Bugaboo Butterfly Review: A NEW Cabin Baggage Size Stroller

BUGABOO BUTTERFLY REVIEW FEATURE: I was excited to try out Bugaboo’s new travel stroller, especially having booked a long haul flight with a stopover. This Bugaboo Butterfly travel stroller review focusses on our use on several flights and using in south east Asia.

The buggy came in the box already assembled and a rain cover was included. You can see immediately how compact it is folded.

Folding and unfolding

The stroller has an easy one handed fold using two buttons pressed together and it can be done with one hand. As you flick it open it often goes straight into place, but other times I have to push the back of the seat to click it all into place (I can use my knee so still one handed).

Folding it down is also done with the same two buttons pressed together and pushing down on the handle.

The staff at the airport hadn’t seen this stroller before and were amazed at how easy it is to fold. As you push down, the stroller clicks together so you can lift it one handed. There is a carry strap you can use, but you need to ensure it is in the right place in the basket before folding, otherwise you can lift it by the handle quite easily.

Canopy

Going somewhere hot, the canopy is important and I was impressed with the size of the Butterfly’s. This compact stroller canopy has an additional zip to open it up further with a breathable mesh and it provides a lot of shade.

Stroller Recline

I have been testing the Butterfly with my nine month old baby who still naps twice a day and I love how easy the stroller is to recline.

It doesn’t lie flat and therefore is only suitable from 6 months but it lies back enough to look comfortable for longer sleeps (111°-145°). There are two positions, upright and reclined and it can be changed one handed between the two. The seat is only forward facing – I would love to find a travel stroller like this that parent faces but I think it is worth the compromise for the size and weight of the Butterfly.

Comfort

The stroller is designed for children up to 22kg/around 4 years which is bigger than most in the travel stroller category. My petite 6 year old (21.5kg) has ridden in it on some longer days and it is still easy to push and tall enough in the seat to handle her. At 5 foot 9, I often struggle with stroller’s that don’t have a height adjustable bar, but I find the Butterfly is still comfortable to push.

Basket

The basket is a reasonable size and I can fit our changing bag under there. Officially, it can carry up to 8kg and I found it easier to access from the front rather than the back.

The back of the basket is flexible though which helps with putting in larger items.

Wheels

We have used the stroller on the bumpy streets of south east Asia and I was impressed with how it attempts them. It can’t compete with a larger pushchair and the smaller wheels can get stuck, but it was light to manoeuvre and handled better than expected.

If you live around cobbled streets then this isn’t the stroller for you, as it is definitely more suited to city pavements but the 4 wheel suspension means it can handle uneven ground too.

The size does come in handy for narrow spaces though and it can fit through small doorways and spaces with ease.

The stroller comes with a rain cover but it is compatible with other Bugaboo accessories like the cup holder and smart phone holder. It can be used as a travel system and is compatible with Bugaboo Turtle One and Air by Nuna & other Maxi-Cosi® infant car seats.