We're off on holiday soon. With 2 children a buggy is a necessity as Murray is only 19 months and still naps during the day and we also can't expect him to walk as far as us and his sister. We used to have a McLaren daytripper but for some reason every time I put Murray in it he screamed. We happened to be in Mothercare one day when we spotted the McLaren Triumph. It was available in a Charcoal colour which wasn't appealing or a pillar box red which had really grabbed my attention. We had to think long and hard about this buggy because it was £70.
As chance would have it my sister in law happened to purchase a triumph and one day while we were out, I asked to push it. My nephew is a big 2 year old and is quite heavy compared to lightweight Murray. But the buggy was still quite light to push. It also has these funny handles which are sort of twisted in and face each other with foam on them. These I had been a bit iffy about because
of the fact that I was used to normal handles.
The buggy itself is recommended for babies aged 3 months plus. But personally unless they are a big baby, I wouldn't use this buggy until they are about 6 months or able to sit unsupported. It is an umbrella fold buggy and is very simple to fold. It can be done one handed which is ideal for mums who need to use public transport. When folded it is very compact. It is very light at 11lb which is how big my children were at 3 months but my nephews birth weight, so really not that heavy. It also has a strap which hangs down from the handles down the middle and clips into a bit at the bottom. This enables you when the buggy is folded to carry the buggy on your shoulder. This means that your hands are free to look after your child much easier. Because the buggy is so light it's not a problem to carry it on your shoulder. The seat can recline so that when baby is smaller or sleeping it can lie back. The day tripper buggy used to have this very annoying hook system which was very hard to lie back without disturbing the child. The new system is a strap with a clip and is very easy and simple to do in seconds. The seat has a 5 point harness which can be adjusted to suit the size of the child who is using it. This is the safest way for a child to be in a buggy as their whole body is strapped in and prevents them from falling out. The 5 point harness is a clip and it is advisable to watch your fingers when Clipping in. The wheels are swivel wheels and can be locked if needs to be. I like swivel wheels but my mother in law has terrible problems with them and we have to lock them whenever she has any of our buggies.
The buggy is an ideal height for me. Being 5ft tall the handle height is 104cm which is just perfect. My sister in law is 5ft 7 and she says it is fine for her too. For once she isn't crouching over the buggy she says. The seat is detachable for easy washing. It is recommended that the hood and seat are washed with a soapy liquid and just sponged and then left to dry. This is handy especially if you have grandparents like mine who often give the children chocolate and it melts into the seat.
The buggy comes with a detachable hood. The hood is essential for the raincover which is also provided. The raincover attaches to the hood. and the comes down over the child. It is good as it folds up small and I usually keep mine in the shopping basket which is also provided. The Shopping basket is made from a mesh material and is ok for things like the raincover, cardigans and small bags which aren't too heavy. Heavy items makes the basket trail along the ground. The brake on the buggy is pretty rubbish too. I like ones which you sorta stomp on. McLaren in their wisdom have made them ones that you kick along, but in my opinion of 3 McLaren buggies that they are rubbish and bring back the old stomping ones which they had before about 6/7 years ago.
I do like the buggy including the funny foam handles. The only problem we have encountered was when I was putting it up one day, Murray happened to hold on to a part of the metal bit and as I put my foot on the bendy bit to put the buggy up fully, I trapped Murray's finger in the buggy. I would suggest that the child is well away from the buggy when you are putting it up. The buggy is also bad for tipping if there is too heavy a bag or shopping on the handles when the child comes out of the buggy. The buggy does tip much easier than our mamas and papas pliko buggy which is a lot more sturdy. The Mclaren also isn't that great on bumpy surfaces. It would be no good for going up the hills or down the cobbles of Edinburgh's High Street.
Over all for a bus buggy or a stroller for holiday it is worth it if you will use it. At £70 with the accessories of a hood, shopping basket and a raincover is pretty good. Kiddicare.com do have this buggy for cheaper and are also doing multi purchase deals with special offers for more than 1 buggy being bought at the same time.
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I did use this stroller for my daughter amost 5 years ago and had nothing but trouble with the brake. I did think I was just unlucky, obviously not!!! After reading your review I am defiately NOT buying one and wasting my money. Thanks!!!
RClure 20.09.2004 11:01
Got this when my son was 3 months but he was too titchy until he was 9 months old. I really do like it though. My friend bought the top of the range one for more than double the price of this but I think my £70 was a real investment. Clare x
inycon2 18.06.2004 10:49
I have a very basic Maclaren stroller - my sons from 7 yrs ago - which I'm using for my daughter. Good review.
Advantages: lightweight, easy to move, great on public transport, good choice of colours Disadvantages: brakes very difficult to use, poor support from seat
exceptional by (2%):
very helpful by (98%):
