Bugaboo Bee5 Combo Review
Pros: Smaller unique fold, easy car seat attachment
Cons: Price, inadequate storage limit
Manufacturer: Bugaboo
The Skinny
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Bugaboo Bee5 Combo | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
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 ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Smaller unique fold, easy car seat attachment | Parent tray, compact fold, budget-friendly | Super easy car to strolling transition, easy to push and turn | Compact and lightweight, easy car seat attachment | Easy car seat attachment, lightweight, compact fold |
Cons | Price, inadequate storage limit | Limited to Chicco car seats, short lifespan | Limited lifespan of 6-9 months | Harder to push on uneven surfaces | Dual action brakes, harder to push and turn |
Bottom Line | Great car seat attachment but otherwise generally average | Inexpensive frame stroller that works well but you'll need a new stroller at 9 months | Good choice for urban parents with quick changes between public transport and strolling | Compact and lightweight with easy car seat attachment and useful features | Great 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%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (30%) | |||||
Weight Folded Size (25%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Maneuverability (5%) | |||||
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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