Bugaboo Donkey 2017 Stroller Review

The Bugaboo Donkey 2017 is a luxury all-terrain stroller that transforms from a single into a double side-by-side mode. You can buy it as a single version and get a second kit later or you can buy it as a double.

The MONO (single) version is used for one child and comes with a seat, bassinet, and a shopping bag that you see next to the seat. The DUO version is designed for different age kids and comes with two seats, one bassinet, and a shopping bag.

The TWIN version is designed for two kids the same age and comes with two bassinets, two seats, and a shopping bag although I don’t know where you would put it if you are using two seats all the time. You can also covert it into a travel system with an addition of one or two infant car seats.

This buggy is perfect for active growing family that doesn’t want to slow down despite having multiple kids. The maneuverability is outstanding! You can push it with a pinky.

The 10″ and 12″ air-filled wheels can handle ANY terrain with ease. You can walk trails with this one. There is even a two-wheel mode that helps you tackle snow and sand (personally, I think that two-wheel mode is pretty useless). It also features one-hand deep recline, large basket, huge canopy, automatic lock, standing fold, run-away strap, and adjustable handle bar.

I gave this model 4 out of 5 stars because while I love the design and modern look there are some areas for improvement. Let’s talk first about pros first. This is a high quality stroller that is very well made and will last your for years and multiple kids.

I absolutely love that huge canopy that goes way pass the bumper bar. It’s one of the best. I love the amount of storage you get. The side basket together with the basket underneath the seat are great for grocery shopping. No re-thread harness is super easy to adjust. The adjustable handle bar provides ample leg room for taller parents. The included bassinet makes it no brainier on what to do with a newborn.

It is also worth mentioning that Bugaboo Donkey is the ONLY stroller on the market that adjusts from single to side-by-side double mode with the frame going from only 23.6″ wide to 29″ wide. The coolest thing is that the seat is still 11″ wide which is a normal seat width. BTW, the 23.6″ frame is narrower than popular UPPAbaby Vista 2017 model! The designers were able to achieve this by putting the rear wheels underneath the frame.

Now for the drawbacks… What I don’t like is that there is no adjustable leg rest on the seat. There is no peekaboo window nor a mesh in the canopy so it can get pretty hot during the summer without an additional air circulation. The seat can accommodate a child only up to 37.5 lbs (3.5 – 4 year old depending on a child) which is on a lower side.

There is no additional suspension system which is very unusual for an all-terrain stroller at this price point. I even called Bugaboo today to verify that in fact they didn’t include a suspension in 2017. They did not! The fold is bulkiest ever! While you can fold it with both seats attached lifting it up wont be easy. It weighs 34 lbs with both seats attached. It’s probably best taking the seats off first or never folding the stroller. LOL.

But, my biggest problem with this stroller is a ridiculous price of $1,329 for a MONO version (single) and $1,885 for a TWIN version. What!? I know many parents want to roll in style with an impressive buggy, but I think the high price doesn’t match the features. While this is one of the most expensive strollers on the market, it’s not one of the most amazing strollers on the market. I see rotten tomatoes coming my way from the Bugaboo lovers …

But honestly, there are bunch of other strollers that have better features and a lower price. No, they don’t have the Bugaboo logo on the canopy, but your child wound’t care. While I do like Donkey 2017, I would NEVER pay that much money for it. Maybe down payment on the car?

Anyways, it comes in seven beautiful colors and includes shopping bag, bumper bar, bassinet, and a rain cover. I wish it included a cup holder instead of the rain cover. Believe it or not, I’ve NEVER used a rain cover in all the years of strolling, but I do use my cup (coffee) holder on a regular basis.

Buy Bugaboo Donkey 2017 Stroller »

 

Features

-Huge canopy! Donkey has one of the biggest canopies on the market. There are two large panels plus another one zipped in. This canopy goes all the way pass the bumper bar providing a full sun coverage even when the seat is fully reclined. Now, there is still no peekaboo window. What’s up with that? The canopy attached to the back of the seat with NO mesh to improve air circulation so it might get hot on a hot summer day. This is a little surprising since most of the modern strollers at a much lower price point have a mesh in a peekaboo window or as a separate zipped in panel.

-Telescoping handle bar. The handle bar telescopes out from 32″ to 42″ from the ground. Just like the bumper bar the handle has an elegant vegan leather cover that is very easy to clean.

-Run-away strap. There is a short run-away strap attached to the handle bar. This safety feature is designed to prevent the stroller running away from you in case the handle bar slips out of your hands. I personally never use it on a non-jogging stroller.

-Reversible seat. The seat is 11″ wide with 19″ seat back and a measurement of 22″ from the bottom of the seat to the top of the canopy. The canopy height is a little lower than on other strollers, but your three year old should fit fine.  You can easily reverse the seat by pulling two white levers on the side to unlock the seat and swinging it around.

-Deep recline. It has one-hand lever recline with 3 recline positions facing both ways. Since the seat is one molded piece, the whole seat will recline keeping its ‘V’ shape. The seat can be used for a child from 6 months and up to 37.5 lbs. If you want to use it from birth you will need to use it with an infant car seat or a included bassinet. All the seat and canopy fabrics are machine washable. BTW, the seat is very upright in the most upright seat position.

-5 point harness. It has an adjustable padded 5 point harness with a center release buckle that you need to push on both sides to unlock. No puzzles! The harness on Buffalo is very easy to adjust, no re-threading needed. All you need to do is just move the clip on the strap up and down to the desired height. You can do it on the fly without removing your child from the seat. Love it!

-Bumper bar. INCLUDED! The bumper bar is swing away for easy ins and outs. It also acts as a carry handle for the included bassinet. Just like the handle bar it is covered with a vegan leather.

-Large basket. The basket can hold up to 22 lbs and is easily accessible. You can definitely fit your large diaper bag in it.

-Three storage pockets. It has three elastic storage pockets inside of the basket for small items like cell phone, wallet, or toys.

-Side luggage basket. In the MONO mode the stroller comes with a seat and a luggage basket on the side. This is a very convenient feature especially for grocery shopping. The basket can be easily removed and carried over the shoulder.

-Parking brake. There is a white pedal on the left side that locks and unlocks both rear wheels. It is NOT flip-flop friendly which is surprising for such an expensive stroller.

-Large wheels. It rolls on air-filled tires with 10″ wheels in the front and 12″ in the back. This means you will never get a flat. The front wheels are swivel, but can be locked straight for rougher terrain. This buggy can handle any kind of terrain while providing a smooth ride.

-Two-wheel position. Just like Cameleon 3 model, Donkey has a two-wheel mode that you can use to get over rough terrain like snow or sand. First, make sure the seat in rear-facing position and the front wheels are locked straight. Next, pull levers located on the frame and push the rear wheels forward. Now, you have a two-wheel mode! The stroller is not that stable in this mode because most of the weight will fall on you so I recommend using it only for short distances.

-Easy fold. This is one piece fold, meaning you don’t need to remove the seat before folding, but this is probably one of the most bulkiest strollers on the market. You won’t have any room in your trunk especially if it’s in double mode. Since the seat is one molded piece with non adjustable leg rest, the seat does not fold at all. It just lays on top of the folded frame adding to already a large package. And it’s not that light either! In single mode with the seat attached, it weighs almost 30 lbs! Heavy! There is an automatic lock and a standing fold. The folded dimensions with the seat are 37″L x 24″W x 21″H (according to the Bugaboo site). You could take it completely apart like on the picture below, but who has the time?

-Bassinet. INCLUDED! Just like with Cameleon 3, Donkey model comes with a separate set of fabric for the bassinet that you put on the seat frame after removing the seat fabric. Both, the seat and the bassinet use the same frame, the same canopy, and the same handle bar. The bassinet can be used independently from the stroller, meaning you can use as an extra sleeping place for your newborn. When your baby is little, you can use the stroller with the bassinet, but after 6 months you can switch the fabrics and use it with the seat instead.

-Double mode option. As I’ve already mentioned above, the Donkey comes in three configurations: Mono (one child), DUO (two children different age), TWIN (two children the same age). While confusing at first, it makes a lot of sense:

1) So the MONO (single) version comes with one seat and one bassinet. You use bassinet for thee first 6 months and then switch to the seat.

2) The DUO (double) version comes with two seats and one bassinet.

3) With the TWIN (double) version you get two seats and two bassinets. You can use two bassinets for the first 6 months and then switch to two full seats.

Keep in mind, the bassinet and the seat use the SAME frame, but different sets of fabrics. You would need to switch the fabrics if you want to convert the bassinet into the seat but use the same bumper bar and the same canopy. The full width of the stroller in double mode is 29″ which will easily get through a regular doorway.

-Air-pump. INCLUDED! With air-filled tires you will definitely need an air-pump. Since it’s very compact, you can easily keep it in the car.

Cons

-No suspension. Because most of the luxury strollers have a suspension system, I was expecting it.

-No adjustable leg rest. Most of the luxury strollers have an adjustable leg rest so the small babies can stretch their little legs.

-Bulky. To make it more compact when folded, you can take off the seat and all the wheels. But, because the seat is one piece, it will still take up a lot of space. Also, who has the time taking it all apart?

-Very expensive. How many of us have paid over $1,000 for one stroller? Definitely not me. I was able to test this stroller only because one of my friends has it. Housewives of Beverly hills are probably standing inline. LOL.

-No cup holder. For that price, I definitely expect to have a cup holder and a child’s tray. Can you blame me?

-Low weight limit. It can only accommodate a child up to 37.5 lbs which is 3.5 – 4 year old. The average weight limit in US is around 50 lbs. Now, at 4 years old I think kids should walk, but than again when you pay that much money …

-No peekaboo window. I am not sure why Bugaboo can’t add a peekaboo window and mesh to the canopy. You can purchase another canopy with the mesh but why would you spend even more money?

Video Review

I found a great review of the Bugaboo Donkey 2017.

Specs

Stroller weight: 29 (single) lbs and 34 lbs (double)
Weight limit: 37.5 lbs
Folded dimensions: 37″L x 23.6″W x 20.5″H
Handle bar height: 32″ – 42″
Seat to canopy height: 22″
Front wheels: 10″
Rear wheels: 12″
Overall length: 34″
Overall width: 23.6″

Warranty

Bugaboo provides 3-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner. Here is more information on the warranty.

Available colors

The Bugaboo Donkey comes in seven colors: black, red, off white, soft pink, ice blue, petrol blue, and grey melange.

Where to buy it

You can get Bugaboo Donkey 2017 in one of the seven beautiful colors for around $1,329 for MONO version, around $1,719 in DUO version, and around $1,885 for TWIN (free shipping). It comes with shopping bag, bumper bar, bassinet, air pump, and a rain cover.

Buy Bugaboo Donkey 2017 Stroller »

~Susan Brian

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