Best of breed - with room for improvement.
value conscious, mom of 2, willing to pay for quality, tall
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NOV
14
2007
Maclaren Twin Techno Double Umbrella Stroller —
As with most products I purchase, I did a lot of research before settling on the Maclaren Twin Techno. As a 6'2" woman with a 6'2" husband, we needed a stroller that was tall enough to push comfortably without sacrificing our backs. We also needed a stroller sturdy enough to handle a big 2-1/2 year old, as well as one that could comfortably and safely accommodate a newborn. And since we frequent both parks and sidewalks, I wanted something that wouldn't get bogged down in grass, gravel, and mulch. The Maclaren was one of just a few strollers that fit the bill for all three of these requirements.The good: The Maclaren has very tall handles (44"). My husband, my 6'8" father, and I are all comfortable pushing the Twin Techno, and none of us end up stooping or leaning; the handles really are wonderfully tall. The stroller is also very well made, and sturdy. Though it folds like an umbrella stroller, there's nothing cheap or flimsy about it. Everything seems to be reinforced by metal struts, and while these make figuring out, intially, how to fold and unfold it, I feel confident that because of all the reinforcements, this stroller will be able to handle whatever we can dish out. The baskets under the seats are reasonably sized -- not huge, but large enough to accmommodate a couple small bags each. Seats have a number of reclines, including a full recline for the baby. When coupled with the leg rest, this makes a terrific, comfortable close-to-flat bed for an infant. The five point harness is very secure, though difficult to adjust. I also love the extras -- the boots for winter warmth, the rain cover, etc.
The things that make this stroller a four star rather than a five star for me are, first and foremost, the width of the seats -- or rather, the lack of width of the seats. My 2-1/2 year old son's shoulders are already too wide for him to sit back comfortably in the seat. Granted, he's a big kid (nearly 40" tall and 38 pounds), but it was still a huge disappointment to me to see that it was already a squeeze to get him into the stroller. The lack of a snack/cup holder for the kids is something that could/should be addressed. I have found some clip-on holders that we'll be purchasing, but it seems that Maclaren, for $400, should offer an out-of-the-box solution for this. The bottle holders on the back of the stroller are also next to useless. They're too small for standard water bottles; in fact, I have yet to find any bottle or cup that will actually fit in them. I'd also love to have a handle in the middle of the stroller, rather than just on the two outside edges. With the wheels at the base in the very center of the stroller, it's more comfortable to walk slightly off-center; otherwise, you have to be careful to avoid stepping on the middle wheels. When setting up the stroller, getting the shoulder harness straps out of the grommets to adjust them up or down is next to impossible; it literally took me more than 20 minutes to adjust all four (and it nearly ruined my nails!). Last but not least, it's definitely a two-handed job to recline the seats, which is not always ideal.
Overall, I'm happy with the quality and features of the Twin Techno -- but clearly there is still room for Maclaren to improve the design. Let's hope they read some of these reviews and incorporate some of these into the 2008s! Even so, I feel like we did get the best double stroller available on the market now, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My only advice is that if you'll be using it for a child older than 2 and over 30 pounds, that you try a test drive with them first.
Maclaren Twin Techno Double Umbrella Stroller is recommended by blue22
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