Maclaren Techno XT Stroller

[saltyair]

Any experiences/thoughts?

Thank you

I'd borrow or get a cheap off-road type with big wheels for the first few months, and store the mac in the meantime.

But I live somewhere with cobbles everywhere and horrible bricky-stony high street, not paved, and it was really bumpy for mine - they would litrally throw their arms in the air every few steps. I hated that, so got something that absorbed the bumps while they were still tiny. You can give it away/sell it on pretty easily after that and just use the mac.

I'm 5ft7 btw and the mac is perfect heightwise. The only thing it does wrong is tip over backwards when you load it up with shopping on the handles. There was an excellent buggy that didn't do that called the Babydan Stockholm but it's discontinued now. I still want one

Look on ebay by distance search, for a Quinny Freestyle. They fold up really small to store or fit in the car boot, the wheels come off, they're brill for babies and they're cheap as chips now. (££ when first came out).

I used mine from birth, its still going strong now nearly 5yrs later for the occasional trip when DS is not well!

Folds down easily (if you travel by public transport), turns easily, fits in tiny gaps. I used to pity people on the bus etc with big awkward buggies. The matching footbag thing was good too, was snug with waterproof cover and kept DS cosy. I had a sheepskin liner too.

Has built in sun visor, & hood unzipps to extend right down over the front for when they drop off (took me ages to discover that!). It comes with good tight raincover, & you can lay the back of seat dead flat & extend the leg section easily when they nod off.

Re height: I'm 5ft and found it no problem. I loved this buggy!

I like a buckle sling (couldn't get along with wraps or ring sling) and love my ergo (you need an insert for babies). Have used it up til dd was 3 so one of my best buys. We also had a baby bjorn but dd only ever liked it facing inwards and it was only any use up to a year.

Seriously if not hiking or somewhere really uneven the maclaren is fine - its not been an issue. The lightness , ease to fold and general size makes up for it. I was only one with this in my baby group and for all the air tyres etc of things like mountain buggy or bugaboo chameleon , the xt was flexible and maneuvreable incl on and off trains , taxis etc. as a city girl that made a lot more useful long term.

Agree re little basket space but I have a changing bag to hang on back. And I can't believe any buggy in that style doesnt have tipping issues if overloaded.

Cross posts ith glitter but echo all that

Agree with everything GlitterKitty and Gigondas said. We're a Techno XT and Ergo sling household as well and really recommend both.

Like Gigondas we live in a city, so if you live out in the countryside it might not be as useful for you. But getting on and off transport and maneuvering in tight narrow aisles in small shops is incredibly easy with the Maclaren. It was small enough to store in our little flat and light enough that I was able to lug it up and down the stairs as we lived on the 4th floor with no lift at the time (DD in Ergo, buggy folded - by no means recommended or fun, but doable if necessary).

I'm 5'2 and didn't have any problems with the height of the handles. And DD was in it from birth, despite being quite a small baby.

Two years on we still say our Maclaren was one of our best purchases. It's used every day and has been on numerous flights with heavy-handed baggage handlers, but still works perfectly. Absolutely love it!

My Techno XT, buggy board, DD and DS walked for miles I loved it and would so highly recommend them. We also had the most wonderful, snugly cosey toes. I used it with 2 -3 year old DS in and DD in a sling, with DS in alone, with DD in alone and with DS on a buggy board and DD in buggy. I also had a Phil and Teds which I loved but ditched as soon as I discovered the buggy board and a weird mamas and papas travel system with a handle that turned around. Techno XT was the cheapest and best by far. I free cycled it recently and was gutted to see it go (DD 6, DS 9). I tried to persuadeDD to go for a little spin for nostalgia reasons when we got it out of loft but she looked at me askance! Lady I freecycled it to was really pleased with the buggy, its condition etc and as it was so well used, I reckon that says a lot about it. I hearted my XT!

We used our XT from birth both times and it's been fine with a sheepskin liner in summer and kaiser footmuff in winter. Never thought of putting the p+t cocoon in though, that's a good idea. We got ours cheap on mothercare too and delighted we've only ever had to spend £125 on pushchairs! You can fold and unfold the thing with one hand and the baby in the other and it takes a real battering and holds up fine and cleans up a treat. I guess it depends on your budget/space/need for off roading etc. Most people end up with a maclaren or umbrella folding type pushchair at some point anyway so why not get one from the start? Ps I think air tyres are a pita. Always going flat and making life hard work!

Mine must have been pre air tyres. They were rubbery but not air filled I don't think. Never had a problem with them anyway.

Brilliant, thank you so much to everyone who has replied. I think that's me sold on the McClaren!

There was a buggy which didn't tip. It had a patented anti tip mechanism. Have a look on google in case there are still reviews of the babydan stroller.

anyway I digress. OP, if you find it doesn't provide enough comfort for your baby then there's no reason you can't get a more substantial pushchair at the time. See how you get on.

ici

I've had mine almost a year now, from DD's birth.

Pros:
Fantastic pram for public transport. Will fit down the aisle of any bus. Also held up for overseas flight.
It's much lighter than most other prams that you can use from birth. This is a big deal if you have to negotiate stairs.
You'll be able to use it through the toddler years. Our friends 5 year old still fits in their XT.
Great for when it rains. Baby is completely protected with the cover
Awesome cover for the sun. Best on the market.

Cons:
The basket is rubbish. It holds very little and you can't access it if the seat is flat when baby is sleeping. This is a big deal if you do the grocery shopping and don't have a car.
It's faces frontward. I'd go for long walks with DD and never actually see her unless I peaked around the stroller. Having a parent-facing pram is much better for seeing and talking to baby during long walks. I ended up buying a 2nd pram off EBay because I found myself really wanting parent-facing.

I still use the XT, but it's become the secondary pram because of the cons.

HTH.