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Why trust this assessment? I’ve been following the pushchair market since 2006. I’ve examined Stokke products at trade shows, followed the Babyzen merger closely, and recommended the YOYO³ across more buying guides than any other single pushchair on this site. This is an honest assessment — including the parts that will make your bank card wince.
Stokke Pushchairs — At a Glance
- Best overall (available new): Stokke YOYO³ — ultra-compact, cabin-approved, impossibly manoeuvrable. Hard to find fault. The pushchair I recommend more than any other on this site.
- Best for tall parents / C-section recovery: Stokke Xplory X — the brand’s flagship. Elevated seat position means no bending, exceptional eye contact, and a genuinely upright pushing posture.
- Best secondhand for active families: Stokke Trailz — discontinued but highly sought after. Offers a more capable footprint on varied terrain than the rest of the urban Stokke range.
- Best secondhand bargain: Stokke YOYO³ — built with screws not rivets, easy to clean, and holds up exceptionally well. One of the better secondhand buys on the market at the right price.
Stokke is a Norwegian brand with a clear and consistent philosophy: elevate the child. Not just physically — though their pushchairs do sit children higher than most — but in terms of the relationship between parent and child during those early months and years. Where other brands lead with suspension, storage, or fold mechanisms, Stokke leads with eye contact. That’s a genuinely different starting point — and it shows in every product they make.
I’ve examined Stokke products at trade shows and been consistently impressed with the overall quality of materials. This is a premium brand with premium build quality — and a premium price to match. They are not for everybody. But for the right parent, in the right situation, they represent some of the best pushchairs on the market.
The Babyzen merger — a pushchair marriage made in heaven
When Stokke acquired Babyzen in 2021, it was one of those rare corporate mergers that actually made sense. Stokke brought premium build quality, Norwegian design heritage, and a range of larger, elevated pushchairs. Babyzen brought the iconic YOYO — the world’s first truly compact pushchair to fold to cabin-bag dimensions. Between them, they filled in each other’s gaps perfectly.
The merger has strengthened the brand considerably. Stokke has been able to leverage the YOYO’s iconic status for market strength, while the YOYO benefits from Stokke’s manufacturing standards and global distribution. A pushchair marriage made in heaven — and the resulting range is stronger for it.
Stokke vs Bugaboo — what’s the difference?
These are the two premium pushchair brands most parents consider when budget allows — and they have genuinely different philosophies.
Stokke begins with the child — specifically with elevating the child to promote eye contact and connection between parent and baby. Their pushchairs are designed around that relationship first, everything else second.
Bugaboo begins with the pushchair itself — suspension, comfort, ride quality, and the ability to handle varied terrain. A Bugaboo Fox 5 on a muddy field or a rough canal towpath is a genuinely different experience to a Stokke on the same terrain.
Neither is wrong. They’re different tools for different priorities. If eye contact, urban manoeuvrability, and premium materials are what matter most — Stokke. If ride quality, all-terrain capability, and a pushchair that handles everything — Bugaboo. Read our full Bugaboo assessment → for a direct comparison.
What Stokke does well
Premium materials and build quality. Every time I’ve examined a Stokke product at trade shows or in stores, the quality of materials has been immediately apparent. These are not pushchairs that feel cheap in the hand. The fabrics, the frame, the fixtures — all feel like they’re built to last.
Eye contact and connection. Stokke’s elevated seat positions put your child at a height where eye contact is natural and constant. For parents who want to be connected to their baby throughout a walk rather than pushing a seat they can’t see into, this matters enormously.
Urban manoeuvrability. The YOYO³ in particular handles urban environments brilliantly. You could run through a supermarket spinning and turning with it — it is that manoeuvrable. On buses, in cafes, through shop doorways — it handles with an ease that larger pushchairs simply cannot match.
The YOYO³ fold. 52 x 44 x 18 cm folded, weighing just 6.2kg — spot on for IATA guidelines for airline overhead lockers. The first compact pushchair to achieve this. It changed what travelling with a young child looked like.
Easy to clean. The YOYO³ is built with screws not rivets — which means the fabrics can be removed and washed easily. A small detail that makes a real difference over months and years of use.
What to watch out for
Not for off-road use. Stokke is not the brand for muddy fields, rough canal towpaths, or anything beyond well-maintained urban surfaces. Their pushchairs don’t have the suspension or wheel size for rough terrain. If you walk on varied ground regularly, look at our best all-terrain pushchairs guide →
The larger models are heavy. The YOYO³ is the exception — genuinely light at 6.2kg. The Xplory X at 11.3kg is substantially heavier. Consider boot space and lifting requirements before committing.
The YOYO³ storage is limited. The compact dimensions that make the YOYO³ so brilliant for travel mean the storage basket is small. If you accumulate a changing bag, shopping, snacks, rain covers and a jacket throughout the day, you’ll notice the limitation quickly.
The price — and the hidden extras. The YOYO³ frame typically costs £400–£500. Add the leg rest, a rain cover, an insect net, and car seat adaptors and the full setup often reaches £600 or more. Have your bank card on maximum overdrive — the frame price is just the beginning. Budget carefully before you commit.
The fold isn’t the simplest. The YOYO³ fold is compact and clever — but it isn’t as instinctive as some other pushchairs. Practice it before you rely on it at an airport or on a bus.
Stokke models — quick comparison
| Model | Best for | Weight | Cabin approved | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOYO³ | Travel, urban, public transport — read our bus guide → | 6.2kg | ✅ Yes | Available new |
| Xplory X | Tall parents, C-section, eye contact | 11.3kg | ❌ No | Available new |
| Trailz | Varied terrain, larger storage | ~13kg | ❌ No | Secondhand only |
Stokke models worth considering
Stokke YOYO³ — our most recommended pushchair
The YOYO³ is the pushchair I recommend more than any other on this site. Ultra-compact, cabin-approved, impossibly manoeuvrable, well-built, and easy to clean. My daughter uses it on buses regularly and her feedback is unequivocal — for urban use and public transport, nothing comes close at this size.
It appears in our best lightweight pushchairs guide →, our best pushchair for Disneyland Paris guide →, our best pushchairs under £300 guide →, and our best pushchairs for newborns guide →. It is hard to find fault.
Newborn use: The standard YOYO³ is suitable from 6 months. For newborn use from birth, you will need the separate newborn pack — factor this into your budget before buying.
Check the current price of the Stokke YOYO³ on Amazon →
Stokke Xplory X — the flagship for tall parents
The Xplory X is Stokke’s flagship pushchair and one of the most distinctive looking pushchairs on the market. Its elevated seat position offers possibly the best eye contact of any pushchair available — your child sits high, faces you, and the connection between parent and baby during a walk is genuinely different to most pushchairs.
It is particularly well-suited to tall parents — the upright pushing posture means no stooping, no bad back, and a genuinely comfortable pushing experience. It’s also an excellent choice for parents recovering from a C-section, who need to avoid bending in the early weeks. The elevated seat means you don’t need to lean forward to lift your baby in and out.
Be aware: the Xplory X weighs 11.3kg and is a substantial pushchair. It is not compact, not designed for small car boots, and not suitable for rough terrain. It is a city pushchair for parents who want the best in urban use and are willing to plan around its size.
Stokke Trailz — the robust secondhand option
The Trailz is now discontinued from factory lines, but it remains heavily sought after on the used market. It sits as a more robust choice compared to the compact YOYO³ — featuring a massive storage basket and a footprint more capable on varied terrain than the rest of the urban Stokke catalogue.
While still not a true off-roader — for that, look at our all-terrain pushchairs guide → — a well-kept secondhand Trailz is an exceptional value purchase for families wanting Stokke’s elevated layout with structural versatility on gravel or grass pathways.
Is a secondhand Stokke YOYO³ worth buying?
Yes — with the usual caveats. The YOYO³ is built with screws not rivets, meaning it holds together well and the fabrics are easy to remove and replace. Good secondhand examples are plentiful on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. At the right price, a well-kept secondhand YOYO³ is one of the better pushchair buys available.
Check the fold mechanism, the wheels, and the harness carefully. Make sure all the accessories you need are included — rain cover, leg rest, and car seat adaptors all add cost if you have to buy them separately. Read our full secondhand pushchair guide → before you buy.
Is Stokke right for you?
Stokke makes sense if you live in a city, walk on smooth pavements, use public transport, and want premium materials and build quality. The YOYO³ makes sense for anyone who flies with their baby, uses Disneyland Paris, or needs a compact that genuinely fits in an overhead locker. The Xplory X makes sense for tall parents, parents recovering from C-sections, or anyone who wants the best eye contact available in a pushchair.
Stokke makes less sense if you need all-terrain capability, large storage, or a pushchair on a tight budget. The hidden costs of accessories on the YOYO³ in particular can catch parents off guard — budget for the full setup, not just the frame.
Premium, distinctive, and genuinely well-made. Not for everyone — but for the right parent, hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Stokke pushchairs worth the money?
For the right parent, yes. The YOYO³ in particular is genuinely hard to fault — well-built, cabin-approved, and highly manoeuvrable. The Xplory X is worth every penny if eye contact and posture are priorities. The hidden cost of YOYO³ accessories is the main caveat — budget for the full setup before you commit.
Is the Stokke YOYO³ suitable from birth?
Yes — but you’ll need the newborn pack, which is sold separately. The standard YOYO³ is suitable from 6 months. For newborn use from birth, factor in the additional cost of the newborn set when budgeting.
Can the YOYO³ go in an aircraft overhead locker?
Yes — this is one of its defining features. Folded to 52 x 44 x 18 cm, it meets IATA guidelines for cabin baggage and fits in most aircraft overhead lockers. Always check with your specific airline before travelling.
Is Stokke better than Bugaboo?
They serve different priorities. Stokke leads with eye contact, urban manoeuvrability, and premium materials. Bugaboo leads with suspension, ride quality, and all-terrain capability. If you live in a city and want a compact travel pushchair — Stokke. If you need something that handles varied terrain confidently — Bugaboo.
Which Stokke is best for tall parents?
The Xplory X — without question. Its elevated seat and upright pushing posture make it the best pushchair on the market for tall parents or those recovering from a C-section. The YOYO³ handlebar is adjustable but the Xplory X is specifically engineered around posture.
Have a question about a specific Stokke model? Get in touch — I’m happy to help.