Stokke Xplory Review
All stroller reviews- Introduction
- Seat design and function
- Child Safety Harness
- Hood or Canopy
- Handle design and function
- Storage
- Wheels and Brakes
- Fold mechanism
- Manoeuvrability
- Size
- Accessories
- Conclusion and Rating
Review by: Mel
Introduction
Stokke has released a new version of their popular Xplory. The V3 has some new and improved features, such as a flip out sun visor and larger shopping bag. I am sure you will agree it is a stunning stroller packed with features to suit both parents and children.
Seat design and function
Forward facing fully upright
Rear facing mid-recline
Rear facing fully reclined
Seat recline lever- One is located on either side of the seat, only one is required to recline
Seat height adjust mechanism locked
Seat height adjust mechanism unlocked
Red indicator-seat is not attached correctly
Green indicator-seat is attached correctly
Footrest shortest postiton
Footrest longest position
Bumper bar attachment
The Xplory has a reversible seat, it has 3 recline positions when rearward facing and two positions when forward facing. You are not able to completely recline the seat when in forward facing mode.
The seat can be reclined with one hand using the seat recline buttons located under the seat on each side. The seat is bucket style and has a rounded back which children find very snug and comfortable. The fabrics are soft and padded and the seat back is generous.
The main feature of the Xplory is the height adjustable seat unit. The seat height ranges from 52cm/20 to 64cm/25. The higher settings brings your child right up into your line of vision, it makes interacting with your child more accessible and it allows your child a better interaction with the world because they really are up at adult level, not just looking at the knees of passers by. I found when adjusting the seat height it was best to have the seat fully reclined to avoid pinching the seat fabric against the centre pole.
Removing the seat fabrics does involve multiple steps and tools. I am sure with time and practice it would be a quicker process but I dont think you would be wanting to remove the fabrics for cleaning very often.
Seat dimensions are:
Seat Back 51cm/20.1 Clearance to hood 65cm/ 25.6
Width 25cm/9.8
Seat depth 22cm/8.7
Foot well 15cm/5.9 to 23cm/9.1
Weight limit 15kg/33lbs
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Child safety harness
Harness clips
Harness positions
The Xplory has a 5 point padded safety harness; it is adjustable to 3 positions. Changing the position height is a little fiddly, you have to unzip the hood and undo the seat back Velcro then thread the harnesses though and re-thread it into the desired position. It is not something you could easily do if you have children of different ages riding.
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Hood or Canopy
Hood visor out
Hood visor in
Hood half retracted
Hood mesh panel
hood mesh zip
Visor zips on and off
The Xplory has a fantastic hood. It has a flip out sun visor for extra sun protection and has a zip access mesh panel to allow airflow in the summer heat.
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Handle design and function
Handle on lowest setting
Handle on highest setting
Handle telescope adjust lever
Handle tilt adjust lever
The xplory handle is adjustable at the pole where it telescopes from 67cm/26.4 to 88cm/34.6 and it is also adjustable at the handle where you can get a height of 115cm/45.3
To adjust the handle lift the handle adjust lever up and telescope up and down to your desired position. To adjust the handle tilt, press the tilt adjust button down and move the position of the handle to the desired position, it will click into place to secure.
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Storage
Storage bag sits on frame under seat
Storage bag
Inside storage bag
Mesh inner stoarage bag
External pocket on storage bag
The V3 has a very large removable zip up shopping bag. The bag has an external pocket and internal zip pocket for storage of small essentials and a mesh internal drawstring to keep your shopping secure. The bag can be unhooked from the stroller and carried with the inbuilt carry handle.
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Wheels and Brakes
Quick release for rear wheels
Xplory toddler board ancor point
The rear wheels on the Xplory are 23cm/9 the front wheels are 18cm/7. They are both solid wheels that do not require an air pump and will never puncture.
Brake engaged
Brake Disengaged
The Xplory has a linked brake system, one lever, located over the left rear wheel, locks both wheels. To engage the lock you push down on the bottom of the lever to disengage push down on the top of the lever.
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Fold mechanism
Fold release buttons
Button on axel to complete fold
White levers to remove seat
Folded with seat unit attached
Frame folded without seat
The fold on the Xplory is a little tricky, I would recommend practicing the fold a lot before venturing out with your stroller. Once you have the knack for it though it is very easy.
To fold you squeeze the higher of the two white leavers on the seat pole then pull up on the second white lever until the rear axel unlocks, then you push on the button on the rear axel with your foot which will release the rear axel and allow it to fold in flat against the seat pole.
To unlock you slide the lower of the two white levers up then press the higher lever. This will release the rear axel from its locked closed position and allow it to simply swing out and lock open.
The Xplory can be folded with the seat attached when either rear or forward facing but it is very bulky so for a standard sedan you will need to remove the seat for a more compact fold.
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Manoeuvrability
I would have to say the Xplory is one of the most pleasurable strollers to push. It is so responsive it almost becomes an extension of yourself - the Xplory literally glides across shop floors. It is a true one handed steer, the central handle makes turning as simple as putting pressure on the handle with your thumb or index finger in the direction you want to go, even with a 15kg child on board. The turning circle is tiny and you can weave in and out of crowds with ease.Stair mode
The Xplory can be used on two wheels to go up and down stairs. To do this you use the fold levers as outlined in the fold mechanism section.
Its not an all terrain stroller, so I would not go off road with it but it does handle grass and loose gravel, I would not go across those surfaces a lot with it, although you could pop it into stair-mode and pull it across on the large wheels if it is terrain you are going over daily.
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Size
Unfolded dimensions:Width by length 56cm/22x 73cm/28.7
Folded dimensions:
Width by length by height 102x56cm/40.2x22
Weight:
Seat, wheels, basket and hood on: 13kg/28.6lbs
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Accessories
Infant seat insert
The Xplory comes standard with harness padding, an infant insert, bumper, raincover and mosquito net. Optional accessories are cupholder, footmuff, carrycot, winter kit, summer kit, car seat adaptors for Maxi-Cosi, Peg Perego and Graco car seats, a Stokke brand car seat and pram travel bag.
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Summary and Rating
Pros
- Height adjustable seat lets children sit at adult level
- Generous storage bag under seat
- Excellent hood with mesh insert and generous coverage
- Fantastic manoeuvrability
Cons
- Seat fabrics are time consuming to remove
- Harness height adjustment could be easier
- Bulky when folded
Conclusion
The Xplory offers a stylish, practical and comfortable option for both parent and child. The manoeuvrability is second to none. Storage is generous and hood coverage is more then adequate. The stand out feature is the adjustable seat height. The ability to interact with your child at your level is lovely and it allows your child a better interaction with the world because they really are up at adult level, not just looking at the knees of passers by. I would like to see easier to remove fabrics to make washing easier but that is my only fault with the V3 Xplory.Rating
Overall Rating(out of 5)
Seat Rating
Harness Rating
Hood/Canopy Rating
Handle Design Rating
Storage Rating
Brakes Rating
Fold Rating
Wheels Rating
Manoeuvrability Rating
Accessories Rating
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