Stroller Obsession: Stokke Xplory

When I started reviewing strollers, I was bent on finding the perfect one. Having been all over the city with multiple children and getting a crash course in transportation without a car, in my mind there had to be a perfect stroller.

What I’ve learned over the years and various different stroller reviews is there isn’t one perfect stroller for everyone, but there are a few that are perfect for different needs. Two factors that these excellent strollers possess is quality and versatility-qualities that are absolutely necessary if you’re going to invest in a stroller and depend on it in your daily life.

Sometimes, like with the Stokke Xplory, one quality outshines everything and quickly becomes their trademark. While it is both well made and diverse, it’s style factor is off the charts.

This is the 2013 Stokke Xplory in Black Melange complete with the new black Winter Kit and toddler board. The kit comes with a wind shield that goes around the entire seat as well as genuine sheepskin rim and hand muffs.

We took the Xplory in a taxi and over the uneven pebbled ground in SoHo and it managed pretty well. Beau has slept soundly each time he has been in it’s cocoon-like seat, so that leads me to believe he is pretty comfortable and unaffected by uneven terrain or weather elements (he’s not a completely sound sleeper generally speaking).

The seat itself as well as the footrest (depending on which position the child is facing) needs to be removed in order to collapse the frame, and while it’s not super easy to figure out at first it’s a pretty quick function once you get used to it.

There isn’t a ton of storage, though it’s helpful that the shopping bag zippers shut, attaches to the frame, and has a strap for carrying when leaving the stroller outside or traveling. I was desperate for more space one day and utilized the toddler board-it actually worked really well!

Important features of the Stokke Xplory:

-Weighs 26.5 pounds with seat attached
-5 seating positions: 3 positions facing parents & 2 facing forward
-Height and angle adjustable handle
-Ventilated & water repellant hood
-Soft material wheels-not air filled
-Single brake solution for both wheels
-Adjustable seat depth and foot rest-great for growing children
-Comes with shopping bag and rain cover
-Adjustible Seat or Carry Cot can be raised closer to parent or nearer to the ground

Our experience with the Stokke Xplory has been decent and it’s been easy to see why people love it so much-we see a ton of them on the streets of NYC. There are a few factors that make it not absolutely perfect for our lifestyle, but that may likely change when we move to the suburbs and rely on it more for neighborhood and mall strolls.

It is a super chic, gorgeous stroller and elicits quite a bit of attention when we’re out and about, both from men and women. It’s unique design and pretty lines are very attractive, but it’s also well made and comfortable for the child and parent. My favorite feature is the height-adjustible handle bar-as a tall person I really appreciate being able to stand up straight and push the stroller, and since this is something I’m doing for at least a couple of hours a day, it makes a difference on my back and posture. Plus, with the adjustable seat positioning, I really love that he can be much closer to me while we’re strolling-makes for good bonding time when we’re off running errands or doing school drop-off & pick up.

The Stokke Xplory (without the winter kit or toddler board) retails for $1,099.

Win It!

The lovely ladies at Lunchpails & Lipstick did a most lovely feature on yours truly today, and have coupled with it a Stokke Xplory giveaway!

Head over HERE to enter to win, and take a gander at their site while you’re there. Their features are written by three different super-stylish & modern mamas from different parts of the country about all kinds of different things, not always related to parenting.

I was not compensated for this post. I was given a Stokke Xplory, Winter Kit and Toddler Board for purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.