Maclaren Twin Techno Review
All stroller reviews- Introduction
- Seat design and function
- Child Safety Harness
- Hood or Canopy
- Handle design and function
- Storage
- Wheels and Brakes
- Fold mechanism
- Manoeuvrability
- Size
- Accessories
- Conclusion and Rating
Review by: Jelita78
Introduction
In 1991, Maclaren launched the Duette, the first twin umbrella fold buggy that can take two babies from birth and fit through a standard width doorway.
After nearly two decades, Maclaren still holds strong to its originality. With innovative improvements and fantastic designs, the Twin Techno has superseded other competitors in being the lightest umbrella fold double stroller and yet, still fits through a standard width doorway.
Seat design and function
Seat in fully upright position
Seat in 1st reclining position
Seat in 2nd reclining position
Seat in 3rd reclining position
Seat fully reclined
Seat reclining grips before recline
Retracted legrests
Fully extended legrests
Legrest extending slider
Footrest
The Maclaren Twin Techno is made using a high performance aluminum frame covered with high durability fabric that is completely removable and washable.
The Maclaren Twin Techno comes with 5 seat recline positions. Although it doesn’t have a reversible seat function, I believe that the seat can be laid flat enough to be used from newborn. The Maclaren Twin Techno seats are designed to be independent to each other. The seats can each be reclined separately allowing parents of not only twins but of different aged children to take advantage of it.
The seat reclines with the release of seat grips located on the left and right sides on the back of each seat. Both seat grips need to be pulled slightly upwards to allow the metal bar to slide back to recline the seat. I feel that this is one of the drawbacks as not only do I need to use both hands to recline the seat, but also I need to press the front part of the seat to make sure the seat is not tilted to one side. However, to raise the seat is easy; just push the seat from behind, to the desired upright position.
The legrests can be extended to a maximum of 5 1/2 inches (14cm) in length by pulling the metal sliders located at the corner of the seat openings. Simply push the sliders back in to retract the legrests. With the legrest fully extended, the whole seat becomes 14 inches (35.6 cm) deep.
The Maclaren Twin Techno seat has indeed a high backrest. It measures 18 inches (45.7 cm) tall, 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide and 8 1/2 inches (21.6 cm) deep. At first glimpse the seat does look narrow and yes it does measure slightly smaller than the single Maclaren Techno XT, however my 5 year old boy can still sit comfortably in it. It is stated in the user guide booklet that this stroller can take the weight of two children up to 25kg (55lbs) each and a maximum height of 110cm (44” inches).
The Maclaren Twin Techno stroller comes complete with 2 removable head huggers and 2 pairs of removable shoulder pads. Head huggers are perfect to use for infants up till 1yr of age and the shoulder pads provide extra comfort for the harness.
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Child safety harness
5-point harness with centre buckle control
Unfasten mechanism
Centre buckle unfastened
Harness shoulder slots from front
Harness shoulder slots from back
The new Maclaren Twin Techno comes with a 5-point harness controlled by a centre buckle. To unfasten, you need to simultaneously press the centre part of the buckle, on both its front and back end. I know that this is done in such a way so as to prevent kids from letting themselves out of the stroller easily, but I have to stress that this buckle is seriously hard to undo! My dad, who has rheumatoid arthritis, hated this feature because he needed to apply more pressure on his knuckles and wrists to unfasten this harness. And my mother, just gave up and said that this could be dangerous in emergency situations!
There are 3 shoulder slot positions on the seat with the lowest slot 10 inches from the seat base, the middle at 12 1/2 inches, and the highest slot at 14 1/2 inches.
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Hood or Canopy
Hood pushed back
Sun visors pop out from under the hood
UV protective viewing window
Large storage compartments with Velcro flap
Reflective accents at the side of the hood
The best thing about the Maclaren Twin Techno square hoods are that they are independent to each other. They provide 18 inch (45.7cm) coverage plus an extra 10 inches (25.4cm) from the sun visor that is neatly tucked under it. But since I’ve had the Maclaren XLR before, I do wish that this new Maclaren Twin Techno would also come with an extra extendable hood. We could use those large hoods especially in this sunny Malaysian weather.
On the back of each hood is a 7 x 8 1/2 inch (17.8 x 21.6 cm) storage compartment with a Velcro flap and an extra outer elasticised pocket.
This stroller has the largest UV protective viewing window I have ever seen. It’s 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall and takes up the whole behind-the-hood area! Honestly, I feel this is the most useless feature of all because I can’t even see the viewing window while pushing the stroller because my head will be up high and when I look down, I can only see the top part of the hood! So, in order for me to see the viewing window, I have to take one step back and bend my head down. But from this angle, I can’t even see the face of my kids or what they are doing. It’s far easier for me to just pop my head to the side of the stroller to see them! Maclaren needs to put the viewing window on top of the hood instead of behind it, like on the Maclaren XLR.
Speaking of the Maclaren XLR, this Maclaren Twin Techno does have the reflective accent features on the sides of the hood, similar to the Maclaren XLR.
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Handle design and function
Almost “S” shaped handle
Handle grip at highest point
Handle grip at lowest point
The handle is slightly “S” shaped. It has no adjustable height level, and although I feel it is at an o.k height for me being a short 5ft Asian mom, I do believe it may not be comfortable for taller parents. The highest grip point is at 42 inches (106.7cm) from the ground while the lowest hand grip is at 36 inches (91.4cm) from the ground.
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Storage
Large dual storage basket
Almost impossible to access from back when seat fully reclined
Stroller clip blocking the access from side even when seat fully upright
Impossible to access from the side when seat fully reclined
Impossible to access from front
The under seat baskets measure about 16 x 10 inches (40.6 x 25.4cm) and are 8 inches (20.3cm) high. They are both independently located under each seat and although the basket space is huge, it is still inaccessible from any other angle except from the back, and almost impossible to access when the seat is fully reclined, even from the other side of the seat because of the centre metal bar separating them.
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Wheels and Brakes
Front swivel wheels
Rear wheels
Click black lever to lock front wheels
The 6 inch diameter swivel independent suspension front wheels can be locked by pressing down the flap located slightly above each wheel. In my experience, this has to be done with your hand because your feet can’t get in between the wheels to properly push it down into the locking position. But it is possible to just flick it upwards to release the swiveling lock with the front part of your toes.
Brakes engaged
Brakes disengaged
The stroller brakes are located on both sides of the 6 inch rear wheels, but they are not linked to each other, hence the brakes need to be applied separately, on both the left and right rear wheels. Just to note, there’s no brake for the middle rear wheels. The brakes are applied simply by pushing the centre tab to the right side and unlock by flipping it back to the left side.
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Fold mechanism
Folding mechanism
Stroller folded by the centre
Stroller halfway folded
Completely folded
Clip hooked onto the side of the stroller
Stands when folded
The Twin Techno folds like any other Maclaren. First push upward on both the centre tabs behind each seat and then press down on the metal tab located on the most right side of the stroller frame near the storage basket. Use some pressure to bring the stroller handles closer together while pushing the stroller to the front, and just let it go downwards. Press it down until the side hooks clip onto each side of the stroller to tightly hold it in place.
The carry-handle is available on one of the stroller sides to allow easy lifting, and just as with the Maclaren Techno XLR, this Maclaren Twin Techno can stand when folded!
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Manoeuvrability
I maybe biased, but I love Maclaren and I’ve said similar things in my Maclaren XLR review, and that is nothing beats Maclaren in manoeuverability. The double stroller is not an exception at all! It is very easy to handle turns even with 2-children at different weights. No, I’m not lying here, but you can really push this stroller single handed! It’s a miraculous invention! I have nothing to complain about. The End!Back to top
Size
In comparison with other twin strollers on the market such as the Peg Perego Aria Twin, Baby Jogger City Double, and Mountain Buggy Double, I believe the Maclaren Twin Techno is definitely the smallest and slimmest when folded, not to mention, it is the lightest of them all too!Materials:
High performance aluminium frame
Fabrics:
Water resistant polyester
Weight:
12.7 kg (27.9lbs)(inclusive of basket and hoods)
Stroller Dimensions:
Folded
42 inches long (106.7cm)
19 inches high (48.3cm)
16 1/2 inches wide (41.9cm)(including wheels)
Unfolded
29 1/2 inches long (74.9cm)
43 inches high (109.2cm)
26 1/2 inches wide (67.3cm)
Seat dimensions:
8 1/2 inches deep (21.6cm)
10 inches wide (25.4cm)
18 inches high backrest (45.7cm)
Seat positioning:
15 1/2 inches high from ground level (39.4cm)
Handle bar:
Lowest grip position from ground 36 inches high (91.4cm)
Highest grip position from ground 42 inches high (106.7cm)
Harness level:
Lowest distance from seat base 10 inches (25.4cm)
Highest distance from seat base 14 1/2 inches (36.8cm)
Wheel size:
Front and rear wheels
Thick 1 inches (2.5cm)
Diameters 6 inches (15.2cm)
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Accessories
Two independent footmuffs
Two cup holders
One luggage tag
Raincover
The Maclaren Twin Techno comes complete with two head huggers, 2 sets of harness pads, 2 independent square hoods, 2 separate storage baskets, 2 footmuffs, 2 cupholders, a raincover, a bright red customised luggage tag, user guide booklet and a Sovereign Lifetime Warranty.
Also available are several optional accessories such as reversible seat liners, comfort packs (that consist of a head pad and shoulder pads), mosquito net, sun parasol, extra storage organizer, and the twin techno stroller bag.
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Summary and Rating
Pros
- Taller seat unit and adjustable footrest length allows bigger toddler to still be comfortable.
- Multiple harness levels
- Multiple storage compartments > under seat basket and behind the hood.
- Excellent one handed steering
- Puncture free rubber tyres.
- All terrain easy handling
- Lightweight
- Stands when folded
Cons
- Need both hands to recline the seat
- No height adjustable handles
- Difficult to see child through viewing window
- Inaccessible under seat storage basket when seat reclined
Conclusion
I bought a Maclaren Twin Techno as soon as I gave birth to my 2nd child. No, I don’t have twins but boys with a 4-year age gap. It has served us well for the past two years, giving my husband peace of mind in making sure both boys are securely strapped inside one stroller while I comfortably go shopping!I believe every parent of 2 children needs to have this stroller, regardless of the age gap. Not only because my eldest son still takes his afternoon nap in it, but also it is very much a convenience to push one stroller instead of two! And besides, I think these kids can play and interact with each other much better when side by side than in a front/back stroller.
You may think that this Maclaren Twin Techno is wide and looks bulky, but believe me, it can pass through a standard single doorway and when folded, it has the same length as the Maclaren Techno single stroller, only slightly wider, so you will have no problem putting it in and out of the car. Plus, it can stand when folded, making it easier to keep when being stored.
Rating
Overall Rating(out of 5)
Seat Rating
Harness Rating
Hood/Canopy Rating
Handle Design Rating
Storage Rating
Brakes Rating
Fold Rating
Wheels Rating
Manoeuvrability Rating
Accessories Rating
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