ZOE STROLLER REVIEW (TOUR+ XL1)
As a parent of small children, a good stroller will be one of the most important purchases for not only your little one but for you. Kids can need a stroller from birth to 6 years old depending on the child. If you are anything like us and research and read customer review this Zoe Stroller review is just for you.
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When shopping for a stroller every parent has different priorities. Except for the obvious such as safety and comfort, we wanted to find a stroller that would withstand our lifestyle.
As long-term travelers are were looking for durability, compatibility, and maneuverability. This is not a sponsored post; all opinions are our own and we purchased our stroller for full price. Here is our honest Zoe Stroller XL1 review.
Zoe Stroller Tour+ XL1 Stats
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Weight: 11lbs (Classic) Carrying Capacity
Max Weight: 45 lbs
Open Dimensions: 40.25" (height) x 20.5" (width) x 31" (depth)
Closed Dimensions: 26" (height) x 20.25" (width) x 7.5" (depth)
Recline:165 Degrees
Reclinable Foot Rest: Yes
Age Recommendation: 3+ Months
Accepts Infant Car: Yes (Car seat adapter sold separately)
Seat Dimensions: 12.5" (width) x 9.25" (depth)
Seat Back Height: 23" (bottom of the seat to canopy) and 15" (back of the seat)
Rear Wheel Diameter: 6 1/4" x 1 1/4"
Front Wheel Diameter: 5 3/8" x 1 1/8"
Handlebar Height: 40.25" w/ Recessed Rear Axle
Safety
The Zoe Stroller has a 5-point-harness system to keep your little one safe. Our son doesn't like being tied down, so it is perfect for an active boy. He does try to escape but is unsuccessful.
We do not tighten them too tight because he does like to have freedom, so we allow him to sit up. He loves to be able to see everything, but he is still safe.
Storage Basket
The storage basket is a lightweight net material that can be used to store small items. You will not be able to fit a diaper bag but can fit a small purse, blankets, or toys underneath the stroller.
This is one of the few negatives about this stroller. We would love it if the material was different and the basket a little larger. I know there is only so much you can do if you want to keep a stroller light.
Lightweight
At only 11 lbs it is one of the lightest strollers on the market. This stroller is awesome as not only an everyday stroller but perfect for families that travel often. It doesn't take any effort to push and if you have a long day of walking ahead of you this is the perfect stroller.
I like that I can push this stroller with one hand while multitasking. I was able to walk up hills without a lot of effort because of how light it is. This was an accomplishment for me because it was through a zoo in Colorado Springs at an elevation of 6000 feet.
Recline
If your little one is dependent on naps the recline is 165 degrees for them to nap. You can even put their legs up to make it more comfortable for sleeping.
Our son refuses to sleep if we are out, but we try to get him to nap and the recline helps. This forces him to lay down to get rest when we have long days.
Sun Canopy
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I think Zoe has one of the best sun canopies available today. The sun canopy can be extended to cover your little one completely from the sun. If you have a baby, they will be protected from the sun.
We love that we can adjust the length of the canopy. There is also a peek-a-boo window available for you to keep an eye on your little one.
Portability
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This is one of the best compact strollers even though it is slightly larger than the travel model. We were able to collapse the stroller with no problem and using one hand. This is great if you are in a hurry or have to multitask or hold your little one.
All parents with young kids have a stroller in a trunk, that is just part of being a parent. This stroller is easy to get in and out of your trunk. This is one of the things that I like about this stroller because it is light enough to lift without scratching your bumper. It is also great for traveling through the airport.
Wheels
The wheels on this stroller have an additional feature that allows you to lock the front wheels to get through rough terrain. This makes it easy to get through cracked sidewalks and rocks. Each wheel has shock absorption that makes the ride smoother for your little one.
The rear wheels can be locked using the dual brake to keep your stroller in place. We like the single braking system like on the Maxi-Cosi Lara. We'd love for this to be a feature in the future to make it easier for parents to apply the brake. The dual braking to me is annoying and an unneeded extra step.
Maneuverability
I was initially concerned about the wheels being too thin and being about to maneuver different terrain. This was quickly alleviated when we went to the zoo and were able to maneuver through the snow.
The question that is often asked is if it can withstand the cobblestone streets in Europe. Based on the reviews from Amazon and many moms on Facebook this stroller can hold its own against the streets in Europe. We have been able to walk up hills without a lot of effort.
We can grab it and get through the terminal quickly, unlike a lot of parents with the heaver strollers. We've used 3 different strollers in the last year and a half and this by far has been the best.
Durability
We've had this stroller for 6 months and so far, it still looks brand new. We use the travel bag to protect it from dirt in the trunk and garage.
We have flown with it 4 times and so far, it has held up great. We will update this post as we travel around the world to see how it can hold up against traveling fulltime.
ZOE STROLLER ACCESSORIES
Strollers are not just for babies they are great for parents. We use our son's stroller to carry a lot of our items that we do not want to hold. The parent cup holder is the best thing ever. There are a lot of accessories available for strollers to make your life easier. We have a travel fan to keep our son cool, stroller clips, and mosquito cover. Here are the helpful accessories available for Zoe strollers.
ZOE Stroller Travel Bag
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We love the stroller travel bag because it makes traveling easier and keeps the stroller clean. I can't tell you how upset it makes me when we are waiting for our stroller outside of the airplane and it is soaking wet. I know we have no control over the weather, but I have watched strollers sit outside in the rain for 10 - 20 minutes. Who wants to put their baby or child in a wet stroller? I can only imagine how filthy the underside of the airplane is. Another reason we love the travel bag is it allows us to take the stroller on the plane and pack it in the overhead bin. Many airlines will not allow you to carry on a stroller if it is not in a bag. This stroller fits in most overhead bins and allows us to get off the plane and be on our way.
Pro Tip: We use the travel bag to carry extra diapers, wipes, and toys. It is an easy way to carry more items without taking up space in your luggage or carry-on, plus it's free to gate check. It is like having a free extra bag.
ZOE Stroller Carry Straps
If you do not want to use the travel bag there are stroller carry straps available. You can use one to carry on one shoulder or use both to carry like a backpack. We have the straps because they were included in a Black Friday sale bundle but have not used them. I do not think we will use the straps because the travel bag is easier for us.
ZOE Stroller Parent Organizer
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The parent organizer is a lifesaver for us because I am constantly looking for something. There is a hidden pocket that is great for storing items that you do not want to keep in your pockets. To be honest, if we didn't get this for free as part of the Black Friday sale, we would not have paid for it. I think the price is a little high given there are other alternatives. There are universal parent organizers available at a more affordable price.
Waterproof Detachable Organizer
ZOE Stroller Rain Cover
There is a rain cover available, but we purchased a universal rain cover for our stroller. It was a lot cheaper to purchase it on Amazon and it fits great.
ZOE Stroller Entertainment Holder
We have an entertainment holder although I am not sure how to use it. There is a clip available at the top of the stroller to attach it, but I think it is just to keep small toys. I would like to use it to hang my phone for our son to watch Elmo's World. The plastic is great because he would not be able to touch it. Once I figure out how to use the entertainment holder, I will update this post.
ZOE STROLLER MODEL COMPARISON TABLE
I see a lot of questions in Facebook groups about the different Zoe Stroller models. I spent over 2 months researching the best model for our son and even purchased 2 different ones to determine the best fit for our family. If you are considering the Zoe Stroller and are not sure about the different models look at our comparison table.
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WHICH ZOE STROLLER IS THE BEST?
The answer to this question depends on your lifestyle and how you plan to use the stroller. If you need a lightweight everyday stroller and are not concerned about compatibility, I recommend purchasing the Zoe Stroller Tour XL1 because the additional snack holder and belly bar is great to have. For families that travel and want a lightweight stroller, the Zoe Stroller XLC is the best model for portability.
If you are looking for a double stroller, the Zoe brand has one of the lightest on the market. I have read and heard great things about it. We plan to use the tandem double stroller when we have another baby. As you can tell we are completely sold on the Zoe Stroller.
If you are still unsure which stroller is best for you, check out our post on the best compact travel strollers.
Why did we choose Zoe Stroller Tour+ XL1? (Zoe XL1 vs Zoe XLC)
With the different models available it was hard to decide which model was best for us. We decided on the Tour+ XL1 instead of the XLC because of the belly bar. The Zoe Stroller XLC does not include a belly bar, snack or cup holder, these items are essential for our son. Since he is not a fan of sitting the belly bar is better for when he tries to get out. We also like having a snack and cup holder so he can eat and drink without us having to stop to hand him food.
Those are the only major differences between the two models. The XLC is slightly smaller when it collapses, but we didn't notice a huge difference.
ZOE STROLLER TOUR+ XL1 PROS&CONS
There are some drawbacks to the Zoe Stroller Tour+ XL1. We provided a brief list of everything that love and a few things that could be improved.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Large sun canopy
- Easy to maneuver
- Easy to collapse
- Recline
- Snack & cup holder
Cons
- Thinner wheels
- Storage basket
- Expensive accessories
OUR FINAL VERDICT
It may be obvious from our Zoe Stroller review that we are huge fans. This brand has different models that may fit the bill for your family. If you are looking for a lightweight stroller that is easy to maneuver, saves space, and offers comfort for your little one the Zoe Stroller models are perfect for you.
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