There is no denying the smart and stylish design of the
Bugaboo. The company that brought us the 360˚ turn and the raging debate over
price and excess, now has the new Bee model and the answer to those in the, ‘I
can’t spend $800, but hey, why not $500?’ camp.
The Bee is a more compact version and weighs in at a (still
hefty) but more manageable 18 lbs. It’s also quite a marvel to feel how easily
the Bee can fold up and back with one easy foot pedal to open; add your two
hands when collapsing. You still get the smooth one-handed driving option with
the Bee, which is quite frankly, a feature you will find more useful than you
can imagine. And this handle bar feature also extends, once again, to the great
delight of our more vertically-abled testers. The sunshade extends over the
entire seat, creating a safe haven for your infant while completing the look. And
the Bee stands with tradition bringing us bright colors and eye-pleasing lines.
So, what’s missing?
The air-filled tires of most Bugaboo models are now foam in
the Bee; but still offer 4-wheel suspension, so the ride is smooth as long as
you’re not off-roading. And while the reversible seat can be moved to face you
or to face out as your baby gets older, the seat is a little tight for the
bigger toddler. Our tall, 28 lb tester looked as if she might outgrow the Bee
any day now, and a larger toddler looked downright squished inside the
stroller, even though the Bee is designed to hold up to 37.5 lbs of baby.
Another side effect of the downsizing of The Bee is that the
basket is small as well. But the compact size also means that it is easier to travel about
town with your tot. In theory you can fold it up, grab the handle and go. In
theory your bi and triceps must be in better shape than mine, as it was getting
to me after a few blocks. Okay, one block. I really need to get to the gym. At
$529, the Bugaboo Bee is less expensive and perhaps this makes it have a
shorter life span. But during that life span, hey, you’ve got it going on.
If you are a member of the Bugaboo fan club, read Gwynne's interview with the creator himself. Or, check out this
modern dance film.
Buy it from Amazon
- $529
