Doona vs. Evenflo Shyft: Tested by Moms

In a nutshell:

The Doona Convertible Infant Car Seat/Stroller and Evenflo Shyft Dual Ride Infant Car Seat Stroller Combo both provide seamless transitions between car seat to stroller in a single design, but while the Doona is more expensive, it stands out for its lighter weight and simple installation and conversion, while the Evenflo requires more effort to lift and transition between modes.

If you’re been in the parent groups looking for an infant car seat, you’ve probably heard about two innovative choices: The Doona Car Seat/Stroller and Evenflo Shyft Dualride both offer compact, all-in-one solutions for your baby’s transportation needs, seamlessly transitioning from infant car seat to stroller without missing a beat. And for parents on the go, reducing the amount of gear you need to juggle can be a game-changer.

Both seats offer unique features to simplify your daily routine, but how do they compare? To find out, The Bump recruited two moms of 3-month-old babies to thoroughly test each car seat and stroller system: one mom tested the Doona, and one mom tested the Evenflo Shyft. Read on to see what they thought!

How We Tested the Doona Stroller and Evenflo Shyft

When deciding between the Doona vs Evenflo Shyft, how do you know which is right for you? We did the work, so you don’t have to. To bring you all the pros and cons:

• We enlisted the help of two moms to try both car seat/stroller combos with their infants. These independent product testers evaluated and rated the Doona and Shyft based on ease of installation, ease of use, safety, features and design and value for the money.
• We surveyed over 300 new and expectant parents in The Bump community about their experience with both strollers and car seats.
• We did extensive market research, combing through user reviews and forums to understand a wide range of parents’ experiences between the Doona vs. Evenflo.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

Ease of Installation

Both the Doona and the Evenflo Shyft received high scores in the ease of installation category in product testing. Juanita M. tested the Doona, and found the installation process to be straightforward, noting that the instructions were “very clear” and that if she encountered any difficulties, video tutorials helped resolve them. She was able to install the seat within five minutes of reading the instructions and was impressed with how stable the seat felt after the base was in place. “Nothing is moving around or feeling loose at all,” she commented, highlighting the installation’s security.

Megan M., our tester for the Evenflo Shyft, also found installing the base very simple, stating it was “easier than some others.” However, she encountered some difficulty figuring out how to separate the car seat from the stroller and adjust the harness. She felt that the instructions for this part could have been more straightforward, specifically wishing that the information had been on the quick instructions rather than buried in the manual.

Overall, both testers found the initial installation process relatively easy, but Juanita had a smoother, more straightforward experience with the Doona, while Megan experienced some confusion with the Evenflo’s additional features.

Ease of Use

Juanita found the Doona incredibly easy to use, especially when getting her baby in and out of the car seat. She loved how simple it was to adjust the harness in height and tightness, ensuring her baby was snug and secure. “I really loved how easy it was to take my baby out and put him back into the seat,” she noted, and felt her baby was comfortable and well-secured in the seat. “The harness is very easy to adjust the height and tighten,” she says, and her baby “feels and looks very comfortable” in the Doona

Megan had mixed feelings about the Shyft’s ease of use. Once she figured out the correct harness setup, getting her little one in and out of the car seat was easy. But she had trouble separating the car seat from the stroller, and switching between stroller and car seat modes was not seamless for her. She liked how easily the wheels snapped down in stroller mode but wished the system was more intuitive when switching back into car seat mode. “Going into stroller mode is super easy!” she says. “I like getting [it] out, the wheels lock and we’re ready to go!” And while she enjoyed the simplicity of using the Shyft once in stroller mode—pushing it, locking the back wheels and maneuvering through stores were all easy—getting the bulky car seat with the stroller attachment into the car was cumbersome. Megan found this aspect of the product “a true workout” when trying to navigate tight parking lots or doors. And it should be noted, the Shyft is more than 12.5 pounds heavier than the Doona.

Safety

Despite her initial concerns about the Doona’s two-in-one design, Juanita was pleasantly surprised by how it kept her baby secure. After testing she felt confident in the Doona’s safety, even compared to her usual car seat. Anti-rebound protection really makes the Doona stand out in this regard—the unique design allows caregivers to position the handle against the back seat of the car, absorbing impact. Additionally, the head support provides side-impact protection using energy-absorbing materials specially designed for newborns.

The Shyft features LockStrong installation and quick connectors for a fast and secure installation, and Megan told us, “overall I felt like this car seat was nice and safe for my child.” She appreciated knowing her child was clipped in properly—the Shyft’s SensorSafe technology uses an app that sends real-time alerts to potential safety concerns while baby is in the car seat, so if your little one is unexpectedly unbuckled, or even if they’re buckled in too long, you’ll get an alert. However, Megan was frustrated by the alerts from the app, which sometimes mistakenly indicated that her baby was still buckled in when he was actually in her lap, not the car seat.

Features and Design

Juanita found the Doona to be a good fit for her baby, with room to grow as he gets bigger and heavier (although it’s important to note that neither of these products can be used past infancy). She was particularly impressed with the headrest, which provided excellent support during naps, keeping her baby’s head in place. While she noted that the seat was a bit wider and lower than expected, this wasn’t a significant issue. One feature Juanita wished was different was the ability for the wheels to fold or tuck away once the car seat was on the base. “That would be very helpful to make a bit more room in the car,” she explains.

Megan found the Evenflo Shyft car seat to be heavy, even when just using the car seat. While safety is paramount, she felt the seat could be lighter, especially as her child grows. In terms of usability, Megan found it challenging to get the car seat in and out of her vehicle when in rear-facing mode, particularly if someone was sitting in the front seat. However, she appreciated that the seat didn’t take up much space across the back seat.

Value for Money

Juanita believes the Doona is worth the price, mainly because it offers both a car seat and a stroller in one. She felt that the quality of the product justifies the cost, calling it “well made” and fairly priced for what it offers. Megan, on the other hand, wasn’t sure if she would personally purchase the Evenflo Shyft—she pointed out that a regular infant car seat can detach and be used independently with other travel systems, but this isn’t the case with either of these combo products. However, she did appreciate the convenience of having the stroller attached to the car seat, especially for trips like grocery shopping, as it saved space in her vehicle and made it easier to “get and go” quickly.

Final Verdict

While our product tester Juanita loved the Doona, Megan felt the Shyft wasn’t quite worth the money. Both products performed well in testing, but the Doona’s lower weight and easier functionality made it worth the $550 in Juanita’s eyes, while despite the slightly lower price tag, the Shyft fell somewhat short for Megan, although she loved the experience of using it. As she says, “As someone that wanted something like this but couldn’t justify the price, I’m glad I got to test this. I enjoy the ease of being able to load my child up and go with the car seat attached to the stroller base.”

About the writer:

Christine Carpenter, a New York storyteller and devoted mother of two young boys, understands firsthand how important it is to find the right products to support the demands of everyday motherhood. Christine has a keen passion for innovative, life-enhancing products and believes the right choices can make all the difference in navigating daily life with young children.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Elvie vs. Willow: Real Parents Weigh In

The Best Strollers for Every Lifestyle, Tested by Parents

The 7 Best Infant Car Seats, Based on Parent Testing