Review · Single-to-double stroller
Contours Element Review: A Side-by-Side Single-to-Double for Under $900?
Short answer: The Contours Element is worth it if you want a side-by-side stroller that starts as a single and adds a second seat later. Contours lists it at $899.99, plus $219.99 for the second seat. It is roomy and flexible, but at 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, and 28.9 in wide, it is heavy and bulky.
Our verdict
8.1out of 10
Very good
Best for
- Families planning two children close in age
- Parents who want siblings side by side, not stacked
- Suburban families with a large trunk
Skip if
- You lift the stroller into a car or up stairs every day
- Your doorways, elevators or shop aisles are narrow
- You only ever need a single stroller
Pros
- Grows from one seat to two, with a Boogie board for a third rider
- Very large basket plus a removable tote rated to 20 lb
- Works with 25+ infant car seats through brand adapters
- Each reversible seat holds up to 40 lb
Cons
- 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, per Contours
- 28.9 in wide and 33.5 x 28.9 x 16 in folded, a big load for a trunk
- Seats, tote and adapters must come off before it folds
$899.99List price, October 2026
See it at ContoursPrices change often. Check the retailer before you buy.
The Contours Element suits families who want one stroller for a baby now and a sibling later, with both children side by side rather than stacked. Contours claims 40+ seating options, and each seat holds 40 lb. The basket is huge, and reviewers at Twiniversity liked the smooth ride. The trade-offs are real: 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, a fold that needs the seats off first, and a 28.9 in width that suits wide doors and big trunks better than city flats.
Who is the Contours Element for?
The Contours Element is for parents who expect a second child soon and want both children to ride side by side later. You buy it as a single for $899.99, then add a second seat for $219.99 when you need it. That makes it a rival to tandem single-to-double strollers, but with a different layout. Side by side, each child gets their own view and plenty of leg room, which Twiniversity's reviewer called "limitless." The cost is width and weight. Contours lists it at 28.9 in wide and 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, so it suits families with a car, a garage and wide doors. If you live in a walk-up, take narrow buses or shop in tight stores, a tandem stroller or a lighter single will be easier. For a suburban family with two little ones, it is a flexible choice.
How does the Element ride and steer?
Contours lists front-wheel suspension on the Element. Baby Gizmo describes 11 in rear and 8 in front hard rubber wheels, with front wheels that swivel all the way round but do not lock straight. Twiniversity's reviewer was enthusiastic, writing that it "drives like a Lexus" and takes bumps in a smooth style, and that the side-by-side layout makes steering easy. That review came from a giveaway post, so weigh it with care. Hard rubber wheels without locking fronts are better on sidewalks and in parks than on gravel or rough trails. Width is the main limit. At 28.9 in, Twiniversity says it still fits most standard doorways, but expect tight moments in older homes, small shops and crowded elevators. Baby Gizmo notes the front wheels pop off if you need to remove them.
- Maneuverability8.1 / 10
- Wheels11 in rear and 8 in front hard rubber wheels (Baby Gizmo); front-wheel suspension (Contours); front wheels swivel but do not lock straight (Baby Gizmo)
How big is the Element when folded?
Contours lists the Contours Element at 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, and 28.7 lb for the frame alone. The fold is a two-step job. Baby Gizmo and Twiniversity both say you must remove the seats, the tote and any adapters before folding the frame. Once folded, it stands on its own, which helps when you are loading the car. Contours lists the folded size as 33.5 in high, 28.9 in wide and 16 in deep. Baby Gizmo calls it a bulky fold that needs a big trunk, and Twiniversity's reviewer put it plainly: "It's HEAVY!" It is not an airline carry-on stroller, so plan to gate-check it when you fly.
Is the Element comfortable and safe?
Each Contours Element seat is reversible, so your child can face you or the world, and Contours rates each seat to 40 lb. Baby Gizmo counted three recline positions with a one-hand recline, and Contours lists a three-position footrest. Baby Gizmo measured a 12 in wide seat with a 20 in seat back. The canopy is UPF 50+ with a peek-a-boo window and a zippered extension, though Baby Gizmo wished for a pop-out sun visor and Twiniversity found the mesh panel lets light in. Newborns ride in the Pramette ($229.99) or an infant car seat with an adapter. The padded five-point harness has height-adjustable shoulder straps, and the brake is color-coded red for locked and green for unlocked.
How much storage does the Element have?
Storage is the Contours Element's strongest point. Baby Gizmo says the basket is very large, with room for four diaper bags, and easy to reach. In single mode, a removable tote with a zippered lid sits on the frame, and Contours rates it to 20 lb. You can lift it off and carry it as a shopping bag. Contours does not publish a weight limit for the main basket. Twiniversity notes that items in the basket can fall out when the stroller is stowed in a car.
How does the Element grow with your baby?
Scroll through the stages below; the 3D stroller changes as you go. Drag it to turn it.
1 · Seat, reclined
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01 · The early months
Seat, reclined
Not stated by Contours; newborns ride in the Pramette or a car seat. 3 positions with one-hand recline (Baby Gizmo), reversible seat, 3-position footrest (Contours)
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02 · Sitting up, through the toddler years
Seat, upright
The seat is rated to 40 lb, so most children can ride until they no longer need a stroller.
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03 · When a sibling arrives
Two children
Single-to-double side-by-side with a second seat ($219.99); Boogie stroller board ($99.99) adds a third rider; Contours claims 40+ seating options
How does the single-to-double setup work?
The Contours Element starts as a single stroller with one seat. To make it a double, you add a second reversible seat for $219.99, and the frame needs no changes. Contours claims more than 40 seating options. You can run two seats, two Pramettes ($229.99 each, plus a $49.99 adapter for the second), or one seat with an infant car seat. Car seats attach with brand adapters for Britax, Chicco, Graco and Cybex, Maxi-Cosi or Nuna, at $59.99 each. A Boogie stroller board ($99.99) adds a standing spot for a third child. Contours also lists which setups Disney parks accept; car seats in the side positions are not on that list. A full double setup adds up fast, so price the parts you will really use.
Contours Element vs Bugaboo Donkey 6 vs Mockingbird Single-to-Double 3.0
| Spec | Contours Element | Bugaboo Donkey 6 | Mockingbird Single-to-Double 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.1 | 8.9 | 8.6 |
| List price | $899.99 | $1,699 | $549 |
| Weight | 42.5 lb | 33.7 lb | 28 lb |
| Folded (L×W×H) | 16×28.9×33.5 in | 22×24.2×35.4 in | 34×26×18 in |
| Max child weight | 40 lb per seat, per Contours; no height limit is listed | 50 lb per seat; bassinet to 20 lb (Bugaboo) | 50 lb |
| Bassinet included | No | Yes | No |
| Seats two children | With add-on seat | With add-on seat | With add-on seat |
| Type | Single-to-double | Single-to-double | Single-to-double |
Bugaboo Donkey 6: Another side-by-side single-to-double, lighter at 33.7 lb, but $1,699. Mockingbird Single-to-Double 3.0: A tandem single-to-double that is 26 in wide, at $549.
How we rated the Contours Element
Six criteria, weighted by how much they shape everyday life. Read our methodology.
Weighted total8.1— Very good
Contours Element full specifications
| Type | Single-to-double |
|---|---|
| Weight | 42.5 lb (with seat and tote, per Contours; 28.7 lb without seat or tote) |
| Folded size (L×W×H) | 16×28.9×33.5 in (Contours lists 33.5 in H x 28.9 in W x 16 in D; the frame stands when folded once the seat is removed) |
| Open size (L×W×H) | 46×28.9×41.5 in |
| Max child weight | 40 lb per seat, per Contours; no height limit is listed |
| From birth | Yes, in the Pramette (sold separately) or an infant car seat with an adapter (sold separately) |
| Seat age | Not stated by Contours; newborns ride in the Pramette or a car seat |
| Recline | 3 positions with one-hand recline (Baby Gizmo), reversible seat, 3-position footrest (Contours) |
| Fold | Two-step: remove the seat(s) and tote, then fold; the frame stands on its own |
| Wheels & suspension | 11 in rear and 8 in front hard rubber wheels (Baby Gizmo); front-wheel suspension (Contours); front wheels swivel but do not lock straight (Baby Gizmo) |
| Car seat compatibility | 25+ infant car seats with brand-specific adapters for Britax, Chicco, Graco and Cybex/Maxi-Cosi/Nuna ($59.99 each, sold separately) |
| Converts | Single-to-double side-by-side with a second seat ($219.99); Boogie stroller board ($99.99) adds a third rider; Contours claims 40+ seating options |
| Travel | Not airline carry-on size |
| In the box | Frame, One reversible seat, Parent organizer, Removable storage tote (holds up to 20 lb), Second seat (sold separately, $219.99), Pramette (sold separately, $229.99), Car seat adapter (sold separately, $59.99), Weather shield (sold separately, $39.99) |
| Safety | Contours links its product safety and testing information but names no ASTM or JPMA certification on the product page; it was a 2020 JPMA Innovation Awards finalist (an award, not a certification) |
| List price | $899.99 (Contours US list price for the base stroller (one seat, parent organizer and tote), October 2026; a second seat is $219.99 extra) |
What to buy instead
Another side-by-side single-to-double, lighter at 33.7 lb, but $1,699.
Bugaboo Donkey 6
8.9 — Excellent. 33.7 lb, folds to 22×24.2×35.4 in, $1,699.
A tandem single-to-double that is 26 in wide, at $549.
Mockingbird Single-to-Double 3.0
8.6 — Excellent. 28 lb, folds to 34×26×18 in, $549.
A narrower tandem convertible at 25.7 in wide and 27.6 lb, for $999.99.
UPPAbaby Vista V3
9.1 — Exceptional. 27.6 lb, folds to 16.3×25.7×33.8 in, $999.99.
Contours Element FAQ
Is the Contours Element worth it?
It can be, if you want side-by-side seating and a large basket. Contours lists it at $899.99 with one seat, plus $219.99 for the second. Each seat holds 40 lb. The downsides are 42.5 lb of weight with the seat and tote, a 28.9 in width and a fold that needs the seats removed.
Can a newborn ride in the Contours Element?
Yes, but not in the main seat out of the box. Newborns ride in the Pramette, sold separately at $229.99, or in an infant car seat with a brand adapter at $59.99. Contours lists adapters for Britax, Chicco, Graco and Cybex, Maxi-Cosi or Nuna seats.
Will the Contours Element fit through doorways?
Contours lists it at 28.9 in wide, the same in single and double mode. Twiniversity's reviewer said it fits through most standard doorways. Measure your front door, elevator and any narrow hallways before buying, since older homes and small shops can be tighter than 29 in.
How heavy is the Contours Element?
Contours lists 42.5 lb with the seat and tote, and 28.7 lb for the frame without them. You remove the seats and tote before folding, so you lift the lighter frame into the car, then the seat. Folded, it measures 33.5 x 28.9 x 16 in.