Maclaren Triumph- Stroll away from this one

Last spring, I decided that it was time to buy a lightweight stroller. Our existing stroller which was compatible with our daughter's car seat was tough to collapse and open. I wanted a stroller which would be great on the go- one which I could easily open or collapse while holding my infant daughter. After researching strollers on-line, I decided on the Maclaren Triumph.

At approximately 12 pounds, the Triumph seemed to be one of the lightest strollers available. It also had a solid reputation and some features which are not typically found in a standard umbrella stroller. I do find that the weight is light enough for myself and my mother to handle easily.

Maclaren touts the "one-handed" close and open. Let me tell you about this one-handed concoction. You have to hold the stroller down by the handle and then use your foot to push up or down on two levers (depending on whether you want to open or close it). It is not easy. Not to mention, if you try it in sandals, it can be quite painful. One of the pieces that you have to push up against is at the bottom of the stroller near the back. If any exposed skin pushes against it as you try to push against the lever, it will be quite painful. I speak from experience.

The most frustrating aspect of the Triumph appears to be a design flaw. After using the stroller out and about in the neighborhood, I then collapsed it and put it in my car trunk for a trek to the mall. When I opened it and put my daughter in it, I noticed a significant amount of dirt on the underside of the canopy portion of the stroller. It was not until I collapsed the stroller again that I realized the dirt was from the stroller wheels. When you collapse the stroller, the wheels go right up into the underside portion of the canopy. This makes zero sense to me. Who wants a stroller that's going to have dirt right over their baby's head? Not me. It's fine if you clean the stroller and then keep it open, but that frankly defeats the purpose of a lightweight stroller for travel. The canopy is removable. However, to have to remove the canopy when you collapse the stroller, and then reattach it when you get to your destination, would be completely absurd.

Next, the buckle portion (the five point harness) of the belt is nearly impossible to open. Two side pieces go into a center piece. One needs to push on the top and bottom of each side piece to dislodge it from the center. This is very hard to do, and is impossible for one with any dexterity or arthritis issues. My mother found this so difficult that she had to pull my daughter out of the straps while leaving it buckled. A buckle needs to be secure and child proof. However, this appears to be somewhat adult proof as well.

The actual appearance of the Triumph is quite attractive. The gray is sharp, and the pale orange contrast on the straps and sides is striking. The stroller does have a mesh basket portion beneath the stroller, however accessibility while a child is in the stroller is very limited. The shoulder strap is a nice feature, that makes carrying the stroller from place to place a breeze. My husband and I have not tried the rain canopy that came with the stroller for free.

The stroller is suppose to be suitable for children from three months and up, and up to 55 pounds (which is significant compared to many lightweight strollers). This stroller also has two recline settings, upright and inclined. This is also a very pricey umbrella stroller, at approximately $170+ at most retailers.

Given the lack of functionality and poor design of the Maclaren Triumph, I would happily trade in my expensive brand-named stroller for a simple umbrella stroller. Apparently you don't always get what you pay for.