Stokke Xplory X Review

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First published: July 2026 · Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next scheduled review: January 2027

The Stokke Xplory X is one of the most distinctive pushchairs on the market — visually, conceptually, and in terms of who it’s actually for. It’s designed around a single idea: elevate the child. Not just physically, though the seat does sit higher than almost anything else available, but in terms of the connection between parent and baby during those early months. Whether that idea justifies the price is the honest question this review sets out to answer.

MyPushchair scorecard

Build quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10 (premium Stokke materials — consistent with the brand standard)
Eye contact / parent-child bonding	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 (elevated seat genuinely delivers for the right parent)
Manoeuvrability	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 (steers well for its size — as it should at this price)
Value	⭐⭐⭐ 6/10 (expensive for a specialist pushchair that suits a narrow profile)
Weight/practicality	⭐⭐⭐ 5/10 (11.3kg — not a pushchair you lift without thinking)
Highchair claim	⭐⭐ 4/10 (a highchair is a highchair — easier to clean, better suited to the job)
Overall	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7.5/10 (excellent for its specific buyer — not a broad recommendation)

Overall score: 7.5/10. The Xplory X is a genuinely excellent pushchair for the parent it was designed for — tall parents, those recovering from a C-section, or anyone who wants the best eye contact and connection available in a pushchair. It scores 7.5 rather than higher because it’s expensive, heavy, and suited to a narrow buyer profile. If you’re not in that profile, the score is largely irrelevant — this isn’t the pushchair for you, and no score changes that.

The elevated seat — what it actually delivers

The Xplory X’s defining feature is its elevated seat position — higher than almost any other pushchair on the market. In the shop, this is immediately striking. Your child sits at a height where eye contact is natural and constant throughout a walk. For parents who want to feel connected to their baby rather than pushing a seat they can barely see into, this matters genuinely. Stokke markets this as unbeatable parent-child bonding, and on the eye contact element, they’re not wrong.

For tall parents specifically, the elevated seat and upright pushing posture remove something most pushchairs force on you: the stoop. Standard pushchair handles often sit too low for taller parents, leading to a hunched pushing posture that accumulates into a bad back over months of daily use. The Xplory X is specifically engineered to solve this. If you’re tall and you’ve been stooping over every pushchair you’ve tried, handle it in a shop and notice the difference.

For parents recovering from a C-section, the elevated seat means less bending in those early weeks when bending is exactly what you’re trying to avoid. This is a practical, genuine benefit — not a marketing phrase.

The highchair claim — a highchair is a highchair

Stokke markets the Xplory X’s elevated seat as suitable for use as a highchair at cafés and restaurants. I’m not convinced. A highchair is a highchair. Children sit in highchairs and eat messy food — and highchairs are designed to be cleaned quickly and easily after exactly that. Doing the same thing in a pushchair — even a well-made, elevated one — is the harder version of the job. A café highchair is purpose-built for the purpose. The Xplory X isn’t, and the cleaning comparison doesn’t favour the pushchair.

Some parents will disagree, and if the convenience of not transferring your child appeals to you, that’s a legitimate personal preference. But I’d encourage you to treat the highchair claim as a bonus rather than a selling point — and not to let it influence your buying decision one way or the other.

The weight — you’ll notice every kilogram

At 11.3kg the Xplory X is a substantial pushchair. You stop noticing weight in a showroom — you notice it when you’re lifting it into a car boot, carrying it up steps, or managing it solo on a difficult surface. This isn’t a pushchair you’ll throw into a small hatchback without thinking. It’s a city pushchair that rewards parents who walk rather than drive, have a suitable car, and don’t need to lift it frequently.

The steering, to its credit, is better than the weight implies. It moves with a smooth confidence that reflects the engineering investment — as it should at this price. But the weight is real, and if lifting is a concern for your daily routine, it’s worth factoring in honestly before you commit.

The price — horses for courses

The Xplory X is expensive. Whether that price is justified depends entirely on whether you’re the buyer it was designed for. For a tall parent who has been uncomfortable pushing every standard pushchair they’ve tried, or for a parent recovering from a C-section who needs to avoid bending — yes, the Xplory X earns its price. The build quality is genuinely premium, the steering is good, and the elevated seat delivers on its core promise.

For a parent who isn’t in that specific profile — the price is harder to justify. There are excellent pushchairs at considerably lower prices that will serve most parents better. The Stokke YOYO³ is a fraction of the price and the pushchair I’d recommend to most parents considering Stokke. Horses for courses — the Xplory X is for a specific course.

Would I choose it?

Not for myself — I’m not the buyer it was designed for. But if a tall parent or a parent facing C-section recovery asked me what to consider, the Xplory X would be on the shortlist. For the right buyer, it does things no other pushchair currently does as well. That’s a genuine and valuable thing, even if the buyer pool is relatively small.

Key specifications

Weight	11.3kg
Suitable from	Birth (lie-flat position) to approximately 3.5 years / 15kg
Seat height	Elevated — highest available seat position in the Stokke range
Fold	Foldable — not compact. Not designed for small car boots or travel
Terrain	Urban surfaces — smooth pavements, city streets. Not for rough terrain
Handle height	Adjustable — suited to taller parents
Cabin approved	No
Car seat compatible	Yes — with Stokke compatible car seats via adapters

Verdict

The Stokke Xplory X is a genuinely excellent pushchair for a specific buyer — and a pushchair you should probably avoid if you’re not that buyer. The elevated seat delivers on its core promise: the best eye contact and parent-child connection available in a pushchair, combined with an upright pushing posture that tall parents and C-section recovery parents will genuinely value.

The honest caveats are equally clear: it’s heavy, expensive, not compact, and the highchair marketing is overrated. A highchair is a highchair — purpose-built, easy to clean, better suited to the job. The Xplory X isn’t a replacement for one.

Bottom line: if you’re tall, or recovering from a C-section, or want the best eye contact available in a pushchair and budget isn’t the issue — try the Xplory X in a shop. It may be exactly what you need. If none of those apply, the Stokke YOYO³ is a better starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Stokke Xplory X good for tall parents?

Yes — this is its strongest use case. The elevated seat, upright pushing posture and adjustable handle height are specifically designed to eliminate the stooping that standard pushchairs force on taller parents. If you’re tall and have been uncomfortable with every pushchair you’ve tried, the Xplory X is worth testing in a shop.

Is the Stokke Xplory X good for C-section recovery?

Yes — the elevated seat means you don’t need to bend to lift your baby in and out, which matters significantly in the early weeks after a C-section. It’s one of the few pushchairs genuinely designed with post-operative recovery in mind.

Can the Stokke Xplory X be used as a highchair?

Stokke markets this as a feature — the elevated seat can be positioned at café table height. In practice, a highchair is a highchair: purpose-built, easy to clean after messy eating, and better suited to the job. The Xplory X’s elevated seat is a genuine benefit for bonding and for C-section recovery — I wouldn’t buy it for the highchair functionality.

How heavy is the Stokke Xplory X?

11.3kg — significantly heavier than the Stokke YOYO³ at 6.2kg. It’s a city pushchair for parents who walk rather than lift frequently. Factor the weight into your daily routine before committing.

Stokke Xplory X vs Stokke YOYO³ — which should I choose?

They serve completely different purposes. The YOYO³ is ultra-lightweight, cabin-approved, and the pushchair I’d recommend to most parents. The Xplory X is a specialist pushchair for tall parents and C-section recovery. If you’re not in the Xplory X’s specific buyer profile, the YOYO³ is the better starting point.

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Considering the Stokke Xplory X and want a second opinion on whether it fits your situation? Get in touch — happy to help.