REASONS TO BUY
Unique fold
Large canopy
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor storage
Expensive
Bugaboo Bee5 Review
Stylish urban option but poor storage and price limits versatility
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Full-Size Strollers
The Skinny
The Bugaboo Bee5 is a quality full-size stroller with a sleek look and urban prowess. It features a one-handed fold, non-rethread harness adjustment, and larger canopy, but the storage bin max allowance is only 8.8 lbs which is unlikely to hold both baby supplies and potential groceries. While the Bugaboo Bee5 scored better than average overall and is generally and okay stroller, it lacks enough features and ease of use to really make it a go-to option for parents. With one of the higher price tags in the group and only average quality, it struggles to keep up with the similarly priced competition both in performance and attention to detail.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Bugaboo is a high-end quality baby gear company that started in 1994. They design strollers that can "move freely" with a focus on what the company markets as "game-changing" items. The Bugaboo goal is to create things that help families live in comfort and style.
Performance Comparison
The seat on the Bee5 reclines easily and the canopy can zip open for better coverage while napping.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
This stroller performs better than average for ease of use, but it lacks somewhat in this metric, especially for the price point.
Fold and Unfold
To fold the Bee5 includes unlocking the sides of the stroller frame (above left) where the handle telescopes into the frame. Once this is complete you slowly push the handlebar in and lower the stroller to the ground as it collapses more or less flat. It locks closed automatically and will not self-stand or roll like luggage.
The single-action brakes on the Bee5 are easy to set, but require the top of the foot to release which can potentially damage shoes or be rough on open skin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The single-action brakes are press to set on the wide plastic pedal between the rear wheels. You need to lift the pedal to unset and this can be problematic to some shoes or sandaled feet.
The Bee5 storage bin is easiest to access from the front, but the smaller capacity and weight allowance make it less useful than the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The storage bin on the Bee5 is lacking with a maximum limit of 8.8 lbs. So despite being a nice design to fit a larger diaper bag, the weight limit will stop you from carrying all your supplies and anything you buy while out and about.
Sunshade
The Bee5 canopy is a 2-stage sunshade with a basic opening that covers from directly above and it can zip open more panels for more coverage that can extend over your baby's knees protecting them from sun and non-wind driven rain. This canopy has no peek-a-boo window or additional ventilation which is an oversight in our opinion for a stroller in this price range.
The harness on the Bee5 is easy to use and the straps are smooth and soft. Height adjustment is also quick and easy and can be done on the fly by moving the assembly up and down with the baby in the seat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The Bee5 has a 5-point harness with a quick-release button that is easy to operate. The harness height adjustment is non-rethread and quick to adjust on the fly by moving the headrest up or down.
Reclining the back of the Bee 5 seat is a quick, one-handed operation.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
The seat reclines with a single hand and moves smoothly to an infinite number f positions including near flat. however, it doesn't have much of a leg rest down to the footrest and what is there isn't adjustable, though it is well-padded. The seat feels somewhat small and larger babies might not be comfortable as they get larger.
Car Seat Compatibility
The Bee5 is compatible with a handful of infant car seat carriers including options from Chicco, and Maxi-Cosi. Bugaboo offers click-in adapters for purchase for use with these brands. The Maxi-Cosi adapter works with Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, Maxi-Cosi Pebble, Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus, Cybex Aton Q,
Nuna Pipa Icon, Cybex Aton 5, and the Cybex Aton Q i-Size. The Chicco adapter is al oop style adapter and Bugaboo isn't currently compatible car seats, so double-check with the company before making a combination purchase.
Ease of Setup
The Bee5 took us almost 12 minutes to set up, and that is a professional stroller assembler with over 60 stroller assemblies under his belt.
The user manual isn't great with the multi-language format on a single page that can make following the steps frustrating. The manual also shows steps for putting together parts that are already installed or are not included.
Maneuverability
The Bee5 has lockable front wheels with all-wheel suspension designed to give your little one a better riding experience. The single front wheel design is better than those with dual front wheels on each leg, but the Bee5 still isn't the easiest option to maneuver. Pushing and turning on flat hard surfaces is easy, but movement on gravel, grass, or carpet is more challenging because the wheels are so small. While this stroller will get you through the city streets, it struggles in parks or over greenbelts in our tests and regular off-roading will be a no-go in our opinion.
The unique fold of the Bee5 gives you a fairly flat fold with an automatic lock with a size smaller than much of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
This stroller gives the look and feel of a lighter weight option. It weighs 21.7 lbs and folds to a relatively small 8,685 cubic inches. While 21.7 lbs may seem heavy, it is still under the average for the group which is closer to 24. The folded size is small compared to most, with a size over 10,000 cubic inches smaller than the larger strollers.
While the Bee5 is offers s sturdy stroller with attention to detail, the quality isn't as good as we expected.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The quality of this Bee is nice, but we feel it isn't up to the level the price indicates. The frame is sturdy and feels solid with no wobble or rickety connections. The fabric is heavy with a durable feel that is still soft enough to be comfortable. The canopy material can snag and we caution parents to treat it with care, especially when folded. The wheels are foam filled rubber and dense but small and we feel they would be more functional if they were larger. Overall, it has a nicer fit and finish than much of the competition, but in our opinion, it doesn't match the competition in the same price range.
Manufacturer Video
—
Wendy Schmitz
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