I've been looking around at some high end buggies and noticed that a few have hand opperated brakes. Is this just a gimmick, or is there a real benefit of having a handbrake on a double buggy that I haven't though of?
A number of the high end double buggies these days are offering the feature of having a hand brake for the front wheels. On first inspection this may appear a little gimmicky, but in certain situations a double buggy fitted with a hand brake can prove to be an extremely useful safety feature.
For use around the local shopping centre, you’ll find that there isn’t much call for a hand brake on your buggy, but if you live in an area where there are hills and even slight inclines, or you find yourself spending time in the country and venturing off-road, the hand brake on your buggy will no doubt get it’s fair share of use.
As your child grows, you’ll find that your buggy will naturally get heavier and feel slightly more cumbersome. Obviously with a double buggy, this extra weight is multiplied by two. Getting up those hills and navigating awkward terrain will become ever more demanding and this is where the hand brake will help.
You’ll find that the handbrake will help you to keep the buggy under control and when going down a hill, the hand brake will slow the buggy allowing you to walk naturally rather than continually counteracting the weight of the buggy pulling you down the slope. Obviously a slip in this situation wouldn’t bear thinking about.
So, a hand brake on a double buggy certainly isn’t for everyone, but there are particular situations where you shouldn’t be without.