 The Product: Umbrella Stroller
The best advice that I can give you as a new parent is NOT to buy a “travel
system”. I can’t tell you how many new parents for whom a travel
system is their biggest regret. The reason why I don’t like travel
systems is simple. Your child will use a stroller from the time they are
born until about age four, but they will only be in their infant seat until
about six months old. By gaining the ability to use your primary stroller
with your car seat, you are pretty much doubling the weight of the stroller
for the remaining 75% of the time that you will use it. Talk to parents
who have a 1+ old and you will find that many have ditched their traditional
strollers completely for a very inexpensive umbrella stroller that is lighter
and better suited for daily and airplane travel. You are much better off
purchasing a $50 lightweight
infant seat carrier and then choosing a lighter umbrella stroller to
use when your baby is done with their infant seat. Umbrella strollers get
their name because they fold up like an umbrella as oppose to folding forward
into a block. This makes them much easier to fit in your car trunk.
Recommendation: Maclaren Techno XT Review
My wife and I have had the Maclaren Techno XT Stroller for five years and absolutely love it and it is going to last us through three kids which we never expected. The Maclaren Techno is lightweight, stylish, well built, folds compactly and is very
easy to maneuver around stores. This Maclaren XT and XTR models have the big six inch wheels and there is a noticeable difference in how they handle in snow, on the beach, etc. Both the bigger wheels and the ability to recline fully for a newborn are features that give the Maclaren Techno an advantage over lower priced Maclaren models such as the Maclaren Quest. If you are looking to use the Techno as your primary stroller, these features are worth the upgrade.
Features that count:
• Five point harness
• Four wheel suspension for light running or jogging
• Rugged 6 inch wheels that rotate 360 degrees
• Extendable leg rest
• One handed folding (sort of)
The Maclaren Techno XLR is just a couple pounds heavier than the XT but much roomier and has additional features such as adjustable handles which are great if you and your partner have a significant height difference. The Maclaren XLR can also accommodate larger children - up to 65 pounds ( it is 1.5 inches wider than the Techno XT) and also has adapter to accept an infant seat.
Devil's Advocate:
There are three major drawbacks to the Techno XT and Maclaren's in general.
The first is that it has no snack bar, the second is that it has no cup
holder for mom and dad (although you can buy an after market one), the
third is that it has a small bin underneath which is very hard to access
when the seat is reclined. It really all depends on your priorities. Personally,
I prefer a stroller that is light and easily maneuverable. Other folks
prefer to turn their strollers into mobile homes or shopping carts for
trips around town and the mall. If this is you, then a Maclaren Techno is NOT
a good choice and you might want to consider the Combi
Savvy Stroller which is more of a traditional stroller, but is
still on the lighter side. All strollers have trade offs, so it’s
very important to prioritize your features with your partner. I read a
lot of reviews from people that are unhappy with their stroller for reasons
that should have been very obvious to them before they bought it if they
did any research.
Recommended Accessories
• Skip
Hop - A great option for a diaper bag that is designed to
work with umbrella strollers such as the Maclaren. It is specially designed to attach to the individual handles
on a Maclaren.
• Umbrella
Stroller Bag - A must have if you are taking your stroller on an airplane
to protect it from damage.
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