Joovy CocoonX2 – A Review of the “Jooviest” All-in-One Stroller

After a very arduous fall and winter, here in the northeast, a spectacular spring has finally begun to bloom. The temperatures have risen, the sun now shines brightly, and the signs of a quickly approaching summer are all around. With children, the nicer weather often coincides with requests to play outdoors. Now, while trips to the playground, beach, and zoo are all wonderfully exciting, the car rides there are almost as grueling as riding out October’s hurricane.

The simple solution: don’t take the car.

The trouble with that: walking would leave the children ready for nap by the time that we arrived at our destination.

The conclusion: biking.

There is an endless amount of biking equipment when the topic turns to riding with children. Having everything from rear versus front baby seating options to the vast market of trailers can leave many parents overwhelmed with the shopping process let alone the ride itself. As a girl who loves the outdoors, biking with my little ones has always been something that I had longed to do. The bonding, the family time, the exercise to finally fix the whole “mommy-tummy” thing, and just being outside to enjoy the fresh air all sounded so very enticing. Trying to figure out how to manage two kids throughout the ride, well, that wasn’t so appealing. Having a squirmy toddler wiggling around and staring at my behind was not quite the picturesque scenario, nor was having to sit bowlegged only to have my little one tug at the bike’s brakes. After tossing around the options for the past few years, I gave up. Or so I thought. I was under the impression that my idyllic dreams of family bike rides were years in the future when both of our children could successfully ride alongside us on their own.

I, too, toyed around with the idea of bicycle trailers for children but the thought of, then, pushing it around as a stroller with the inevitable protruding trailer bar turned me off of the idea time and time again. See, we live near the shore. Our bike rides typically lead us to the beach and, simultaneously, the famous eastern shore boardwalks. The ones damaged in the aforementioned hurricane, yes. One, simply, cannot walk the boards while accidentally and unintentionally prodding passers-by in the legs with bike bars. They hurt, trust me. So, again, I had put off our bike riding trips.

Then, I came across Joovy. I had been a fan of the company for quite some time but had only known of their smaller products like the highchairs, strollers, and the Bicycoos (see my previous review here). As a brand that centers on family gear and time spent together, Joovy graciously allowed me the opportunity to try out their very own solution to our family bicycle riding fiasco.

Joovy has, truly, covered all of the bases and every parent’s concerns on this topic AND, still, they’ve gone above and beyond that! The Joovy Cocoon and CocoonX2 are certainly not your typical, run of the mill, child bike trailers. These really are the one and only all-in-one, I swear it does everything, products on the market. This “bicycle trailer” breaks the mold in every way possible and has the options to convert three (yes, THREE!) different ways. It is a bicycle trailer, stroller, and jogger all in one (yes, ONE!) product! Forget needing three entirely separate baby gear products because one company has finally combined all of your needs. Pretty “joovy,” right?

Needless to say, we were quite excited when it arrived. Even nap time got postponed due to endless requests for me to put it together. After fighting with one too many products in the past, I had planned to let Daddy handle this task. However, the kids’ pleading got the best of me and I caved. I gathered a handful of tools and took everything to the backyard. Not thinking that Joovy could top an already amazing product, they went above and beyond yet again… no tools needed! Seriously! I did not need anything at all – no tools, no directions, and no assistance. Everything from the wheels to the handlebars and the extra attachments is all easily put together with the use of nifty little pin-hooks. Push the pin through the designated slot, pull the hook around the end of the pin and voila!

The locking mechanism on the wheels is also another great point. I love that it actually locks as opposed to simply squeezing the tires. Many other “locks” can come loose but the Joovy CocoonX2 locks securely every single time.

But onto the part that I’m sure you’re all dying to see, the CocoonX2 itself and in all of its glory. Our favorite feature of the CocoonX2 is surely the bicycle trailer option. I love that we can skip using our vehicles (bonus for green living!) and, instead, enjoy the outdoors for a longer time. Since receiving the CocoonX2 we have taken it just about everywhere – the playground, beach, boardwalk, and (the kids’ favorite) out for ice cream. Now, using our mountain bike means that we can essentially go anywhere and then some but can the Joovy CocoonX2 follow? The answer is yes! From the bike path and the sidewalks to the grass and sand, the twenty inch pneumatic rear wheels can and will get you through it all.

The set-up in preparation for the ride was a breeze, too. The same simple hook connection that is found throughout the Joovy CocoonX2 safely secures the trailer to the parent’s bicycle. Speaking of the parents, most child bicycle trailers are heavy to have to tote behind you let alone actually adding the child(ren). Thankfully, Joovy wins in this category as well. At only 35 pounds, the CocoonX2 is not a hassle to pull but, rather, enjoyable. Despite our frequent trips for dessert-type treats and therefore defeating the purpose of the exercising, towing the kids along for a ride is a fun and easy fitness excursion. What about the children, though? How do they like it?

I think these faces just about say it all…

The Joovy CocoonX2 has a much wider seating area than many of its competitors. At 31 inches wide and with more than a foot of leg room, the CocoonX2 can very comfortably seat two children weighing up to a combined total of 100 pounds. The five-point harness, of course, keeps your little ones safe and in place throughout the trip. The huge vinyl “windows” allow kids to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors right alongside (or, rather, behind) you. The front window and “door” of the Joovy CocoonX2 is double-paned, if you will, and features, both, a zippered mesh-netted layer along with a Velcro vinyl top. During our bike trips, the vinyl coverings are great for keeping the bicycle’s tires from flinging debris at the children – a huge bonus in the safety department.

Once you arrive at your destination, with many other bicycle trailers, you would be left only to turn around and circle home. Not so with the Joovy CocoonX2! All you need to do is simply swap out the front attachment and continue to use it as you see fit. The boys are thrilled when use it in the jogger form and love to have Daddy race the seagulls down the boardwalk. With the fixated front jogging tire, running along while pushing the stroller is a piece of cake. And, again, the views for the children are impeccable.

As a parent of two, the amount storage that a stroller can withstand is also a factor. The kids always want to bring along their own personal goodies but the necessities often take precedence due to a lack of space. Joovy has, again, solved that problem and the CocoonX2 has more than enough room for, well, just about everything. The huge “trunk,” as the kids like to call it, can very easily store all of the needed items for any trip while still leaving space for more.

The interior has private storage for each of the kiddos as well. Toys and water bottles often accompany us on rides and the kids love having their own special pockets for goodies.

While the stroller itself has quite a bit of storage room, we chose to add the parent organizer to our CocoonX2. It is a great way to keep all of your little items safe, secure, and in close reach. The zippered pouch, small pockets, and additional cup holders work wonderfully for drinks, snacks, cash, and cell phones. With all of that, we still had space for more.

Although we had seemingly filled our Joovy CocoonX2 with just about everything (diaper bag, blankets, a teddy bear, drinks, snacks, toys, electronics, etc.) you would never have guessed it. The privacy of the CocoonX2 is unlike any other stroller I’ve seen. The storage compartment closes up so neatly that the chaos that is parenthood is near invisible to others. Go ahead and shove everything but the kitchen sink in there and stand tall because you’ll look like the most organized parent in the crowd! Your secret will be safe with me.

It is still hard to believe, isn’t it – all of this, all of these options, being in one single stroller. It seems too good to be true, right? Though it may seem that this is all a dream, made up in the land of Every Parent’s Wishes Come True, it is real. It is very real and, again, blows us all away by its ability to perform, too, as your everyday double stroller. Just swap out the front wheels and a trip to the park it is.

Whether you’re looking for a great double stroller, a swift jogger, or a fantastic children’s bicycle trailer, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Joovy CocoonX2. It is, by far, the best stroller that I have ever had the pleasure of using and is the only true all-in-one product on the market. The CocoonX2 sells for $549.99 (attachments sold separately) and comes in Orangie, Greenie, and Black color options. As a child passenger safety advocate, I am extremely thankful that our Orangie model doesn’t only look sharp, but doubles as an easy-to-see children’s roadside vehicle due to its bright color. From the inside, out, the Joovy CocoonX2 has everything and everyone covered. No matter your usage, the CocoonX2 is sure to please all parents and children, alike. Just look at these adorable and smiley little guys. This “sunroof” is one of their favorite features. And those smiles, that happiness, are my favorite.

The Joovy CocoonX2 is, well, pretty “joovy” afterall.

Speaking of being “joovy,” today is Joovy Tuesday! And today (5/7) only, Joovy is giving away THREE Joovy shopping sprees! Enter below for your chance to win a $300, $200, or $100 good towards any Joovy product(s)!

*All photographs are courtesy of Jack Otepka of 621 Productions.

*Randi received the above product(s), free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions are those of reviewer only.