Bugaboo prams and pushchairs: the overview

There are few buggy brands that are as recognisable and iconic as Bugaboo. Despite being a relative newcomer on the scene (Bugaboo is only 15 years old), the Dutch pushchair brand has become one of the most popular and reputable names on the buggy scene.

Advertisement

Created by designer Max Barenbrug and physician Eduard Zanen in 1999, Bugaboo pushchair’s revolutionary design, eye-catchingly colourful and interchangeable hood and seat sets, and premium price (starting at £439 for the cheapest pushchair base) has made it an aspirational buy for many parents and parents-to-be.

Bugaboo has also acquired a huge celebrity following; Victoria Beckham, Sienna Miller and Simon Cowell have all pushed their little ones in a Bugaboo pram.

Unlike many other manufacturers who make a whole fleet of different prams, Bugaboo only sells four types: the Cameleon, the Bee, the Donkey and the Buffalo (you can read more about these individual models over the next few pages). With just these four prams, which can also be turned into travel systems, it has managed to cover pretty much every parental need, from the lightweight stroller (Bee) and the double buggy (Donkey), to the all-terrain pushchair (Buffalo) and the original luxury pram (Cameleon).

Price-wise, Bugaboo is as high-end as it gets. Its cheapest buggy, the Bee, starts at £439 – but that's just for the basic pushchair base; accessories like the baby cocoon or a sun canopy will cost you more. At the top of the Bugaboo price range is the The Donkey: that will cost you £1219.

More like this

John Lewis and Mothercare are 2 of the biggest chains selling Bugaboo products in the UK. There are also a host independent retailers and stockists listed on the Bugaboo website.

And there is a growing market for 2nd-hand Bugaboo pushchairs: check out Gumtree and eBay for hundreds of listings of used buggies, being offered at a fraction of the in-store price.

If Bugaboo prices are making your teeth itch a bit, it's worth knowing there's a also philanthropic side to the Dutch company. Since 2009, Bugaboo has donated 1% of its total revenue to the HIV charity RED and, back in 2011, the company joined forces with Zake Shariff and The Global Fund to raise money to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa. More recently, Bugaboo has teamed up with The Andy Warhol Foundation to create 3 exclusive Blondie edition pushchairs which it auctioned on eBay in order to give 100% of the proceeds to Kids Company, a charity that helps to deliver practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children.

  • Click through the slideshow for more on each model in the Bugaboo range

Bugaboo Bee (the lightweight one): ideal for urban parents

Over the last 7 years, the Bee has well and truly earned its reputation as one of the most stylish urban strollers on the market.

The new Bee 3 (the 3rd and latest edition of the Bee model) includes a solid-bottomed carrycot that fits to the pushchair, is rear and forward-facing, and travel-system compatible.

Bugaboo Buffalo (the all-terrain one): good for outdoorsy types

The newest buggy in the Bugaboo range, the Buffalo is the manufacturer's take on all-terrain and is designed to cope smoothly with all surfaces, "no matter how rough the expedition".

Suitable from birth, with the carrycot, to 4 years (23kg), the Buffalo is also travel-system compatible and can be used in a 2-wheeled position (a little like a wheelbarrow), which works well if, say, you need to pull the pushchair along a sandy or pebbly beach.

Bugaboo Donkey (the double one): great for growing families

Back in 2011, the Donkey was the most talked-about buggy in the industry. It was the first new Bugaboo release in 4 years and parents were so eager to see the pushchair, a baby store in New York was apparently charging $60 for a sneak peek!

Four years later and the allure of this adaptable pushchair – that can convert from a single to a double as your family grows – has not waned. Touted as "the narrowest luxury side-by-side duo stroller around", it has a width of 74cm, far slimmer than the average side-by-side double, which is usually 104cm wide.

Bugaboo Cameleon (the original one): perfect for the

The oldest buggy in the Bugaboo repertoire, the Cameleon was first launched in 2005 and is still one of its bestsellers.

The new Cameleon3 (the 3rd and latest edition of the Cameleon model) is more versatile and functional than ever, at home on both city roads and more bumpy suburban terrains.

Suitable for birth, the Cameleon3 can be used rear or forward-facing, has a two-wheeled mode, and comes with a full 3-year warranty.

Bugaboo extras and accessories

As you may expect, Bugaboo has a whole range of accessories that are on par with its high-end buggies. One of the most important extras for many parents, particularly those with expanding families, is the Bugaboo wheeled board.

At £60, it is one of the most expensive buggy boards on the market (well, it is a Bugaboo!) but it is at least compatible with all Bugaboo models, so if you change or upgrade your Bugaboo, your board will still attach to your new model for your toddler to stand on.

For add extra comfort and style, Bugaboo also sells a padded footmuff, a wool seat liner, a sun parasol, a sun canopy, a snack tray, a cup holder and all manner of attachable bags.

Read more:

Advertisement

Authors

Hazelann WilliamsFormer Reviews Editor

Having been a journalist for 15 years – and Reviews Editor at MadeForMums for five of those – Hazelann has accrued a lot of experience testing and reviewing every baby product imaginable.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement