sell me on a Maclaren

[nonzerosum]

We just got back from WDW and I am in need of a new stroller. The airline completely destroyed our Peg Perego P3 on the flight down to WDW to the point where it was unusable. If not for the fact that I had pipcleaners and duct tape in my carry on to "fix it" with, we would have had to dump it at the airport and rent 2 strollers for the length of our stay. Three cheers for pipe cleaners and duct tape, 3 boos for united airlines. On the flight home the stroller was further trashed and it is now totally broken. With all the buzz of Macs, I'm considering getting one, but really do need a sell job from all of you who have them. What is it about a Mac that makes people go wild? Which model would you recommend? My son will be 2 in a few days and we would use the stroller for the mall and WDW. I loved the P3 because my DD4 could ride on the back, but I know this isn't an option with Macs. I did, however, see a Mac at WDW with at bogey board type attachment on the back. Anyone used one of these for Disney? All input would be really helpful. Thanks!

 

[lov2b@disney]

I LOVE my maclaren- I have 3 boys, this is my first maclaren and I'm so glad I bought it --originally for Disney It is lightweight , maneuvers easily , even with one hand, carries easy with a strap, unlike a regular umbrella the handles are high enough! Mine is a triumph- definately would buy another! I put a a maclaren organizer on it so it fits 2 bottles of water, or sippy cup!

sometimes my 7 year old gets in it (just because he can)and it does just fine!

 

[heartbeeps]

maybe read this thread... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1734311

personally, I'd sum it up by saying it weighs less than 9# and holds a kid up to 55#! It's one of the few that will hold a 5 or 6 year old because they typically weigh 50# or more!

 

[2tinkerbells]

LOVE LOVE LOVE MY MAC!!! I have the quest and love it because it steers easily, folds great, plenty of room for bigger kids, the strap is great to carry it with. My husband is tall and the handles are perfect for him. I do not know about the boogey board (because of the way it folds you would probably have to take it off to fold)

I can't say enought good things about it
I found my second one on ebay for alot cheaper than in the stores.

 

[mom~of~2]

The Pliko P3 was my first stroller.... and I really liked it until I gate checked it on a United flight! Since that experience, I now only travel with strollers I don't care about (which is now the beat up Pliko).

I just bought my first Mac. I got the Volo (very lightweight, no recline) because I'm using it as the stroller that always stays in my car for quick trips. What I really love about this stroller is the steering - it's so smooth and I can easily steer it with one hand. I never liked steering the Peg Perego (however, mine is an older model so this may have improved). What I don't like is that because it's such a lightweight stroller, I can't keep a bag on the handlebars (because the stroller will tip over when the child gets out)... which, could probably be solved by going with a heavier-weight model. I also miss the ability to have my older child ride on the back (haven't tried the board attachment).

 

[wlwilliams9]

We love our Mac for these 3 reasons...
1. Tall enough handles, we don't have to slouch
2. We don't kick the wheels when we push it
3. Lightweight

Oh helck...Make it 4 reasons...reclining!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I have a mac techno classic that I used for disney for the first time last month and it was great. I used it with my 7yr old she is petite but it was a breeze. As the PP said I love the fact that it reclines I know the techno reclines flat but I am not sure about the how much of a recline the other macs have the tall handles even though I am short it was heaven pushing the storage while smaller than a regular stroller is still nice. I purchased two valco baby universal cupholders on ebay for 9.99 and they are a wonderful additon to my mac.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I have 2 Mac Volo's that I bought specifically for Disney on our last trip. What I like about them is that they're easy to stear even when my 52# 6.5 year old is in it (which isn't often). I love how easy they are to fold and how lightweight to carry, it also doesn't take up much room in the trunk of the car.

 

[Gokstate]

I have three Macs - two Triumphs and one Rally Twin and they are worth every penny. The Triumphs recline enough for my girls (1 and 2.5) to comfortably take naps and they turn on a dime. I can't explain how easy they are to turn which is awesome in stores and busy places. Without saying a word, I have converted three friends from Graco and Combi when they pushed my stroller while we were all shopping together.

You'll never regret the Mac!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

We had a Peg Perego which we loved at WDW, but outgrew the weight limit and bought out MacLaren. I agree with all the previous glowing reports as well as the tipping issue. How we solved the tipping issue is by using stroller saddle bags between the wheels under the seat on the sides. We bought ours years ago from One Step Ahead. You can load waterbottles and other heavier items in them without fear of tipping. We have also discovered that, while the stroller is less lovely to fold and carry with the shoulder strap while saddlebags are attached - it can be done. We rig the saddlebags so that we can flip them out of the way to fold the stroller then they are still attached and often loaded. The bags to have handles so they could be unattached and carried separately - your choice which is less convenient: saddle bags separate or sticking out of and weighing down your stroller.
DD and DS are 26 months apart and we take turns in the one stroller, so we've not needed a riding board on the back. The kids are almost outgrown it now (they're 7 and 9) but we're loathe to leave our "packmule" at home. Honestly, DH won't let me sell it because he won't go to WDW without it!

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
only trouble I found is like with most strollers - they are low enough that the kids faces are at cigarette height or carrier bag height, so in crowds I was always wary of being near other people... we wore out our Mac - I don't drive so it was used every day for 4 years (i.e. it "lasted" for 2 kids....)

Tessa

 

[designermv]

We brought our Mac Techno Classic to WDW for our 3-year old this past October and it was fantastic. I love the full-recline and large sun canopy, it made it very nice for afternoon naps in the park. I got a big tote bag at the resort and just used that for all our 'park crap' (sunscreen, camera, souveneirs, etc.), and put it over the handles while she was in the stroller. It was very easy just taking it off to quickly fold the stroller for the boat/monorail. The Macs do not have large baskets underneath, so I'd definitely invest in a tote with large handles.

We had one of these too:
http://www.skiphop.com/mm5/merchant...Code=SH&Category_Code=ACC&Product_Code=172000

I've heard the Inglesinas are less tippy than the Macs, you may want to check out a Swift or Trip if you have a chance to do some test-drives IRL.

Also, www.albeebaby.com has some great deals on Macs right now.

GL!

 

[abcboys]

I just got my new mac volo last week. however, I'm not totally in love with it yet. I think it would be great if you lived in the city and has smooth surfaces most of the time and needed something small to zip around in. Here in my small midwest time there are lots of sticks/broken sidewalks/bumps and I just didn't think it hadled as well as I had hoped. There are no shocks like my old bigger stroller. Honestly it just felt kind of weird. I'm going to attribute it to the fact I'm used to pushing bigger stroller (not the huge strollers but the medium sized) It is lightweight and I will like that for when we go to Disney.

Also, it was pretty expensive for what it is. I got a pretty good deal on it for $70 but it was still a splurge for me. It is lightweight aluminun. When my middle 43 pound child gets in it does seem to bend the frame in somewhat. My old stroller didn't do that. I'm sure its not going to break but when he gets in I can see it buckling slightly towards the middle.

There are some things I like. I folds up small and is lightweight. I think it will be good for our disney trip. I mainly got it for my 2 year old but knowing my just turned 6 year old can ride in it, too. It does travel well on small surfaces, I'm not not sure about the uneven surfaces yet. It does have a storage basket although its smaller than I'm used to. I don't like there is no cupholder but I may try to get one. Today was the second time we've taken it for a walk. I'm hoping I get used to it. I just need to give it a chance.

 

[blessedby3]

I just got my new mac volo last week. however, I'm not totally in love with it yet. I think it would be great if you lived in the city and has smooth surfaces most of the time and needed something small to zip around in. Here in my small midwest time there are lots of sticks/broken sidewalks/bumps and I just didn't think it hadled as well as I had hoped. There are no shocks like my old bigger stroller. Honestly it just felt kind of weird. I'm going to attribute it to the fact I'm used to pushing bigger stroller (not the huge strollers but the medium sized) It is lightweight and I will like that for when we go to Disney.

Also, it was pretty expensive for what it is. I got a pretty good deal on it for $70 but it was still a splurge for me. It is lightweight aluminun. When my middle 43 pound child gets in it does seem to bend the frame in somewhat. My old stroller didn't do that. I'm sure its not going to break but when he gets in I can see it buckling slightly towards the middle.

There are some things I like. I folds up small and is lightweight. I think it will be good for our disney trip. I mainly got it for my 2 year old but knowing my just turned 6 year old can ride in it, too. It does travel well on small surfaces, I'm not not sure about the uneven surfaces yet. It does have a storage basket although its smaller than I'm used to. I don't like there is no cupholder but I may try to get one. Today was the second time we've taken it for a walk. I'm hoping I get used to it. I just need to give it a chance.

I think that is intresting that you say the frame bends with your 43 pound child in it. My 3rd DD(9) is 60 pounds and she can still fit in my Volo perfectly and there is no bend there. The frames on these strollers are soooo sturdy and when I put her in it the thing to test it, it still pushes like she isnt in it! You can turn those things with one hand and it just glides like you are on ice. We loved our "Disney" Volo so much that when we were blessed with a 4th child 5 months ago I ordered a Quest to use after she is out of her travel system. We already use the Quest sometimes now. We love, love love the Macs!!!

 

[puffkin]

1. Light weight, collapses easily
2. Turns on a dime
3. Handles are nice and tall

I my Mac. Worth every penny.

 

[kileybeth]

are you sure you didn't get a knock off volo? $70 is pretty cheap and there have been some reports on these boards of knock offs being sold on some baby sites.

Our volos are the sturdiest things around. I had a sick older child (80 lb 12 yearold )with me one day and she road for a good hour in one of ours! Still pushed well and no bending of frame at all.

I also always load my strollers down with so much weight my DH thinks I'm going tent camping or something and never have any problems.

I have put a full backpack type diaper bag in the basket underneath and it fits with a 5 year old in stroller.

at Disney we store the rain shield and ponchos up under the seat in the basket and they fit great.

as to off roading with a volo, well, it is not made for that for sure but we certainly have pulled/pushed it across the park every so often.

can't beat the lightweight of it. as for tippiing, just put your backpack/bag down lower on the bars. I use a hop skip duo bag with ours and it would tip if I didn't put bag down lower. I do like the saddle bags but just haven't gotten them ordered yet. I also use the valco universal cup holder, excellent! best on market.

what's not to like! I've owned so many strollers over the years with 6 kids from monster strollers to cheapy umbrellas and my only regret is not buying Maclarens sooner.

 

[abcboys]

Cry....I really want to love my new stroller. It has so many rave reviews was the one reason I got it. But, Yes I can just push down on the seat with my hands and both sides of the frames flex in. Is it not supposed to do that? Or is that normal?

 

[abcboys]

Hmmm, I thought about did I get a knock off stroller. I did get it off ebay I think from babyproductstore but this guy/gal had so many positive reviews all from strollers I figured it was safe enough. It looks real enough. Came in a macalaren box with the instructions and it was all wrapped up like from the factory. Who knows?

 

[lulu71]

I'm not going to sell you on a MacLaren simply because I can't recommend them. I have two and hate both. I should have known better after the Volo sat in the closet that the Twin Techno would be a bust. I just don't think that they are sturdy and all that convenient compared to more substantial strollers out there. They are a bit pricey for an umbrella and I don't mind paying top dollar for something well-made. MacLaren is not, IMO.

 

[captainpixiedust]

Uh-oh... I just ordered a Maclaren Volo from that same seller on ebay (babyproductstore). I did the same thing you did by reading the feedback before going ahead and ordering. He did seem to have lots of positive feedback, and he does seem to sell a lot of Maclaren products. I'm hoping that they are indeed the real thing! Mine has not yet arrived, I'm expecting it sometime early next week (I live in Canada so it takes a bit longer). I had read somewhere else on this board that this person is the same person that runs the site babye-store.