Bugaboo Bee Plus Review
All stroller reviews- Introduction
- Seat design and function
- Child Safety Harness
- Hood or Canopy
- Handle design and function
- Storage
- Wheels and Brakes
- Fold mechanism
- Manoeuvrability
- Size
- Accessories
- Conclusion and Rating
Review by: Mel
Introduction
Strollers and Prams would like to thank Bubs Baby Shop for providing this months review stroller. You can find the Bee+ at Bubs Baby Shop here: Bee+ at Bubs
Bugaboo answers the call of the modern, mobile parent with the compact, easy and nimble Bugaboo Bee+ that grows with your child from newborn to toddler. When space is at a premium, the one-piece, foldable Bugaboo Bee+ delivers. It's slim enough to navigate even the tightest spots and folds compactly to fit in the most crowded closet or taxi trunk.
Seat design and function
Seat in upright position
Seat partially reclined
Seat fully reclined
Seat partially reclined rear facing
Seat back lowest setting and white recline lever
Seat back highest setting
Seat on lowest setting
Seat on highest setting
Seat base shortest setting
Seat base longest setting
Australian Bee+ upper seat guard
Seat connector on seat
Seat connector on stroller
Seat folded all the way forward ready to be reversed
The seat unit on the Bugaboo Bee+ is reversible, and height/length adjustable so it really will grow with your child. It has a seat padding that is easily removable for washing and is reclinable to 3 positions, including almost flat, making it suitable from newborn. To recline simply pull up on the white recline lever and adjust to desired position.
To reverse the seat you need to pull up the recline lever only a quarter of the way up and fold the seat all the way forward. The seat will now simply pull up out of the chassis. It is important to only pull up on the lever a quarter of the way, if you pull it up all the way as you would if reclining the seat then the seat will jam when you try to fold it all the way over. Turn the seat around and put it back onto the chassis lining up the grooves in the seat and chassis.
To extend the seat back there is a black lip just above the recline lever, you just need to pull this lip upwards or downwards to adjust the seat back height. The harness adjusts automatically with the seat back so you will not need to re-thread your harness.
The seat depth is also adjustable, by grabbing the front of the seat and pulling it out or pushing it in you can adjust the seat depth to a position comfortable for your child.
Seat dimensions:
Seat Back: 47cm/18.5”to56cm22/”
Clearance to hood: 59cm/23”to 66cm/26”
Width: 30cm/12”
Seat depth: 30cm/12” to 36cm/14”
Foot well: 16cm/6.5”
Weight limit: 15kg/33lbs
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Child safety harness
The harness on the Bee+ is a 5 point padded harness. The stand out feature is the “no-thread” harness adjustment. When you change the seat back height the harness automatically adjusts.
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Hood or Canopy
Hood fully extended
Hood partially extended
Hood back
The hood on the Bee+ is what I would consider standard, it provides reasonable sun protection when your child is sitting fully upright but less adequate cover is provided when the seat is reclined. I would suggest a sun cover be used and Bugaboo do make a sun cover specifically for the Bee+.
The hood does not open and close intuitively; it needs to be done with two hands or needs to be “walked” open and closed with one hand. It did not take long to get used to it at all. There is a soft but audible click when opening and closing the hood but I don’t think it would be enough to wake a sleeping baby if it was done slowly.
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Handle design and function
Handle in highest position
Handle in lowest position
Handle adjust button
The range of height on the Bee really will suit any parent. The handle has 8 handle positions ranging from 90-115cm.
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Storage
Basket view from front
Basket view from rear
The Bee+ has a very generous storage basket which is easily accessible from the front of the stroller. It is not accessible from the rear for larger items due to the shape of the chassis. You will need to thread things through your child's legs when the seat is forward facing, in rear facing mode the basket space is easily accessible.
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Wheels and Brakes
Front wheel release button and wheel lock
The Bee+ has 4 x 18cm/7” wheels with all round suspension. The front wheels are lockable by pulling up the white slide locks located at the top of the wheel fitting.
Brake engaged
Brake disengaged
The brakes on the Bee+ plus are a single lever system in the centre of the rear cross bar. The brakes engage and disengage very easily. The lever gives a firm feel when engaged and an audible click when disengaging so you won’t accidentally release the brakes without knowing.
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Fold mechanism
Fold release button and slide button
seat folded forward ready for rearfacing fold
Seat folded rearward facing
Folded seat forward facing
The stroller folds in both rear and forward facing mode. In forward facing, sit the seat up, press the fold release button and slide up the fold slide buttons. The stroller then slips down automatically into a locked fold. To fold rear facing you must fold the seat forward similar to the seat removal technique but stop when the seat is parallel to the handle or you will have the seat pop off the chassis when you fold it. When the seat is parallel to the handle bar, follow the steps as for forward facing.
To unfold the Bee+ simply place your foot on the centre of the back cross bar near the brake, hold the handle bar and push with your foot. Adjust the seat to desired position and you are set to go.
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Manoeuvrability
The Bee+ is lightweight and very agile. Over footpaths, the suspension tackles unevenness with ease and on shop floors it simply glides. The turning circle is tight and responsive. I really enjoyed taking it shopping.I also did a train trip with it and was pleasantly surprised that fit through the narrow carriage doors. I can really see the Bee+ as a perfect public transport stroller.
Over grass it does struggle and over unsealed gravel it did not perform well at all but in its defense the Bee+ is not designed as an all terrain stroller so I would not expect it to perform well on rough terrain. Locking the front wheels does improve performance over rougher terrains.
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Size
Unfolded dimensions:Width by length 48 x 69cm/19 x 27”
Folded dimensions:
Width by length by height 48 x 90 x 32cm/19 x 35.5 x 12.5”
Weight:
Seat, wheels, basket and hood on: 9kg/20lbs
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Accessories
The Bee+ comes with a raincover. Optional accessories include cupholder, footmuff, suncover, breezy, liner, iphone holder, parasol and cocoon.
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Summary and Rating
Pros
- Lightweight
- Generous storage basket under seat
- Easily reversible seat, suitable from newborn
- Fantastic manoeuvrability
Cons
- Basket access restricted in forward facing mode
- Hood coverage only standard, sunshade is highly recommended.
Conclusion
If you are after a lightweight, fully reversible stroller that is suitable from newborn and will grow to see your child through to the end of their stroller days then the Bugaboo Bee+ is the stroller for you.The ability to fold the stroller with the seat in either direction is unique to the Bee in the lightweight category.
The manoeuvrability even with a heavier toddler on board is fantastic, and the generous storage basket will easily hold all you need for a full day out. By adding a sunshade the Bee+ becomes the perfect stroller for everyday use.
Rating
Overall Rating(out of 5)
Seat Rating
Harness Rating
Hood/Canopy Rating
Handle Design Rating
Storage Rating
Brakes Rating
Fold Rating
Wheels Rating
Manoeuvrability Rating
Accessories Rating
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