Austlen Entourage Stroller Review: Is It Worth It for Growing Families?
If you are shopping for a double stroller, you have probably come across the Austlen Entourage. It looks great and sounds even better, and then you see the price. I hesitated for the same reason.
I have now used this stroller for more than a year, so I can tell you whether it is worth it.
The Short Answer
I like this stroller, and I will keep using it until my kids outgrow it. But I do not think it is worth its price tag, because its two featured functions, double seats and huge storage, cannot be used at the same time.
It is still a great stroller if you can find it secondhand for $800 or less.
What the Entourage Promises
The first thing that stands out about the Entourage is its expandable design. You do not need to buy a completely different stroller when your family grows, because this one can be configured for different stages.
It is also modular. You can swap accessories, from a second seat to a cargo bag, to fit what your family needs.
The Entourage 2.0 carries kids at three stages:
- Primary seat: from birth up to 65 pounds
- Optional second seat: from 6 months up to 40 pounds
- Sit+Stand: 2.5 years and older, up to 75 pounds
Storage is the other draw. The lower basket is rated for up to 70 pounds, and the market tote holds up to 30 pounds. The stroller’s total kids-and-cargo capacity is listed at up to 200 pounds.
If you regularly carry diaper bags, snacks, jackets, toys, groceries, or other kid essentials, that extra space can be extremely useful.
This flexibility is one of the biggest reasons parents consider the Entourage. The concept works, but not in the ideal way you might picture.
Build Quality
I have zero complaints about the quality. The construction feels sturdy, and the seats and the handlebar feel premium.
The stroller features:
- Multi-dimensional greige fabrics
- Four-wheel independent suspension
- A robust, rust-free aluminum frame
- Hand-stitched vegan leather
The Expandable Frame in Daily Use
The expandable design is the most eye-catching part of the Entourage. Fitting two kids in one stroller is great, but double strollers are either wide or long, and that makes them hard to maneuver, especially in a grocery store.
The Entourage gets around this. It stays a single stroller when you do not need a double, and expands to make room for a second kid when you do.
It has three settings: shortest, expanded, and all the way. The expanded setting is for when you are using the market tote while shopping, or when your child just wants to stand on the board. The second seat and the jump seat both need the stroller expanded all the way.
This works well when your older kid does not need to ride all the time. You push a single stroller most of the time and expand it only when your older one gets tired and wants to sit or stand. It is not as useful if your older one wants to ride the whole time.
That is my situation. My older son, Kai, always wants to sit rather than walk or stand, so I always need the stroller expanded all the way. I wish the design let you use the jump seat in the expanded setting.
This is where I see the most significant design flaw. The frame of the front seat extends too far back and gets in the way of Kai’s head. It makes the seat look reclined even when it is upright.
Kai would be able to use the jump seat without expanding the stroller all the way if the frame of the front seat could be adjusted up while upright, or was built upright. That would also let you fit way more things in the storage.
The Big Catch: Two Kids or Storage, Not Both
When I bought this stroller, I pictured grocery trips without a cart. I would put my two kids in the stroller and the groceries in the market tote.
But guess what? You cannot do that. The market tote and the cargo bag cannot be used while you are using the second seat or the Sit+Stand. If you want to shop with this stroller, only one kid can ride.
That is not bad, but any shopping cart does the same thing. You will look cool at the store, and the only convenience you gain is not having to return the cart. I am not sure you want to spend $1,300 or more for that.
So despite the cool concept, the Entourage comes with design flaws. Not being able to use the other accessories with two kids in the stroller is a bummer.
There are great classic strollers out there for much less, such as the Baby Jogger City Select and the Mockingbird Single-to-Double. Both are good quality and work nicely. So why spend more on the Entourage if it does not give you any additional function?
Size, Weight and Folding
This is where parents should pay attention.
Length. When expanded, the Entourage is significantly longer than a standard full-size single stroller. It measures 50.5 to 55 inches long, compared with the typical 30 to 40 inches of a traditional full-size stroller.
Weight. The Entourage 2.0 weighs about 32 pounds before you add accessories such as the second seat or the Sit+Stand components. That is definitely on the heavier side compared with a basic single stroller. It feels as heavy as a wagon.
Folding. The folding mechanism works well, but it is definitely not the easiest. You need both hands and two separate folds: you press a little dot and pull the side bars. Sometimes it takes a few tries.
One feature I really appreciate is that the Entourage folds with the second seat attached. Folded, it measures approximately 33.5" long × 24.5" wide × 19" high with the wheels and fenders attached.
That helps parents who do not want to completely take apart their double stroller every time they put it in the car.
Accessories and Prices
| Accessory | Current price |
|---|---|
| Second Seat | $299.99 |
| Sit+Stand – Jump Seat + Platform Rider | $299.99 |
| Platform Rider | $89.99 |
| Parent Console | $59.99 |
| Snack Tray | $59.99 |
| Cup Holder | $24.99 |
| Cup Holder 2-Pack | $50.00 |
| Cargo Bag | $69.99 |
| Travel Bag | $229.99 |
| Rain Cover | $59.99 |
| Mosquito Cover | $49.99 |
| Cozy Winter Footmuff | $159.99 |
| Seat Liners | from $39.99 |
| Car Seat Adapters | from $59.99 |
| Beach Wheels | $99.99 |
Who Should Buy It
FindsForLittles Parent Tip: Before buying, think about how you will use the stroller most often.
- Two kids and lots of gear: if you frequently load your stroller this way, the Entourage’s extra capacity may be useful.
- Grocery shopping: be aware that you cannot do it with two kids in the stroller.
- Tight spaces: this stroller is still bigger than a single stroller before expanding, so compare its length with other strollers before buying.
- An older child who wants to sit most of the time: a conventional single-to-double stroller might be more cost-effective.
- One kid and a lot to carry: this is the family the Entourage suits best, with storage for activities such as sports, camping, and trips.
Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
I do like this stroller, and I will be using it until my kids outgrow it. It is sturdy and has great potential. Still, I really do not think the Entourage is worth its price tag.
The advertising is also somewhat misleading, since you cannot use both featured functions, double seats and huge storage, at the same time. Austlen will need to make some changes to make this stroller awesome.
Until then, I would hold off, unless you do not need to worry about the price or it fits your needs exactly.
You can also look for one secondhand. It is still a great stroller if you can score it for $800 or less.