whos got a bugaboo bee?
Discussion
Hi,
new parent in january and spending as much time looking at pram reviews as autotrader!
i thought i wanted a three wheeler funky thing like a phil and teds but the more i look the more i think i want something as small and light as poss. I am tall and have a bad back so after this weekend of trying to lug my chums v heavy pram into a car boot Im looking at the bee this morning.
Is it totally crap off road as it has samll wheels? and by off road i mean say going round goodwood fest of speed or a dry glastonbury.
is it really suitable from birth - i know they say it is but it looks like it doesnt go completly flat and looks like it comes with a sleeping bag rather than the cot of of the bigger travel systems.
Can you store enough on it to go out ok - ie is the basket big enough for all your crap or do you end up taking a bag of nappies etc to which would then kill my back again?
can you get any third party accessories?
any other comments?
thanks
new parent in january and spending as much time looking at pram reviews as autotrader!
i thought i wanted a three wheeler funky thing like a phil and teds but the more i look the more i think i want something as small and light as poss. I am tall and have a bad back so after this weekend of trying to lug my chums v heavy pram into a car boot Im looking at the bee this morning.
Is it totally crap off road as it has samll wheels? and by off road i mean say going round goodwood fest of speed or a dry glastonbury.
is it really suitable from birth - i know they say it is but it looks like it doesnt go completly flat and looks like it comes with a sleeping bag rather than the cot of of the bigger travel systems.
Can you store enough on it to go out ok - ie is the basket big enough for all your crap or do you end up taking a bag of nappies etc to which would then kill my back again?
can you get any third party accessories?
any other comments?
thanks
JungleJim said:
i'm in the same boat.
i like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
any idea what you're gonna go for? cant get the quinny zap as it does not have extending height handle which is essentiali like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
we use the train a lot so worried if just get the bee rather than the bigger prams how do we transport it without the cot attachment to start with
petemurphy said:
JungleJim said:
i'm in the same boat.
i like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
any idea what you're gonna go for? cant get the quinny zap as it does not have extending height handle which is essentiali like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
we use the train a lot so worried if just get the bee rather than the bigger prams how do we transport it without the cot attachment to start with
V8_GWA said:
Just got a Quinny Zapp Xtra having had a few test drives on other models. Picked because its light, takes the car seat we've already got, folds small and can be manpacked.
Also, I quite like the name Quinny as it sounds a bit rude...
+1Also, I quite like the name Quinny as it sounds a bit rude...
Have 2 of them and they both fit in the boot of our astra convertible.
V8_GWA said:
Just got a Quinny Zapp Xtra having had a few test drives on other models. Picked because its light, takes the car seat we've already got, folds small and can be manpacked.
Also, I quite like the name Quinny as it sounds a bit rude...
I hope our very own Quinny from PH gave them permission to use his name! Also, I quite like the name Quinny as it sounds a bit rude...
JungleJim said:
petemurphy said:
JungleJim said:
i'm in the same boat.
i like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
any idea what you're gonna go for? cant get the quinny zap as it does not have extending height handle which is essentiali like it for its size and weight, but the mrs won't consider it due to the fact it won't go completely flat.
we use the train a lot so worried if just get the bee rather than the bigger prams how do we transport it without the cot attachment to start with
I need to order the all-terrain front wheel for it as the standard ones get a big bogged down on gravelly paths.we have a Jane (pronounced hannay) matrix travel system
AAFAIK its the only one that goes flat. Takes up the whole back seat, can be fiddly at first and isn't the lightest but is good offroad pram, does pram and then pushchair, flat car seat is like a carrycot, car seat will fold so it sits at an older age and is good VFM
AAFAIK its the only one that goes flat. Takes up the whole back seat, can be fiddly at first and isn't the lightest but is good offroad pram, does pram and then pushchair, flat car seat is like a carrycot, car seat will fold so it sits at an older age and is good VFM
Got the Bee.
It is good on rough ground like grass etc, but rubbish on a loose surface like sand or stones.
It is very light, had ours from birth, and its been great. It is not completely flat, but its fine. Who said it has to be 100% flat or your babies arms and legs will fall off?
Fits plenty of stuff underneath, and we hang the change bag on the handles.
You don't need a temporary separate cot attachment, taking up more space.
When your baby is a bit older, you can sit him up a bit still facing you, then later on you can sit him up more, and make him face the front too, where it will be a good pushchair for a few years.
Rain cover that come with it works well, someone bought us the parasol attachment which is good on sunny days.
We are very happy with it.
It is good on rough ground like grass etc, but rubbish on a loose surface like sand or stones.
It is very light, had ours from birth, and its been great. It is not completely flat, but its fine. Who said it has to be 100% flat or your babies arms and legs will fall off?
Fits plenty of stuff underneath, and we hang the change bag on the handles.
You don't need a temporary separate cot attachment, taking up more space.
When your baby is a bit older, you can sit him up a bit still facing you, then later on you can sit him up more, and make him face the front too, where it will be a good pushchair for a few years.
Rain cover that come with it works well, someone bought us the parasol attachment which is good on sunny days.
We are very happy with it.
We;ve got a Bee and a Chameleon. Since we got the Bee the Cameleon sits cluttering up the kitchen. It will be on Ebay when i get round to it. The Bee is better than the Maclaren that we also used to have.
NO it doesn't go quite flat but unless you have a tiny little one we never found that to be a problem. Its pretty tough, but I would second the comments about very soft ground. So if you go walking on the beach a lot its probably not for you.
NO it doesn't go quite flat but unless you have a tiny little one we never found that to be a problem. Its pretty tough, but I would second the comments about very soft ground. So if you go walking on the beach a lot its probably not for you.
Personally I do not believe anything without a carrycot is suitable from birth (3-4 months maybe)but that does make a unit heavier and bigger to start with, so could be a compromise is the way to go, find a system that does go properly flat (many say they do but they are not truly flat)
becksW said:
Personally I do not believe anything without a carrycot is suitable from birth (3-4 months maybe)but that does make a unit heavier and bigger to start with, so could be a compromise is the way to go, find a system that does go properly flat (many say they do but they are not truly flat)
Why not?We went through all this last year. With the Bugaboo, we surprisingly struggled to get a good report from either John Lewis or the independents. I got the impression that they were the Dyson of prams. Everyone wants one but in use they are not "that" good and have a surprising ammount of warranty returns etc.
Have a good look at the iCandy range. We went for the Cherry model and it is rather good. We almost went for a City Jogger...that is a pram that is easy to fold! Couldn't get it to face us though so Mrs A2Z ruled it out.
Have a good look at the iCandy range. We went for the Cherry model and it is rather good. We almost went for a City Jogger...that is a pram that is easy to fold! Couldn't get it to face us though so Mrs A2Z ruled it out.
Edited by A2Z on Sunday 17th October 18:44
All the yummy mummies and middle class aspirationalists around me in Essex put me right off all the fancy-schmancy prams/pushchairs (buggies are American dontchaknow).
So, it was the Streety travel system for us. One handed opening and closing for when you have the little one in your arms, has a car seat and pushchair bases with it. Useless off road and the handle height can't be adjusted but goes proper flat and you'd easily get it in a Smart car. The missus' friends are very jealous of the one handed business - look in car parks at the 4x4 mummies spending 5 minutes constructing their pushchairs and looking puzzled at them - all bling and no practicality.
I don't have Isofix in my old E38 (and apparently Isofix is too rigid causing more shock being pushed through the baby in an accident as they are rock solid iron rigid), so this was ok as this car seat doesn't either.
Now, don't forget seat protectors and something for the floors - you don't want your wheels to smell of wet straw forever if her waters break/gush/leak in your car.
And...cars have a wheel at each corner and I think that's a good principle for a pushchair. Also look at the high centre of gravity for some of the trendy prams - not good.
So, it was the Streety travel system for us. One handed opening and closing for when you have the little one in your arms, has a car seat and pushchair bases with it. Useless off road and the handle height can't be adjusted but goes proper flat and you'd easily get it in a Smart car. The missus' friends are very jealous of the one handed business - look in car parks at the 4x4 mummies spending 5 minutes constructing their pushchairs and looking puzzled at them - all bling and no practicality.
I don't have Isofix in my old E38 (and apparently Isofix is too rigid causing more shock being pushed through the baby in an accident as they are rock solid iron rigid), so this was ok as this car seat doesn't either.
Now, don't forget seat protectors and something for the floors - you don't want your wheels to smell of wet straw forever if her waters break/gush/leak in your car.
And...cars have a wheel at each corner and I think that's a good principle for a pushchair. Also look at the high centre of gravity for some of the trendy prams - not good.
I've got the Quinny Buzz, The Quinny Zapp, a brand new Maclaren and an old safety first jogging stroller (that's the american for buggy) thing sat here.
Quinny Buzz .. Great with 0+ car seat, pram attachment. Is also a great forward and backward facing buggy, just huge when folded up! Can be a bit stiff at first for the wife to push closed against the gas damper that pops it open - Sorted mine with silicone spray
Quinny Zapp .. Good pushchair for normal use, don't think you will do much off roading with it! - Folds up nice and compact but its a wee bit fiddly, once your used to it it's a doddle!!!!
Maclaren .. Folds up quite small but is still long, just an everyday buggy now he's big enough. No offroading, it would be s
te!!
Safety 1st .. It's a jogging stroller, big wheels, long and can be rear or forward facing ... It's fooking HUGE!! and only for jogging ... avoid!!
As for the isofix/belt argument.
So you want some give in your childs seat in a side on smash?? No thanks.
Eveybodies seen the numbers on wrongly mounted car seats, the isofix takes that worry away!!
All the isofix seats i have can also be used in cars WITHOUT isofix! So you can go in somebody elses car no problems!
There is some give in all the seats i have, none are as solidly mounted as you make out, I'm sure all the shock loadings have been designed well enough!
Quinny Buzz .. Great with 0+ car seat, pram attachment. Is also a great forward and backward facing buggy, just huge when folded up! Can be a bit stiff at first for the wife to push closed against the gas damper that pops it open - Sorted mine with silicone spray
Quinny Zapp .. Good pushchair for normal use, don't think you will do much off roading with it! - Folds up nice and compact but its a wee bit fiddly, once your used to it it's a doddle!!!!
Maclaren .. Folds up quite small but is still long, just an everyday buggy now he's big enough. No offroading, it would be s
te!!Safety 1st .. It's a jogging stroller, big wheels, long and can be rear or forward facing ... It's fooking HUGE!! and only for jogging ... avoid!!
As for the isofix/belt argument.
So you want some give in your childs seat in a side on smash?? No thanks.
Eveybodies seen the numbers on wrongly mounted car seats, the isofix takes that worry away!!
All the isofix seats i have can also be used in cars WITHOUT isofix! So you can go in somebody elses car no problems!
There is some give in all the seats i have, none are as solidly mounted as you make out, I'm sure all the shock loadings have been designed well enough!
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