Petite Star are going from strength to strength and fast becoming an established, innovative brand. 2012 holds lots of promise for this rising star. Today we are taking a look at their great value Zukoo stroller!
Quick Summary: The Petite Star Zukoo is not built to last a lifetime but realistically you are going to be using it for 4 years maximum, so who cares! While you are using it your child will be snug and comfortable which is not normally an attribute of lightweight strollers.
Whats good?
- Value for money
- Lightweight
- Attractively styled
Whats not so good?
- Basket small
- Recline sticky
- Brake stiff
Overview
The Zukoo is, in essence, a basic stroller but it’s well dressed and includes all the accessories.
Punch grip, foam covered handles look down on the canopy that is tensioned with brackets either side. A viewing hole in the top is meshed to minimise the amount of light getting in. The rear canopy apron has a handy zip pocket for all your bits and bobs and the whole thing can be removed to allow a passage of air on hotter days.
For a stroller, it’s recline is quite sophisticated; press the button on the back and the seat will drop to almost horizontal, the rear canopy apron then velcros neatly around it to enclose your sleepy child. When you want the seat upright, you need to pull the D-ring on the tape at the top of the seat while pushing the backrest up. The up is not as easy as the down!
Unusual for a stroller, the Zukoo comes with a bumper bar. It is covered in the same fabric as the seat which can be zipped off to make cleaning easier. The bar plugs into two sockets and straddles the chair, it also has a gate opening mechanism making access to the seat easier.
A single position 5-point harness is well cushioned with chest and crotch pads. The calf rest can be adjusted from horizontal to vertical by squeezing the levers on either side at the bottom of the seat. In true stroller style, the foot rest is a band of rubberised plastic that spans the width of the frame.
Beneath the seat is a minimal basket. I’ve yet to find a stroller with a decent sized basket that you can access while the seat is reclined – the Zukoo has not made this breakthrough.
The double wheels are 14.5cms with EVA foam tyres. The linked brake pedals sit in between the rear wheels, it’s easy to apply but flip-flop wearers might struggle to disengage the brake without getting bruised toes.
Fold
The fold is simple and effective. Flick the grey button on the back of the chassis upwards with your foot, releasing the tension in the frame, then push down on the small grey lever on the right to allow the handles to drop towards the front wheels. When flat, give the collapsed frame a little squash and the auto-lock will engage. A neat ,rubberised handle on the side of the frame makes carrying comfortable, especially when it only weighs 7kgs.
Unfolding is equally effortless:- Undo the auto lock, pull up the handles and push down on the central back pedal and voila…the pushchair finds it’s form again.
Accessories
The lovely team at Petite Star have thought of everything, including the foot muff, change bag and rain cover in the package.
The foot muff is exquisite; a well padded fleecy interior is covered with the same durable, slightly lustrous fabric of the pushchair. A zip running around the perimeter allows the top to be removed to leave a fleecy liner for the seat.
The change bag, also made from the same fabric as the pushchair, is ample in size with netted compartments on the interior of the main body to hold bottles, wipes etc. The front zipped panel contains the matching changing mat with room for more storage on top. The straps make it a shoulder bag when carried or the poppered shorter straps allow it to attach to the handles of the stroller.
The raincover fits well with velcro fastenings and has a window flap in the front so that you can pass in drinks, wipe noses or placate with a toy.
Conclusion
The Petite Star offers a great deal for your money, with everything included it’s hard to beat. However, the price and the added extras are not where the story ends; it is well made, attractively styled, lightweight and self explanatory – I’ve seen so many strollers that are a lot less functional for a lot more money. This said, it does have some limitations – the basket is not a useful size, raising the seat from recline is tricky and the brake is stiff.
The Petite Star Zukoo is not built to last a lifetime but realistically you are going to be using it for 4 years maximum, so who cares! While you are using it your child will be snug and comfortable which is not normally an attribute of lightweight strollers.
