Ack! Maclarens galore! Which one?

[disneybridetobe]

OK... so I love my Graco. DH calls it our mobile command center. Love the basket, the cupholders, the tray. I often wondered why so many people were cuckoo over Maclarens. I get it now. I totally get it. MIL came to pick up DD and me today and I brought our umbrella stroller with us because the Graco wouldn't fit in her trunk. (It was full of stuff) So, I'm looking for another umbrella-type stroller to bring with us when we go out with my mom, my MIL, my aunt, etc. So, I'm going to go with the flock and buy a Maclaren. But...

What is the difference between the Volo, Triumph, and Quest? The Volo's seat doesn't recline, I get that. But I can't tell what the major differences between the Triumph and Quest are. Granted I didn't do extended research, but I need some help. Please help! lol

Thank you

 

[abby616]

I have 4 Macalrens, the double, the global (no longer availbale) and 2 quests. My info may be slightly dated, but should, but should give you a good idea. The Volo is Macalrens version of a basic umbrella stroller. Does not reclin, very light weight. The accessories (rain cover etc), used to be extra, but they may be included now. This is suitable to older babies (3 or 6 months - check the ages). Next step up is the triumph. This reclines to 3 positions and is slightly larger than the Volo and comes with the reain cover. Again, I think this is appropriate for 3 months and older. Next comes the quest, slightly larger than the Triumph and reclines to 5 positions. This reclines further back and seesm to be more comfortable for napping. Next is the largest, techno XT. I believe this one fully reclines and is suitable for smaller and larger children.

 

[DISNEYNV]

We have a Volvo and a Quest. I like the Quest better since it has more features and is "more comfortable" (according to my four year old DD). I also read on the boards the other day that someone ordered a Mac Online and got a new 2007 model for a good price and free shipping. So once you figure out which one you want you might consider a past model for a discount price

They are just the best strollers!

 

[pl71]

It's been a few years since I researched strollers, but here's what I remember...

Volo: no recline or leg rest
Triumph: some recline, no leg rest, more padded seat
Quest: more recline, leg rest, more padded seat
Techno: reclines completely flat making it suitable for newborns, larger wheels which give it a slightly smoother ride, adjustable height handles, most padding of the line and slightly wider seat. It also have a storage pocket in the back of the hood which works for drinks.

Note: leg rest is not foot rest, all the strollers have a foot rest. Leg rest is the maybe six inches of cloth that go from the knees behind the back of the child's calves. In the higher end Macs, you can raise that area to make it stick out straight. This is nice for little kids whose knees don't hit the edge of the stroller so without it their feet stick out in the air. It also makes for more comfortable napping. If you have an older/bigger child (over age 2) you don't need this.

All the strollers do an umbrella fold, but they weigh more as you go up the line.

If you just want a basic stroller get a Volo. I won't get a Techno unless you have a newborn or unless you are very tall and need the adjustable handles(around 6 feet). As a general rule, you need less stroller as your child gets older. However, if you get a better one in the line you can still use it for older kids. My Techno works fine for my four year old. We have a Volo as well but for all day use go with our Techno.

Be aware that all Maclarens are tippy. If you put a lot of stuff handing off the handles it will fall backwards when your child gets out. Not usually all that big a deal unless you have a drink in back pocket. Remove the drink before you remove the child!

Definitely look online for older models on clearance. Usually the only differences are color options, but you can get a new older model for much less then the current year (it's like cars).

 

[WDWorBUST]

The main reason we went with the Quest over the Triumph when we were shopping for Sam's was that the Quest has a deeper seat.

 

[Captain_Hook]

All the specialty Macs are the Quest model. (Lacoste, Kate Spade...)

I have a techno. I wanted it for the recline (I bought it when my son was about 8-9 months old). I knew he would nap in it and I wanted it to lay as flat as possible for him. I liked the bigger wheels and the wheel suspension. I also liked that the handles adjusted. I am 5'4 and my husband is over 6'. I also knew a variety of people would be pushing the stroller at WDW. The techno's hood also has a little sun visor/shade and it unzips to make it extend further down. I thought all of these were very important based on my son's age and on the fact that I was getting the stroller primarily for WDW.

Maclarenbaby.com has a chart that tells you the difference between all the strollers and (at least used to) show pictures of the different features.

Good luck!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

IF you go w/ the mac get the quest. Generally I would say the volo would be good quick trips around the house not for napping. The triumph would be good for around the house and they might nap a little but as mentioned the seat is a bit small and this is a general complaint about this model. The quest would be your best choice if you don't want the techno b/c odds are you may very well stop using the big graco when you get a hold of that mac. You may also want to get a valco baby universal cupholder I have two on my techno and every other stroller I own. they are nice and big and I can put my disney resort mug in and the it holds it securely and the slit on the side makes it so that it fits w/out the handle being in the way it also holds my animal topper cup from ak securely and I don't have to worry about it bouncing around.

 

[goofygal531]

I have a Quest and love it. I think out of all the models it's the one do it all stroller.

I had a Techno and sold it. It's a bit heavy to travel with. The Quest is much lighter.

The one thing that never sold me on the Volo is the lack of a recline. I will never purchase a stroller without a recline. My one pet peeve is children napping hunched over, drives me crazy!

We have the Quest set up for WDW down to a science. We use a Skip Hop Pronto for diapers and wipes and hang it on the side of the stroller, we use the Maclaren Stroller Organizer for drinks, ponchos, snacks, etc... We tend to keep the basket empty since you can fold the stroller with the other items attached. It's worked amazingly well for all our trips.

Our stroller is 5 years old and has seen better days. The lock broke on our last trip (gotta visit the Maclaren Store in SoHo for a new lock, $10).

It's one of those strollers you'll get you moneys worth out of!

 

[abby616]

Was just out shopping and saw Maclaren strollers at Homegoods for really great prices. Not sure if you have that store in your area or if all of the stores would have them, but thought I would share.

 

[Goofy'slady]

DH just ordered our almost 4yr old a Mac Quest for our trip next month after I told him all the cool Disney families were pushing them (lol, my little trick since he knows we're a Cool Disney family) and he was the one who did the research on which Mac did/has what in regards to differences and he was the one to settle on the Quest. From what he told me he like that the Quest reclined, had a bit more padding, went up to 55lbs and was overall bigger in size than the Volo and Triumph. He let me pick the color.

We used it on a recent trip to our local outlet mall to do vacation shopping and a day trip to our nation's capital and we were both pleased as punch we decided to go with the Quest and our daughter seems to be quite comfortable in it as well. We've even added a cool cup holder and this weekend I'll purchase a fun Disney ribbon to tie to the handle bars of the stroller so that we'll be able to pick ours out of the see of Mac in Disney. Now since we own a Mac I've started to notice them more and I'm surprised just how many folks out there apparently love them as well.

T.

 

[disneybridetobe]

Wow! You're all so helpful!! I'm so torn-- I *plan* on using it for short trips, but you know how plans go... especially when it has anything to do with kids.
Of course the Volo is nice, it's cheap for a maclaren. DD doesn't sleep in the stroller anymore, so I don't know if the recline is a selling point-- but then, it's just a little extra for that option. I'm not sure if we'll be able to have another child, but I'd like to have the recline if we do have another. But then, would I have a double? Hmmm..

I tried craigslist, hoping to find a super duper deal, but to no avail.

I'll talk to DH about it, and check the maclaren website so I can show him the specs on all of them, and see what he says. But I really do like the pink (2007) which comes only in the Quest and Triumph But then, lol, we'd end up having another child who will be a boy, lol...

Thank you all so much

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

That's the nice thing about mac you can buy a new set of skins for it. But to through another in the loop the mac techno xlr has a 65 pound weight limit and has an attachment for an infant seat.

 

[JLKennedy]

Look under the budget board, someone has a link to a website selling older models (2007 and 2008) for like $70 brand new.

I had a 2006 Volo and it only went up to 40 some pounds, my son will be 5, and exceeded the wgt. limit, so I gave it away to a co-worker. Hubby tells me he doesn't want to rent a stroller after all, to go buy another Mac, so I went to babies yesterday and got the 2009 neon green volo, it was $120 and goes to about 65 pounds, safely (though the rec. is 55 pounds).

Here's the link to the website selling them:

http://www.babye-store.com/maclaren2.html

 

[lucigo]

We were on a trip to Disney when my son broke the foot strap on his stroller so I knew we would be stroller shopping when we got home. So while we were at Disney I was scoping out all of the different types of strollers. While there were Macs everywhere there were a lot of other really cool strollers there too. I ended up buying a Baby Planet brand - also goes up to 65 lbs and easier to find in the crowd of Macs LOL

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

We were on a trip to Disney when my son broke the foot strap on his stroller so I knew we would be stroller shopping when we got home. So while we were at Disney I was scoping out all of the different types of strollers. While there were Macs everywhere there were a lot of other really cool strollers there too. I ended up buying a Baby Planet brand - also goes up to 65 lbs and easier to find in the crowd of Macs LOL

I haven't seen one IRL but the snow leopard print that walmart has is gorgeous at least I think so. The endangered species line is nice.

 

[lucigo]

I haven't seen one IRL but the snow leopard print that walmart has is gorgeous at least I think so. The endangered species line is nice.

I love the frog one too! I checked out the leopard one at Epcot, was glad the family didn't think I was insane LOL I ended up getting a blue one because it was only $99. Turns out the best thing about it was that the leg rest comes up and the shade comes all the way down to make a "cave" which my son loves.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

did you get it from mamabargains.com the BP is just like the techno but for alot less

ETA~ how tippy is it IYO. the macs are bit tippy that is my only issue w/ them I have bought a couple of silver cross dazzles when shnoop.com had them I have to get rid of one of them but they are so much sturdier than the macs and the colors they come in are gorgeous.

 

[lucigo]

did you get it from mamabargains.com the BP is just like the techno but for alot less

ETA~ how tippy is it IYO. the macs are bit tippy that is my only issue w/ them I have bought a couple of silver cross dazzles when shnoop.com had them I have to get rid of one of them but they are so much sturdier than the macs and the colors they come in are gorgeous.

I got it from babyage.com I don't see it listed anymore, but the endangered species ones are down to $150. I've not had any trouble with it tipping. I just looked up the dazzle - cute!! Someday my grandchildren will be spoiled LOL

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I got it from babyage.com I don't see it listed anymore, but the endangered species ones are down to $150. I've not had any trouble with it tipping. I just looked up the dazzle - cute!! Someday my grandchildren will be spoiled LOL

Tell me about it my current stable includes the valco buggster, baby jogger city mini, the dazzle in grape and black, mac techno, quinny zapp, and bugaboo frog and my first stroller which was the graco chauffeur coach rider and numerous others that I have sold off. I have been eyeing up the microlite toro but I have not seen one IRL so I am unsure of it but my eyes are more focused on the easy walker sky or the mountain buggy urban single. The stroller group that I am part of provides way too much temptation for me. dh has insisted that I unload more of the ones listed above b/c my living room is the current home to most right now I am moving out the dazzle, the techno and the bjcm is moving into my MIL's this summer b/c I can't bring myself to part w/ it.

OP I am sorry for going on about my stroller obsession I will try to contain myself from spreading my addiction.lol