Stokke Xplory X pushchair review

Tested by

Victoria, a mum of two boys (aged nearly 3 and 3 months), tested the Xplory X around local streets, parks, on public transport and in shops and cafes.

What are your first impressions of the Stokke Xplory X?

Stokke is a company renowned for its designer twist on childhood essentials like high-chairs and cots, and the Xplory X is no exception. When it arrived, the soft fabrics and unique design immediately stood out.

How easy is the Xplory X to assemble?

As a first time Stokke user, I found assembling the pram a bit like trying to use a Mac when you’re used to a PC – you know the function must be there somewhere, but it takes a while to figure out!

Straightforward elements, like clicking in the wheels, were easy but others required several increasingly frustrated consultations with the instruction manual. Attaching the seat properly, adjusting the height, and swapping the hood from the seat to the carry cot all came under this bracket, and the manual definitely could have spelled things out a little more clearly for users.

What do you think of the Stokke Xplory X carrycot?

The carrycot, which is sold separately for £205, is made from a lovely ‘bionic finish eco’ fabric that is a washable, PFC-free material with SPF 50 protection and a stylish cocoon-style hood.

The mattress is soft and breathable, measuring L:69cmxW:29cm, with a 5cm dip in between the baby’s legs to make room for the chassis. While it’s extremely cosy, it was a very snug fit for my (admittedly large) 3 month old, and he definitely wouldn’t last the full 6 months in there. This is an opinion echoed by a parent review on John Lewis, which claims their baby outgrew the carrycot at just 6 weeks old.

Detaching the cot from the main chassis was a two-handed job as you had to click buttons on both sides and then lift it off.

It doesn’t include a rain cover, which is a shame considering the price tag.

Is the carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping?

No, it is no recommended for overnight sleeping.

Does the Xplory X carrycot have any special features?

Using it out and about, I really enjoyed the fact my baby sat higher than in typical prams. It made him easier to see and interact with as well as lift in and out – particularly good for those early newborn days when you don’t want to bend over too much.

There are also two pockets for storing your phone and wallet while wheeling it around, which I found quite handy, and the hood is a nice shape, although I found it tended to slip backwards when bumping along rough ground.

How comfortable is the Xplory X’s seat unit?

Very. In fact, the comfortable seat is one of the best features about the Xplory X – it even comes with a plush, cushion insert for babies that can be removed as your child grows.

The seat unit is made from the same fabric as the carrycot, with SPF 50 protection, and the roomy hood has an extendable mesh window. The 5-point harness is simple and secure, with each strap clipping in separately. One minor bugbear was that there was no simple pocket for storing your phone and wallet while walking, which I would have appreciated.

Is the seat on the Xplory X adjustable or reclinable?

The seat has 3 recline positions for ‘sleep, rest and active’ and can be used in parent and world-facing mode.

The ability to adjust its height is one of the Xplory X’s main selling points, allowing you to interact with your baby in different settings. I enjoyed having the carrycot higher than usual, but when using the seat there are a few caveats to this function. For example, walking with the seat in parent-facing mode meant you had to switch it to world-facing in order to pull it up to a table at a café, otherwise the handlebar gets in between your child and the table. It’s also tricky to switch the seat around and adjust the height with the child in it, meaning you either need to think ahead or pop them somewhere while you sort this out.

The footrest is also adjustable, taking you from a leg rest to support little babies, up to a more comfortable height footrest for toddlers.

What’s the chassis like?

The Stokke Xplory X has a unique, single-bar chassis, which is designed to make adjusting the seat height quick and easy. However, I found that when used in the parent-facing position, the handlebar sits between your child’s legs, which could get annoying for older (or longer!) babies.

How easy is it to fold the Xplory X?

The Xplory X’s fold is billed as ‘stackable’ rather than compact, and the pram will still take up substantial space in your cupboard or boot as it must be laid flat or leaned against something, with the seat or cot stored separately.

Folding the pram involves tucking the handlebar into the frame, collapsing the central stem and folding the wheels in. I found it quite confusing to begin with, as it’s so different to every other pram I’ve used, but it’s easy to get the knack of it after doing it a few times. It’s definitely a two-handed job, but the perks are you don’t even need to bend to fold the Xplory X – you can do it all from a standing position.

Folding it on public transport could prove tricky as it weighs a hefty 13.4kg (sitting somewhere between the iCandy Orange at 12.1kg and the Egg2 travel system at 15.5kg) and you would have to split the pushchair into two parts and wrangle a child as well. However, the ability to tuck the handlebar away can be a bit of a space saver in cafes or small shops.

How good is the Xplory X to push and steer?

The Xplory X has a super-comfortable leatherette handle and light-touch handling that makes it easy to push and steer one-handed on city streets. It feels surprisingly smooth even when mounting kerbs or steps with a heavy toddler, and certainly feels stylish to wheel around. The harness feels ultra-secure and I didn’t have any qualms about going up or down steep steps with my child strapped in.

What are the wheels like?

The 360-degree swivel wheels are puncture proof and really easy to manoeuvre. They did manage to handle a bit of rough terrain, including unevenly paved streets, but would not be the best choice for muddy country walks.

What do you think of the Xplory X’s brakes?

The rear brake is very firm and easy to click on and off with your foot. There are front wheel brakes as well, but I tended not to use them as the back one is so secure.

Did you like the handlebar on the Xplory X?

Arguably the handlebar is one of the features that makes the Xplory X stand out from other premium strollers on the market. You can adjust the angle and the height of the handlebar, simply by sliding it up and down. The height range is impressive, with one online review saying it worked at comfortable heights for both a 6ft 2in adult and a 6-year-old child to push around. That’s pretty impressive!

Although I didn’t encounter any issues, there are a number of John Lewis parent reviews that mention how noisy the handle is and how it made a constant creaking sound as they pushed the stroller around.

What’s the Xplory X’s storage basket like?

The forward-facing basket is another stand-out feature of the Xplory X, sitting on a platform at the front of the pram, rather than underneath.

Initially I found it quite impractical having to duck around and use the small zip toggles to open it up, but the tidy look did grow on me over time. Size-wise, it keeps all your baby paraphernalia hidden from view, but is not ideal for doing grocery shopping or lugging around a travel potty.

Although it did look smart, I do wonder – because of the position – whether muddy winter boots would make a mess of this fabric pretty quickly, especially if your toddler likes to scrabble in and out themselves like mine.

The basket can be detached and has a short handle so you can use it as a bag, but it’s a shame not to have shoulder or backpack straps to make it more versatile.

What’s in the box?

• Black chassis with a leatherette handle
• Front and back puncture-proof wheels
• Leatherette bumper bar
• Seat with a baby insert
• Hood
• Basket

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

There’s a huge choice of accessories you can buy to go with the Xplory X, including:

• Carrycot (£205)
• Stokke iZi Go Modular X1 Be Safe car seat (£229)
• Adaptors for other seats (£42)
• Rain cover (£39)
• Change bag (£119)
• Foot muff (£115)

Other accessories available include a mosquito net, sun shade, buggy board, change bag, snack tray, cup holder, mittens, infant inserts for seats. Car seat adaptors ensure the pram can be used with various Maxi-Cosi, Nuna or Cybex seats (the Stokke website has a comprehensive list of which car seat are compatible).

What would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

Definitely that the carrycot is snug and unlikely to last the full 6 months for big babies, as well as the fact the pram is bulky even when folded, and must be laid down or leaned against something to store.

Who would the Xplory X be most useful for?

I think it would be best suited to an urban parent, with a substantial budget, who would use the pram in a city setting – visiting galleries, cafes and walking around the park. It is also a good choice if you’re a couple with very differing heights, thanks to the wide height range of the handlebar.

How does it compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the Stokke Xplory X?

Available at Stokke, John Lewis and Pramworld.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Xplory X has the distinctive design and sense of comfort that are hallmarks of the Stokke brand, but at £979 for the pram alone I felt it was more racehorse than work horse. The stylish buggy attracted lots of comments, including that it looked ‘expensive’, but if you’re looking for a pram that can hack the daily grind of family life, you’d have to really love the Xplory X to go for it. For everyday jobs like grocery shopping and muddy walks, there are a few too many impracticalities to justify the price tag, however if having your baby close to you is very important, the interactive qualities of the Xplory X may make the cost worth it.