Stokke Xplory

[JessicaN25]

I am pregnant with my first child so am clueless about prams, car seats etc but we have seen the Stokke Xplory and are keen to buy it but before we make this extravagant purchase it would be great if anyone could give me any negatives about this pram or recommend any others?

[AKP79]

Hi - I had one for DS1 and I did think it was fabulous, but overpriced. I think it is best suited for town/city living though, I'm now living in the country and it would be rubbish for country walks.

It's big though, so make sure you try it out in your boot before buying as it doesn't fold down very small. I also struggled a bit with the storage bag, as it could be a bit limiting.

It is lovely though and does turn heads, but I'd have a really good think about what you want from your pram/pushchair.

[Inwaiting]

We decided to upgrade to the crusi. It has more basket room and can be converted at a later date to a double buggy.

[JessicaN25]

It is very expensive however they all seem to be overpriced. We live in the West Country so lots of hills and cobbled streets, do you think the Xplory would be suitable for this?

I was slightly disappointed when we went to Mothercare because I wanted a demonstration on a few prams but no staff were available and I also wanted to try it in my boot as I currently have a very small car!

We did have a look at the Crusi as I liked the look of it online but when we saw it in the shop it was a lot bigger than I expected and preferred the Xplory because it was slightly smaller.

[Artandco]

Friends complain it's awkward to fold, and hard to fit an older child in after 18-24months

[Artandco]

I would get the bugaboo buffalo for hills and cobbles

[StrawberrytallCake]

I loved it for when did was little however it takes up a ridiculous amount of room in the boot. It isn't suitable for bumps and the car seat of the same make is the heaviest car seat in the world (no exaggeration) which is not easy to carry when you've just given birth. Positives are the height to chat to and see dc, ease to push through town, I think it's attractive and there are some lovely accessories like the fur coverings - the storage for shopping is also handy but I always worried about how easy it would be to steal!!

Also true that dc looked way too big in it when they reached 2. We bought the biggest babyjogger at that point and still have it now - it's amazing over any terrain and folds down really well, is long enough and private enough for when they want to sleep and the handles are adjustable.

[Inwaiting]

I agree when we had a play and folded it down it was a bit too bulky for us hence going for the one up

[JessicaN25]

It looks very awkward to fold even on the demonstration video!

I'm not too keen on bugaboos, I like the Bee but it's far too low down for my liking.

So no luck in keeping the baby in the Xplory until they can walk everywhere then!

We looked at the Stokke car seat to go with it and I agree it was ridiculously heavy and that was without a baby in it!

Any recommendations for prams that are a bit more practical?

[Starman16]

I have a Joolz Geo which I like as it has good seat height i.e can pull up to a cafe table. I found the carrycot was a good height too - I agree that Bugaboos are very low! It's a great buggy for taller people or if you don't want to be bending down all the time. Back tires are pneumatic so very good on cobbles, grass etc. Huge shopping basket! One downside is you have to take seat of to fold when parent facing, although folds in one piece when forward facing.

[parrotonmyshoulder]

PM me if you can, OP

[Kimononono]

I've got one.

It's s bit of an arse to learn how to fold but once you get the hang of it it's easy.

This pram was for my second child and it's the best one I've had. The winter set is fantastic. Inside, when you have it on I had to take dd hat and gloves of because she was sweating and it was snowing at the time. I bought the sheep skin seat liner on a cheaper on line seat at that with the winter set dd up snug as a bug all winter. Plus my hands were toasty with the attached gloves.

The seat is super high and fab for eating at restaurants as you can Change it in to a high chair.

However, the seat will only fully recline when facing forward, the carry cot didn't feel very secure ( one of the reasons I bought the sheep skin liner to put dd 8 weeks straight in to top pram) it's not great going over bumpy roads BUT can be folded and pulled with baby in pram over snow and sand. Aldo when seat is facing forward the foot rest is very tight agsinst the bag on the front so if you have stuff in there you will struggle.

It's very big to fold away in car so really consider your boot size. We had to put seat on back seat and wheels squeezed in boot

They are a real head turner though and dd loved hers. The winter kit is second to none ime and it was the major draw in choosing a pram for our third.

This time though I have my own car so long periods out side are not needed so we are looking at a joolz for our third.

Which colour are you thinking of? Mine was the beige and it's a bit meh now, the grey malange is lovely

[Kimononono]

Oh and dd was in her pram till she was walking. We got a deal with the shop and got a different car seat seat.

Really loved her face being high so we could have proper eye contact

[Sparklycat]

The seat is small so won't last for as long as you need a pushchair for.

[Kimononono]

I though the seat was fine. Dd was 91centile and still is and was fine in it.

[JessicaN25]

I really like the look of the Joolz, I wanted to have a look at it when we went shopping but my partner said he had already decided he wanted the Stokke and couldn't be bothered to look at anymore prams... Maybe next time!

I do have a very small boot so I think it will be a struggle!

I love the beige and so does my partner so I think that's what one we would get but I would worry about it getting dirty. Have you found it gets dirty easily?

[Artandco]

The bugaboo buffalo is higher up or equal to the Stokke isn't it? It's much higher than the bee or cameleon anyway

[Diddlydokey]

If you have cobbles something with wheels like a baby jogger city mini gt is good but that doesn't parent face.

A mutsy 4 rider light is nice and the oyster 2 also. Maybe check out a Jane muum

[Kimononono]

op yes it does but it all zips off and washed well.

the beige one comes with a karki fly net which was way to dark. Hated it.

Light grey - would look lovely with bright white blankets

Or this grey malange one are my favs

[skankingpiglet]

If you want something that will perform well over the hills and cobbles then Mountain Buggy are fab. Not quite in the same style category as Stokke, but a real workhorse. The ff seat is low, but they now sell a pf seat which looks like it is a lot higher. It's also a bit bulky when folded (folds very easily though) but the rear tires pop off really easily to make it a bit smaller.

[AKP79]

Where abouts in the West Country are you Jessica? I've relocated from a town in the midlands to the West Country. I really did love my Stokke for the town and loved the Summer Kit I bought to go with it, but I really don't think it would be suitable for my lifestyle here. We're planning to buy a Baby Jogger Summit this time around. I've read fantastic reviews, but I am a bit gutted because whilst it's light, practical, great on all terrains, folds down easily etc, it's not particularly attractive.

[TheCrumpettyTree]

I think it looks really silly, like a highchair on wheels and as soon as you have a toddler you'll get something more practical.

Have you had a play with lots of prams or have you always focused on the Stokke? It may not have what you actually want out of a pram however much you love it. I have a bugaboo bee because I live in a city and its a compact pram that I am still using with my toddler as he can climb in and out of it as he sees fit. Its gone through two children so far! It's perfect for us and whatever you choose should be the same so definitely have a play with all types if you haven't already. Think about your car and what you need the pram for.

If you have a small boot don't get a big pram as you'll find yourself buying a maclaren quicker than you realise.

[Artandco]

Ah if you have a small boot I wouldn't get the Stokke or the bugaboo. Both fold huge.

You want something that folds in one piece and has largish wheels. Yet small enough fold

[JessicaN25]

I'm not really keen on the look of the buffalo, the wheels seem really big which I know would be practical for the area that I live in but I imagine it to be quite hard to manoeuvre round shops.

I definitely want one that can be parent facing and clip the car seat in ect just don't want one too bulky.

The light grey is lovely but I imagine also gets dirty easily, although if it washes well won't be too much of a problem.

We live just outside Bath, so lots of hills and cobbled streets. The Stokke in my eyes is definitely a looker when it comes to prams but by the sounds of it isn't too practical!

We had a look at the Egg, Bugaboo Bee, Icandy Peach and the Silver Cross Wayfarer also but the staff weren't very helpful and didn't give us any demonstrations on any of the prams so we just pushed them around a little bit. But unfortunately none of the ones we looked at seemed to push as well as the Stokke.

I am a first time mum so have no idea what I really need from a pram, I'm clueless!

The boot is a problem, however I am expecting whatever pram we buy to be a pain getting in and out of the boot and hopefully I will get a bigger car at some point.

[AKP79]

It's a really really tricky one... and I don't really have much help to offer. I think you'll be fine with a Stokke in and around Bath (I'm 20 mins outside Bath), and I had mine for a time when I relocated back here... However I do remember quite a stressful trip to Frome up Catherine Hill (not sure if you know it).

As a first time mum I think I was very similar to you. Four years on with my second (and a dog thrown into the mix) and for me it's all about the practicalities, which is why the ones we're now looking at are a bit 'uglier'. But they collapse with one hand and will travel on all terrains.

Nearer the time we're ready to buy, we were thinking of taking a trip to here: www.babyandco.com/ I went to somewhere similar in the Midlands when I bought my Stokke and it was invaluable. Much better than the service we were getting from the likes of Mothercare.

Good luck.

[AKP79]

Oh and you can buy car seat adapters for most pushchairs. We had a maxi cosi car seat and just bought the correct adapter for the Stokke.