Each seat has its own square hood, which offers good protection from the elements and comes complete with UV protective viewing windows, air vents and sun visor, plus an elasticised pocket to hold the rain cover. The seats are also independent, so your toddler can sit up while your newborn sleeps if necessary (and no arguing). The only thing that isn’t independent is the raincover, which is a single unit, much quicker to fit in a downpour than two separate ones, and this is strong and durable.
For added comfort, there’s front suspension, nicely padded head huggers to give more stability for your newborn, and shoulder pads, plus extendable leg rests, height-adjustable shoulder straps and matching boots for each seat.
It’s narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway, which means shopping shouldn’t present too many problems – and a basket under each seat gives extra storage space. When folded it will fit easily into the boot of most cars and won’t take up too much space in the hallway, always a consideration if you’re short on space.
What we love
The simple one-handed fold, and the fact that it will fit through standard doorways make this feel far less unwieldy than many other side-by-side buggies. It’s a smart-looking buggy and feels plenty sturdy enough to tote two toddlers. It may not be the cheapest around, but you do get what you pay for – it’s always well reviewed by real mums and journalists alike. Maclaren’s unique lifetime warranty also gives great peace of mind.
What to watch out for
While it’s great that it’s slim enough to fit through a doorway, the drawback is that the seats are on the narrow side, which could be a bit of a squeeze for older children. The seats, though padded, could not be described as luxurious and the roomy underseat baskets are difficult to reach when the seats are fully reclined. Step-on, kick-off brakes can be unkind to your shoes (and your toes when you’re wearing sandals). It’s also relatively expensive compared with some other umbrella-fold double buggies.
Who is the Maclaren Twin Techno best for?
Parents of twins, anyone short on space, at home or in the car.
Sturdy, lightweight (for a double), compact and easy to use, this could be the only double buggy you’ll ever need. The seats may be on the narrow side, but at least you really can take this anywhere.
