Maclaren Techno XT Review

The Techno did not perform well in most of our tests and earned a disappointing overall score and lower rank.

Owen Finlay Maclaren, a test pilot, and aviation engineer, began Maclaren in England in 1965. He wanted to create a new kind of stroller that was lightweight, and small when folded, with an easy fold that could be done with one hand and easy for travel. Mclaren adapted his design for folding landing gear to create the world's first folding stroller. Where other strollers folded in half, the Maclaren folded in on itself like an umbrella, and the first umbrella stroller was born. The patented design has remained essentially unchanged to this day and Maclaren was honored by the Queen as a Member of the British Empire.

Performance Comparison

The chart below shows how the Maclaren Techno XT ranked in comparison to the competition.

The details on how the overall score was derived can be found below with detailed information on how the Techno performed during testing for each metric.

The carry handle on the Techno isn't as nice as a shoulder strap would be. The heft can make the single handle uncomfortable to use and a shoulder strap would leave hands free for other tasks.

Weight and Folded Size

The Techno earned a below average 4 of 10 for weight and folded size. This stroller weighs 16.31 lbs and is 6,013.98 cubic inches when folded. Twelve strollers in the review weigh more than the Techno, making it one of the heavier stroller to lift and carry. However, it is about average for size and has a carry handle instead of a shoulder strap which is easier to use.

Ease of Use

The Techno earned a respectable score of 6 of 10 for ease of use, coming in second in the group. However, the Baby Jogger City Mini scored an 8 for ease of use and significantly higher for maneuverability making it a better choice.

The Techno has a traditional umbrella fold that requires two hands and it doesn't stand when folded.

Fold and Unfold

The Techno has one of the harder folds in the group requiring two hands to open and close. It has an automatic lock and does not stand on its own when folded. It does have a traditional umbrella collapse pioneered by Maclaren, but it requires two hands to fold all the material in to complete the fold.

The brakes on the Techno are linked so pressing one pedal will engage both sides at the same time.

Brakes

The brakes on the Techno are single action brakes linked in the back so you only need to press one side of the pedals. They are easy to set and release, and we like that you only need to press one side to engage both. They are also sandal foot friendly.

Storage

The Techno has an easy to access storage bin with the seat back upright (above left), but it only accepts up to 4.4 lbs and our medium size diaper bag. With the seat reclined you won't be able to access the basket, but the Techno also has divided pockets on the back of the canopy (above right) for additional storage of quick access items you can still reach when the baby is napping. Alternatively, the Baby Jogger City Mini has larger storage you can continue to access with the seat back down.

The Techno has one of the largest canopies in the group, but the peek-a-boo window is oddly placed in front when the the shade is fully extended, which makes it hard to use while moving.

Sunshade

The Techno has one of the largest canopies in the review. It has UPF rating of 50+ and a large peek-a-boo window. This shade is big and can come down low to block setting sun. It also has a pop out visor and a zip away panel with mesh for additional airflow.

The Maclaren buckle and strap adjustments are the hardest in the review to operate, both because the buckle is very stiff and the strap adjustment unnecessarily complicated.

Harness

The harness straps on the Techno are convoluted and difficult to adjust. You won't be able to do it with a baby in the seat and it takes a lot of manual threading and rethreading. The buckle requires two hands to open, as you need to push on the back and front at the same time. The button is stiff and even with two hands it could hurt to operate, but the straps pop out on their own. The shoulder strap end needs to be inserted in a slot on the hip strap end before being inserted into the buckle.

The Techno has an adjustable leg rest with nice padding for additional coziness while napping; this feature was not found on very many of the umbrella strollers.

Seat

The Techno seat has an adjustable leg rest and a seat back that reclines almost flat making a great space for napping. The seat back adjustment has 3 settings and is virtually silent and operates smoothly.

Ease of Setup

The Techno is fairly easy to set up taking us 4:36 minutes to unpack and assemble. This stroller requires no tools to put together and the instructions are average.

The dual front wheel design on the Techno contributes to the difficult to manage pushing on uneven terrain as the wheels can catch on small imperfections that try to pull you off course.

Maneuverability

The Techno only earned a 4 of 10 for maneuverability indicating it is one of the hardest to push and turn. This stroller isn't too hard to push and turn on flat hard surfaces given its dual wheel design. however, once you move onto uneven terrain the wheels get pulled off course easily as you try to traverse from sidewalk to grass or gravel. Navigating on rough surfaces is so difficult, we suspect parents will avoid doing it at all costs. Managing curbs is also less than ideal with brakes that catch if you pull it up backward.

This stroller has all-wheel shocks, and a nicely padded seat with additional comfort inserts to provide baby with a pretty cozy ride and place for napping.

Quality

The Techno earned a 5 of 10 for quality, which is disappointing given the higher price point of this stroller. This stroller has nicer fabric and components, but the construction of the stroller is lacking in the way the parts come together.

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