Customer Reviews

Maclaren Techno XT Stroller, Black On Black Frame

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I researched A LOT of strollers before finally purchasing the MacLaren Techno XT. I knew I wanted something lightweight, easy-to-fold, and stylish...and there is no other stroller that fits all of these qualities. I never thought pushing and toting around a stroller would be so easy! It's so light and easy to fold that you will want to take it everywhere. Where as most strollers are big and bulky, this one is super light and convenient. It's also a very attractive stroller; I receive compliments all of the time! I own the XT in charcoal gray, and since I have a daughter, I also purchased the comfort pack in powder pink...super cute!! Lastly, this stroller is very comfy for your little tot. My daughter will sit in it for hours! The seat can fully recline, making it especially ideal if your child falls asleep.

Although the XT is suitable for a newborn, I would hold off until your baby is at least 3 months old. I don't feel that there is enough support for a newborn. In the meantime, depending on which type of car seat you own, it's wise to purchase a stroller frame and place the car seat right on top while your baby is still small. I used the Graco frame with my Graco SafeSeat on top, and then moved on to the MacLaren. The frame usually costs around $70 or so. I would recommend doing this instead of purchasing a travelsystem stroller...they are WAY too heavy and bulky and will make you dread going anywhere with it! I hope this review was helpful!

We got our Maclaren Techno XT at babysrus as it was the floor model and the last of it's kind in the store. It was about the same price as our travel system, but Daddy is 6'6" and Momma is 5'11" and all the other umbrella strollers were made for much smaller people, so we splurged. We have not looked back since! If we could have purchased this stroller first instead of our travel system, it would have been a no-brainer, but being first time parents, we just assumed that the travel system was what you got for your baby. The only time we ever used the big bulky stroller was across the parking lot of the mega-church we attended at that time and at the mall a time or two, but whenever Momma wanted to go take our son for a walk, she was quickly discouraged as the travel system was big, bulky, and heavy. Not the Maclaren Techno! This thing is light, zippy, perfect for regular and taller folk as the handles adjust (and it's much taller than your average umbrella to start with), turns on a dime, and our son greatly likes the adjustable leg extension and the full recline option. Our techno has gone everywhere, from the mall, to the local park, across tall unkept grass and poorly maintained sidewalks, to the zoo, and it never tires out the pusher and our son is always comfortable.

If there could be one negative, it would be that you are not able to hang things off the handles in as much volume as a travel system stroller. The Techno is more of a column shape and if you off-set that balance, it will fall over backwards. Granted, with our son strapped in, the stroller can take a lot of stuff hanging off of it before it topples, just make sure you unload the handles before your kiddo or everything will end up on the floor as soon as you free your child. The undercarriage is smaller, so if you take it mall shopping you'll have a limit to how much you stick in there. Typically a couple jackets is about all it'll hold. This has never been a problem for us, but if you're big mega shoppers, then maybe the travel system is a better choice for you. For us, we've never out-spent our Maclaren's capability of holding the stuff we got, or maybe we were just artful arrangers of the bags, but it's never been a problem for us.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this stroller! My husband and I wanted an umbrella stroller because we like to travel as light as possible. The less stuff, the better. To accomplish that and actually have what you need, however, you have to plan and research. So we looked and looked online, read Consumer Reports reviews, and talked to people we knew. We found that McClaren might possibly be the only brand that makes an umbrella stroller for use with kids under 6 months of age. One plus for McClaren! Another major plus is how lightweight and yet sturdy the Techno XT is. How about this? My husband is 6'2" and I am 5'5" - and we both love to push it! It turns on a dime. Oh, and the sun shade is huge!

Another reviewer mentioned not putting kids under 3 mos old in it, and I just want to include here that we used a head support insert in this stroller at first. It's a very simple solution that meant we could buy this one stroller and use it for a long, long time.

It's also true that this stroller doesn't have space for holding much in the bin underneath, and it's not balanced to hold much on the handles. So if you want a stroller for mega-shopping, look elsewhere. But if you want an amazing, small, and lightweight stroller - this is it!

I have been using the Maclaren Techno XT since my son was a newborn and he is now one. I bought this stroller specifically so that I could use it when he was a newborn and not have to buy an additional stroller when he got older. It turned out that he hated laying all the way back when he was a newborn (we used a baby carrier instead) so I rarely used the stroller until he was closer to six months. He is very happy in his stroller now.

My main issue now is the straps. It was totally fine in the summer when he was small but when it got cold out and I installed the Maclaren Footmuff (like a sleeping bag or Bundle Me) and a coat on my little guy, I had to make the straps longer but it has been a CHALLENGE! My husband and our full time sitter tried to adjust them too and they can't extend the straps either. We've managed to strap my son in the stroller for the past few months, but what happens next winter when he's even bigger? I'm very curious to know if other people have had a similar problem. Also, the clasp is a little hard to release (you have to push both the front and back) but that isn't so much an issue for me, though my husband hates it.

Other people noted that too many bags on the handles will make the stroller tip over without child and also there is no cup holder and the basket is small (and pretty much impossible to access if the seat is fully reclined). These are all annoying but not that big of a deal for me.

The PROS are that it's nice looking, easy to fold, not oversized or too heavy, durable (I take it everywhere in Brooklyn, NY), and really easy to push around.

Overall I've been happy with the stroller but there are definitely some kinks to work out.

I love the Maclaren brand and was in a position to get a new stroller for an October Baby. I was so excited to order the Techno. I like the extra features it has, such as the larger wheels and the extra large sun shade. In the end I returned the Techno because it is too tall for me, I am 4'11" so I am definitely on the short side. I felt like a little kid pushing a stroller. I wanted to keep it, but felt I should stick with shorter stroller, Mac Quest.

This stroller has an amazing sun shade -- it zippers up for a standard size, then unzip for the much much larger shade. The photo doesn't show the large shade. This stroller is very easy to maneuver, easy to open and fold. Adjusting the recline might take some getting used to, and it is a two hand adjustment. The five-point harness was really hard for me to open, but I would guess it would just take some getting used to and breaking it in.

Overall I have to give it 5 stars -- It is not Maclaren's fault I am so short. I loved the stroller, but knew it would be uncomfortable for me to push. I have ordered the Mac Quest and look forward to giving that a review. I do own a Mac Volo for my older kids and LOVE that stroller, so I anticipate I will love the Quest.

Most reviewers said enough about this stroller. I agree that it misses:
- a cup holder,
- better basket,
- better unfolding system (current one requires to use 2 hands and/or putting it down on the ground); I had to take 1 star because is annoying especially when holding a baby, and I have to use it several times a day.

But I absolutely love:
- reclining option (full flat for naps),
- awesome shade (works in almost always sunny Las Vegas, also great for naps in the store, baby can fall asleep faster in the "cave"),
- strap button is great, it unsnaps very easily,
- easy breaks system,
- option to rest the baby's legs.

I wish they would make this stroller still in charcoal/light grey color, which is more unisex.
Also it can be pushed with 1 hand and the ride is smooth (I own Maclaren Volo and it has the same quality even with smaller wheels).
I also like that the sit is not only mesh sack but my son can sit almost upright and watch the world.

I am a firm believer that if you use stroller a lot-- there is no one perfect stroller. You need 2.

Our first every-day stroller is a City Mini. It is stable, large canopy, folds quickly, smooth ride.

Our second stroller is the Maclaren Techno XT. We use it mainly for vacations-- air travel or any time when space in the car is limited.

Pros:
* Very durable and well-made. We bought one used-- it is about 5 years old now, and still works perfectly. Has been in the belly of a plane, to Brazil 2x!, used in the rain, thrown around. Other strollers would have died by now hands-down.
* It is always a smooth ride. No weird sqeaks, breaking wheels or parts, wobbling.
* For my larger baby (he has always been 90th percentile)-- the wider seat makes all the difference. At 16 months, I tried him in the Quest-- and it was just too narrow, he was scrunched up. This Techno XT will last him much longer.
* Great re-sale value. You'll get probably around 50-60% of it's value when you are done and want to re-sell. Other stroller brands you might get 30%.
* Perfect for strolling in tight spaces (the mall, the fair), and great for the city (made it much easier to use the subways in NYC).
* Very lightweight.

Cons:
* Expensive! Plan to use it for multiple kid or maybe buy one used. A used Maclaren is way better than a new "lesser" brand.
* It is hard to hang bags from it (because it is lightweight/compact) and a very small basket. But... all travel strollers are like this, so that is why a second stroller really is needed for everyday use.

This is a fantastic stroller from birth to childhood. Highly maneuverable with a sturdy feel, yet light and easily transportable. I love the fact that the five point harness is a snap for me to unhook with one hand, yet a child could not open it themselves. This stroller is so comfortable my one year old asks to sit in it even when we aren't on the move. Don't be too concerned with the price because this stroller will last for years and through multiple children. When you've outgrown it there will still be enough life to pass it on to a friend or family member. One of the best baby products I own. I wish I had skipped over the travel system all together and just bought this to use from birth.

I bought a travel system when my first child was born thinking it is the best thing but we did not really use it that much. It was heavy/bulky and difficult to fit into our car. After a few months we bought a Maclaren Triumph and used it extensively for the next two years. Now that my second child is here, I started off with this stroller because it's seat reclines fully so we could use it from birth. It is convenient to carry and fold up quickly. I love the rain cover and use it to protect from the wind too.

Love this stroller! It's so light, easy to fold/unfold. The extended canopy is perfect for blocking out sun from all angles. You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to strollers and this one is worth every penny!