Customer Reviews

Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller, Black/Champagne

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My husband and I recently took a $20 umbrella stroller from Target with us on a several month long trip and when we returned, purchased this stroller in charcoal/silver. On our trip, we became quite frustrated with the shortcomings of our cheap stroller and talked with several other parents who had the Maclaren Quest or other Maclaren strollers and spoke highly of these strollers. I did thoroughly read reviews before making my purchase and also considered several less expensive, but comparable brands, but ultimatley went back to the Maclaren Quest and am so glad that I did. In addition to the cheap umbrealla stroller (which looking back now, I am glad I did not spend much money on), I also have a Chicco Cortina stroller that came with the travel system. I found nothing particularly "wrong" with the Cortina, but didn't like the bulkiness and impracticallity for use while traveling.
I truly think that your satisfaction with this stroller will be guided by your expectations of it. You have to keep in mind that this stroller is built to be lightweight and fold very compactly (while at the same time not compromising seat comfort, storage, etc.), and is in a totally different class than trendy, stylish strollers such as the Quinny or Bugaboo or than traditional strollers such as those that come with travel systems. For a lightweight, compact stroller, the storage is pretty good....no cup holder, but I will just put a water bottle and my son's cup in the back or bottom storage compartments. Getting stuff into the mesh storage basket can be a bit of a tight squeeze, but that also means that stuff will not fall out easily, either. I can open and close the stroller with one hand and even holding my toddler in one arm if I don't have any help. Having one break pedal can either be viewed as a good or bad feature, but I tend to like it after having two other strollers with individual breaks. My husband is tall and I am short and we both find the stroller's handle height comfortable. My son seems very comfortable in this stroller and the buckle is very substantial and child-proof. I really like having a chest harness as it prevents my child from leaning forward to try and touch the wheels. My only concerns for the future are the wheels, which seem a bit flimsy. Knowing that the wheels were going to be flimsy and that the stroller didn't fully recline almost made me purchase the Techno XT, but I just couldn't justify the price difference (also the Techno XT is much heavier than the Quest). Maybe I could have justified the price had I never bought a travel system stroller to start with, but live and learn! Hopefully the wheels will hold up in the long run and if not, that I will be able to find replacements. I hope that my review is helpful and that you enjoy your Maclaren stroller as much as we have.

I debated which stroller to buy via online reviews and decided to just go to a big box store and take a look at them. The store only carried Maclaren, Jeep and Chicco (no UPPAbaby or Britax). Here is what I found:

I looked at the Maclaren Quest, Triumph and Volor, Jeep Reclining Umbrella, Chicco C6. I narrowed it down to the Quest and Triumph and ultimately picked the Triumph based on color =)
Maclaren Triumph Stroller, Charcoal/Silver
Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller, Coffee/Sky Blue
Maclaren Quest and Triumph: Very similar to each other, differences noted here. Both reclines to same spot, Quest only has two positions, Triumph can be reclined to any position between fully upright and fully reclined. That said it doesn't recline all that much. The two positions on the Quest would be sufficient. My four month old (13lbs) fits fine in either stroller. I did add a padded headrest (the ones they sell for car seats) just to make her a little more secure. The stroller still folds up with the headrest in it. The Quest has an extended foot pad. It will keep wind, etc... off babies legs once they are long enough to hang off. The actual seat size isn't any different. The big functional difference between the two is that the Quest had a pocket on the canopy (between the handles). The pocket is large enough to hold a wallet, cell phone and keys (not much else). Has a velcro closure. Quest also has a couple of small side pockets - not sure what you would put in them though. You can buy stroller organizers for $20 that will attach to the Truimph which include zipper pockets and cup holders.
Maclaren Volo Stroller, Black
Maclaren Volo: Is 2 lbs lighter than Quest and Triumph. The thin mesh seat made me nervous about how well it would hold up and that it would be too cold for baby on slightly chilly days. Also doesn't recline. For $30 more I thought it was worth the recline feature and slightly heavier/cushier seat. The weight savings didn't seem all that significant over the Triumph or Quest.
Jeep All-Weather Reclining Umbrella Stroller, Pink
Jeep Umbrella Stroller: Just felt junky and not well made.
Chicco Ct0.6 Capri Lightweight Stroller, Tangerine
Chicco: Felt relatively high quality but at 5'7" I kicked the wheels while walking. Wouldn't be able to stand that. The blue and black are cute but the orange is hideous and I love orange. It is a very bright almost neon orange. Nice that is comes with a carrying bag.

Wish I could have looked at a Britax and UPPAbaby but I liked the Maclaren so much that I decided to just go with it!
UPPAbaby G-Lite Stroller, Jake
UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller, Denny
Britax B-Nimble Stroller, Red

We have a 6 month-old baby and I have tried/owned a variety of strollers (Uppa Baby Vista and G-Luxe, Bugaboo bee, and finally MacLaren). The Vista is a fantastic stroller, but my baby never really liked the bassinet, and because of its weight, I was never taking it in the car or on the plane. The Bee is a more travel-friendly stroller and we took it overseas, but its uneasy fold got tiring as well.
In the end, the Quest is the only stroller we ever want to use:
- It fits in the trunk of my Mini Cooper (G-Luxe was too long)
- It is lightweight and truly a one hand fold (G-Luxe took two hands)
- With the strap, I can carry the stroller and the baby at the same time
- It is nimble, even though grass is not its forte, but great enough for all I need to do (city sidewalks, stores, parks, airplanes, restaurants...)
- It is fantastic on steps, and easy to carry in stairs (well, easier than with most strollers)
- The hood has a clear window to check on baby
- The harness buckle is easy to use
- My baby likes the reclining seat even though it's not completely flat.
- The hood has a roomy back pocket that's great to hold keys, wallet, etc...
- It has a small footprint
- The quality of the fabric and construction are impressive

It does have some cons, as any other stroller.
My biggest grievance is about the sunshade. Why isn't it bigger? We always have to tie a muslin blanket to properly protect baby. It's a shame that it doesn't come with a rain or mosquito cover. The basket is somewhat small and all together unaccessible when the seat is at its maximum recline.

But all in all, it is our go-to stroller. It's the perfect all-around stroller. Because baby is our first-born, I tried to buy the perfect stroller, ended up with several that still frustrated me, while all of our needs would have been met with a MacLaren. With a newborn, I would recommend investing in the Techno XLR because it fully reclines and you can add a car seat. I wish I had known that before getting the Vista or the Bee. But baby is old enough that we don't need those extra features anymore. I didn't pick the Triumph because my baby seemed more comfortable with the extended footrest, and the back window is a necessity for me.
I have friends who like me invested in heavy strollers for their newborns, but after trying my Quest, they have all agreed that it is a "must-have". I sold the Vista, the Bee is now collecting dust, so it's probably going to go too. Since we got it, the Quest is the only stroller we need and want to use.

I read lots of review before bought this stroller. I was so excited when the troller arrived. I put my toddler on and try around the house, the handling was great until I tried to un-buckle her. She's stuck. I could not get her out. I can only open 1 trap at a time. I tried to follow the direction to press both front and back of the buckle & put pressure in the middle, but still could not open it. Called my husband, he had the same problem. So, I called Maclaren and I was told that it was designed that way so the baby won't get out by themselve. I can understand the point, but does it have to be that difficult to open unven for adults unless I've got the defective one? I ended up to return the stroller. I owned 3 other strollers and never had any problem with any of those buckles and my daughters were never untrapped themself.

I was so excited when I got the stroller and was not disapointed

Colors are nice for a girl
Not hard to push
Handle at a very good hight
wheels turns easily
very light stroller

Just wish that the sun shade would cover enough( to small)

I wanted a lightweight umbrella stroller and after endless research, I purchased the Maclaren Quest Sport. Overall, I like this stroller, though I do have some issues with it.

- It's lightweight, comfortable for baby, and very easy to fold. I can fold it and put it in the trunk of the car while holding my baby. Opening it is very easy too; the only difficulty is the automatic-locking latch that holds the frame closed. If I try to open the stroller one-handed, I can't quite do it because the latch keeps re-engaging before I can get the stroller open. So it takes one hand to open the latch while I open the frame with the other.

- The automatically-locking latch is nice, but it doesn't hold the stroller all the way closed -- it droops open a little. And because the brakes are automatically disengaged when you fold the stroller, you can't lean it against a wall because it rolls and falls over. So once it's folded, it's a little clumsy, you just have to lay it down on the ground. I wish it would stand up, and it would be nice if there was a secondary latch or strap to keep it all the way closed when gate checking it on an airplane, for example.

- It's very easy to steer and maneuver in tight spaces. For an umbrella stroller, it's a pretty smooth ride. It's hard to push with one hand and still go straight -- you really need both hands to steer straight.

- The pocket on the back of the stroller is perfect for holding my cell phone, wallet, the stroller carry strap, a hat and toy for baby, and a small water bottle. The basket on the bottom is small, but not bad for an umbrella stroller. I do wish it had a cup holder. Getting through a door with this stroller while holding a cup of coffee is challenging, because it's hard to push with one hand.

- I chose this model over the Maclaren Techno because the seat reclines on this one. I was hoping that it would lay flat enough to use for diaper changes. In a pinch, it works well. It doesn't lay perfectly flat, but it's flat enough to get the job done.

- This stroller is nice looking, and the cover can be removed for washing without too much trouble.

- As other reviewers have noted, the sunshade is inadequate. I was hoping this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but any time I have to walk into the sun with my baby, she ends up squirming and uncomfortable because the sun is in her eyes. A bit more length and adjustability would go a long way.

- I have problems with the brakes on my stroller. First, it's difficult to tell which way to press the red lever to engage the brakes. Sometimes I press the wrong way, and it doesn't engage the brakes, so I always have to check to make sure they are actually engaged. Second, the brakes don't always disengage properly -- they rub against the wheels, especially after unfolding the stroller. I found out if I kick them just right, they will stop rubbing the wheels, but it's annoying.

This stroller is expensive for an umbrella stroller, so I was hoping to be happier with it than I am. If I was making the decision again, I would consider the UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller, Sebby/Teal as an alternative.

This stroller is lightweight yet very functional for everyday and travel use. I bought a big all terrain stroller for park use and the maclaren quest for everyday use. I was trying to get by with just a three wheeled stroller, but I quickly realized that I needed something smaller for shopping and walking around the city. I tried several cheaper umbrella strollers, but none are as smooth and durable as this one. I decided to go with the quest instead of the triumph simply because it offers more recline, which I like for my 5 month old but probably not needed when she is a few months older. The storage basket is small but I use a universal cup holder and bag attachment that holds all the essentials. I love this stroller!

We loved that we could use it right out of the box; it folds and unfolds so simply that we thought we were missing something, and it has a carrying strap because it's ultra-portable enough to throw over your shoulder.

The 5-point harness was a bit tricky, but it's safer that most strollers, so we didn't mind (hint: squeeze from the front AND back). It has a washable seat, easy foot-operated brake, and includes a rain cover, which is easy to store in the stroller itself.

It's light and easy to carry. We loved that the seat reclines to 4 different positions, so it's comfortable for our daughter, and it has reflective accents, so it's safe for her and for us!

My grandchild lives in Manhattan, where everyone either walks or takes a subway or taxi cab to go to restaurants, stores, the doctor, etc. rather than driving their own car as in the suburbs where I live. For neighborhood walks my grandchild uses the Bubaboo Cameleon stroller (which I have reviewed on Amazon), which is a marvelous stroller, but not practical for traveling in cabs or crowded subways because it is heavy and not compact when folded. However this stroller is just perfect.

Unlike the Bugaboo, the Maclaren is light weight, much easier to fold and close, and easy to carry with a carrying strap. It is also easy to peer over and see my grandchild even though she is facing forward. Although keeping a large diaper bag on the handles is a bit clumsy, it can be done. There is also a pocket under the handles for storing a phone, keys, etc.

The seat is comfortable, and the buckles are easy to use and secure my grandchild very well. The hood is more than ample to provide shade on a sunny day.

Bottom line: For traveling when you need a lightweight and compact stroller that is durable and well made, this stroller is a good choice.

We just used this stroller on our first long journey to France, and it was great. You can fold it very easily with one hand (unfolding with one hand is possible, as long as you can use your foot to undo the lock...), and the rain cover that comes with it was great to protect against the wind as well.
It's light, doesn't take much space, and is very easy to push.
You can't really use it on unpaved trails, but we weren't expecting to do that with this stroller anyway.