Maclaren Volo: A Review

Maclaren is a veteran player in the strollers market. The company began in England in 1965 with Owen Maclaren who used to work as a test pilot and an aeronautical engineer. He then put his skills to work on designing and patenting the B-01, the first Baby Buggy. Maclaren strollers all inherit the sleek, collapsible and extremely lightweight design and durable fabric. The company is widely accepted as innovative and consistently provides safety above industry standards.

The Volo

The Maclaren Volo is super lightweight and easy to handle. It is designed to provide maximum comfort for you as a parent, while not neglecting the child. It isn’t cheap, and does not beat every other stroller in every imaginable aspect, but on the whole – with a carrying weight of 55lbs (15kg) – it is very good value for money.

Weight, And Why Should You Care

The Volo weighs 8.6lbs (3.9kg). This is extremely lightweight for strollers, and when you carry a bag on your shoulders, your baby on one arm, and need to fold and load the stroller single-handedly to your car – you’ll appreciate it. The folding mechanism itself is specifically crafted to provide single-handed operation, and many owners report that it is really as easy as it sounds.

Security – Your Child Comes First

The stroller is equipped with a 5-point harness, as is the standard with most others comparable strollers on the market. A 5-point harness means that the harness is attached to five points on the stroller’s seat. There is one in the front, between the baby’s legs, two to the sides of his body, and two over the shoulders. Straping the child to the stroller this way ensures that your baby does not slip out accidentaly and will not be able to wriggle his way out as well.

To make it even more secure, Maclaren added a special, child-proof buckle. The buckle takes a minute or two to get used to – but children can not unbuckle it themselves.

Comfort – For You And Your Child

Unlike many other strollers, the Volo’s seat does not recline. This is not always comfortable for younger babies, and if your child is less than one year old – you may want to consider another option. Older children usually feel quite comfortable in the stroller.

For parents, comfort is a different story. The height of the handles is important, so you don’t have to stoop when pushing the stroller. Another issue is how far do the handles extend back – so you won’t bang your feet against the rear wheels when walking. The Maclaren is very easily manoeuvred, even single handedly.It is most comfortable for people between 5′4 (162.5m) and 6′ (182.9m) but shorter or taller people are not necessarily inconvenienced by it.

The rear-wheels lock with a crossbar, rather than the individual locks most other strollers have, and its light weight and easy folding make it very easy to carry and handle anywhere.

Accessories – The Little Perks

The Volo does not provide an abundance of accessories as some other strollers do. It has a good sized basket, a rain protector and a sun shiled, but that’s about it. Anything else – cup holders, hang-on bags etc – is purchased separately. As the Volo is not cheap (it costs as much as twice as other good umbrella strollers) – this is a bit disappointing. To offset this, the Volo comes in a variety of lively colors, and the seat is detachable for easy cleaning.

Bottom Line

The Maclaren Volo is an excellent lightweight stroller, comfortable for both babies and adults. It isn’t cheap, but it is reliable and sturdy enough to serve as your only umbrella strollers. You are bound to enjoy it!

How does the Maclaren Volo fair against other lightweight strollers? See the links below.

1. The Maclaren Volo vs. the Graco IPO
2. The Maclaren Volo vs. the Chicco C6
3. The Maclaren Volo vs. the Evenflo X Sport
4. The Maclaren Volo vs. the Combi Flare