The Product: Umbrella Stroller

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We first purchased the Maclaren Techo XT Stroller almost five years ago, and it has held up incredibly well through three kids and lots of local and long-distance travel. Maclaren takes a very different strategy with its strollers (note that in Britain a stroller is sometimes called a buggy or pushchair). Rather than chase trendy features and designs, Maclaren continues to produce the tried and true umbrella strollers for which they are so well known. It’s hard to dispute that umbrella strollers are extremely versatile. They’re easy to maneuver, portable and a snap to store. The Maclaren Techno is the company’s flagship model. Lightweight, stylish and well built, it folds compactly and is very easy to maneuver through stores and take in and out of the car and on airplanes. For the average suburban parent who keeps the stroller in the trunk but still wants room for groceries, the XT is really your best bet. A lot of other strollers that look cool will lose their charm when you can’t fit them into your trunk. I can't tell you how many of our friends have switched to an umbrella stroller full time once their kids approaches one, espically if they had a larger stroller like the Mountain Buggy.

Key features:

• Five-point harness
• Four-wheel suspension for light running or jogging
• Rugged 6-inch wheels that rotate 360 degrees
• Extendable leg rest and recline pitch which is suitable for a newborn
• One-handed folding

We just received a new 2009 Maclaren Techno to test from the folks at Strollers.com, and it was interesting to see how the stroller has evolved. Although it looks like our 2003 model, I noticed several key improvements that made a big difference in everyday use, including:

• Peek-a-boo window has been moved to the back, to keep the sun out of baby’s eyes
• New, more comfortable hard plastic handles with cool metal tips
• Bigger rear pockets and deeper storage basket
• Larger and easier to use brake button with engages both sides at once (this was a major flaw with previous design)
• New five-point harness design with one-hand release for all straps and adjustable positions
• Easier to release closing mechanism

I’m happy to see that Maclaren continues to make this stroller better and better. Over the years, it’s been our go-to pick on a day-to-day basis. And, it’s the only stroller we travel with (we purchased a Maclaren travel bag to keep it from getting damaged when we check it on airplanes, and that has worked well).

Models & Variations

Bigger wheels and the ability to recline fully for newborns are features that give the Maclaren Techno an advantage over lower priced Maclaren baby strollers such as the Maclaren Quest stroller. The Maclaren XT and XTR models both have the big 6-inch wheels (exclusive to these models), and there is a noticeable difference in how they handle in snow, on the beach, etc. The Maclaren Techno XLR is just a couple pounds heavier than the XT and can accommodate larger children—up to 65 pounds (it is 1.5 inches wider than the Techno XT). It also has an adapter to hold an infant seat.

Devil's Advocate:

There are three drawbacks to the Techno XT and Maclaren strollers in general. They have no snack bar, no cup holder for mom and dad (although you can buy an aftermarket one), and the small bins underneath are very hard to access when the seat is reclined. But all strollers have tradeoffs, so it’s very important to prioritize the features you and your family desire. Personally, I prefer a stroller that is light and easy to maneuver. Other folks prefer to turn their strollers into mobile homes or shopping carts. If this is you, then a Maclaren Techno is NOT a good choice. I read a lot of reviews from unhappy stroller owners who might have known they were making a bad purchase. A little research can save a lot of aggravation.