I think that they are the absolute bees knees. Last brilliantly and easy to carry up and down stairs, just hold them against a hip.
I just wish they came in nicer colours!

I have had 3. And think they are pretty awful. dh hates them.But have not found anything better.

Mine is 2 years old and still looks new, it is excellent. Really recommend them to anyone.

We had a travel system at first which I loved as I could see DS. When he was just over a year DH bought a Maclaren for the trip. DS is 7 this week and the Maclaren is still going strong with DD inside. Had a new set of wheels 4 years ago which cost about £25.

Really like having the baby facing me for the first few months though, but that could be just me.

When I was looking for another stroller people ranted about th XT so in the end I went for that.

I really did'nt get on with it. Hated the sticky handles, the teeny basket, the weird recline system which I never managed, the crappy brakes, the stupid footrest adjustment and shallow seat. It was also quite rickety when walking long distances.

I did like the hood and raincover though...

My son was big and kept dragging his feet on the wheels which was the final straw but it may be better for a smaller baby.. if you can figure how to lay the bugger down...

I sold mine after 2 months and bought a BJCM which was fab.

My friend also had a Quest which was pretty shawdy too, the wheels were beyond useless if you happened to walk over a bump in the pavement or anything other than smooth tarmac and again the seat was too low.

I have a MacLaren XLR and I love it. Light, easy to use and sturdy. Cant praise it enough!

Had one and didn't like it much. For a lightweight easy to fold buggy I much prefer the babyjogger city mini

I have had a Techno XT for 5 years now, it is all still fully operational

The basket is a bit small but i have put phil and teds pannier baugs on when required (or just loaded the handles up and kept child in so it didnt tip )

They don't fly well IME.

I'm a BJCM girl as well

i've got a mclaren volo, the only good thing about it is its quite light and easy to pick up. otherwise, i hate it.

They are supposedly the bees knees of umbrella folds, it's true! If you have a car though and only plan on having 1-2 children (or are likely to need a double buggy for any of it), you don't really need one. Any old umbrella fold will do. They are very sturdy though so will last through multiple children, having shopping piled on them and hung off every appendage, every day use, being bashed about on buses, etc etc.

You don't have to have an umbrella fold though. I prefer lie-flat, parent facing, with suspension when they are a bit younger. And actually still find mine easier to push with DS who is 2.6 and if he wants to walk because of the bar handle.

So basically, they are good but only if you want what it does. If your priorities are different then they are a bit shit.

What do you want from a buggy?

I hated the lie flat thingy as to lift it up I would have to use my head to push it up from behind as I needed two hands to do the clip. DH found the OBaby buggy and I have to say it was fab, and IMO better than the maclaren (and much cheaper). The lie flat is done by pressing two buttons and sliding then to push back up you just push it up and it clicks into place.

I also borrowed my friend's silvercross pop once for a weekend away before I bought the buggy and the travel system we had wouldn't fit in the Clio with our suitcase. That was pretty good too.

How old is your baby/toddler?

I have a McClaren Quest (with retro butchers stripe because I remember my 70s blue and white striped one.) If you want small, strong, lightweight, easy to fold and your baby has reached an age where you and s/he are happy for her/him to face forward, I think McClarens are very hard to beat.

Ive had 3 babies and have gone through oodles of pushchairs.
I have just bought a mclaren quest for dc3 and i love it, its so easy to push, it looks good, ds2 is comfy in it, the raincover and hood are fab and it lies back enough for him to sleep.
I wish i had bought a mclaren years ago that probbly would have seen me through all 3 babies

Maclaren XLR - fab! We bought it before my DS was born and used it with the travel system - it's still going strong now he's nearly 3yrs.

He's quite big but it's still got plenty of room for him, love the hood, full recline and general manoeuvrability of it.

Quest reclines but doesn't lie totally flat. Think they advertise it as suitable from 3 months. Much smaller and lighter than xlr/xt and IMO comes into its own for older babies/ toddlers. Better for public transport than any other buggy as is slimmer and smaller (you can fit 3 mcclaren style buggies side by side in the pushchair spaces of most london buses but only 2 of any other make) but if you need to fold can do so easily. I started using it pretty much full time when my daughter was about a year old. Still miss her facing me but it is perfect for our needs as urban family using all kinds of public transport.

My friend gave us a Maclaren Triumph as a second buggy.....I like the ease of it, easy to get out the car, open the clip and flick the buggy out and it is easy to do. Basic A to B type buggy and quick to use.
However....the one I have has been used by 2 boys, so whether a new one would be better but....the seat is quite slouched (my DD doesn't like it), the brakes are hard to apply and don't work that well when they are on. It is very bumpy on rougher pavements, so I wouldn't take it on any rougher terrain. I can't get anything in the basket, just the basics such as nappy wipes, and a couple of extra bits.

The xt, or xlr may be better, as they have bigger wheels and I think maybe suspension or even the quest but I don't know what they are like (although my friend loves hers)

I am currently trying to decide on a stroller (I am rediculously indecisive and fussy!) and I am considering BJCM (not enough funds at the mo!), Britax B mobile, or a Maclaren or Silvercross, but I want something to be used on all terrains hence the first two options. I have a Britax at the mo which we have used from birth with carseat/carrycot etc which we have been very happy with, so a britax b mobile may be an option?

I would suggest if possible, try some in the shop (I have been without my DD) so I can concentrate and have a mess about and take my time, and then go back and try your DS/DD in it to make sure they like it, are comfortable.
HTH. :)

I have a maclaren triumph for DD (3) which has aged well.

It was handed down from DS (now 5)

As someone else said the brakes are shit

I don't use it much now as DD can walk most places but because I don't drive its used maybe twice a wk.

I took it on the bus today and its so light and easy to do so but tbh the main drawback (other than brakes) is it tips over if you put anything on handle bars.

Also maclaren are a bit cheeky imo and it has a different way of strapping child in so an exisiting cozy toes you may own will not fit, you have to buy theirs

I had a Maclaren XT for DS1 and 2 and loved it - it now lives at my mums and is still in regular use. It is now 8 years old.

I now use a Maclaren XLR bought for DS3 and now carriage of choice for DS4.

I love how light they are, are I can fold them with 1 hand while holding a baby on my hip and lift the folded thing into the car onehandedly. I find the folding down mechanism ok, a bit needs-getting-used-to, but then absolutely fine. And of course they fold flat - bonus for tiny baby.

Does not tip if you put things on handle bars as long as you have loads something in the shopping basket underneath .

The shopping basket is inaccessible when the back if folded flat though - this is really the only thing I dislike about mine. Oh, and I never found a coffee cup holder that can be fitted to them

The brakes are pretty shitty, but I never used them just park the buggy with the wheels against a wall/kerb/whatever.

The wheels are good for use on town/city streets but not great for off-roading - although mine as survived a fair bit of forest/river bank walking as well.

I find the world is divided into Maclaren lovers and haters those who haven't got a clue about buggies [buwink]

Oh bugger, ... how I can fold them with 1 hand....

Had an XT for three years and can't fault it. DD is 3.3 now and very rarely uses it but when she does there is still tons of room.

I bought a Techno XT when DD1 was 6 weeks old as the huge travel system I had was rubbish for London buses. I am now on DC4 and have just bought another XT nothing wrong with the old one just wanted a new blue one, inbetween I have had about 12 other buggies and nothing beats a Maclaren.

The new one is great it has a larger hood which you unzip and covers the whole baby practically from the sun, the raincover fits handy into one of the pockets (other buggies annoy me with their huge raincovers), nice new colours bright red/blue or I think they do a lovely grey/lilac XLR. The XT does lie practically flat and the cosytoes is very warm and comfy looking plus you can get nice liners to jazz it up :)

Personally for a newborn I would get the XLR and soft carrycot.

The tipping thing can be combatted by putting buggy weight on the front wheels. The shopping basket is a pain but you can fit a fair amount in it still and lob everything else over the handlebars.

Only other thing I wish it could go rear facing. I have never found the brakes rubbish either.

They do last forever though as well.