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Umbrella stroller for an 18mo - Easywalker Buggy+ / Maclaren Techno XT? Will it be OK in the winter?

07 Jul 2020

Hello Eli.

We are planning to pass on to an umbrella stroller. My son is 10-month-old, and he still likes to ride in a stroller, even though he is also walking by himself often.

I am looking at the Easywalker Buggy+ - or the Maclaren Techno XT. Can you tell me if such a type will be OK in the winter? Or would you recommend keeping our full-size stroller, instead?

Thanks

Eli • 07 Jul 2020

Hey there!

I will start more generally. I do think - to some extent - that an umbrella stroller for winter is doable, but the doable is very relative to what you expect and want it to be. If you explicitly want to know, if after a load of snow you can go outside and smoothly push an umbrella stroller - well, this depends on the amount of snow, but in any case, you'll 'work for it'. The same goes for any lightweight stroller or anything that doesn't feature large wheels. On the other hand, to keep something robust (when your child is older and walks and runs already) only because of winter and a possibility of snow doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather make a compromise and either buy a lightweight model making everything easier for you - and in the winter, you will have to be careful and only walk on clean(-ish) pavements, or to store your larger stroller and use it in winter (only).

From your choices, I would probably go for the Maclaren Techno XT - it's really great, driveability-wise, and it will be a help to you even in those harsher conditions. Don't expect miracles - it's a 'buggy', but it's a good buggy at that. The EW Buggy+ is not bad at all, just the Maclaren strollers are just sturdier (almost indestructible) 🙂

Another thing I would suggest would be more of a(n ultracompact) stroller (not an umbrella, two-handlebars buggy), preferably with larger wheels. You would be able to drive it with one hand, and it would also be less long after folding. I find such a solution better, even for winter. Particularly, the Cybex Eezy S+2, or its first generation, the Cybex Eezy S+, would be my pick(s). A similar functionality (compared to an umbrella stroller), but better driveability and practicality in the wheel/chassis area... 😉

Your -very berry- Eli.

Now, this is your place to ask. I'm listening.