Maxi Cosi Lara – your favourite lightweight stroller for travelling

Are you one of those people who are spending a half of their life at airport? Whether you have to travel a lot because of visiting your family, as a part of your work or just because you enjoy travelling in the first place, it might be rather difficult with a young baby. Apart from all the issues connected with infants and toddlers on board the plane, there is also a serious problem related to carrying all of the luggage of a baby.

Even though babies are so small, they usually need more things than their parents do. Taking into consideration all of them, it is really difficult to imaging carrying a bulky stroller on top of other luggage. Fortunately, some manufacturers of strollers and prams are doing their best to make the lives of such parents easier designing not simply lightweight strollers, but really ultra lightweight models. Maxi Cosi Lara is one of the most popular of them. If you want to know what is so special about this stroller, you should check the review in which I have highlighted all of the most crucial details of this model.

Maxi Cosi Lara – dimensions, weight and fold

As you can imagine, the major factors making Maxi Cosi Lara one of the best options for travelling is its extremely small weight and highly compact fold.

Maxi Cos Lara weighs only 14 lbs which is a really very small weight even for a lightweight stroller. For that reason, you will find many stores calling it not just a lightweight stroller but ultra lightweight one.

Once you fold the stroller, its dimensions will be equal to 20 x 19 x 15. This means the fold of Maxi Cosi Lara is really compact and you can easily fit it into the overhead compartments of the majority planes. Yet, you should remember to fold the leg rest as well to make the fold thinner.

Folding the stroller is a very simple procedure and it can be done with one hand. Undeniably, it is crucial for the convenience of parents who will have to deal with a large amount of luggage while carrying a baby and a stroller. The stroller can be recline in the same way with one hand. Maxi Cosi Lar ais using a so-called flash fold.

You will find a small area on the side of the folded stroller which can be unzipped easily. Once you unzip it, you will get a special strap for carrying the stroller. Using such a strap will allow you to handle even more things in your hands while the stroller will be hanging on your shoulder.

As you can guess, these features are really helpful during travelling even if you are not going to travel by plane and are planning to use other type of transportation more frequently.

Still, you should pay your attention to some detail of the stroller which is a lock used for making its fold fixated. Actually, there is one such lock and it is located on the side of the fold. Some parents have reported an issue coming from such a form of design of Maxi Cosi Lara which is holding the stroller on one side. As a result, it tends to fall out on another side which is can bring some inconvenience into the usage of the stroller especially when you will have your baby in one arm and the stroller in another one.

The major components of Maxi Cosi Lara

Let’s look at the most essential parts of Maxi Cosi Lara which you should actually check before purchasing any stroller. The safety and convenience of your baby and you depend heavily on such parts of a stroller as its seat, canopy, wheels and storage options. That is why I have reviewed them for you.

Seating options

Firstly, you should understand that Maxi Cosi Lara is not a convertible lightweight stroller. You can’t use it either with one of infant car seats or a carrycot. Even though there are no extra seating options available for Maxi Cosi Lara, its major seta is quite functional. Yet, you should pay your attention to the exact model of this stroller you are going to purchase since there are original Lara strollers available on the market as well as an upgraded version of the stroller.

No matter which type of stroller you will have a chance to purchase, you can use it from the day one up to the moment when your child reaches the weight of 50 lbs. This capacity of the stroller is officially claimed by the manufacturer.

Maxi Cosi Lara is suitable for transporting babies due to its almost flat recline. Actually, the recline of this stroller is one of its greatest advantages. If you have already looked at the range of strollers available on the market, you will definitely noticed that hardly any of them will allow you to set the backrest of the seat to a totally upright position which allows children to observe the world better. Moreover, it is almost impossible to get a lightweight stroller with a flat recline which is not only preferred by the majority of babies for napping, but it is the only recommended position for transporting newborn babies.

When it comes to Maxi Cosi Lara, this is exactly the stroller in which you get both of these levels of recline. Due to this fact, this stroller can be used with the babies right after the delivery. Still, you should be aware of the fact the stroller doesn’t include any additional padding for infants, so you should still be careful while transporting a newborn in this stroller. Of course, only a fully reclined position of the stroller is suitable for the youngest babies.

At the same time, the compact size of this stroller affected the depth of this seat, so the parents of somewhat bigger children find it not especially comfortable even though their toddlers still haven’t reached the weight limit.

I have mentioned the fact the original model of Maxi Cosi Lara has a somewhat different seat compared to the newer version of this model. Actually, this difference is the reclining mechanism of the backrest. While the previous version provides babies with only two seating positions which are a fully reclined backrest and an almost upright position, the upgraded version has a special strap for choosing a recline. Due to this mechanism, you can set the backrest into any possible position you want, so, the newer version of Lar is featured with infinite recline.

Finally, you should know that the seat of Maxi Cosi Lara is equipped into 5-point harness. The safety belt has two parts which you have to connect with each other first and only then buckle. Some parents find it a bit troublesome especially while their kids are especially active.

Wheels

The wheels of Maxi Cosi Lara were designed for providing you with a convenient way of transporting your baby. You can easily push the stroller with just one hand and also navigate it even around some narrow places. That is so since the front wheels of the stroller are featured by a 360-degree swivelling mechanism. If only you find it more comfortable to lock the wheels while using the stroller over a particular terrain, you can easily do it with locks which are located on the both of the wheels.

Furthermore, the wheels of Maxi Cosi Lara are featured with all-wheel suspension which is a rather rare feature for lightweight strollers. Undeniably, such suspension makes the ride even smoother.

As you can imagine, the compact size of the wheels makes the stroller not particularly suitable for travelling on bumpy terrains. In fact, Maxi Cosi Lara is mostly appropriate for the use on smooth terrains which can mostly be found in cities. The ultra light weight of this stroller also makes it somewhat difficult to balance it in some situations, for instance, when a stroller accidentally goes over a large stone.

Canopy

The Lara strollers are featured by a quite large canopy with SPF 50 protection. In addition to it, it is quite large for such a compact lightweight stroller. The canopy itself is breathable as well as the material of the stroller’s seat.

For the convenience of parents, the manufacturer added a mesh peek-a-boo window which will allow you to keep an eye on your baby whenever you need to check him or her.

Storage options of Maxi Cosi Lara

Maxi Cosi Lara is featured by totally unique design when it comes to its storage options since it provides parents with an additional solution apart from basic storage options.

First of all, you will find a storage bin of a moderate size in this stroller. Although you can’t call it especially large, it is still larger than typical storage bins of other lightweight strollers. Thus, you can transport here not only a diaper bag, but also some clothes and toys.

Secondly, there is an additional basket of a small size located on top of the first basket. This one is great for carrying smaller items, especially such as your smartphone or a wallet, however, you will find here enough space for other objects as well.

Finally, a cup holder is included into the price of this stroller. Yet, this one is not recommended for carrying any glass bottles. They are somewhat too heavy for such a cup holder. Furthermore, it will be sensible to detach the cup holder if you are planning to transport it inside a trunk since it can break there easily.

Maxi Cosi Lara colour versions

Maxi Cosi Lara strollers have stylish appearance which is based on simplicity and elegance. At the moment, you can find four colour versions for the Lara strollers. They are Nomad Black, Nomad Blue, Nomad Grey and Nomad Red.

The names of the colour versions suggest the appearance of the strollers, however, I am going to give you more details so that you will have an exact understanding of their design.

All of these models are based on a totally black frame and have black wheels. Nomad Black has grey footrest as well as grey padding on the safety belts. Nomad Blue is actually a dark blue stroller with somewhat lighter colour of footrest and padding. Nomad Grey has a pretty light shade of a colour, whereas Nomad Red is a completely red model.

There are no fashionable patterns on the fabric of these strollers and their colour are quite plane, however, they look extremely attractive.

Maxi Cosi Lara – advantages and disadvantages

Now, when I have provided you with such a large amount of information about the Lara ultra lightweight strollers, you are definitely wondering, whether this is exactly the model you need. It will be easier for you to make the right decision after checking these lists of advantages and disadvantages of this stroller which I have created for you.

Pros:

• the stroller is featured by an extremely small weight;
• its fold is highly compact, thus you can use it on board the plane;
• the stroller is suitable for transporting not only the babies who can already sit on their own, but also newborn babies although it is not convertible into a travel system and can’t be used with a carrycot;
• the stroller is perfect for using with just one hand – you can easily push it, manoeuvre, fold, unfold and carry with just one hand;
• there is also a special strap for carrying the stroller;
• it has a fantastic recline mechanism – the newer version of the stroller has an infinite recline allowing you to set the backrest to any position your baby needs including a completely flat position and a totally upright one;
• it has great storage options including two baskets located with one above another as well as a cup holder;
• the stroller is equipped with a SPF 50 canopy with a mash peek-a-boo window;
• the wheels of Lara have a swivelling mechanism with a possibility of locking them and complete suspension.

Cons:

• the stroller is not convertible;
• its wheels are suitable only for the use on even terrains;
• the extremely small weight of Maxi Cosi Lara makes it sometimes difficult to balance the stroller;
• a cup holder is of somewhat low quality.

Maxi Cosi Lara – my conclusions

If you have read my entire review, you have definitely noticed a large number of amazing features of Maxi Cosi Lara which can hardly be found in other lightweight strollers. Still, you should decide whether you and your baby will really need them.

I personally recommend this stroller to parents who are planning to travel with their babies a lot as well as to those parents, especially mothers, who will spend a lot of time dealing with their babies alone. Since Lara is a particularly compact model with an extremely small weight and additional possibilities for carrying such as a shoulder strap, you will enjoy the convenience of taking this stroller wherever you have to go. The only condition is that you are going to use it on the even surfaces. In case you are planning to use this stroller on the bumpy terrains, you might be disappointed by Lara even though its swivelling wheels and the suspension system are of the highest quality.

Maxi Cosi Lara is also an option you can take into consideration if you want to purchase a single stroller for using it right from the birth of your child. This is one of the functions offered by the advanced recline used in this model of a stroller. Yet, you should be aware of the fact an infant car seat used in a travel system or a conventional pram can still be more convenient for your newborn baby. If you are planning to purchase Lara for a somewhat older child, he or she will definitely enjoy the ride due to the possibility of sitting in a completely upright position as well as sleeping in the seat recline into a completely flat position.

No matter whether Maxi Cosi Lara is suitable for the needs of your child, it is definitely a stroller worth its price featured by the highest quality and functionality.

Welcome to my blog, dear moms! I'm Lindsey, happy mother of two, keen blogger, traveller who likes to cook and spend time reading a good book. If you have any questions or find it difficult to make a choice, feel free to message me - I'm here to help!

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