Stokke Xplory review

B Loves: Unusual design and high seating position for the baby

Now available in the Athleisure collection – read about it here

The Xplory^® is a stylish and unique pushchair and although it may be a little more pricey than some other makes and models, you do get what you have paid for in terms of build quality and stylish good looks. The appearance really captures the loyalty of its fans and it is easy to spot out and about on the streets. So if you’re a parent who loves great design and isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd, this may be for you. It also comes in lots of colours so you can match it to your own unique style.

Seat: The seat has a neat and curved shape with a swooping hood and one of its best features is that you can raise or lower the seat on the chassis by simply pulling a lever placed just below the seat. Have it high up to encourage your child to interact with you; adjust it to table height when meeting friends for coffee in a café, lower it for naps. The seat can face the front or rear and will be comfortable up to 15kg. It has a five-point safety harness and the seat is quite generous (52cm at the back), despite looking compact and will be good for even a taller toddler. It is deep and will be fine for naps, as you can recline the whole seat (three positions when rear facing including flat, two in world-facing but without the flat option), though it does not lie flat. Use the optional carrycot for the early months, or you can use the infant insert. The bumper bar can be opened removed, and there is an adjustable footrest to keep your little one’s legs well supported – again, just adjust using the lever. It can be removed when you want to swap the seat to facing you – it just comes off, then is popped back on.

The hood is generous and has a mesh panel to keep your child cool in warm weather and a visor panel for low sun.

Chassis:

The most striking thing about the Xplory^®is its chassis. With a central spindle that holds the seat and the handle, it swoops straight down to a neat arrangement of wheels and thanks to a curved rear section, you won’t end up kicking it with your toes as you walk. The handlebar has an unusual curved shape, which makes it really easy to push either one- or two-handed and from either side or the middle. It is adjustable through three pivot positions up and down, or you can extend the chassis stem, so it’s easy to find a position and height that comfortable for you.

There is no storage basket – this wouldn’t be possible on this shape chassis –but there is a smart bag that clips directly onto the area above the wheels. With a good zipped closure and internal net pouch, a front magnetised pocket and a further zipped pocket inside, this will be sufficient for a few baby items though you might also wish to invest in the Stokke changing bag too. The brake is on the right rear wheel – push down on the end nearest you to engage the brakes, then on the top of the lever to release. It can be done with sandals on!

If you are going somewhere with uneven ground or sand, you can half fold the chassis so that the wheels are all together, then you can pull it behind you like a golf cart.

Folding means you should remove the bag and seat. You put the handlebar down as far as it will go, then swing it down to its lowest setting. Next, pull up on the white lever on the underside of the handle spindle, while stepping on the large white lever on the lower part of the chassis, just above the wheels. The wheels fold in together (and lock in place) and you can then place the chassis in the boot of your car and the seat goes on top. Unfolding is easy – open the lever on the spindle again and the wheels just open right out.

Wheels: The wheels have recently been upgraded to be lighter and stronger and the front wheels can be fixed straight or can swivel through 360 degrees for improved manoeuvrability. There are small wheels at the front, larger at the back and they ride well over city streets.

Extras:

As this comes with quite a lot of extras, there aren’t many hidden costs. It comes with the rain cover but also a mosquito net, so not having to pay extra for those. You can also add the Carrycot suitable from birth to 9kg (£170) plus here are lots of styling accessories like the Summer Kit (£119) or Winter Kit (£255) as well as other things to keep your baby warm like the fleece sleeping bag (£85) or down sleeping bag (£155), blanket (£41), Sheepskin lining (£209) and footmuff (£99). For sunny days, there’s a parasol (£42) and other handy extras include a cupholder (£18) and a stylish changing bag (£99). There’s a sibling board if you have a toddler as well as a baby (£87). If you want to completely change the look of your pushchair to suit the season – or your outfit – you can but the Stroller Seat Style Kit in one of 11 colours, which includes the seat lining, seat back cover, baby insert, harness pads, seat handle and hood.

The small print:

• Weight: 12.2kg
• Used from: birth to around 15kg
• Seat reclines:
• Size when folded: 99 x 34 x 56 cm

Car seat: Use specific adaptors to add the Chicco or Peg Perego Group 0+ car seats, or the universal adaptors which will take the following Maxi-Cosi models: Mico Max 30, Pebble, Pebble Plus, Cabrio Fix, Mico, Prezi. It also takes the Nuna Pipa, Cybex Aton Q, BeSafe iZi Go Modular and BeSafe iZi Go Z1.

Read our review of the Stokke Athleisure MyCarrier