Evenflo Shyft Dualride- Review

amother

Sun, Aug 06 2023, 12:20 pm

I haven't seen anyone frum who has one so I wanted to share my experience having it for 2 months.
The Shyft Dualride is the only carseat and stroller combination besides the Doona. It came out I think in January of this year.
Just to note: I never personally owned a Doona but have been around enough to know how they work and what they are like.
Although I used to think of Evenflo as a brand you found cheap at Walmart, they have really upped their game in terms of quality and features in their newer carseats (look up their Revolve360 convertible carseat, for example). Also, Cybex is the same company as Evenflo.
Pros:
-The Shyft Dualride seems more comfortable for baby. There is a lot more padding and the whole carseat is at an incline that seems more natural for a baby than the Doona.
-The sun canopy is way bigger and does a really good blocking out sun. It comes almost to the baby's feet when fully extended. The Doona's sun canopy is almost a bracha l'vatala.
- It comes with a bag you can attach to make a basket of sorts under the carseat when its in stroller mode. It's more similar to a stroller underseat basket than a diaper bag like the Doona. That could be a con if you like using the Doona bag as a diaper bag. So the Shyft Dualride bag/basket is better for dumping things (random snacks or waterbottles at the park, for example). The Doona is better for the organized diaper bag lady Smile

- The Shyft Dualride is approved for use in Canada. Doona's are not legal in Canada since they don't meet their safety regulations. While I live in the US so that shouldn't matter to me, it makes me feel better about the safety since it is approved for use there. According to my research, Canadian carseat crash tests are more rigorous than in the US.
- The carseat base is SUPER easy to install. That is good new especially if you have carpools or times that the seat your carseat is on needs to be used by someone else. It's easy to remove and put back.
- Handlebar is longer than the Doona. Might be good news for taller people who find the Doona too short.
- The carseat can be detached from the wheels. I use this feature when I run to the grocery store. Our store has some shopping carts that have a place to put a carseat. This carseat fits without the wheels. The Doona is too big to fit there. So would the Shyft Dualride with the wheels. (How many women have you seen in stores pushing a shopping cart with one hand and a Doona in the other??)
- Babies don't outgrow the Dualride as fast as they do in the Doona.
-The headrest can be adjusted up and down based on baby's size.
- The chest clip has sensor-safe technology (look it up) that can connect to your smartphone and alert you if the baby overheats or if you are ever too far a distance from the carseat. (see con about Shabbos)

Cons:
- Very heavy! So is the Doona, but I think this one is even a little more.
- There is a big learning curve to folding and opening the wheels. To fold, you need to lift it up and tilt it toward the head of the carseat as opposed to the Doona where you tilt toward the feet of the carseat. PRO TIP: Instead of tilting towards the ground, you can use the floor of your van to push the wheels down.
- The lever to squeeze while you are folding the wheels, is pretty low down. Could be annoying for someone taller. (I'm 5'3)
- To open the wheels, you need to first squeeze one lever to release it from the base, and then a different lever to release the wheels. Its a little awkward. You get used to it with time, but it doesn't seem as seemless at the Doona in this regard.
- The handle bar is a bit wiggly. The Doona feels more solid.
- The whole folding mechanism seems more solidly built in the Doona.
- On a similar note, the Doona has been tried and true for a number of years now often lasting through multiple children. The Dualride is newer so its actual working lifespan is hard to know.
- In my personal opinion, I think the Doona looks sleeker. Dualride is a bit clunkier.
- I have read that Dualrides are too big to fit in some sedans and small SUVs. I have a 2020 Odyssey and it totally fits.
- I don't care at all but for those who do, the Dualride doesn't come in as many colors as the Doona.
- When the Sensor-safe chest clip is buckled, it makes a tiny light turn blue. Huge problem for Shabbos. We just don't clip the chest clip on Shabbos. This reason alone may be a reason not to get it if you plan to use this as your regular baby stroller often on Shabbos.
- The Dualride is not smooth riding on bumpy surfaces such as uneven concrete. The Doona is also - not sure how significant the difference is between the two. Note- BOTH the Doona and the Dualride are first and foremost carseats that happen to turn into strollers. NOT strollers that happen to also be carseats. They will not be as smooth of a stroller ride as traditional strollers with air-type wheels and shock absorption. - The Doona and Dualride are the same price around $550. However you can buy a gently used Doona for way cheaper.(I find buying a used carseat unsafe unless I personally know the person selling it). You can't buy used Dualride since they are so new.
You can decide if it's a pro or con that the Dualride is not common to have (yet). If you need to be like everyone else, the Doona is definitely on trend. If you davka like being different or don't care about being different and like the features of the Dualride it might be a good option for you. (Or if your one of those who just cannot get a Doona because everyone has them and you b’shita can’t join the masses either because of your personality or hashkafa.)
Final thoughts- I am happy with the Dualride (it was a gift from my husband's boss) so I didn't have much of a choice) and I like all the "pros" especially the comfort, safety, and duration a baby lasts in it before outgrowing it. I think some of the cons will be perfected by Evenflo in future models. However, the fact the folding mechanism seems smoother and more durable in the Doona, and the folding wheels is the whole point of either of these carseeats, I think if I had a choice, I would go with the Doona. I think? I'm still unsure Smile

Hope this helped someone on the market! Feel free to respond with questions!