Stroller Review - Sola by Mamas & Papas

Surprisingly, quite a lot of people asked me about the Sola stroller. So here’s an honest review from a satisfied customer.

The first time I looked into strollers, I wanted a super-stylish looking one. Either the Silver Cross Surf or the Stokke Xplory.

I fell in love with the way they look. But Surf has a winning point against Xplory: it can be used up to the age of 4 years old while the Xplory only up to 2 years old.

So I ordered a Surf. Only to cancel it several weeks later, upon stumbling upon the real model at Mothercare Senayan City. I was shocked because it was BIG – err, HUGE, and HEAVY. Oh so very heavy. Even the sales lady had a difficulty in showing me how to fold it…plus, the chassis and the cot will become two separate parts when folded.

I couldn’t imagine having to make do with the Surf, so I canceled it. And ordered Stokke Xplory instead. And bumped into an old friend the next day at (yet again) Senayan City. And shocked (yet again) because it is just AS HUGE AND AS HEAVY AS THE SURF! (Albeit its beauty and stylishness)

So I, being my own wishy-washy self, canceled the Xplory and started panicking – baby going to arrive in less than 3 months and no stroller yet!

There was also the MacLaren XLR. But I somehow hated the bland pastel colors, and I wanted the baby to face me not facing people when he’s being pushed around in the stroller, so, soon XLR was off the list.

There was also the Bugaboo Bee but I just stopped loving it the moment I saw it on display at the mall. I don’t even know why – perhaps because it was too small for my taste.

But just as I started overreacting about the fact that none of the strollers I fell in love with online is eventually my dream stroller in real life, I stumbled upon the Sola Buggy by Mamas & Papas.

Its name is not as cool as the Stokke Xplory or Bugaboo Bee or MacLaren XLR or Silver Cross Surf (oh come on, MAMAS & PAPAS as a brand name? Seriously???) but I love the Sola buggy the moment I laid my eyes on it.

It’s sturdy, modern, stylish and just beautiful. A bit big – 8.5 kg altogether chassis and seat, but it’s so pretty and it looks so comfortable for a baby. Super friendly price as well (almost half the Xplory/Surf). I had no second thought – I just bought it (in Truffle) and a few days later it arrived at my office, all wrapped up, ready to be opened like a huge Christmas present.

And so far, we’ve been happy. At first, J said that it was a bit too much “encombrant” / taking up a lot of space, but as we also have the Peg Perego Pliko Mini for comparison (gift from my cousins – review on the P3 later on in another article) and even though P3 Mini is kind of practical, Sola is much better in maneuver, sturdiness and comfort.

Louis also loves his Sola! Most of the time he’s riding on it, he’s been so kind – but then again, he is a nice baby.

Mamas & Papas Sola

Plus Points:

- Sturdy

- Comfortable for baby

- Can be used from newborn (total recline) up to 25 kg (approx 4 years old)

- Stylish

- Colorful

- Great maneuver

- Seat can be taken off and the sales lady said it could be used as a carseat – we’ve never tried it though, since Louis has another carseat already

- Friendly price – half the Xplory / Surf

- Raincover is big and covers everything

- The basket under the seat used to put things is also quite big

Minus Points:

- A bit heavy, 8.5 kg total weight

- Chassis is kinda big even when folded

- It’s not an umbrella stroller so not folded easily with one hand – you have to use both hands

- Taking up quite big place – you need a car with a big trunk to bring it everywhere

But so far, we’ve been VERY HAPPY with Sola.

Review on P3 Mini coming up next…