Maclaren vs. Combi Twin

[ckmommy]

Does anyone have these strollers? Which is better? I have had a Combi before, and it was great until the baby was 20 pounds, then it did not streer well at all. Does the twin model do this also? What about the Maclaren? Anyone have experience with the Opus Duo? That one is less expensive on e-bay. I would love any opinions. Thanks!!

 

[BevS97]

I haven't used the double Maclaren, but I've got a single and I love it, Maclaren make really nice strollers, they are very easy to push, even with a 4 year old in them, the handles are nice and tall and the kids seem comfy riding in them.

The double Maclarens are extremely popular over here (in the UK) and I see them all over the place, I've never heard a complaint.

Bev

 

[alexedan]

We have had the twin Combi for over 2 years and LOVE it. We had a new baby and 26 month old and now have a 3 and 5 year old who fit in it very well. It goes everywhere and is very light. I don't think you could go wrong with either--both are great brands. (Bringing our Combi to WDW in November!)

 

[riggins]

Hi ckmommy-
I asked the same question a few weeks ago and ordered my Combi Twin this morning. Here's what I learned in my research and why I decided on the Combi.

> Be careful with any 2002 Mac doubles. They added extra padding that is nice when an infant is reclined, but makes bulky "wings" when the seat is pulled upright. The bulky wings make the back shoulder area only 9 inches wide- much too small for a toddler. I almost bought an 2002 Opus Duo before I heard about the wing issue.

>I went to a local store that carries both the Combi Twin and the Mac doubles. I really liked the look and feel of the Macs, but they were very heavy. The Combi was a good bit lighter and the golf bag style carrying strap was great.

>The Combi was less expensive. The least expensive Mac Twin Traveller I could find from an authorized dealer or a reputable eBayer was about $340. I bought the Combi for $265 at babycatalog.com. You can get them cheaper at BabyDealz.com, but they sell "gray market" strollers that aren't covered under the manufacturers warranty.

>Here's a link to a stroller board where you can do a search and find out all sorts of good info (type in "wing" and you'll find more on the Mac problem): http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppstrollers

Good Luck!
-Leslie

 

[ckmommy]

Thanks everyone--

I wish there was a store that had both of these strollers around me. I would really like to test drive them before I shell out $300 plus or minus. I think that I will try the i-village site also! Thanks again!

 

[MOCHI]

We were in the same situation this year as well. I own a Mac single and two Combi Travel Savvys. We decided on a Mac Opus Duo. I was able to check out the Combi Twin IRL. There were things about it that I definetly liked over the Mac. I'll give you some of the pros and cons as I saw them.

Combi Twin Savvy-

Pros:
-Very lightweight
-Folded to a very manageable size
-Very plush and comfy
-Napper bar on the front
-Carrying strap
-Seperate sunshades

Cons:
-The reclining mechanism is just a strap that you can adjust to only 2 positions.
-They are fairly short- so if you are tall you may find yourself hunching over as you push. (I am only 4'11" and it was just the right height for me. My husband is only 5'8" and he found it to be a little short.)
-The locking mechanism on the front wheels can easily be kicked by your children- locking the wheels to a fixed position. (My kids did this all the time on my single- drove me nuts.)
-Steering wasn't as easy as a Mac.

Based on these things we decided a Mac would be better suited for us. It is true that there were some width issues with some of the Macs. However, I kept watching ebay for an older Mac and finally found a used one that was in like new condition, made in England (reportedly better quality than newer Macs), from 2000. That might be an option you could consider. I love it even though it is heavier than the Combi. Steers like a dream!

Sorry this is so long. Hope it has helped some! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[riggins]

After my long response yesterday about why I bought the Combi, I cancelled my order today and bought a Mac Twin Traveller!! After, I read MOCHI's post about the Combi being too short, I went back to the store and test drove them both again. I'm 5'11" and DH is 6'2", so handle height is an issue. The Mac was definately more comfortable to push. I didn't find the Combi too short, but the Mac was better. I probably wouldn't have been so concerned about it, but I made the mistake of taking our awful Kolkraft umbrella stroller to the mall this weekend and I spent the entire time hunched over and kicking the back wheels. I wanted to throw it in the dumpster on the way out. (BTW, it didn't seem too short in the store either, so I'm apparently not a very careful shopper!!) So, I decided not to take any chances with the Combi. I spent $85 more and have a stroller that is as heavy as the Graco Duo Rider side-by-side that I also wanted to throw in the dumpster . . . so who knows, I may never find the perfect stroller! And now that I've got one that cost $350 I'll need to reread those posts on how to avoid having it stollen!!

-Leslie
Eternally searching for the perfect stroller!

 

[BevS97]

I don't think you'll be unhappy with the Maclaren, they are great strollers. It might be heavy, but it's a lot more compact than the Graco and how often are you actually lifting it?

Bev

 

[MOCHI]

I'm glad I was able to help! I hope you enjoy your Twin Traveler. Finding the "perfect" double stroller is a lot more overwhelming than I ever anticipated! LOL! I think you'll find you made a good choice.

 

[ckmommy]

I guess now I am leaning toward the Mac's. I have a combi, and used it at WDW last year and hated how short the handle was! If only I can justify the cost of the Mac. I will keep watching e-bay! Time will tell...

 

[BevS97]

I don't know what delivery costs would be like, but you might want to check out UK Sites, Maclarens are MUCH cheaper in the UK, Kiddicare have the Opus Duo for £95 that's $150.

I've no idea what it would cost to ship, but it couldn't hurt to ask

Bev

 

[NotUrsula]

The price that Bev quoted from Kiddicare includes 17% VAT; purchases being shipped out of the UK don't include VAT, but they are always shown WITH VAT on UK websites. You have to call to get the export price.

Normally, with Maclarens, the shipping ends up being just about the same amount as the VAT was.