Phil and Teds Explorer Review

Active parents, you'll be pleased when you learn about all the great features of the improved Explorer inline buggy. According to the Phil and Teds website, the Explorer is in the process of replacing the Sport, so look to it fast becoming the most popular in the Phil and Teds line.

Phil and Teds Explorer inline stroller is for newborn babies up through the preschool years. It is known for its fantastic maneuvering and performance as well as light weight, especially as a double.

The unique design gives you a double inline stroller for about the same size or slightly larger than a full-sized standard stroller. It "leaves a small footprint" as fans of Phil and Teds like to say.

By the time you finish reading this page on the Phil and Teds Explorer you will discover all the exciting improvements that have been made on this exceptional buggy. Let's get started, shall we?

Phil and Teds Explorer Features:

• Travel system compatible
• Locking front swivel wheel
• 12-inch air filled tires with front and rear wheel guards
• Storage basket beneath seat
• Adjustable, follow-the-sun canopy
• One-handed fast fold with free-standing feature
• 5-point safety harness
• Padded bumper bar

• One-step braking system
• Parent cup holder
• Height adjustable handle for better control and comfort
• Black or Apple Green stroller with three optional insert colors: Navy Blue, Green Apple or Red

New enhancements explained

Lots of improvements have been made on the Explorer. Phil and Teds listened to their customers and have made quite a few enhancements over previous Phil and Teds Explorer models. Let's take a look in more detail at what you get with the current Explorer model.

Can a newborn baby ride?

In addition to the option of laying the seat down flat for your newborn baby, you can also use your second seat from the doubles kit and your car seat all at once, which is something you haven't been able to do until now. See the photo on the right for this revolutionary new set-up.

The Explorer accommodates an infant car seat with an adapter that you may purchase separately. Use the following car seat brands with the car seat adapter: Peg Perego, Graco, Maxi Cosi and Chicco.

The stability with the car seat on the Explorer is designed with maximum safety in mind and is in accordance with market safety standards. This gives you needed reassurance that three-wheelers can be stable as a travel system.

Tell me about the seat

New for the 2010 and later models: the Phil and Teds Explorer features an improved state-of-the-art Seat Performance System, which utilizes a contoured and posture supported ventilated seat for your child's comfort and health. The five-point safety harness now has easier harness adjustment as well, to make sure your little passenger is snug as a bug and comfy at the same time.

Infinite recline positions can now be done one-handed with a strap - get that angle just right while your child sleeps. No jostling the seat while you wrestle with a drawstring.

Some stroller models use a hammock-like seat that doesn't give your child any back support; they slouch in their seats and after awhile can actually become quite uncomfortable. We all need back support, even little children!

Phil and Teds has come up with a Seat Performance System which uses a carefully contoured seat that supports your child upright and provides in aiding better posture. Your little passenger won't get too hot either because the seat has holes in the back for ventilation. It's so comfortable for kids that one mommy reviewer calls it her "sleep machine." What an enjoyable ride for your baby!

A child riding in the main seat can weigh up to 44 pounds and the child in the double attachment accessory can weigh up to 33 pounds.

How can such a big kid ride in this stroller? The seat is quite wide at 13 inches and the seat back is nice and high at 24 inches. The main seat canopy is also tall enough to leave enough space for your child's head, especially since you can now slide it up the frame a bit. That's such a nice touch.

What can the sun canopy do for my child?

You're going to love the new sun canopy on the Phil and Teds Explorer. The newly enhanced larger canopy can pivot forward to follow the sun. No need to purchase one of those canopy extenders to shade your child adequately! In addition, Also has a flip out visor. It can also adjust up the frame to accommodate taller children. Mom, you get some side pocket storage good for keeping little thinks like your sunglasses and iPod. Isn't that handy?

One of the disadvantages previous Phil and Ted strollers had was that the rear double seat never had a sun canopy. Moms everywhere wished their second seat would accommodate a sun canopy, and Phil and Ted listened. Now the Explorer has one for your second child to keep him or her shaded safely from the sun.

Storage and parents amenities

Your child is well-cared-for in the Explorer, but Phil and Teds does not neglect you, Mom. One of the convenience features both parents enjoy is the height adjustable handle. Whether you're a petite mommy or a daddy over six feet tall, the handle on the Explorer provides an astounding nine different positions to find the sweet spot for comfortable strolling.

Storage includes side pockets on either side of the sun canopy as well as a storage basket beneath the main seat. Beneath the seat one mother says it is easy to pack a lot of stuff around and she says she looks like a bag lady when she's done with all her shopping. You want to get all your errands done in one go, right? Keep in mind that the this storage basket is where your second child's feet go when using the doubles kit, so that's going to limit your space a little bit.

Have you ever taken a stroller through a puddle and had the tires kick up the dirty water onto your clean clothes? Aggregating, isn't it? Wheel well covers for all three wheels will keep you clean as you stroll over terrain, wet or dry. It will also keep your rear riding child from touching dirty wheels!

Maneuverability and safety

One of the most frequent compliments this stroller receives is how well it maneuvers. It's just like a single stroller when you've got the doubles kit attached. In a recent review, one mother says she'd look with sympathy at other parents struggling to get their double wide stroller down the grocery store aisle.

The three 12-inch air filled tires give your baby a smooth ride and make it easier to push. That certainly becomes more challenging as your children grow heavier and the tires are definitely a help.

In addition to the five-point safety harness, your Phil and Teds Explorer comes equipped with a safety tether to maintain contact should you decide to jog with it. A tether around your wrist is used in case you trip and fall, your stroller won't get away. If you're like me, that provides a huge relief.

When summer comes, strolls outside in your sandals or flip flops is part of the appeal of warm weather. But engaging the brakes with flip flops or bare toes can be tricky, especially if the brake levers are in between each of the rear wheels. Phil and Teds think of everything: All you have now is one brake pedal to push down that engages both back wheels securely. Easy on, easy off - it can't get any more simple than that!

Where can I get the best price for a Phil and Teds Explorer?

The new model Explorer without the doubles kit retails for $480. The additional doubles kit costs $90, so purchasing these two separately is going to be about $570.

Normally, you're going to find one of the best deals around on Amazon but at the time of writing, they seem to be out of the single strollers! However, check out Stroller Depot because they have a competitive price and all the colors in stock, plus free shipping. You can get a stroller plus doubles kit on Amazon in all the colors for a savings between $10-$90.

What others are saying about the Phil and Teds Explorer

Because the newer version of the Explorer has only recently been released, there are very few reviews on the web. They've been mixed reviews, too, between 2½ stars to 5-star ratings.

Of the existing reviews, parents love the Phil and Teds Explorer because it's the size of a single stroller, even with the doubles kit, and it maneuvers extremely well.
A mom named Dawn remarks how it takes up the same amount of space as a single stroller and has one-handed maneuverability. She easily takes it down narrow aisles and both of her children fall asleep after walking only a few blocks, allowing her to shop in peace.
Another parent says, "Easily rolls over any terrain and glides like air on smooth surfaces."

Parents also remark on such features as the comfortable adjusting handlebar and the one-foot braking system.
"The foot brake is easy to use and SO much better the old versions on the other Phil and Teds strollers."

The travel system adapter is very easy to use and one mother says she puts her baby in the car seat and her toddler in the back seat. The toddler LOVES riding in the back, so this stroller is lots of fun for the kids.

The same mother comments that she can store this Phil and Teds stroller very easily into her Toyota Prius, and we all know that's far smaller than many cars out there on the road!

Disadvantages

So far the reviews about the Phil and Teds Explorer have complaints about the tires that leak air and bulge out from the rims. Sometimes your stroller will arrive with the tires deflated. One reviewer took her Explorer to a gas station to get them filled up and she's been enjoying it immensely ever since. There's one five-star review that compliments the air filled tires, so it can be a hit or miss.

One mother remarks that getting the stroller unfolded is a bit of a challenge and it is difficult to unlock the automatic frame lock.

See this video demonstration of the newly updated Phil and Teds Explorer:

Where can I buy the Phil and Teds Explorer?

I regularly check prices and I always recommend that you buy from Amazon for the stroller plus doubles kit or Stroller Depot because they are a reputable retailer with free shipping.

Just imagine how exciting it will be when your stroller arrives and you can take it around YOUR neighborhood in style!

Related Articles:

All Terrain Stroller: The all terrain stroller models that consistently score high with parents are from BOB, Phil and Ted, Chicco and Baby Trend; let's take a more detailed look at these all terrain strollers.

Jogger Strollers: This jogger stroller guide tells you how to choose a jogging stroller, how much to spend, and reviews of the best jogger strollers.

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