Evenflo Pivot Xplore Wagon Review

Evenflo, an Ohio-based company, launched with nipples for infants in 1920. As time passed, the company created more gear for their bottle-feeding collection. In 1995, Evenflo Juvenile and Evenflo Juvenile Furniture Company merged to form a single entity. The company now sells supplies for feeding, strollers, car seats, high chairs, and more.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Xplore earned an above-average score for ease of use. While it isn't the easiest in the group, it performed well compared to other products in its price range.

Fold and Unfold

This stroller requires two hands to fold and unfold, but the locking mechanism is automatic.

This wagon doesn't fold into a compact package, and the lock doesn't keep the stroller tightly together as there is some leeway once folded. There is a visual color indicator on this option that tells you if it is locked into the full unfold position for additional safety. Testing shows this wagon is more challenging to fold than some of the competition, and we don't think you could do it while holding a child. Instead of pulling the handle up from the ground, you push it down to push out the wheels.

Storage

The Xplore has a few storage opportunities onboard, but none are very big or can hold supplies for a full day for two children.

This wagon comes with a storage bin that attaches to the end of the wagon. It is somewhat deep and has a maximum weight capacity of 10 lbs. It has open-top access and is easy to use. We see two problems: it isn't big enough for enough supplies for two, and little ones can easily access it and toss things out. It can also be in the way of a longer stride, depending on your walk and how you use the stroller.

This stroller also has inside stow pockets and a tray for snacks with dual cup holders for kids. The pockets can hold smaller treasures and snacks but nothing of notable size or weight, with a 4 lb weight limit.

Harness

Each seat on the wagon has a 3-point harness. This is a crotch strap and two hip belts. The crotch strap is not adjustable, and the straps need to be entirely flat to adjust the hip straps. The buckles on the harnesses are straightforward and feel sort of cheap compared to some of the competition. It is easy to use, and the side pops out without effort.

Brakes

The brakes on the Xplore are double-action brakes with a pedal on each side of the axle to press for a proper setting of the brakes. The pedals are easy to press and release, but depending on how you have the storage bin, it can get in the way.

Double-action brakes are not our favorite. We worry some parents might forget to set both pedals or become complacent over time with setting both brakes. Some parents might also feel that pressing one brake pedal is enough, but it is not.

Maneuverability

Once again, the Xplore earned an average score in this test metric. While it isn't a stellar wagon to push and turn, it is better than about half of the competition and we weren't overly frustrated by it.

This wagon moved pretty well on hard flat surfaces earning higher marks than on uneven terrain. The carpet test was a challenge for this stroller, and its hard plastic wheels and friction made it a bear to push, but it did go over cords and other smaller items without any trouble. The fact that the handlebar is situated in the middle of the wagon and allows for pushing or pulling is a plus, and it means it can also turn tighter than other wagons we've seen.

It fits through our 32-inch standard doorway with ease. One of our testers was fairly petite, under 5'5", and had trouble rubbing her legs on the storage bin, and the handle was too long, even at its shortest height. We also weren't big fans of the handle's shape and size as it is a thin bar with edges that create unnecessary pressure points; this is magnified when you try to use it one-handed as the adjustment button is in the middle.

Off-road with the wagon isn't great, and it did score as well here. With no suspension and hard plastic wheels that swivel, it struggles to move on uneven surfaces like dirt, grass, and cobblestone. While pulling was definitely easier than pushing off-road, it wasn't great. The wide wheels might keep it on top of the ground better than narrow wheels, but it also creates more friction and resistance. One tester equated it to pushing a car that had broken down. Rubber, air-filled tires would be a big plus here.

Transporting and Storing

Transporting and storing includes tests for the size and weight and how easily one can lift or move the strollers to get them from place to place or store them in your home or car.

While the Xplore has an awkward fold, it is still pretty small compared to some of the competition, and if you adjust the handlebar down, it isn't very long.

Weight and Folded Size

This wagon is 34.5 lbs, which is close to the average for the group. This isn't a stand-out weight for a double stroller, as they tend to be heavier than singles.

It is fairly easy to lift and manipulate it to a trunk or smaller space. When folded, it is 25,799 cubic inches. This isn't big or small for the group and is pretty average. The largest is over 33,000 cubic inches, and the smallest is closer to 11,000.

Kid Ride

This is not a comfortable stroller for kids. There is no comparison between this and the more traditional strollers or joggers that often have sling-style seats, padding, reclining seat backs, and leg rests.

Seat

It is a reasonably hard seat with no head or neck support and limited back support. It has some padding on the seat, but it isn't anything compared to other strollers and is likely more for show than usefulness. There is no log rest, and feet dangle into a mesh basket between the seats on either end of the wagon.

We don't think this is a good option for younger babies for these reasons and the lack of suspension to absorb some impact from the road. We also don't think kids will be comfortable for longer periods, and napping would be near impossible.

Sunshade

Unlike some other wagons, the Xplore has dual canopies included as standard with the stroller. Both canopies have airflow mesh vents on the sides and rotate fully from the front to the back or can be closed entirely. While they offer enough coverage for sun protection, it wouldn't hurt if they were larger and covered more of little ones' bodies.

We suspect that the ease of the movement of these sunshades will cause bored little ones to play with them, and over time it could wear them out, but it's better to have them than to pay extra for them.

Quality

Evenflo gives you just enough quality to appear durable without the higher-quality materials that typically inflate prices. The material of the wagons seems durable and didn't snag in our tests.

The base is a canvas, with thinner, more breathable on the sides of the stroller, and plastic mesh for the bottom and sides of the stroller. The material on the sunshade is reversible for color preference, and we like the feel of the material, but it is only single stitching, which could cause problems in the future, especially if little ones end up playing with them.

The frame on the Xplore feels sturdy overall; there is one welded component, and overall, it does not have as much flex as other Evenflos we've tested. This wagon has smaller plastic wheels in the front with only one side connection, and the front wheel rotates from one side when you push to the other when you pull.

The overall fit and finish are nice enough without being showy or unnecessarily fancy. The fabric is secured to the frame with screws. The stitching is well done without errors or loose threads, and we had no concerns about quality during testing. However, some design choices are interesting and feel like potential problems for the rider or long-term use. No suspension or better features for comfort mean little ones will feel every bump and jostle while moving. Also, the storage bin attachment hinge could be broken if little ones choose to use it to climb aboard the wagon, and the fact that it hangs off one side means it could be the way and get snagged on items nearby.

Car Seat Compatibility

This wagon accepts one infant car seat from the following manufacturers: Graco, Britax, UPPAbaby, Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, Chicco, and Peg Perego. For more details on the specific model of seats, see the comparison table in the primary review.

Ease of Setup

It took us over 15 minutes to assemble this wagon, with an average easy enough-to-understand manual.

This wagon comes with an Allen wrench for the two screws on the handle. The procedure was a bit confusing as the diagram was dark, and parts were challenging to differentiate. The written instructions were more helpful for this reason. Given that the setup was relatively intuitive, we wonder if it would have been easier to put this one together without the manual, which took time to decipher.

Twins

This wagon only accepts one infant car seat at a time, so it is not the best choice for infant twins. In addition, the lack of suspension and other features designed to decrease the impact of the road on the rider makes it a jarring ride unsuitable for younger babies, in our opinion. While it can work for older babies that can sit on their own with head and neck control, it is likely, not useable for two of the same age until they are older.

Should You Buy the Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon?

Out of the wagons that we tested, the Xplore is our favorite. It seats two, has dual canopies, a snack tray with double cup holders, and detachable storage. If a wagon is the way you want to go and you've considered all of the limitations and drawbacks of a wagon, then this would be the one we'd recommend to a friend.

What Other Double Stroller Should You Consider?

We aren't convinced that wagons are the way to go for most families and are unlikely to be a good choice as the main or only stroller you buy. Due to the lack of comfort features and most conveniences, including storage big enough for two, we think there are limited uses for wagons and potential real-life problems you don't see in the marketing. Sure, these wagons look fun, but they have limited surfaces they can comfortably traverse, they are easiest to move while pulling, so little ones can throw things out while you go (without your knowledge), and they take up a lot of space in indoor locations. Overall, we think a jogger like the Thule Urban Glide Double or a bike trailer like the Hamax Outback are more versatile, provide more storage, and are far more comfortable for little ones than any wagon we've seen so far.

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