one to keep at the grandparents’ as its freestanding fold makes it easy to store.

On the whole, I would recommend it – as would 97 per cent of Argos parents, three quarters of whom loved it so much they scored it 5/5

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