Austlen Entourage Stroller- The First & Last Stroller You’ll Ever Need.

A few years ago we knew we were going to need a new stroller to accommodate our growing family. My wife, daughter, and I tried quite a few of the double strollers at Buy Buy Baby where we almost settled on an all black side by side stroller.

My wife took notice to one that didn’t look like a double stroller. It had the big bag on the back that was removable. A year later, after our son was born, and after some research we purchased the Austlen Entourage.

After having the stroller for 3+ years, and putting the stroller through the tests of life, 3 kids, I can say without a doubt the Austlen Entourage is, in my opinion, hands down the best stroller. I’m not saying the best double stroller but the BEST stroller regardless of what your needs are. I’ve probably put hundreds of mile on the bearings and wheels and it’s just as smooth and glides with ease as the day we bought it. That’s even with us going to the beach. I don’t have the sand wheels which I will talk about later, the sand and and salt has had no effect like I saw with my previous stroller. 

Note: In addition to having 3 kids I also have over 10 years of product design and testing in the consumer products goods industry. 

Style

The stroller comes in two colors black or navy. The black comes with a black frame. The navy comes with a silver frame. Both have brown leather accents on both the handle and the lap bar for the kids. We got the navy as it has, to me, just a little better look then the all black one.

Specifications

• Weight: Around 32lbs depending upon attachments (average for double strollers)
• It can go from 38.5″ to 50.5″ in length. We loved this because we could still use it at Disneyland even with their stroller rules.
• Folded: 33.5″L x 24.5″W x 17.75″H. Fits nicely in the trunk of my Nissan Murano and still leaves room for whatever else I need to put back there.
• Holds: up to 150lbs.
• Seat suitable from birth up to 50lbs.

Uses

This stroller can be used as early as birth, transforming the front to the bassinet configuration or using the car seat attachment which I will get into more details about later. It can be used as a single rider option and hold a ton of stuff. It can also and more importantly be used as a double stroller and still hold gear or groceries. Austlen‘s states it has over 30 configurations.

The good thing about the Austlen Entourage is that it’s a grow with me style of stroller. If you have read any of my other posts you know I prefer anything that can last through multiple stages of childhood. You can get this stroller even if you have only one kid. If you end up having another child, great your all set. If not, it‘s still an awesome stroller for just one kid as well.

Configurations

Collapsed

When collapsed the stroller stands at only 33.5″L x 24.5″W x 17.75″H. Speaking of standing, the fenders on the stroller allow it to stand on its end making for easier loading and unloading. The Austlen fits perfectly in the back of my Nissan Murano. It rolls straight in leaving half of the trunk for the market tote bag, groceries, and whatever else we need.

Compact

The compact setting is great if you have only one kid going out with you or if one prefers to walk. Even at this smallest setting it still hold tons of stuff. Utilizing the expandable market tote and the lower storage basket it’s great for every day shopping and outings. As a warning using a loaded “mommy clip” on the handle with this setting will make the stroller flip over if no child is sitting in the front. 

Intermediate

Using the 1 second expansion handle you can use a secondary seat. In addition to that there is the sit and stand, the expandable market tote, or the ability to hold slightly larger items.

Extended

This setting is the one we use the most. Here you can again use the secondary seat with both seats laid back. Also works with the sit and stand, the expandable market tote, or the cargo bag. It can hold much larger items like luggage and large coolers. In addition to that it you can use the upper level car seat adapter.

Standard Features

Height Adjustable Handle

For my wife and I this is a important feature. The same will go for you if you and your spouse are different heights or if you’re like me and have orangutan arms.

Bassinet

We only used this a few times but was super easy to set up. It was nice when the baby was sleeping and we didn’t want him strapped into the car seat. 

Expandable Market Tote

This is one of my favorite standard features. It holds up to 35lbs, expands to work on all 3 setting of the stroller. When you need to fold the stroller you can quickly remove it using the handles. This item has quite a few features all it’s own.

• 2 open compartments
• 1 compartment with cover
• 3 mesh pockets
• 2 soft cup holders
• 2 metal handles for carrying

Extra-large Lower Storage Basket

The lower storage basket holds up to 65lbs. The collapsibility of this feature is what makes it unique. If you want you can set you luggage on it. After, button the back side up and it creates high sides to hold a good amount of loose items. It’s large enough when the market tote is attached and the stroller is stretched out that my 5 year old could sit comfortably underneath. She has actually even curled up and taken a nap underneath.

Rotating Arm Bar

We didn’t use this one that much as we got the snack tray from the beginning. For looks I really like the leather to compliment the leather of the push handle. As for functionality, I love it (same as the snack tray). You can unhook either side and lay it to the side. Very convenient when your baby or toddler is asleep and you need to transfer them to a car seat or inside the house. It can also be fully removed if the kid doesn’t want it. Another alternative is it can be replaced with the snack tray, which is what we did.

Canopy with sun visor UPF 50+

I can tell you that this really works as I’ve gotten burned and the same day my newborn son, who I forgot apply sun screen to, didn’t get burned. It also has a hidden additional mini visor that tucks up underneath adding a little extra coverage when the sun is lower in the sky. Another little something is they have a peek-a-boo cover on the backside so mom or dad can lift the flap and take a peek or as added ventilation.

Fender

I know a lot of strollers have fenders. The uniqueness of these fenders is that they were designed so the stroller will stand up on end when they are attached. This makes for easier loading and unloading in cars, or to help get it out of the way inside the house.

Never-flat Tires

The tires are a hard rubber instead of air. With having shocks in the back they take most of the jarring that air tires usually absorbed. Enough so that my daughter could fall asleep in the storage basket underneath while we walked around. I’ve had my stroller for over a year and have very little ware on the tires. Like I said earlier, I don’t know what kind of bearings they put in these but they are good and it rides as smooth as day one.

Accessories

Beach Wheels

I don’t have these but I can see how they can come in handy. When we go to the beach we usually keep close to the walkway and in Huntington Beach the beach is close to the path so no real need to walk a great distance dragging the stroller through the sand unless you are trying to get close to the water. However, if you plan on having a lot of gear down at the beach this would be the way to bring it.

Sit & Stand

We got this at the same time as the stroller and my daughter loves it because like most children she can’t sit still. This allows her to either sit facing me, kneel facing forward while hanging onto the middle handle behind the front seat, or fold up the seat and she can stand facing forward. No need to remove it when folding the stroller away as it has been designed to fold down with it. Also, the stand platform can be easily removed and fits above the middle handle behind the awning if the lower storage basket is needed.

Cargo Bag

The image with the beach items is its small size as it sits zipped. This bag is huge when expanded. It quickly attach to the stroller just like the market tote. Adjustable length bag from 10in to 33in allowing for more capacity. Weight limit 35lbs or 65lbs when supported by lower storage basket. 

Car Seat Adapters

The car seat adapters work either over the front seat or on the back in front of the handle bars it just requires different attachments. At the time this was written the front seat adapters works with the following car seats: Chicco, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Uppababy, Graco, Baby Jogger, Peg Perego, Britax.

The rear seat adapters, which is what I have, work with the following car seats: Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Peg Perego.

I prefer the rear seat adapter as it keeps my front seat free for my daughter to sit and she likes to face forward and the baby faces rear so she can face my wife or I which we prefer. Also, for us it appears easier to put the car seat into the frame of the car seat adapter. We have a Chicco car seat and love it incase you are curious.

Seat Liner

This one comes in two colors black stripes or navy stripes and available for primary or secondary seats. 100% cotton fabric, padded, and machine washable.

Cup Holder

So the market pantry bag has 2 soft cup holders in the front compartment. But if you need more or don’t want to have the bag with you. They sell hard plastic cup holders that hook to either side of the stroller frame. We have been thinking about getting a few of the cup holders but with a $25 price tag I just haven’t been able to justify that purchase yet.
After reading this Austlen was generous enough to send me two cup holders to test and once we figured out the best place to attach them for us they worked great. FYI they hold Starbucks Venti plastic cups if like us you are huge caffeine addict.

Snack Tray

We did purchase this, to us, it’s more versatile then just the bar. It’s $50 and comes in either black or gray. The tray is removable, dishwasher safe, and the stroller folds away with the tray attached. Just like the bar the tray can be unhooked and swing down to the side so if you kid falls asleep it’s much easier to move them.

Travel Bag

This travel bag is made from lightweight durable fabric, and fits the stroller as a single or as a double and most accessories. It comes with wheels making it easy to for on the go. When in use it’s the size of a piece of luggage. When not in use it rolls up and can be carried by the handle or fit it in the lower storage basket of the stroller. We didn’t purchase this as we haven’t gone on any vacations that would require it.

Mosquito Cover

We don’t really have much need for this living in Southern California mainly because there are no mosquitoes at least not in the city. However, I lived most of my childhood in Maine where mosquitos are abundant to say the least. So I know how bad them and black flies can get. If you live anywhere where these tiny little monsters live I would suggest this for the little ones. For $50 I say it’s a great deal considering the alternative is an itchy crying baby. They say it’s easy to take on and off and looks like it just Velcro’s on. On there site they say it hooks to the front and sides of the front child seat.

Rain Cover

The rain cover fits over the whole entourage stroller excluding the handle. Works no matter your setting except say if you have something much higher then the stroller. Looks like they have designed a way to attach it to itself when in the short non-expanded setting and just unzips or unvelcro to expanded version.

Second Seat

Now lets say you have two children? Probably the whole reason you are looking at this stroller is the double seat feature. I don’t have this as my little girl being almost its max weight limit when we got it. It works from 6months to 40lbs. Not bad if your kids are close in age. Like some of the other accessories, it fold with the second seat still attached, has the full sized canopy, and 3 position recline.

The only thing I’m not happy about it is it’s rear facing only so they get to look at you legs not sure if I would feel different actually using one with my son and my daughter in the front but my experience is both kids prefer to face forward.

I can say with over 3 years of testing that this is a solid stroller. Is perfect in every way? No. Is it close to it though? Absolutely!!! 

It’s good investment if you plan on having another one or where you could see yourself using the tote, basket, or cargo bag regularly to the store, or lots of day trips. I use to go to Disneyland almost every weekend, and go to target at least once a week and I can’t believe I was able to do without it.

Theresa (my wife) and I spent a great deal of time weighing the cost aspect and for us it was a great investment. The quality is there, the functionality is spot on, and it’ll be a stroller we can continue to use for years to come. All in all, Austlen Baby Co. did an amazing job and they truly understand what parents needed in a stroller and fulfilled that here. 

Almost every trip we take the stroller out with us I see someone elbowing their spouse and pointing, or comments on how cool our stroller is.

I’m stoked to hear that Austlen Baby Co. is back after the setback they had. They explain it much better then I ever could her on ATXWomen.

If you have questions or you have one of these strollers let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you have to say.