Maclaren Techno XT Stroller - Charcoal Frame

Amy from Grapevine, TX              June 8th, 2009
We bought this when my daughter was about 4 months old (about 13 pounds, 23.5 inches). She no longer preferred to be in her carrier/frame unit, and the travel system stroller, although fabulous in most ways, was WAY too bulky and heavy for me to lug all the time.

I put a lot of time in research which light-weight were going to go with, even creating a spreadsheet of features. (Had to if I wanted my husband to understand why I'd spend this much on an "umbrella stroller," as he called it.) Anyway, because of the fabulous sunshade - we live in Texas and this is necessary - this stroller "won."

Maclaren doesn't seem to advertise this sunshade much, but starting with the Techno XT model and up, there's an easy-access zipper at the back of the normal canopy that extends it down around the baby's face. There's also a tinted visor-like contraption that pulls down from underneath the canopy for additional coverage. The extra $100 that we would have saved going with the Combi (next runner up) we well-spent simply because of this feature.

Other positives are:
-The harness is easy to use
-Stroller can be customized by purchasing a liner (The lack of color choices irritated me initially.)
-Stroller reclines to almost laying all the way down. This was important as my daughter cannot yet sit up on her own. (Some people have complained that the fact that this recline has to done using 2 hands is a nuisance. I don't think so.)
-Fabric is smooth and sturdy.
-Overall looks are good
-Turns on a dime and easy to turn with one hand.
-Simple to fold down and set up.
-Baby seems to like it.

Negatives:
-The basket. Not only is it small (not a huge deal b/c they all are), but it's pretty much inaccessible, even when the seat is in it's upright position. We use it to store the rain cover and mosquito net. Glad there's a place of that, I guess.
-Seems overpriced, but it's from England...'Nuff said.
-Lack of color choices
-Lack of a proper cup holder, for either me or baby (when she'll have a sippy cup one day)
-Leg positioner isn't "smooth" to use...Lots of pushing fabric around

That's really it. I'm still happy that we went with the one. There still isn't that perfect stroller, but this is getting closer.