Bugaboo Bee 5 Review

A luxury stroller with a luxury price tag, the Bugaboo Bee 5 is a great option for those who want a super nice stroller that's– size-wise– about half way in between a luxury travel stroller like the Babyzen YOYO+ and a full-sized stroller like the UPPAbaby Vista or Cybex Priam Lux. The Bee 5 accommodates a gorgeous bassinet, has a nice deep recline, great suspension, comfortable padding, and is one of the lighter and smaller-folding among the standard strollers we prefer. On the downside, it does not have an adjustable footrest and the storage basket is somewhat difficult to access from the back.

Note: In general, we don't love standard strollers because they are expensive for what they are. If you want to go big, go with a full-sized stroller. If you want to go small, go with a travel stroller. If luxury is what you're after, for about $200 more you can get the gorgeous full-sized Cybex Priam Lux, our favorite luxury stroller. For about a hundred dollars less, you can get the super compact Babyzen YOYO+ or the full-sized UPPAbaby Vista, which converts to a double stroller should your family grow in the future.

Things We Love

Luxury Look: The Bugaboo Bee can be customized to create dozens of different color combinations, the vast majority of which look very modern and super luxe.
Medium Weight: Weighing in at 19.6lbs, the Bee 5 is about 5-10 pounds lighter than full-sized strollers and about 5-7 pounds heavier than travel strollers. This is one of the lightest standard strollers on the market.
Easy, Pretty Compact Fold: The Bee 5 has a smaller fold than most standard strollers, and is therefore a good option for those who want something more robust than a travel stroller but don't have a ton of space. The fold itself is simple and is accomplished in one easy step.
Nice Bassinet or Newborn Cocoon, Sold Separately: The Bugaboo Bee 5 can be fitted with a gorgeous bassinet, sold separately for $230-$270, depending on the color you choose. (Bassinet fabric and base sold separately.) Alternatively, you can get the Newborn Cocoon, which integrates with the lay flat toddler seat to create a cozy space for tiny ones.
Deep, Near Flat Recline: The Bee 5 reclines to a nearly flat position.
Modular: The Bee 5 seat easily pops off and flips around to be parent-facing or forward-facing.
Solid Suspension; Smallish Wheels: The Bee 5 has four 6 inch wheels (the smallest wheels among strollers we like in the standard stroller category) and all wheel suspension. Designed for city streets, the Bee5 can handle a bit of bump, but performs best on paved surfaces.
Cool Harness Feature: Thanks to an interior memory foam, the harness straps stay out of the way while you place baby in the seat.
Well Padded: The Bee 5 is a luxury stroller with luxury features, and the padding is no exception. This makes for a super comfy seat for baby.
Compatible with the Best Car Seats: The Bee5 is compatible with Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Maxi Cosi, and Nuna car seats with adapters sold separately.

Things We Don't Love As Much

Expensive: A luxury stroller with a luxury price tag. Make sure this ~$1000 purchase is exactly what you want before you pull the trigger.
Smaller Seat: Although Bugaboo touts its height-adjustable backrest, extending from 19.5 inches to 22.25 inches, the seat itself is still one of the smaller and shorter seat backs on the market.
No Adjustable Footrest: The Bee 5 does not have an adjustable footrest.
Large Basket; Difficult to Access from Back: The storage basket on the Bee 5 is large. However, while the basket is easy enough to access from the front, it is very difficult to access from the back, due to the stroller’s crossbar.
Not Convertible to a Double Stroller: The Bee 5 is a single strollers and does not convert to a double stroller. It does, however, accommodate a wheeled board for older children.
Annoying Five-Point Buckle: The five-point harness requires you to buckle the shoulder straps and hip straps separately, meaning you have to buckle four things instead of two each time you buckle your child into the seat.
Some Not All Accessories Included: The Bee 5 comes with a rain cover. However, all other accessories, including the bassinet, car seat adapters, cup holder, and more are sold separately. The Bee5 does not have a bumper bar.