Why we chose Maclaren Techno: My husband likes Formula 1 and that’s the reason he insisted we get Maclaren in 2007. LOL! Seriously, we found it ticked a number of boxes in terms of practicality, value for money and ease of use. We liked it so much that we bought the twin-seat version of it when my daughter came along in 2009!
We like how small the size is when it is folded. It’s a snug fit in our old Vauxhall Corsa’s boot. It also fits quite comfortably in our Honda Jazz’s boot (2012). It is very simple to fold down using one hand and one leg. The handle bars are adjustable but we haven’t needed to adjust it. It is on the lowest setting and is comfortable for short people like me!
The hood can be extended to cover your children fully. We have never needed to used it. I love the viewing window! It allows you to check on your children quite easily. It is especially nice that you can play peek-a-boo!
The liner is simple to remove and to clean. I used to wash the liner every 3 – 5 months! I am a clean freak, to be honest, and leave the buggy under the sun for a couple of hours when necessary. Even after much abuse from the washing machine and sunlight, the material of the liner and the hood is still the same colour! It is brilliant! It shows how good the quality of the materials is.
As for the 5 point harness, it took me awhile to understand how to open it. My mum and sisters all had a go at it and couldn’t work it out! Once you get the knack of it, it is pretty much simple but I still need both hands to push it open.
The extendable leg rest is great when your baby or toddler is having a nap. Sometimes I do find it hard to locate the leg rest when my children are not co-operating. I have to raise their legs before I can pull it out easily.
As for the basket, it is acceptable. Mostly, I put heavy stuffs like fruits or bulky items like our coats. It cannot be overfilled as you won’t be able to put down the seat flat.
(Can you spot the difference? In 2010 we installed the covers for the hinges.
It is free to obtain from Maclaren’s Website)
As for the twin techno, we got it in 2009 when my daughter was born. We had a Vauxhall Zafira car and it fit nicely with plently of room for any shopping! It is quite heavy as expected but it is on the lighter side for a double buggy.
The main difference is that the hoods cannot be fully covered as the Techno XT. We just love Maclaren!
(My 4.5 years old son still able to fit into the twin buggy! Can you spot it? Yes, that girl in that poster is my little girl, Ms C!)