dina08
11-18-2008, 11:23 PM
Hi. I am looking at buying a Maclaren stroller. I was wondering if anyone owns one and what they think of them. The main thing stopping me is that the sunshade is small (like most others). We also have a jogger stroller that has the best sun/rain shade I have ever seen and I would love to find that in another stroller. Any opinions?
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daisychain_0506
11-20-2008, 08:36 AM
Hi, I have a Maclaren Quest and I love it! I got it last Christmas when Emily was 6mths and use it all the time. We take the dog for a walk every day and it's very durable and leans back a long way so great for napping! We also travel a lot and it is very easy to carry. We also got a stroller blanket that is made by Maclaren that is fab on cool days as normal blankets just fall off or get caught in wheels. Well worth the money.
dina08
11-20-2008, 03:49 PM
Thanks. What do you think of the under storage, no cup holder, and sunshade? Is it okay?
AlexaIn2006
11-21-2008, 02:09 AM
I think many purchase this for the european name. I think the sun shade is too small, there is no cupholder which sucks and the storage space is lacking. Not worth the price tag to me personally. My best freind has one of these and I have used it.
daisychain_0506
11-21-2008, 09:20 AM
I am from the UK and now live in Canada. I bought one in England when we went over at Christmas specifically because Maclaren makes the best strollers in my experience. I worked as a nanny for 7years in England and Canada so I have used a few. There is no comparable in Canada. If you go to England you will see thousands of them all over the place because they really are durable and well designed. You can buy different models depending on what you want it for.
I don't have an issue with the sunshade and when we went to Florida in September she would sleep in the stroller and I would either hang a towel over it when we were by the pool, or a receiving blanket when we were out and about at Seaworld if the sun was on her face. The sunshade is forward enough that you can easily drape things over. Great for hanging jackets over too at the airport or on a walk.
I find that although the storage isn't huge it holds more than enough for me. I keep the rain cover in there all the time along with a bug net and a fleece. It folds with a few bits in. It's harder to access when you have reclined the seat and the baby is sleeping, but generally I have a backpack that I hang over the handles anyway and use that for most of my stuff (diaperbag).
It doesn't have a cupholder but I don't really walk and drink at the same time so it doesn't bug me. My friend is a coffee freak and always has one on the go in her stroller so it would annoy her. You can buy accessories for it though so easy enough to buy one. You can also buy the organizer which includes a cupholder.
It really depends on what you are going to use a stroller for. For me I wanted one that I could use everyday outside (durable), that would fold up small to fit in the car, wasn't heavy so I could carry it easily, comfortable for the baby and would recline so she could sleep, had a foot extender for when she was very small so her legs would be supported, would be easy to travel with, comfortable for me to push. The Quest fit the bill. I also have a Graco stroller that is part of the travel system we got when she was born and I haven't used it once since getting the Maclaren. it has cupholders and tons of storage but those things aren't as important to me as ease of use.
If you are only going to use it once a week inside a mall then it's not worth paying the extra price but it's value for money if you get your use out of it and will last you for a couple of kids and you can resell after that, they last years!
Anyway, I don't work for Maclaren - haha - but I really do think they are great strollers. :D Sorry for rambling...
I don't have an issue with the sunshade and when we went to Florida in September she would sleep in the stroller and I would either hang a towel over it when we were by the pool, or a receiving blanket when we were out and about at Seaworld if the sun was on her face. The sunshade is forward enough that you can easily drape things over. Great for hanging jackets over too at the airport or on a walk.
I find that although the storage isn't huge it holds more than enough for me. I keep the rain cover in there all the time along with a bug net and a fleece. It folds with a few bits in. It's harder to access when you have reclined the seat and the baby is sleeping, but generally I have a backpack that I hang over the handles anyway and use that for most of my stuff (diaperbag).
It doesn't have a cupholder but I don't really walk and drink at the same time so it doesn't bug me. My friend is a coffee freak and always has one on the go in her stroller so it would annoy her. You can buy accessories for it though so easy enough to buy one. You can also buy the organizer which includes a cupholder.
It really depends on what you are going to use a stroller for. For me I wanted one that I could use everyday outside (durable), that would fold up small to fit in the car, wasn't heavy so I could carry it easily, comfortable for the baby and would recline so she could sleep, had a foot extender for when she was very small so her legs would be supported, would be easy to travel with, comfortable for me to push. The Quest fit the bill. I also have a Graco stroller that is part of the travel system we got when she was born and I haven't used it once since getting the Maclaren. it has cupholders and tons of storage but those things aren't as important to me as ease of use.
If you are only going to use it once a week inside a mall then it's not worth paying the extra price but it's value for money if you get your use out of it and will last you for a couple of kids and you can resell after that, they last years!
Anyway, I don't work for Maclaren - haha - but I really do think they are great strollers. :D Sorry for rambling...
dina08
11-21-2008, 10:42 AM
Thanks for the reply. This is exactly what I was looking for. I like the quest as well. I put my daughter in it at Babies R Us and she seemed to like it. I figure I'll try again to make sure she likes it still. Do the handle bars raise because I think they would be too low for my husband (although they are perfect for me). I was also worried that the stroller might tip backwards with a diaper bag over the handles (I do this now with the travel system from Eddie Bauer that I am using). However, it sounds okay for you. I think I would buy an accessory for a cup holder. I like to have that to put keys in, a drink, etc. I am getting more interested in them. We were at Disney World and everyone seemed to have one!
AlexaIn2006
11-21-2008, 01:41 PM
It depends on your need. I live in Southern California and my neighborhood has new grocery stores, restaurants and boutique shopping as well as a park within 1 block from my home so we walk around alot. Having a cupholder is important because we usually walk to Starbucks most evenings. I bought a bug a boo like stroller that was nice looking, modern and trendy and it steered really well, but had a small sunshade with no window to see my daughter when I was pushing her, a small basket and one single cupholder. I bought a Graco Metrolite, they have all of the trays and a HUGE basket which is great because I walk to Trader Joes and I can fit my grocery bags in the basket. I know my daughter is 2.5 now and sometimes she like to ride her scooter, so I still push the stroller for when she is done, I know I can store her scooter underneath. So I think about the multi uses you would need it for.
daisychain_0506
11-21-2008, 03:35 PM
The handle bars don't raise on the Quest, I'm not sure about any other models. My hubby is 6ft and he loves it (does all the uphill pushing at the park :D) I am 5ft 2 (and a bit - hee hee) and it works for both of us.
The backpack I have over the handles slides rightdown so it's just above the storage area so it isn't tippy when she gets out and walks. It isn't overly heavy just has the normal diaper bag stuff in. If I hang too much off the handles I have to make sure to take them off before taking her out and then I put that stuff in the seat while she walks along. I like the 5 point harness too so she can't wiggle out and lean over the edge like in some others. Depends on your child too. Mine loves to climb in and out and actually when she was learning to walk used to push it around the house.
The main advantage is the umbrella style folding so if you take it in and out the car a lot it's excellent.
The only downside I can think of is that in the snow the small wheels are not as good as the graco with the huge wheels so I may pull my old stroller out soon for that purpose...I also have a sled for when it's too deep...we have a storm coming tonight...yuk!
Good luck and I hope you and your baby enjoy whichever you go with :)
The backpack I have over the handles slides rightdown so it's just above the storage area so it isn't tippy when she gets out and walks. It isn't overly heavy just has the normal diaper bag stuff in. If I hang too much off the handles I have to make sure to take them off before taking her out and then I put that stuff in the seat while she walks along. I like the 5 point harness too so she can't wiggle out and lean over the edge like in some others. Depends on your child too. Mine loves to climb in and out and actually when she was learning to walk used to push it around the house.
The main advantage is the umbrella style folding so if you take it in and out the car a lot it's excellent.
The only downside I can think of is that in the snow the small wheels are not as good as the graco with the huge wheels so I may pull my old stroller out soon for that purpose...I also have a sled for when it's too deep...we have a storm coming tonight...yuk!
Good luck and I hope you and your baby enjoy whichever you go with :)
dina08
11-22-2008, 10:45 PM
Well, we bought it tonight in pink. They told us that we can return it even if used outside within the next 90 days if she doesn't or we don't like it. So, I am saving the receipt and going to see what happens. She did okay with it in the store. The sunshade actually does move down to provide extra protection. I was thrilled when my husband figured out that this actually does do this. Also, we like the rain shield better than the one we had. So, we shall see what happens. We are going to really try it out tomorrow.
daisychain_0506
11-24-2008, 08:31 AM
I don't know where you live but if you are in the colder climates then when it's really cold out out (I'm in Canada) keep the raincover in the house when you aren't using it. I was storing mine in the storage area and it was left in the car all time but then it freezes and it got a crack in it and then DD figured out she could put her foot through it! Rather than buy another one I put clear packaging tape on and it's perfectly fine now but it's good to know in advance! I use it as a wind barrier in the winter.
Also, I didn't know for longest time but on the sides of the seat you put your fingers in the holes and pull out extention parts that make the seat longer if your baby is younger their legs are supported better. I still use this with Emily at 17mths if I want to get her to go to sleep. Her knees just go out to the side and she's out like a light.
How did you like it this weekend?
Also, I didn't know for longest time but on the sides of the seat you put your fingers in the holes and pull out extention parts that make the seat longer if your baby is younger their legs are supported better. I still use this with Emily at 17mths if I want to get her to go to sleep. Her knees just go out to the side and she's out like a light.
How did you like it this weekend?
jsfai
11-25-2008, 05:36 AM
I have a single jogger, a twin pram and a maclaren stroller. I use them all for different things and love them all for different reasons. I leave our stroller in tha back of the car instead of having to collapse and lift the bigger prams all the time. It's fantstic for quick jobs, in and out of the car. We also use it for travelling a lot. My kids like it too. (I didnt like it for newborns though) It certainly make life easier (and faster). Good buying!
J
J