Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

Original poster

confused tall parents: xplory, icandy or something else?

20 replies

fallingandlaughing · 12/03/2011 13:47

I am 6'1" and my partner is 5'11" so we are looking for a pram/buggy that both has an adjustable handle and the baby sits up quite high (rather than seeing my knees all day).

Something fairly portable would be good as I use public transport a lot.

I have kind of fallen for the Stokke Xplory but not at full price, am overwhelmed with all the variations on ebay. For example, do we need the carrycot? Or would the babybag be better Confused. Any real difference between the evo and older models?

Friend of SIL recommends ICandy but I can't find prices online and don't know much about it (will be hitting the shops again).

Somebody help me!

OP posts:
MayasPapaya · 12/03/2011 20:40

DH and I are both 6ft and have the Xplory, I love it and so does my DD, being so high up she has plenty to look at and has alway slept well in it.

Despite its weight it's very easy to steer and the handle is very adjustable.

I used it on the bus a lot and had no problems, the footprint is relatively small for its size and the handle stows away easily. I have taken it on the tube and train, it's doable but stairs are a problem and I think you'd struggle to carry it and a child up or down stairs on your own.

We bought a carrycot but hardly used it, the seat reclines well when rear-facing and the baby insert makes it virtually flat, so we mostly used that. Not sure what the babybag is, do you mean the footmuff? Ours was well used!

Can't offer any advice on the iCandy, I know another 6fter who has a Micralite Toro and presume she is happy with it but the seat is much lower than the Xplory.

If you do go for the Xplory, be prepared for comments every time you leave the house!

Hope that helps.

mumo75 · 12/03/2011 20:42

the babybag is the carrycot hunny

not a huge difference between older models & evo tbh

ive had both models but would definately have another xplory over an icandy

xx

saoirse86 · 13/03/2011 10:16

I saw the stokke xplory here for £660 (£15 comes off at checkout) with the pushchair and carrycot which sounds cheap compared to other places, but the pushchair part is for preorder only.

And you can get maxi cosi car seat adapters from kiddisave for £25, a maxi cosi pebble for £135 and then you get £10 when you spend £150 with the code tenpounds so it's £820 altogether (£790 if you go for a normal maxi cosi cabriofix).

saoirse86 · 13/03/2011 10:17

That was supposed to be £810 and £780

CarminaBurrito · 13/03/2011 10:23

DH is very tall, we have the loola up which has an adjustable handle and works well for us, and is a lot cheaper I think than the others. Have been very pleased with it, fits with maxi cosi car seat, and has a carrycot if you want one.

Don't really understand the sitting up high thing. When ours was tiny he was more in the car seat on the wheels, or in the carrycot as it's much cozier than a pram (and they should be totally flat therefore they will only see your face anyway). By the time they are sitting up and looking around they are likely to want to be front facing so they can see what's going on, not staring at you all day :o

PigeonPie · 13/03/2011 10:51

I am 5 foot but my DH is 5'10". We had the Xplory for both our boys. It really is so flexible. I agree with wanting them to be up high - it's better for your back and it's better for the baby to be able to see you and not knees.

In fact I never turned ours round as I enjoyed talking to them - and hearing them - which I wouldn't have been able to do with them forward facing; you also loose storage space in the carrier when you turn it round. My DS2 was about 2 1/2 when we stopped using it and I am still, almost a year on, sad that I don't have it to take out.

We didn't have a car seat attachment as I can't carry one (it was left in the car) but we did have the baby bag / carry cot and it was worth it for us. I would lift the DSs out of the car seat straight into the waiting carrycot and then wheel them into the house and leave them in the dining room to sleep there so I didn't have to disturb them again (when we got home from anywhere). It was great knowing they were comfortable lying flat not scrunched up in the trug-style car seat. It just turned into an extra bed for them downstairs.

Yes, it was expensive, but it was the only pushchair we had in five years and it definitely paid for itself in that time.

I agree with MayasPapaya about the comments and looks - if I had a £1 for every time someone asked me about it, it would have paid for itself!

Original poster
fallingandlaughing · 13/03/2011 11:27

Thanks everyone.

esp mumo for solving the babybag mystery! And saoirse those links look like a good deal.

The appeal of having the baby up high for me is that interaction is easier, and less strain on your back bending over all the time (I have back problems).

Do any of you have smallish cars? We have a Peugeot (205 I think - I don't drive so haven't taken an interest Blush ). Wondering if xplory would fit.

OP posts:
Moulesfrites · 13/03/2011 11:32

I have an xplory and I love it!

PigeonPie · 13/03/2011 11:59

Falling - I can't answer for the 205 but it fitted in my 307. If you are anywhere near north Oxfordshire you'd be welcome to come and see whether ours (still haven't got rid of it!) would fit.

Original poster
fallingandlaughing · 13/03/2011 12:03

Thanks pigeon - I am in Scotland!

OP posts:
PigeonPie · 13/03/2011 14:49

Ah, that is a bit far! I've just looked up the [http://www.stokke.com/stroller.aspx Stokke site]] and there is a shop in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Kirkaldy who I am sure would let you test out whether it would fit in the car.

RugbyWidow7 · 14/03/2011 13:29

Hi Fallingandlaughing - my DH and I are tall too and currently looking. I've just spoken to a retailer about the Stokke Explory but it sounds like it's extra urban, as in not great on tracks etc, which isn't great for us. She said the other alternative is the Joolz, a Scandinavian make which is also good for tall people and a lower price bracket.

I'm also looking at the ICandy Apple, as the handle pulls up, and it has a three wheel option for off roading. Hope this helps.

breatheslowly · 14/03/2011 18:09

We got a Loola up as DH's long legs meant he kicked the back of the other ones when he walked.

79parrott · 18/03/2011 20:46

hi i've the stokke it was my fifth buggy third child and i'm in love we live in the country, it's brillant its the only buggy the husband likes he says it's a pity we didn't have it from the beginning..so stokke for me.. we did spend a long time deciding on it cause of price but it was the best money ever spent. you'll regret it if you don't..

elfandsafeT · 18/03/2011 20:59

I'm 5'11" and DH 6'1" we had a Concord Neo travel set
www.concord.de/en/#/products/moving with our first and am just about to get it out again for DD2. We loved it, the handle is adjustable, it's easy to push the seat is high up and forward or rear facing - i used it exclusively until DD1 was 18moths and will get the buggy board for her now.

We also used the carrycot as a travel cot for the first 6 months. It moves really well and is very stable, you can get pneumatic tyres if you want it to be a bit less urban.

Original poster
fallingandlaughing · 18/03/2011 21:16

Thanks again.

I have really fallen for the Stokke but did check out the Neo out of duty - fortunately not much cheaper.

Had a look at the Stokke again today and have decided on it. Just need to choose a colour!

OP posts:
RugbyWidow7 · 21/03/2011 12:15

Fallingandlaughing - I also think I'm being swayed towards the Stokke . Will you buy a separate car seat or use a Stokke?

79Parrot, if you're still around, please can you give me more info on how it handles country tracks etc, as this really is the only thing holding me back at present?

(Sorry Falling, don't mean to hyjack your thread - just so pleased to have found it!)

doutzen · 21/03/2011 14:40

The difference between models is that the maxicosi adaptors won't fit the earlier model :)

upyourdiva · 27/03/2011 13:39

The Xplory is useless for buses here in Scotland anyway.

From what I have seen (friend had one) and it was not the most stable of things when bus turned a corner, was alright for the train but again had to hold it and she was very paranoid as apparently it had tipped twice before.

She got rid and bought a Britax B Smart 4 which she prefers and it is quite high up and a fair bit cheap AFAIK.

whoamamma · 03/04/2011 13:57

Me and DH are tall, and the iCandy (peach) works for us. It's great in many ways, not just cos we're lanky.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page