Design
The Bugaboo Bee is a compact stroller but is equivalent in function to a larger pram. It has that distinctive shaped, brushed aluminium chassis.
The Bee comes with a standard black seat unit. You can choose from a black, pink, khaki, blue, yellow or pink sun hood. Bugaboo also frequently offer limited edition models of the Bee.
The Bugaboo Bee is as good as any pram or stroller gets when it comes to quality in both components & design.
Features
The Bugaboo Bee features a reversible seat with 3 position recline. Both the back rest and seat base adjust to accommodate a growing child. It has 4 swivel and lockable wheels, front and back wheel suspension and an adjustable handle bar.
The hood is a good size and provides your child with reasonable sun protection most of the time. During summer we prefer the reflective sun canopy which has a flip out sun screen and panels on the side so your child can see out. This is an optional extra and an additional expense.
The Bugaboo Bee has a good sized under seat basket. It can only be accessed from the front of the pram but you can lift the seat base for easy packing.
Performance
For its size, the Bugaboo Bee ride is the best on the market by a long shot. The manoeuvrability is so good you can steer it through any obstacle course one handed. The combination of the great manoeuvrability, adjustable handle, narrow width and suspension make the Bee a very comfortable pram for parents to push.
You can push the Bee over most terrains; it's not going to perform as well as prams that are specifically designed to go off road, however the Bee performs much better than your average stroller in a tough environment.
The fold action is 3 steps and easy to use and the Bee folds flat and compact. We love the unfolding action which just requires a sturdy push with your foot. You can wheel the Bee around on it’s front wheels when it's folded.
The Bee’s seat is ergonomically designed and judging by our little tester's ability to sleep for long periods of time, it’s pretty comfortable. The seat is a good size and the smart design adjusts to fit your child from infancy to about 5 years. One of the great features of the Bee is that when you adjust the seat height the harness also automatically adjusts. This is really handy when you use the pram to transport different aged children.
The seat is reversible and you can add a 'cocoon' for an infant. It's not quite as good as a pram bassinet but it's close and considering you only use a bassinet for approximately 6 months it’s a good compromise. We particularly like the Bee (without cocoon) and sun shade/hood combination for an infant in summer. It allows for maximum air ventilation and sun protection.
The brakes are a single flip on/off tab in the middle of the rear of the chassis. They're easy to use and firm when on. You can flip it wearing sandals or thongs.
The recline is a simple tab mechanism on the back of the seat which is smooth and easy to use. We have noticed that if you have a heavier child in your pram the recline tab becomes stiff and a little difficult to use.
The seat cover and hood are fully removable, machine washable and dry surprisingly quickly in the sun. The seat cover and hood are very strong and show no wear and tear after a prolonged period of use. Also the deep black and vibrant colours do not fade in the sun.
The Bugaboo Bee is a great stroller option for public transport. It fits comfortably in the bays of accessible buses and the compact one-piece fold means that it's also suitable if you need to fold it and store it on a bus or train.
The Bee is also a great option for travel. It's lightweight, suits most circumstances and is comfortable for your child to sit and sleep in for long periods of time.
Finally it’s worth noting that when I buy a top of the range product I expect top of the range service and when I’ve needed it, I’ve certainly received it from Bugaboo.
Drawbacks
I don't often include price as a drawback but there's no escaping the fact that the Bugaboo Bee is expensive. Even though it’s a flash pram and great quality, you are still paying a considerable premium for the Bugaboo brand. You can buy other, almost as flash and almost the same quality strollers for 60% of the Bee's price.
While we are talking price I might as well mention that Bee accessories are also expensive. The good news is that both the stroller and accessories maintain good second hand resale value.
There are a couple of niggly design issues with the Bee. Depending on how you adjust the seat base there can be a little fold at the back that collects decomposing food. It can get a little yuk back there if you're not vigilant. Also the crotch part of the buckle also disappears into the fold which gets annoying over time.
The back of the seat adjusts, but does not lock, so if you lean over the top of your pram you can accidentally push it down with your chest. Kids don't like it and it can give you both a fright.
Finally, it's a funny little thing, the fabric of the Bee's hood can create static electricity in your child's hair. It's quite amusing when your child wakes up crumpled from a nap and has their hair sticking out all over the place. It might be annoying if you've spent ages braiding or clipping your child's hair.
Conclusion
The Bugaboo Bee gets its high rating because it’s a smartly designed pram and it’s suitable for almost all your needs from birth to 5 years.
There’s no two-ways about it, the Bee is expensive and unless you are going to take advantage of most of its features a lot of the time you might want to consider some of the more reasonably priced stroller options available.
About Bugaboo
Bugaboo is a Dutch company that specialises in top-of-the-range European designed prams and strollers. The much loved Cameleon has been an icon of pram design for more than 10 years.
