Maclaren Volo

Quick Summary: The Maclaren Volo is a brilliant holiday option if you are travelling to somewhere with a warm climate. At only 4kg, it is lighter than any other stroller that we have reviewed. The carry strap makes it even more conveniently portable however, there has to be some compromise made to reach this level of simplicity.

Pushchair Review

Never has the ultra-compact travel stroller been under so much pressure to perform. In a market where Maclaren used to dominate the landscape, there have been some hungry newcomers trying to take over their patch!Upstarts like the Maxi-Cosi Noa (£150) and the Quinny Yezz (£175) have both tried to re-invent the stroller with completely different concepts. Whereas companies such as Cosatto with their Swift Lite Supa (£135) and Uppababy with their G-Luxe (£150) stick to the traditional stroller model but add uniqueness in their fabrics and colour ranges.The pressure doesn't stop there, because supermarkets now sell strollers at almost disposable prices, giving you a holiday buggy for less than the price of your baggage allowance.

Colours

The Maclaren Volo is available in Carmine rose, Black, Charcoal, Scarlet, Scarlet stripe, Deep Water, Sedona. A white version is available with accent trim in black, brownie, charcoal, kiwi lime, majesty silver, pea green and scarlet.

When you pull the Maclaren Volo out of the box, the carved foam handles are the first indication that the Volo has some class. They are thick, comfortable and offer a great grip to control your stroller. Bridging the two handles is the shoulder carry strap; a wide, nylon tape with a sliding rubber shoulder pad.

The canopy is large and showerproof, ideal for the random showers and barmy humidity we are experiencing this summer. It is wide, giving maximum coverage to the seat.

The seat is basically two panels of fabric forming the seat and the back with a nylon mesh making up the sides. Of course, in a sunny climate, this ventilation is welcome but I wouldn't want to put it to the test in a British winter. With the seat construction being so basic, it has its limitations; it is unable to recline at all which for some parents will be a huge negative. Obviously being a ‘from 6 months' stroller you can expect it to not include all the luxuries found on a ‘from birth' stroller but some recline for this age group might give the Volo a wider appeal, so that nodding off while on-the-go is still an option.

Nicely positioned in relation to the seat is the plastic footplate. Carved with the Maclaren diamond pattern reflected in the handles, it gives a stable shelf for little feet.

Beneath the seat the basket is attached. Like all strollers it is limited in space but has easier access than most due to the seat's inability to recline.

All the wheels are plastic and the same size at 11.4cms, with a swivel lock able to affect the front wheels and linked brake affecting the back. Imprinted with the Maclaren name on the hub gives them the feeling of having had design consideration taken over this small detail. On point of note is that the wheels have very small plastic bearings which could be expected to wear in time potentially causing wheel wobble.

This is also shown in the pattern that features on the left stem of the frame; it's an added extra that doesn't need to be there but contributes to the overall appeal.

Folding

In conventional stroller fashion the Volo has the ubiquitous stroller fold that takes no mastering, it's easy. With your foot, flick up the red pedal in the centre back of the frame, this will release the tension (in the stroller...not you!) Then push down on the black pedal on the right and the handles will drop and contract towards the front wheels. Easy! An auto-locking clip meets the fold to keep it under control.To open, undo the clip and push down on the red pedal until it clicks, indicating that the frame is fully re-tensioned and ready-to-go.Unlike other strollers, the Volo has had the linked brake incorporated into the red folding pedal. Pushing on the right side will apply the brake and the left will release; a unique concept.

Conclusion

The Maclaren Volo is a brilliant holiday option if you are travelling to somewhere with a warm climate. At only 4kg, it is lighter than any other stroller that we have reviewed. The carry strap makes it even more conveniently portable however, there has to be some compromise made to reach this level of simplicity.

As with most strollers, the handle height is not variable, the basket is shallow and the suspension is limited, but the Volo will not recline and the linked braking mechanism is flimsy.

As a testament to their reputation, there are those that would not feel comfortable buying any other stroller brand except Maclaren as they were the pioneers of this genre. Plus, attention to aesthetic detail is visible throughout. At only 4kg and £85, it beats much of the top-flight opposition in weight, but it is built to hit that price.

 The Mclaren Volo it's definitely worthy of consideration for your summer holidays without chancing the uber cheap supermarket alternatives.