Customer Reviews

2005 Maclaren Twin Traveller Pattern: Carbon/Crimson

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought the carbon crimson version (red and black). I have a newborn and an 18 month old. I have had the stroller for 5 weeks now and still think it was the best choice after a LONG AND EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH, which included test driving and/or researching the following: Aria Twin; Combi Savvy Twin; Graco Duo Glider; Eddie Bauer Tandem; Jeep Tandem; Jeep side by side; Valco Runabout Twin; Valco Runabout single with optional Toddler Seat; Valco Rebel single with optional Toddler seat; Phil and Ted Twin; Instep jogging Twin; Mothercare double jogger; Marco Sky twin; Bertini Twin; Zooper Tango Twin; Chicco Twin; Inglesina Twin Swift; other Maclaren twins. I DID NOT GIVE IT A PERFECT 5 STARS AS IT IS JUST NOT PERFECT. Here's the pros and cons of the Twin Traveller:

PROS:
1. I love the colors. Very lively and no gaudy patterns.
2. It fits through doorways, including the restroom - you will need to use the disabled cubicle, but you'd have to do that with all double strollers.
3. although it weighs a bit (27 pounds) it is actually slightly lighter than the single Graco Quattro Tour stroller I had for my 18 month old, and definitely alot lighter than the cumbersome tandem versions and most of the other side by sides (Aria is the lightest at 17 pounds) and all the joggers I researched
4. the canopy has built in bags for storage
5. the under-seat storage bags (2) are a decent size for an umbrella fold stroller - they are not large by far, but not totally impractical either.
6. the heavier weight of this stroller compared to the Aria Twin and the Combi Twin - both of which I test drove with the babies - is actually an advantage as the uneven weights of the babies (newborn and 18 months) is balanced out by this more sturdy stroller. The Aria wobbled slightly when I turned corners, especially the corner in the direction nearest my newborn; plus the seat belts popped off when my oldest leaned forward, as they use a hook system instead of a built in seat belt; and even though the back of the seat belt was anchored to the bottom of the seat this just did not feel safe to me, plus the recline feature - straps- was too primitive for me)The Combi wobbled the worse and I felt like the cheap hollow plastic handles would eventually break under the strain of uneven weights, plus the double fold feature seemed too cumbersome to deal with, especially as I am petite and wrapping it round together seemed too much for me; plus the recline feature- straps- was too primitive and the seats were of a cheap looking material and I have seen them looking floppy and messy after some use when I spied them out in the mall with Moms who had bought this stroller). That said, they are the only twin strollers I found with snack trays/cup holders, albeit ridiculously small shallow cupholders on the Combi - which I guess would be ok for small bits of snack, and I narrow snack tray on the Aria which pops off instead of locks - can you see my toddler yanking this off! Here's a quickie on the other side by sides -The Chicco and Inglesina were pretty good drives and more of a wipeable seat covering, plus alot cheaper at under $200, but the folding was not as quick as the Maclaren and involved hand folding on the Chicco. I prefered pressing down with my foot, just in case I had to carry a bag or something while doing this. I probably would have gone for the Inglesina because of price but I could not find it in a store, only online and I prefered to have a physical store to make returns if I changed my mind...but be warned I can't remember how this one folded or reclined so check it out. The Bertini is great as it allows you to have the seat facing you, which I enjoyed with my oldest who is now 13, but it is larger and alot heavier and costs an average of $500, plus I could only find this online. The Valco Runabout Twin was very sporty and had very durable material on the seat, but recline feature was a strap - though much nicer than the others I have seen and zipped into place for extra safety, but it was heavier - it is closer to 45-50 pounds than the 35 advertized and was more bulky - the single versions - Runabout and also the Rebel (this one allows the toddler seat to face you or face out) are of course more slim lined and do come with an optional purchase of a toddler seat that attaches at the front but this did not leave much leg room for the baby in tandem behind and the toddler seat had no back support and could not recline for naps, and you would have to fork out even more cash for a canopy for the toddler seat to keep those sun rays off. These were pretty high in price also at $450-560 and the Runabout Twin was a custom order so if you change your mind before using it you will have to pay for shipping to return it plus 25% of the cost price as some sort of "restocking fee". The Zooper had one canopy to fit the whole system so that put me off further research as I wanted individually folding canopies. The Mothercare jogging Twin was decent but buying it in British Pound Sterling would have been too pricey, plus the shipping was about 70 pound sterling in addition to that. The Instep was nice but again was more bulky than the Maclaren - I can't remember much else about it as I researched it late in the search and was pretty much convinced by the Maclaren by then. The Jeep side by side was the cheapest at $80 but the seat do not recline far enough for a newborn - only enough for a toddler nap- and the canopies are just awful and don't block anything, there's no under seat storage - just 2 cargo bags on each side that don't hold much. I have the single version as I needed a light weight stroller towards the end of my pregnancy to get out and about with my toddler. I was pleased with the material as it was wipeable and the wheels were more all terrain than this Maclaren, but it was not enough to convince me on the Jeep Twin side by side, even if it were the most economical. The other Maclaren twin was not as luxurious as this one and I disliked the gaudy circle patterns. As for the tandem strollers - DON'T BOTHER UNLESS YOU WANT A TANK TO DRIVE AROUND! THEY ARE HUGE, HEAVY AND JUST RIDICULOUS TO TURN WITH BABIES ON BOARD. THEY ARE ONLY GOOD IF YOU WANT TO USE THEM AS A TRAVEL SYSTEM FOR TWIN INFANTS WITH THE MATCHING CAR SEATS - AND EVEN THEN YOU ARE BETTER OFF GETTING THE DOUBLE SNAP AND GO CAR SEAT CARRIERS UNTIL YOUR TWINS OUTGROW THE CAR SEAT. The Phil and Ted jogger was ridiculous as you had to "insert" the second child in an almost storage bag looking seat underneath the regular seat. The Marco Sky is an Austrian umbrella fold tandem (yep a tandem) and I loved it because it had the advantages of umbrella fold strollers but was more slim lined so I would be able to shop through the merchandise aisles as well as stroll through the walkway aisles in the store....but alas that also means less leg room space, especially as the babies grow, plus I wanted my daughters to be able to see each other for bonding - my little helper loves to get the pacifier for her "little baby" and can reach across to do this. ANYWAY, BACK TO REVIEWING THE MACLAREN TWIN TRAVELLER....
7. there's a carrying handle on the side for lifting in and out of the van/car
8. the canopies are a great size and function well. They are individually folded so you can cover only one child if you wish - my 18 month old does not like to be covered most of the time.
9. folding is simple and compact. I can still get the groceries in the back of the van with the stroller in the back
10. you can buy a Maclaren travel bag to protect/cover the stroller for plane rides - under $60
11.it comes with raincover, footmuffs and head supports
12. the 5 point safety belts are simple and safer to use
13. the seats individually recline and are suitable from birth.
14. it comes mostly assembled - you will only need to attach the canopy which was simple to do
15. has 2 locking clips for extra security when folded

CONS:
1.the seat material is not wipeable. it is more of a soft rain jacket material, and will have to be machine or spot washed
2. although it fits through doorways forget shopping on your own for clothes or anything else in the store as you will not be able to get it through the actual aisles of merchandise, only the aisles that are walkways are accessible - not a problem in grocery stores, though you will have to check out at a disabled access register or one on the end of the aisle of registers
3. the canopy does not stay in place in the middle as it does on the sides (the clip holding it to the bar does not lock like on the sides). It has caused one canopy side clip to pop open when folded and now I have to look into getting it repaired as it constantly pops open when it is folded. Because of this it has warped the canopy locking clip on one side and warped the transparent visors on both canopies. I noticed yesterday that when I folded it the canopies pushed into each other with one moving over the other, which caused the popping of the clip. I re-opened it and pulled the canopy to the very top position it could sit on the bar and it folded neatly side by side and did not pop out of place, so if you settle for this one make sure the canopy is in the top position - I am still pleased with the stroller despite this hiccup. Once repaired I intend on placing a plastic tie on the middle bar to keep it in the position I noticed it folded neatly in.
4. speaking of repair - unless you find this in a store with a great return policy ONCE THE STROLLER HAS BEEN USED you will have to contend directly with Maclaren which involves shipping any removable defective part (eg. the canopy) or the entire stroller at YOUR COST ( I would strongly suggest flat packing and keeping the box it came in in case you need to do this). I spoke with the retailer I bought this from and was told the canopy problem is becoming a regular complaint and that it is averaging about 4 weeks to get a replacement canopy. It seems most of the complaints came from customers who were actually folding the canopy incorrectly with one or both seats fully or slightly reclined (against manufacturer instruction) causing the warping and popping off of the canopy so beware not to do this yourself as Maclaren will not replace the canopy if you have not followed their instructions.
5.the storage bags on the canopy of this version, while a nice feature are circular with zips and do not hold much. They are almost CD size in shape, so if you are avoiding using the diaper bag you will have to throw any items in the underseat storage. The bags on the canopy are more handy for wallet/key/cell phone storage. (By the way I have seen the blue version of the Twin traveller and it had square storage pockets with velcro flaps instead of zips)
6. the bottle holder is just that a BOTTLE HOLDER for water bottles or slim soda bottles. Here in the US retailers are refering to it as a cupholder but it is not an adequate size for fast food cups. That said it is a British product and being British born I am well aware that this feature is meant for bottled water as the fast food mania here is not yet as big over there - even the "large" soda cups in the burger restaurants in England are more of a "medium" size here in the US.
7. While folding is simple, unfolding is a bit more tricky. The stroller has 2 locking clips on each side (great for extra security)and does not stand upright so you can't hold the baby or bag and unfold this one one handed. You will have to hold it upright while popping off the locking clips then let it fall, then push down with your foot on the pedals for locking it into place. It is not as bad as it sounds but it does involve more effort than the regular one locking clip style. you can leave it on the ground and shift the clips out of locking position and open that way but I find it more convenient to leave the clips in locking position so when I fold it I can just press the stroller down towards the clips and they lock without fiddling with the clips
8. the reclining clips under the seat can be a bit tricky to move if you have large hands as there is not much room underneath the seat, especially as you ease the seat down. it is also tricky to recline both seats without squishing your hand a bit to get your hand out of the middle. I counter this by using more of a finger than full hand action. also when you recline the seats fully it blocks access to the storage bags underneath (but that's the same for most systems). With a newborn permanently reclined I am stuck with using only one bag for those quick grocery trips as I don't want to disturb her by moving the seat
9. you will need to make sure you have a diaper bag with LONG straps as the only way to hang a bag on the stroller without it flapping out to the side is over both handles of the stroller which are of course further apart than a single stroller. It would have been nice to have some sort of bar or clip in the middle to hang the bag on one side, but alas they don't ask moms before they design. That said, beware that your bag is not so bulky (as if that's possible with 2 kiddies! ha!) that it pushes into the canopy as this will push into the seat area when the seat is reclined. not a biggie when the baby is newborn, but the bag will push into a toddler's head room. Plus if your bag straps are not long enough the bag will also lean onto the bottle holder which is in the middle of the two seats at the rear.

Like anything out there, it's all about personal preference and what you will put up with so best thing to do is to resist buying until you have both babies to test drive this for yourself. I found this stroller in store at Right Start. Go to rightstart.com for locations. Babiesrus does not yet stock in store and they haven't been consistent about having it online. Target only has this stroller online. Make sure you check return policies with regards to when the stroller has already been used. Right Start does not exchange or replace once used, but will allow returns if unused and unopened within 30 days. Also they will send the stroller in to Maclaren for repairs on your behalf....but this may vary store to store.

I own two double strollers for my nearly 4 month old and 16 month old sons. Likewise, since the Traveler is more expenisive than the other one I own, I registered for it (recieved it in April though, came out after the baby was born), and purchased my other one (Jeep twin Wrangler) myself.

I did choose the Traveler over 4 other doubles that I researched, (1) Twin Savvy (2) Combi Twin (3) Graco DuoGlider (tandem) and (4) Graco DuoRider (side-by-side) and after checking out the Combi (was gonna pick it, but seemed much less sturdy, and too plasticy), so I chose it.

PROs
- Easy to manuver, I can steer with one hand, yet turning requires two
- Very well put together
- At 24 lbs its right in the middle of the lightweights and the heavy weights
- The seats have 5 recline possitions with two hands (not strap system though). The seats also have headrests for my infant, and boots for the cold weather
- There are five point harnesses and they are actually well padded.
- The stroller folds flatly, leaving plenty of room in the trunk of my minivan.
- Its great on concrete, and indoor surfaces, but I can also use it on a bit of rocky surfaces.
- It can indeed fit through a doorway easily (29 inches), but it is troublesome when you hit the restroom
- Storage is fine. There are two baskets underneath the seats, and I can store my light diaperbag and my small purse in one, with the boots and maybe a few toys or small packages in the other. I wind up hanging any shopping on the handle bars.
- The handles have a nice rubber grip
- The canopies cover their heads, but yet I wish they extended more, and theres an added rain cover!
- Each seat holds up to FORTY POUNDS, thats EIGHTY POUNDS IN TOTAL!

CONs
- The stroller isnt ideal for shopping through crowded ailes, but I rarely go to the mall for very long alone!)
- The cupholder is very flimsy and cannot hold too much.
- The pockets on the canopies are annoying, they are circular and only hold little
- There are no snack trays, so we attached link-a-doos in a chain for both children to cliip things to
- Its VERY expensive
- The seats are difficult to clean, I have to wet a paper towel for it to work (preferably a rag!)

All in all I highly reccomend this stroller, I havent had ANY problems with the canopies, and I just think with a few imporvements the Traveler could be the best on the market. But theres always room for improvements!

My husband and I recently received the Maclaren Twin Traveller in carbon and crimson and we love it! I have a 2 1/2 yr. old and a newborn, and they are both very comfortable in this stroller. My 2 1/2 yr. old has taken a few naps already in this stroller. He is very comfortable sleeping in the reclined position. I especially love the foot boot for the newborn, even in the summer to keep the sun off of him. I had no problem with the sun shade and love the extra plastic visor that comes down for added sun protection for the newborn.

It fits through doorways with no problem, it's only the store displays that are too close, that I find a problem.

It was between this stroller and the Peg Perego Aria but the Aria looked so flimsy and the Aria single has such bad reviews. I do have the Peg Perego Pliko (single) and love it but there was no Pliko double stroller and the Maclaren twin comes very close.

The storage area is a little small but everything I need I carry in my diaper bag which I put on the handle. The new cup holder is too small and wish it was bigger. What would be great is if there was an organizer bag to fit the double stroller like the one for the single stoller. These are all minor and do not take away from the quality.

I have had this stroller only 2 months and have been asked so many times if I like it, I am quick to tell people how much I LOVE it! I have heard people who purchase other brands (that I will keep nameless) wish they would have got the Maclaren instead!

We are a very active family, always on the go and this stroller works great! What more can I say!

Hope that helps Mom's and Dad's make their decision easier! My husband even likes this stroller! You will not go wrong with this stroller!

My husband and I have used this stroller since our babies were a few days old. The seats fully recline and there is a third wheel in the middle which makes for a smoother journey. I tested a few other double strollers and this was my favorite. I am quite tall and I don't feel like I have to bend over at all. I refused to buy a travel system because I thought they were all awful. heavy and cumbersome. Instead, we opted for a Double Snap n Go to keep in the car for the next few months while they are still in infant seats and the Maclaren for neighborhood strolls. When I am no longer transporting the babies around everywhere in infant car seats I will use the Maclaren exclusively.

I have been using this stroller now for about 10 months. I've got a 12 month old and a 25 month old and for the most part, it has been good.

Pros: Easy to break it down and fold it up. Also, once it is folded up, it locks into place and it has a nice little handle for easy carrying. Light-weightish...not as light, obviously, as an umbrella stroller but it's not nearly as heavy as some of the other double-strollers I looked at. Durable - I've been hauling that stroller around for the last year and it's held up quite nicely. There are two little pouches that zip open and shut, attached to the back side of the canopy. Very handy for sippy cups or snacks or keys. Easy to maneuver. We mainly use it at parks and zoos and occasionally, I'll use it in a store, but it is easy to push, the wheels turn nicely - very easy to maneuver - doesn't feel heavy, or like pushing a train, which is how I felt when I pushed a tandem stroller.

Cons: The seats are a bit shallow. It would have been nice if the seats were a bit deeper for more comfort. My 25 month old - at least now - always looks like he's about ready to fall out of the stroller. It's not really that great for a newborn. When my 12 month old was a tiny infant, I put her in the stroller and she didn't seem that secure in it. The stroller has a 5-point harness but she was so small, it just didn't seem right. The whole reason I got this stroller was b/c it said it was good for newborns. In my opinion, it was not. The canopy feature, I feel, is cheaply made. The rain cover is supposed to tuck nicely into the canopy but it always hangs out. I ended up putting some double stick tape on it to keep it hidden, which I think is pretty tacky, especially given the price of the stroller. Cheap cup holder for adults. I wish this stroller would have had a better cup holder. Cup-holders for kids. There is a trade-off when you go with the lighter double stroller but I wish I would have gone with a stroller that had a cup-holder and tray for the kids.

Bottom line, think about your needs and make your decision. I primarily bought this stroller b/c at the time, we had a sedan and I needed something compact enough to fit in the trunk of the car. Shortly after we bought this, we ended up getting a minivan. If I would have known we were going to do this, I would have gone for something bigger with more features - like the cup-holder and snack tray for the kids. However, I am still pleased with the stroller and am not going to run out and buy something bigger since I have a bigger car now. We do also own a jogging stroller - one of those Chariots - and I'd have to say, comparing the two, the McLaren is a lot easier to manage, handle and breakdown.

We have a 22 month old and a 7 month old and I have spent a lot of money on different strollers so far. I bought an eddie bauer tandem stroller and I HATE it. Then I bought a swivel wheel jogging stroller (Safari TT double) and I love it, but it is not the type of stoller you can take shopping or to the doctors. It is too wide. I LOVE this stroller. It turns well, fits well through doors, and the baskets under the stroller are really deep. The only thing I would change is to make it so that the kids could sit up all the way. But there is no perfect stroller. This one is so worth the money! We bought the acoustic twin savvy that has speakers so the kids can hear music.

I have last years version of this stroller for my 14 mo. old twins. I used infant carriers in a stroller frame for the first 6 months of their lives and occasionally tried this stroller for short walks. To me, they never appeared to be comfortable when they were really tiny. They would slide down in the seat which never really laid flat and the unpadded 5 point harness was far too big for them, even on the tightest setting. Therefore, I never really used this stroller until they could start to sit up a little on their own. Having no cup holder for me is a problem, but I did find at attatchment for one. Having no cup holders for them at this age is a big problem and I have not been able to find anything that will work for them. This stroller also has no snack tray, which I hate. When the stroller is folded up, the filthy wheels rub all over the top of the visors, which are so short they may as well not be there anyway. Also, the visor doesn't attach in the middle, only on the sides, so it always needs to be adjusted, only to slip again. One of my visor locks broke when the stroller was only a few weeks old, but again, useless visors. At 14 mo., my twins seem to be pretty comfortable in this stroller, so I can deal with the small imperfections and buy a visor extender. I think it is the best one available (I test drove many) and manufacturers are always making improvements. All in all, by comparison, I think this stroller is the way to go for older babies.

I spent a good amount of time reviewing the many side by side strollers on the market. With two boys, Sam six months and Jason two years of age. The Maclaren offered all the features that I wanted in a stroller. Full recline with leg extensions for my little one and a nice wide seat for my big guy so he's not cramped up in there like a sardine. The individual sun canopy's with an additional sun visor offers good sun protection. I especially like how easy the stroller is to push. Those extra large wheels make it effortless to turn and the Maclaren rolled over those nasty crack's that you find in most neighborhood sidewalks with ease. You don't need a degree in engineering to break this stroller down. It's fast and simple. After searching the internet for the best price. I found travelingtikes.com to have the Maclaren stroller including free shipping at $332.49 NO TAX and two free head and body pillows to boot. I placed my order online and chose the Insignia Dapple color which arrived just a short time later in nice big box. It came pretty much assembled except for the canopy which took a few seconds to clip on. The Maclaren stroller also included a weather shield and matching foot muffs for those windy cold days to keep my little ones as snug as a bug. Im one happy camper!

I spent a good amount of time reviewing the many side by side strollers on the market. With two boys, Max six months and Dylan two years of age. The Maclaren offered all the features that I wanted in a stroller. Full recline with leg extensions for my little one and a nice wide seat for my big guy so he's not cramped up in there like a sardine. The individual sun canopys with an additional sun visor offers good sun protection. I especially like how easy the stroller is to push. Those extra large wheels make it effortless to turn and the Maclaren rolled over those nasty crack's that you find in most neighborhood sidewalks with ease. You don't need a degree in engineering to break this stroller down. It's fast and simple. After searching the internet for the best price. I found [...]to have the Maclaren stroller including free shipping at $349.99. Not to mention they also threw in two head and body pillows. I placed my order online and chose the Charcoal Pearl color which arrived just a short time later in nice big box. The stroller came pretty much assembled except for the canopy which took two seconds to clip on. The Maclaren stroller also included a weather shield and matching foot muffs for those windy cold days to keep my little ones as snug as a bug. Im one happy camper!

After only using this stroller three times, the left sun shade broke (the rim bent and the sun shade became useless). We had to return the sun shade to Maclaren for repair and deal with a newborn and a two year old with no double stroller while it was being fixed as we live in Colorado where the sun is very bright and sun shades are a must have. Almost as soon as we got the "repaired" sun shade back from Maclaren, the clip that holds it on to the stroller broke so now the whole thing sags downward. In addition, all four braces that are supposed to hold the sun shades in place have become warped in the sun and no longer work properly. I am now stuck with a very expensive and useless double stroller. I can not continue to waste my time and money shipping the sun shades back to Maclaren for repair each time they break (which has been constant and ongoing since the purchase of the stroller three months ago) and I just really wish I had purchased the Peg Perego Aria Twin instead. I do not advise purchasing Maclaren products. In this case, you don't get what you pay for, you just get ripped off.