Maclaren Volo - Carbon Umbrella Stroller

Now that my daughter is getting older, her stroller needs are changing. At times she is more than willing to ride in a stroller, other times she rather just walk. I was finding that taking her stroller into and out of the car becoming more and more of a bother. It is a stroller I received when she was born that came as part as a car seat travel system. It is a bit bulky and a bit on the heavy side. I needed a lighter, more convenient stroller that would fit into my daughter?s new strolling lifestyle.

I really did not want to spent a lot of money, but the more I test drove the lower quality end strollers, I found that they were very difficult to push and steer with my daughter in the stroller. Friends suggested the Maclaren line of stroller. I was hesitant because of the price, but after a couple of week?s test driving strollers and not finding one to fit my needs, I decided to give Maclaren a try. Maclaren is known for their quality strollers.

Maclaren has many different models of strollers, but I decided that for my mall and daily in and out outing the Maclaren Volo would be the one I should consider. I was impressed with the many features the stroller offered, and decided to buy it and give it a true test ride.

For a simple umbrella stroller the Maclaren Volo offered many more options than the lower quality umbrella strollers did.

WEIGHT ? The Maclaren Volo weight only 8 pounds. The lighter weight makes it easier to lift into and out of the car, even for those really quick daily errands. Compared to my stroller, the Volo was a breeze to lift. It is very sturdy and not at all rickety for a light stroller.

5-POINT HARNESS ? The Volo?s harness is the newer harness which like car seat harnesses hold the child into the seat by contacting 5 points of the child body (shoulders, thighs and crotch). If a younger child were to use the stroller, the harness would hold in the child better and prevent excess slumping. I rarely use the shoulder harness for my daughter since she is older, but will use them when she falls asleep in the stroller. They just keep her in place better.

CARRYING STRAP ? This strap located on the back of the stroller just makes carrying the stroller a little more easier. Those times when my daughter refuses to ride in the stroller, and I do not feel like pushing an empty stroller, I simply fold the stroller and place it over my shoulder like a pocketbook. I still have two free hands to hold packages, and to hold onto my toddler. The stroller is so lightweight, that carrying by the strap just did not seem like a heavy load on my shoulders.

MESH SEAT - The Volo?s seat is made of a mesh like material that keeps the seat and my daughter cooler when we are strolling during the hotter times of the day. It is also a bit roomier than the seats on a low quality umbrella stroller. My daughter?s head would come above the seats on those strollers, whereas on the Volo, her head is still an inch or so below the seat top. The seat seems to cradle my daughter and make for a more a comfortable ride.

PADDED HANDLES ? The Volo?s handles are not the typical umbrella handles, but are ergonomically shaped and padded. These handles keep the hands in more of a natural strolling position. They are also higher, which allows me at 5?7? or my husband at 5?11, not to stoop over the stroller while we are pushing it. We are able to push in a more upright and comfortable position.


COLORS ? For the basic of the Maclaren line, the Volo does come in three colors ? DENIM, which is more of a periwinkle/purple color, POPPY, which is red, and CARBON, which is a black color. The frame is a silver color.

ONE HANDED STEERING - For a lightweight stroller, I was surprised that I was able to steer it with one hand, even when my daughter who is about 29/30 pounds was riding in the stroller. This is good for those who need to hold onto an older walking child while pushing the stroller.

LOWER SEAT/NO FRONT BAR - The Volo?s seat is set closer to the ground then one?s tradition stroller. Also, there is no front bar on the stroller. Now, I no longer have to lift my daughter into or out of the stroller whenever her stroller moods change. She is able to easily climb in or out herself.

So far so good, but no product is 100% perfect, and this includes the Volo. I did find some cons to the stroller:

ASSCESORIES - The Volo is a simple stroller, meaning no hood, cushion seat cover, and rain cover. If you want these extra features on the stroller, you will have to order them separately, and depending on the store it may run you an extra $50-$65.00. Making this umbrella stroller more expensive. I do not miss these extra features, because the Volo is my quick in and out or mall buggy.

NO RECLINE - The Volo?s seat is set on a slight angle, but does not recline. Because of this, the Volo is not suited for newborns or very young children. Maclaren suggests it to be used for a 6 month old or older child. My suggestion is to check your young child in the stroller, with the 5-point harness in place and see how comfortable they look in the stroller. Children will sit differently depending on their muscle control.

SMALLER WHEELS - The Volo?s smaller wheels make it a good indoor mall walking stroller or a daily even sidewalk surface stroller. I do not know how the wheels would keep up if used daily on gravel or uneven gravel surfaces. Like the name suggests it is the GO BUGGY, and I would not recommend using it daily on long neighborhood walks.

Maclaren does offer a line of strollers that will include the above features. If you should need or want the accessories, recline or bigger knobbed wheels, then I would suggest that you test-drive the other strollers in their line.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my Volo. It fits my child and it fits my stroller need. My only suggestion is to shop around and look for a sale price, especially through on-line stores that offer discount coupons. This stroller usually retails for $99.00, but I was able to get mine for $79.00, which included the shipping cost. To me, any savings are better than none at all. So far the Volo has held up to the Maclaren name and to the higher quality strollers in the Maclaren line.