Portability without sacrificing quality
Written: Mar 17 '05 (Updated Mar 17 '05)
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Pros: Compact, light, and easy to carry when folded
Cons: No storage on the top half for the parent
The Bottom Line: If you need something portable but don't want to be pushing around something that feels like its worth $10.
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| chretiensucks's Full Review: Maclaren Triumph - Cobalt/Burgundy Umbrella Stroll... |
I know it’s been a while since my last review but between the dropping off and picking up the toddler off at Montessori and commuting to a job and employer I absolutely hate, there’s been very little time to spare.
That being said, we still found time to take a vacation in Florida this winter. This time we flew down and as a result we needed a new stroller. There was no way we were going to lug our Zooper around an airport and on a plane, let alone taking it on and off the tram at DisneyWorld. And there was no way my wife was going to let me get a cheap (I was thinking $20 at Walmart) umbrella stroller for our excursion. So I caved and let my wife do the research and we ended up buying the Maclaren Triumph online.
Although the Zooper is a great jogger stroller, we needed something more portable for our traveling adventures. A light umbrella stroller that could fold up very compactly, and something we could push without constantly kicking the wheels.
Setup and Assembly
In short, there was no assembly required. I don't know if they all come that way or if the company we purchased from shipped it assembled. Maybe it's so compact that there's no need to have it shipped pre-assembled?
Portability
One tug at a lever and pushing down on the handles is all it takes to fold up this stroller into very compact form (41” x 10”). Although it is light at 11 pounds, I’ve never found weight to be the primary problem of a stroller. Usually, it’s the bulk that makes it feel heavier. In this case, that’s not a problem. When folded, it was small enough to carry onto a tram and could be held upright beside me or between my legs. It also fit in easily with all our luggage into the trunk of our rental car. And a shoulder strap allows you to carry it around while leaving you with two free hands. Pulling a latch and doing the reverse will easily unfold the stroller back into its rolling form again.
Safety and comfort
Not only are there back wheel brakes for the four rear wheels that are activated by a lever, the four front wheels can also be locked. There’s a 5 point harness but you can actually just connect the bottom belts if your child wants more free movement. The 2 position reclining back is also an ideal position for him/her to fall asleep.
As a stroller
We pushed and carried this stroller around Disneyworld’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom for hours and hours and were extremely satisfied with the build quality. The wheel movement is very fluid and there’s enough soft rubber on the tires to absorb most outdoor asphalt or concrete imperfections. The front tires pivot with ease to allow you to make problem-free tight turns. The seat fabric is durable and easy to clean, and the foam on the handles provides adequate comfort for the parent (pusher). There is a good sized storage basket under the seat but my only complaint is the absence of a storage net at the top closer to the handles for a drink, camera, or cell phone.
Considering all the abuse this stroller took, there was no noticeable wear. The only evidence of a lot of use was all the dirt on the tires.
Being used to our heavier and more substantial Zooper though, we have a tendancy to hang our heavy diaper bag or knapsack off the handles. This is fine when the child is in the stroller as a counterweight but every time we forgot about it and pulled him out, the stroller would fall back from all the junk we had piled on there. No fault in its design – we’re just used to a huge jogging stroller under other circumstances.
Recommended for children under 40 pounds and over three months, it was perfect for our 17 month old.
Accessories
Our stroller came with a fully transparent raincover. Easy to button onto from the sunshade down to the footrest, your child can be fully protected from the any wet elements.
Conclusion
This was the perfect stroller for traveling, especially if you have other things to carry and you plan to fly. I’ve come to like this stroller so much that I even prefer it over our Zooper in most cases, especially when there’s limited storage space in our vehicle. For our purchase price of $109, I’ve found little to complain about.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 109
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
chretiensucks
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Member: joe unpronounceable
Location: GTA, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
How do people with more than one child do it?
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