Bugaboo Bee is a luxury stroller that is the lightest model in the Bugaboo collection. Parents love it for its great maneuverability, easy fold, and reversible seat option.
You can take it to the mall, doctor’s office, or public transit with no problems. It is very compact and is designed for on-the-go parents who live in an urban environment and who have a LOT of money.
Since it rolls on small 6″ wheels, don’t expect it to do well on grass or mulch. The Bee model is designed for flat surfaces ONLY!
The seat has almost a flat recline so you can use it from birth and up to 37.5 lbs. You can also use it as a frame by removing the seat and replacing it with an infant car seat (you will need to purchase a car seat adapter compatible with your car seat).
Weighing 18.5 lbs, the Bee model is somewhere in between a regular stroller and an umbrella stroller. I think it is a little too heavy to be an umbrella stroller and at the same time, the wheels are too small for a full-size one. However, it costs two full-featured-size strollers. LOL.
OVERALL
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars mainly because of the canopy, small wheels, and bulkiness. The canopy doesn’t have a peekaboo window, doesn’t go all the way down to the bumper bar, and doesn’t convert into a so-called ‘floating canopy’.
Also, the wheels are way too small to handle any terrain. And, I was not crazy about hard-to-access basket. Finally, the fold is VERY bulky. It will take up the whole trunk. This stroller is more about status than functionality. And doesn’t it look like a wheelchair? LOL.
The lowest price I was able to find is $649 for a yellow one on Amazon. Ouch! The price does vary depending on the color and the seller. I also found a special edition model that is retailing for a whopping $749!
The only accessory included with the stroller is a rain cover. Everything else like the cup holder, bumper, or tray has to be purchased separately.
Features
CANOPY
The canopy looks quite large, but I wish it would go down farther. Also, it’s attached to the back of the seat and does NOT convert into a ‘floating canopy’. Like all of the Bugaboo strollers, it doesn’t have a peekaboo window.
HANDLEBAR
It is a telescoping handlebar that goes from 34″ all the way up to 41″ from the ground. The handlebar is made out of foam and has a convenient one-hand grip in the middle for one-hand navigation. Great feature! I always push my stroller with one hand.
SEAT
It is a roomy seat that is 15″ wide. The back of the seat extends up to 24″ from the back of the seat to the top of the canopy. The great thing is that the canopy extends with the back of the seat.
The bottom of the seat also extends forward to accommodate an older child. Very cool! As you can see, the Bee truly grows with your child. The seat has a 3-position one-hand recline that goes to an almost flat position so you can use it from birth and up to 37.5 lbs. BTW, this is a very upright seat.
The weight limit is not very high compared to other strollers that can accommodate a child up to 45 -50 lbs. The seat can be reversed, so your child can face you or the world (don’t forget to remove your child before reversing the seat).
HARNESS
It has a padded 5-point harness with a center release button (that is easy to unlock). When you raise the back of the seat, the harness also moves up with the seat, so you don’t even need to re-thread it. Easy!
BASKET
Although the basket underneath the seat is large, it is very hard to access. The easiest way to fit a diaper bag into it is from the front (if your child is not in the stroller). Getting things out with the child in the seat is quite challenging.
WHEELS
It rolls on four 6″ foam-filled tires meaning you will never get a flat. The front wheels are swivel but can be locked straight for tougher terrain.
BRAKE
It has a single-foot pedal brake in the back that locks both of the rear wheels. It is not flip-flop friendly.
FOLD/UNFOLD
It has a two-hand fold, so you will NOT be able to hold your child and fold a stroller at the same time. It is a one-piece fold, meaning you don’t need to remove the seat before folding.
Although they are saying you can extend a handlebar and carry it on your shoulder, I found it very inconvenient. At 18.5 lbs it is too heavy to carry on the shoulder (at least on my shoulder) plus you will have your child and a diaper bag.
Warning, serious exercise is required! LOL. Also, it doesn’t have the compact fold that most umbrella strollers have. You will be knocking people left and right if you try carrying it on your shoulder.
The good news is that the frame is pretty narrow making it great for public transit. If you lock the front wheels before folding it, you can just roll it behind you like a piece of luggage. It does have an automatic lock.
Cons
-No accessories. No snack tray, no bumper, no cup holder. For that price, I would expect to see at least a bumper bar or a cup holder. But no luck. With the Bee model, you have to buy everything separately.
-Price. At $650 I think it’s wayyyyyy overpriced for the features you are getting. At every store I went to, I was recommended other strollers before Bee.
-Basket access. The basket is large, but it’s very hard to access especially from the back. If it was an umbrella stroller (it’s too heavy for that), I would understand. But it’s more like a regular stroller, so I do want to see an easy-to-access basket.
-No adjustable footrest. I know that many lightweight strollers don’t have an adjustable footrest, BUT many luxury strollers do. For that price, I expect an adjustable footrest and a babysitter. LOL.
-No peekaboo window. For such a large canopy I would like to see at least one large peekaboo window. This is a deal breaker for me. I just love to look at my baby through the window and see where she is looking and how she is reacting for different things. They grow so fast and I want to enjoy every moment.
-Heavyweight. It’s too heavy for an umbrella stroller. Weighing 18.5 lbs, it is closer to a full-size model.
Video Review
Baby Gizmo has a detailed video review that I found very useful.
Specs
Stroller weight: 18.5 lbs
Weight limit: 37.5 lbs
Folded dimensions: 37″L x 18″W x 12″H.
Handlebar height: 34″ – 41″
Seat to canopy height: 24″
Wheels: 6″
Overall length: 36″
Overall width: 18″
Warranty
Bugaboo provides only a 2-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner.
Available colors
For 2013 Bugaboo Bee comes with a black seat and 7 different canopy colors: black, red, sand, pink, off-white, and royal blue. All strollers come with a stainless steel frame.
Accessories
Accessories for the Bee model include a baby cocoon (just like a footmuff, but it is designed for newborns), footmuff, seat liner, organizer, umbrella attachable to the handlebar ($40), cup holder ($25), adult organizer/console ($30), snack tray ($37), glider board ($100), storage bag ($170), and different car seat adapters.
Where to buy it
You can get the Bugaboo Bee in one of the seven beautiful colors for $649. I didn’t find any good sales on this one. You can buy it, test it, and return it if you don’t like it for free.
Thank you so much for this review – very helpful! It’s the first unbiased review I have found – all the others just seem like a sales pitch!
Hi,
I realise this is an older review but just wondering if you could tell me what colour hood/canopy that was on the bugaboo bee??
Thanks
Kelly