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34 of 36 found the following review helpful:
 World's BEST Stroller Jan 18, 2012
By Mary
As another reviewer said: I want to marry this stroller and have its babies!!
I am not the $1,000 stroller type of person. I mean, I want the best of everything for my baby and I am really serious about quality, but who the heck in their right mind pays $1,000 for a STROLLER? So I mean this wholeheartedly and truly when I say, this is seriously seriously worth every single penny for the NEW one. If you're reading this review and thinking about looking for a used one, DON'T! I mean it! Just buy the new one! Here's why.
Back before I even knew the baby's sex I was researching strollers and fell head over heels for the Stokke concept. I'm big into attachment parenting and natural birth and all that, so I love the idea of a stroller that facilitates a bond between parent and baby as well as encouraging baby's interaction with the world. It's not just a marketing point; it's true that with baby so much higher, he can engage so much more in his surroundings, maintain eye contact with parents and be "part of" conversations going on around him.
I initially considered looking for a used one since for the most part, the hardware functions the same and it's the same concept. But while the old ones still have the same concept, but there are some flaws. The new ones are literally PERFECT. In 2010 Stokke did a total makeover on the strollers and the new ones blow the old ones out of the water. Here is a comparison of the pre-2010 model vs. the post-2010 model. (It might not be comprehensive, but it's things that made the difference for me.)
Old: On some older models there's a problem with the seat dropping down the chassis. I've seen it. It's not pretty. The problem can range from shimmying down as you go over bumps, to outright collapsing down immediately under the weight of the child. Stokke does offer a fix for this but it's a metal pin that immobilizes the seat height entirely, so you can't take advantage of one of the signature features of adjustable seat height.
New: The part that holds the seat in position is really firm and secure. Plus it's supported by a 3 year warrantee (but I haven't read of anyone having that problem with the new model).
Old: Removing the foot rest on the old ones requires you to turn nobs on both sides of the footrest while pulling it down (basically you need three hands).
New: The new ones have one lever on the bottom portion of the footrest so you can do it one handed.
Old: The old seat is quite heavy.
New: I believe the new seat is roomier (don't quote me on that one though), and it's much more lightweight.
Old: The old textile has outdated colors (that have been discontinued so you can't get anything that matches), looks like kind of a cheap material and offers no sun protection.
New: The new textile is this beautiful athletic material that feels durable yet looks sleek and has UPF 50 sun protection.
Old: The old canopy does not have an additional visor and the mesh panel for air circulation isn't secured by anything.
New: The new canopy has a huge visor, and the cover to the mesh panel zips closed and secures open with a snap.
Old: The old stroller seat is kind of square with lots of exposed grey plastic (not pretty in my opinion).
New: The new stroller seat is completely covered in the textile from front to back and is rounded for more comfort for baby (Stokke says it's supposed to be round like a mother's womb), and it is much prettier.
Old: Stokke makes a rider board that isn't compatible with the older model. Although, Buggy Board makes a universal rider board that can snap on to the old frame.
New: You can use the rider board with the new stroller.
Old: The old bumper bar attaches with four screws (so forget about removing it on the go).
New: The new one clips in and out with the touch of a button. So easy! Plus the new one is covered in a removable nice matching fabric.
I then tried to convince myself to get a less expensive stroller. I still wanted a really high quality stroller, but I was thinking maybe the Baby Jogger City Select, justifying to myself that it would be a few hundred less expensive and more versatile (since it converts to a double with the addition of a second seat for a second child). The City Select was really the best alternative I could find to the Stokke, but here is where the Stokke still comes out on top.
City Select: It's just so low to the ground so baby seems so far away from me and so much closer to nastiness on the ground.
Stokke: The height is really what makes the Stokke - away from the level at which people hold cigarettes; closer to the parents; and away from a view of just bags, briefcases and knees.
City Select: The seats are not really well padded (although the 2011 model did add a lot more padding than the 2010 model), and it does not come with an infant insert.
Stokke: The seats are not only super well padded with firm yet comfy, high quality material; the padding is also adjustable! The infant insert for littler babies adjusts the fit of the seat so they feel secure and nestled.
City Select: One of the big problems that's been reviewed with the City Select is the size of its seats. They're really small!! (Seat Back Length: 18.5" Butt to Canopy height: 24" Seat Width: 12" Seat Depth: 8" 2010 model, 9" 2011 model Knee to feet: 9.5") The City Select foot rest really only goes up and down too and just about any video you watch shows toddlers with crunched up legs.
Stokke: The seats are so big! It is 13" wide with a 19 1/2" seat back and a measurement of 25" from seatback to canopy. The foot rest also goes in and out so it can accommodate really long legs.
City Select: The City Select does not come with a rain cover, insect protection, or a bumper bar, and the accessories are pretty darn expensive!!
Stokke: It comes with the rain cover, mosquito covering, and bumper bar. Albeit, the Stokke takes the cake for expensive accessories, but at least it has all the necessities (except maybe a cup holder...)
City Select: The City Select converts from a single to a double with the purchase of an extra seat which is pretty cool! My husband and I want to have a second baby in a couple years, so we were thinking about this. However, the City Select seats are already really small. If we have a baby when the first baby is 2-3, the first baby will be all cramped in his seat, and we're really only going to use a double stroller for a matter of a few months to a year. Plus I definitely want to encourage him to walk and be active/independent when he can walk... I hate seeing 4 year olds in strollers! So we just wouldn't use it long enough to justify the expense.
Stokke: The stroller is so perfect in every other way that we just decided that if we have two overlapping stroller-aged children, we'll make it work. Perhaps for the few months that a second baby is really little we'll carry one of the children in an Ergo baby carrier. Then we can just get the Stokke rider board for when the older baby is old enough to walk but still might need a rest so he doesn't get too tired.
Regarding making the plunge and buying the stroller, just a word to the wise - some companies are selling the stroller without the rain cover and bug canopy. According to Stokke the stroller should come with both (and they are not sold separately), but I contacted one online merchant (that looked a little sketchy anyway) to see if that would be included and they told me it wouldn't be. Plus I've seen some sellers reselling the bug canopy and rain cover separately for around $25/piece, which I'm presuming they've taken from new stroller sets.
It was probably inevitable from the beginning, but finally, after months of deliberation about used Stokkes or a different stroller entirely, my husband and I bought this new Stokke. You really can't beat the free shipping, free return shipping, and no tax on Amazon as well! As I said, I'm not a $1,000 stroller type of person, but I really really feel like I made the right decision. I know I totally sound like I work for Amazon and/or Stokke, but I swear I don't! I'm just really enthusiastic about my stroller!! :-)
24 of 27 found the following review helpful:
Worth the price Feb 27, 2011
By no nym
I love it! I want to marry it and have its babies. This is the best stroller on the market, bar none. I absolutely love that my little guy is so high up. He really gets to interact with his environment. It's also great for pulling up at a restaurant table. If you live in a cold wet climate like me you will also appreciate that baby (and his warm stroller liner) are kept well off the ground. Where I live, it seems that everyone has a Bugaboo. I see these folks, and their children are practically IN the snow when they walk down the street. My little love is nice and dry high up in his stroller.
This thing is ingeniously designed. Every adjustment is easy to do and largely intuitive. I have rarely, if ever, needed to consult the directions. You can actually fold this thing almost one handed. It is easy and you don't need an engineering degree like you do on some other pricey strollers. It is also much less heavy than the other fancy strollers out there. Getting in and out of cars is a breeze. The stroller handles beautifully and can even be navigated one handed for the most part. It doesn't hurt that the design is beautiful and chic. I get stopped on the street all the time by people asking about this stroller. I admit I was a bit put off by the price, but I have absolutely no regrets. This stroller was a fabulous investment.
I have only two complaints
1. The lack of storage. If this stroller only had a large storage bag like other high end strollers, it would be perfect. If you live in an urban environment like I do and you want to be able to be out with baby for a good part of the day while running errands, the lack of storage space can be a problem. I have gotten around this by buying inexpensive stroller hooks and a mesh stroller bag to attach to it. It would be nice if Stokke acknowledged the reality of how one actually uses a stroller and provided such a bag themselves.
2. I wish that Stokke would make their amazing, fully reclinable IzI sleep car seat available in the U.S.!!!! The car seat is made to attach to the stroller but is only available outside the U.S. A car seat that can recline flat so that baby can sleep in it for hours if he falls asleep in the car??? And it can attach to the stroller? Sign me up!!
12 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Versatile,Light weight & In style Nov 28, 2010
By Sasa
I bought the 2011 brand new style and it is fantastic !!!! Light weight and easy to manage.....not to mention BEAUTIFUL !!!. I bought the complete set and it has been just awesome. Love how easy it is to ride on any surface and the light weight is just great, can't say it enough. I can use it to go every where and my baby is super comfortable; which is the most important to me. Love it......and my baby loves it toooo...... :-) Happy Baby ,Happy parents.
7 of 8 found the following review helpful:
perfect for the city! Feb 12, 2011
By Lori
We love our Stokke Xplory stroller. I can easily take walks with my baby in the stoller and the dog because it is so easy to steer with one hand. Most surprisingly, I am really happy with how easy it folds up/comes apart and fits in our car. The best part is having my baby up high, facing me, so we can talk while he is in the stoller. We've even used it as a highchair when we go out to eat. The one accessory I would love for it would be a snack tray. But, we're making do without one for now.
Needless to say,it gets a lot of attention from others!
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Love, love, love! Feb 11, 2011
By newmama
Abosolutely love, love, love the Stokke Xplory! Hands down, this is the best stroller out there! The stroller is so lightweight and so easy to maneuver. Our 9 month old baby loves riding in the Xplory. When we go to a restaurant, we simply push the Xplory right up to the table, no need for a high chair. On a recent trip to the zoo, we noticed other infants and toddlers were not able to see over the safety rail because they were riding too low in their stroller...not an issue in the Xplory. The fabric and color is beautiful. Highly recommend this stroller, it is worth every dime!
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