As part of the latest QuinnyCasters challenge I invited a fellow QuinnyCaster to write a guest post about her experiences with the Quinny Zapp Xtra. Sabina writes over at Mummy Matters:
Describe the Quinny Zapp Xtra in three words – Lightweight, Versatile, Funky
Marks out of ten? – 8/10
What’s your favourite feature? – I love that you can have it front or parent facing, its nice to have the choice. Can I sneak in a second “favourite” – I love the hood, its so much better than other hoods on the market.
What could be improved? – The chassis folds up so perfectly, I would like to see the seat frame perhaps folding in half for easier storage too. Also the handles feel a little bit “flimsy” so could do to be made a bit sturdier. The only thing I would change about the hood is for it to “click” into fixed positions as my hood tends to fall down when travelling over uneven ground – that is all!
It is easy to assemble? I found it really easy to assemble initially and when it comes to putting it up and putting it down for use, I find it very easy to fold, I just struggle sometimes when putting it up as I don’t always manage to hold the two side buttons together to extend the handles.
Do you consider the Quinny Zapp Xtra to be good value for money? Yes, when you consider how long you can actually use the pushchair for I think it is very good value for money. If you used the chassis with an infant car seat from birth (or without, it doesn’t matter) I think you will easily get 2-3 years good use out of this.
Would you recommend to a friend? Yes definitely – I think this is a fab pushchair from birth, Beanie Boy falls asleep as soon as he is settled into the seat and he looks really comfortable.
Sabina’s background:
I’m a stay-at-home Mum to Little Bean (29 months) and Beanie Boy (14 weeks), I also have a 9 year old stepson Curly. When Little Bean was a baby I used a Graco Travel System, which whilst being very versatile I found it very cumbersome (I actually pulled a muscle in my back lifting it into the car boot). I hated it when Little Bean no longer needed the carrycot or car seat function as she was no longer parent facing, I felt like we had fallen out as all talking stopped when she moved to forward facing. I quickly decided to pass on the travel system and was given a smaller lightweight pushchair – a Petite Star Zia – which has been good but still didn’t have a parent facing option. It has served its purpose but wasn’t anything special.
I currently use three pushchairs, if I’m out with the children on my own I use a Phil & Teds Sport Double because Little Bean can’t walk the distances that I do for leisure and when shopping, I need her strapped in or she would disappear. When out at a weekend with Hubby we used the Quinny Zapp Xtra for Beanie Boy (which I always push because I love how lightweight it is and being able to talk to Beanie Boy and pull funny faces at him) and the Petite Star Zia for Little Bean. I’m lucky to have the option of the three different pushchairs, eventually my aim is to increase the amount of walking that Little Bean does so that I can sell the Zia and the P&T.
Do you know if anyone flew with the Quinny Xtra? I wonder if the airlines company would accept it as it has 2 pieces. I couldn’t find any info online.
Thanks
danidocs@yahoo.co.uk
Hi Dani,
I think I answered your question on another blog earlier today. BMI Baby WILL accept a pushchair/pram in 2 pieces however my suggestion would be to actually phone or email the airline you wish to travel with and double check with them. They are the ones in the know!!
Good luck!!
I purchased this item in order to use it as a travel system with the Maxi Cosi Car Seat. The item can be used as a Car Seat base, but it has to ungo son time-consuming and complicated adjustments to the stroller itself. You have to remove the entire lining that makes the stroller a ‘pushchair’ itself, before attaching the car seat. YOu cannot just ‘snap’ and ‘go’. Also, it does not have a cargo basket, nor does it have a parent nor child tray for when you DO use it as a normal stroller (push chair). It serves more as an ‘umbrella stroller’, not a full-blown one.
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I have had 3 children and with each one I bought a new, very nice stroller. I started with a Peg Perego Pliko, which was a nice stroller, but failed to really impress me. When I had my second, I got a Phil & Ted’s with the doubles seat, which was awesome, but weighed so much that I never wanted to pull it out, and then with the 3rd, I picked the Quinny. It was SUCH a great decision!!
The Quinny is light weight, for a standard stroller. When it was brand new, breaking it down, to store in the car, was TOUGH. I thought that there was no way I was ever going to be able to do it, but it losened up really quickly and now it’s a breeze. Don’t let it scare you at first. It gets easy! I love the versatility. While my son was in an infant seat, we used the Max-Cosi, so we could just pop it in and out of the stroller frame. I also purchased the bassinet, which is wonderful quality and ended up serving as his bed for the first few months.
This has been the most versatile, easiest to use and most attractive stroller I’ve ever used. (I get complements on it almost everytime I go out) My husband also loves it and we have never, for a second, questioned whether or not it was worth the price. I’m not expecting baby number 4 and I’m looking forward to continuing you use this system.