Doona vs Evenflo Shyft Car Seat Stroller Comparison
I have been a huge proponent of the car seat stroller since 2019 (when I needed such a stroller). For context, Doona only brought the first car seat stroller to market in 2015, creating a whole new category of strollers.
Doona has done a terrific job educating parents about this new category and creating a product that matches expectations.
The Evenflo Shyft was released 8 years later in 2023. Since Evenflo has had such a long lead time to develop a competitor product in this category, do we think it’s better?
TDLR
Short answer is that, as always, it depends on your needs and what you intend to use it for. I know this sounds like a cop out answer, but if you are reading this, you’ve probably received some less-than-good recommendations from other parents before and that’s because everyone has different needs.
✈️If you are primarily using it for international travel – get the Doona. It’s lighter and you can use it without the base.
If you are taller and just want to save yourself an extra step every time you get out of the car, get the Evenflo Shyft.
IMO, all things considered, the Evenflo does not offer any particular advantages over the Doona. Read on for the reasons why.
Car Seat Stroller Summary Comparison Table
| Metric | Doona | Evenflo Shyft DualRide |
|---|---|---|
| Open Size | ~ 32.3” L × 17.4” W × 39” H. | ~ 29.5” D × 18” W × 41.5” H. |
| Closed Size | ~ 26” L × 17.4” W × 22.4” H. | ~ 29.5” D × 18” W × 21.9” H. |
| Handlebar | Doubles as anti-rebound bar when closed. Not adjustable. Bit low for tall people above 6 feet | ✅Adjustable handlebar, higher for tall people. |
| Weight | ✅~ 16.5 lbs | Carrier alone ~10.5 lbs, with stroller frame ~20+ lbs. |
| Price | ~$650 | ~600 |
| Color Options | ✅Multiple colorways | Fewer options |
| Accessories & Bases | ✅Strong accessory ecosystem: bases, travel bags, add-ons. | Fewer options. Bags are less stroller specific. |
| Ease of Use (Car → Stroller) | ✅Very smooth one-step conversion; highly rated for travel/urban use. | Also one-step conversion but has slightly more components (wheels detach/extend) and a bit steeper learning curve. |
Deeper Look by Car Seat Stroller Metric
Open and Closed Size
In my opinion, the most important measurement is the width, because being able to fit through tight spaces is clutch.
The open and closed size is less important because you wouldn’t put a car seat in the overhead, or in the trunk normally.
The Doona is slimmer by 0.5 inch, and about 3 inches shorter when folded. This is because the Doona’s legs fold up smaller.
Winner: Donna
Handlebar
Doona’s handlebar serves both as a carry handle/anti-rebound bar. Reviewers say it’s fine for average height, but taller caregivers noted they were “tip-toeing” or kicking wheels.
Personally, neither my husband nor I have ever had issues and we are of average North American height.
Evenflo’s handlebar is adjustable, which is great for something so compact. The seat itself also sits higher up off the ground, giving better clearance for legs and feet.
However, if you use their attachable extra storage bag, this point is moot because it takes up foot space.
Winner: Evenflo
Weight
Doona: ~16.5 lbs
Evenflo: The carrier alone (without wheels/frame) ~10.5 lbs; with stroller frame attached often ~20+ lbs.
WARNING: When you put your child into the car with a car seat stroller, you have to lift the entire stroller with your child inside. This is not an easy feat when you have a large baby.
Winner: Doona
Price
- Doona: Positioned as premium — $650 at list price
- Evenflo: Slight cheaper with list price of $600.
Car seat strollers are expensive, but offer pretty good value when you consider that it is both a stroller and a car seat.
Both brands run sales around the holidays so you should look out for those. There isn’t a clear winner here for me but I’ll chose one purely based on list price.
Winner: Evenflo
Color Options
- Doona: Offers multiple curated editions (e.g., Blush, Sahara Sand, Royal Blue, etc.) and premium finishes.
- Evenflo: Offers several fabric colors via major retailers; fewer luxury-finish special editions.
Winner: Doona
Accessories & Base Support
- Doona: Strong ecosystem of accessories (travel bags, spare parts, bases, add-ons).
- Evenflo: Good support too (storage bags, detachable wheels, base options) and some extra features (e.g., no-rethread harness on some models) in the DualRide line.
Car seat strollers do not have baskets because the legs fold up. Therefore it is necessary to have bags that attach to the car seat stroller. Doona offers multiple sizes and designs of such bags, whereas Evenflo only has one, and the other bags are just regular bags.
Winner: Doona
Ease of Use
- Doona: Known for very intuitive one-motion transition from car seat to stroller, which is ideal for errands/travel.
The major difference is that you can use Doona in a car WITHOUT the base. It can be secured with the seat belt, allowing you to take ubers and travel.
- Evenflo: Also offers a one-piece solution, but the mechanism for unfolding wheels and transitioning has a slightly steeper learning curve.
Winner: Doona
Summary: Which Car Seat Stroller Should You Pick?
- Choose Doona if you:
- Intend to travel in someone else’s car.
- Prioritize simplest one-motion conversion.
- Want premium color finishes.
- Will carry or lift the unit frequently and want as light as possible.
- Choose Evenflo Shyft DualRide if you:
- Are taller (and will benefit from a taller handlebar).
- Don’t mind a little extra weight or take the time to master the folding/unfolding process.
- Don’t intend to use the car seat in someone else’s car.
Personally I would choose the Doona again. We used it so much for international and domestic travel. Why travel with 2 pieces of luggage (stroller + carseat) when you can have 1?
Read my standalone review of the Doona here.
