In-depth baby product reviews led by a Pediatrician

Bugaboo Bee5 Combo Review

Expensive, high-end option that has easy car seat attachment but is not great in the long run
Bugaboo Bee5 Combo
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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Price:   $700 List | $530 at Amazon
Pros:  Smaller unique fold, easy car seat attachment
Cons:  Price, inadequate storage limit
Manufacturer:   Bugaboo
By Wendy Schmitz, and BabyGearLab Review Team  ⋅  Jun 9, 2020
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73
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#5 of 24
  • Ease Of Attaching Car Seat - 30% 10
  • Ease Of Use - 30% 6
  • Weight/Folded Size - 25% 6
  • Quality - 10% 6
  • Maneuverability - 5% 7

The Skinny

The Bugaboo Bee5 is a quality full-size stroller with urban styling and a fancy overall feel. It has a lighter weight and smaller fold than much of the competition and connecting the car seat carrier is unbelievably easy and straightforward it does all but attach itself. However, in all other ways, this stroller is generally average. It has limited storage capacity, smaller wheels, a difficult assembly, and a higher price than products that score higher in our tests. While we admit it is a standout for car seat attachment, we think there are better overall choices to in the lineup.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Bugaboo Bee5 Combo
This Product
Bugaboo Bee5 Combo
Awards  Top Pick Award Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award 
Price $700.00 List
$529.99 at Amazon - 24% off		$120.00 List
Check Price at Amazon		$500.00 List
$499.00 at Amazon		$400.00 List
$399.99 at Amazon		$100.00 List
$99.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Smaller unique fold, easy car seat attachmentParent tray, compact fold, budget-friendlySuper easy car to strolling transition, easy to push and turnCompact and lightweight, easy car seat attachmentEasy car seat attachment, lightweight, compact fold
Cons Price, inadequate storage limitLimited to Chicco car seats, short lifespanLimited lifespan of 6-9 monthsHarder to push on uneven surfacesDual action brakes, harder to push and turn
Bottom Line Great car seat attachment but otherwise generally averageInexpensive frame stroller that works well but you'll need a new stroller at 9 monthsGood choice for urban parents with quick changes between public transport and strollingCompact and lightweight with easy car seat attachment and useful featuresGreat frame stroller with parent console and easy carrier attachment
Rating Categories Bugaboo Bee5 Combo Chicco Shuttle Doona Combo UPPAbaby Minu Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy
Ease Of Attaching Car Seat (30%)
10
9
10
8
9
Ease Of Use (30%)
6
8
5
7
7
Weight Folded Size (25%)
6
8
10
9
9
Quality (10%)
6
7
7
6
3
Maneuverability (5%)
7
5
7
5
4
Specs Bugaboo Bee5 Combo Chicco Shuttle Doona Combo UPPAbaby Minu Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy
Weight 16 lbs 15 lbs 16.8 lbs 12.6 lbs 11.7 lbs
Folded Dimensions 19"W x 13.25"H x 34.5"L 20.1"W x 11.3"H x 28"L 18"W x 16"H x 28.3"L 20.4"W x 13.5"H x 24"L 19.8"W x 11.5"H x 33.5"L
Capacity Limits Minimum: Birth - 36 months

Bassinet (purchase separately): Birth - 6 months
Stroller Seat: 6 months - Toddler

Maximum: 37.5 lbs		 Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Infants that are within the size and weight limitations of the infant car seat.		 Minimum: Birth

Maximum: 35 lbs/32"		 20 Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat.
Included Car Seat Compatibility Chicco
Britax
Maxi Cosi		 Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2		 Doona None Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Click-in Car Seat Adapters Chicco
Britax
Maxi CosiMaxi-Cosi Cabriofix®
Maxi-Cosi Pebble®
Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus®
Cybex Aton Q®
Nuna Pipa Icon®
Cybex Aton 5®
Cybex Aton Q i-Size®		 Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2		 Doona UPPAbaby
Mesa
Maxi-Cosi
Mico AP, Mico Max 30, Mico Nxt, CabrioFix, Pebble, and Pebble Plus
Cybex
Aton, Aton 2, and Aton Q
Nuna
Pipa		 Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Strap-in Car Seat Adapters None None None None None
One-handed Fold No Yes No Yes Yes
Locking Fold Auto None Auto Auto Auto
Self-standing Fold No Yes n/a Yes Yes
Handlebar Height - Min/Max 36"/42.9" 42" 32.5"/39" 41.2 36"/42"
Sandal-friendly Brake Yes Yes Yes Yes
Storage Basket Size Medium Large n/a Medium Large
Included Accessories Rain Cover None Infant Car Seat and Stroller In One Storage bag None
Setup Time 11:47 7:45 n/a 4:23 8:28

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Bugaboo brand is a high-end creator of baby gear. Launching in 1994, Bugaboo designs stylish strollers with a focus on what the company calls "game-changing" products. Bugaboo's hope is to help families find style and comfort in their gear.

Performance Comparison



We tested our Bee5 with the Chicco Keyfit 30 and Chicco adapter...
We tested our Bee5 with the Chicco Keyfit 30 and Chicco adapter which proved to be an excellent pairing and easy connection.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Attaching Car Seat


The Bee5 is compatible with a variety of top infant car seat brands including some seats from Chicco, Britax, Maxi Cosi, Cybex, and Nuna. We tested the Bee 5 with the Chicco Keyfit 30.

The car seat carrier sits inside the loop on the bee5 and almost...
The Chicco adapter for the Bee5 requires assembly but luckily it...

The Chicco adapter requires some assembly including four screwss that need a screwdriver to finish. This adapter is one of the few we've seen that requires tools. You do need to remove the seat and canopy but this is very easy. The Adapter is a loop style and the carrier truly just falls into place without so much as a hiccup and it is by far the easiest option in the group to connect. It feels secure and you can't install it wrong.

The Bee5 has a unique fold that pushes in on itself and sort of...
The Bee5 has a unique fold that pushes in on itself and sort of collapses.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight and Folded Size


This option is a minimal frame stroller after the removal of the toddler seat and canopy with a weight of only 16 lbs. This makes it one of the smaller options in the group ad certainly one that wouldn't be too challenging to lift.


It also has a comparatively smaller fold at 8,685 cubic inches. This size makes it one of the smaller options that aren't a true frame stroller by design.

Despite being rubber with suspension, the wheels on the Bee5 are...
You can lock the front wheels on the Bee5 in place which helps it...

Maneuverability


This stroller sports all-wheel suspension and locking from wheels for straight movement over the bumpiness of life. Unfortunately, though, thee Bee5 is still challenging to push and turn and while flat surfaces are a breeze anything off-road like carpet, grass, and gravel are significantly harder thanks to the smaller size of the wheels. This option definitely feels like it was designed with the urban environment in mind with tight turning capabilities, but at least in our tests didn't fare well off-road.

Ease of Use


The Bee5 is average for ease of use compared to the competition, which is disappointing for the price.

Folding the Bee5 starts with unlocking the frame.
Folding the Bee5 starts with unlocking the frame.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Fold and Unfold


The unique fold on the Bee5 includes unlocking the stroller on the frame and sort of pushing it down into itself until it collapses on itself. This stroller locks automatically, but it doesn't stand or roll like similarly priced options.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Brakes


The Bee5 has single-action brakes you press to set with a plastic pedal. The pedal lifts from underneath to release which can be challenging for open-toed shoes or nicer footwear.

The Bee5's storage bin is large with great access but it has a limit...
The Bee5's storage bin is large with great access but it has a limit of only 8.8 lbs which is not enough for most diaper bags.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Storage


The bin has a limited maximum capacity of only 8.8 lbs. So while it might fit a larger size diaper bag, your bag is likely to be heavier than the limit of the basket, which is a shame. You definitely won't be running errands or picking up groceries with this ride.

Sunshade


The sunshade needs to be removed from the Bee5 before you can pair it with a car seat carrier.

Ease of Setup


The Bee5 takes longer to assemble than almost any other stroller we've ever built. With a 12 minute assembly time with a professional stroller builder, we worry the average parent is really going to struggle.



The documentation is poor for the price of the product with the multi-language on the same page design that makes things hard to follow. The manual includes information on putting parts together that aren't required.

The loop style adapter we tested attaches easily to the Bee5 frame.
The loop style adapter we tested attaches easily to the Bee5 frame.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Bee 5 is nice quality with a sturdy frame and connection points that are not rickety and wheels that don't wobble. The fabric is thick and durable but still comfy to the touch. We were able to snag the canopy material so you'll want to use caution when you remove it for car seat connection. The foam-filled rubber wheels could be larger for better maneuverability but the overall fit and finish are better than most of the options in the same price range.

Manufacturer's Video



— Wendy Schmitz, and BabyGearLab Review Team