Here is our in-depth guide on the newly-released Bee 6 stroller from Bugaboo (October 2020). We are not being paid to review this product, and all links are at time of writing unsponsored. Currently this guide is incomplete and we intend to update it as we go along.
My main reason for writing this is to provide helpful and user-intuitive feedback. I like helping people make informed decisions, more so if the parting of money is involved (I'm like that Martin guy from MoneySavingExpert, but not as pretty). As the Bugaboo Bee 6 is an expensive option in the stroller market, I hope that my unbiased review will help you with your decision.
Out of the Box
The Bee 6 weighs 11kg, but the box in which it arrives is 15kg. Considering that the only additional item is an instruction manual, I assume the cardboard is heavy duty which adds to the overall weight.
All parts of the stroller save the chassis and seat unit were individually wrapped in plastic, which while pleasing as an indicator of newness, is not that great for the planet. At this point in the green mission, it wouldn't hurt to devise a clever way of packaging that doesn't require the use of plastic bags in my opinion. We have since re-used them as bin liners which gives us a little peace of mind.
The chassis is made of aluminium with plastic moving parts. Parts that serve a function are white, which is quite handy as it saves you time looking for where to press. Parts that pair up are also easy to spot because of this.
Assembling the Stroller
Going by the manual, the first thing you must do is erect the chassis. This is done similarly to previous versions of the Bugaboo Bee, by exerting force with your foot against the horizontal axis at the rear, either to the left or right of the brake pad. It is correctly in place when you hear an audible click each side, indicated by the arrows in the picture. It is quite a formidable click, you won't miss it.
Now, the next step in the manual is to attach the seat unit. However, I disagreed that this was the best course of action. It was easier to attach the fabric to the seat base, and then the canopy to the seat, before attaching it all to the chassis. I actually followed the manual, and found it incredibly fiddly to attach the fabrics while the seat unit was in-situ. Don't make the same mistake I did! Or do, if you like to shake things up a little.
Attaching the Seat Fabrics
This part was fiddly, and some strength is required to stretch the slots in the seat fabric around the hooks, but once it's done, it's done. The fabrics stay put and are well-fitted, and in classic Bugaboo fashion look and feel thick and premium. Don't forget to attach the loops at the side and under the seat around the protruding hooks on the seat unit. They can be tricky to spot. Once all fabrics are attached, and the harnesses are in the correct positions, smooth it all out so it's even and tuck any rogue labels out of sight (and reach of little hands).
One thing to note about the seat fabric is that different markets have different materials for the seats of the Bee 6. Bugaboo informed me that due to fire safety regulations in the UK, the seat fabric on the Bee 6 has an even texture while non-UK versions have a pattern across them. I thought this was worth a mention.
Attaching the Hood/Canopy
I've decided that this warrants its own section due to that fact that I broke a sweat trying to accomplish it. I underestimated how difficult it was to manoeuvre the canopy rods into the openings through to the other side without it looking like a misshapen tent, and that's after figuring out which direction they were supposed to face and which rod went where.
The key points I took away from my experience are:
The rods in isolation are exactly the same, so once you've pulled them out of the joint don't worry about mixing them up. I wasted so much time trying to figure this out, paranoid that one was longer than the other.
If the hood is facing you (as in parent-facing seat position) the bend in the canopy rods point away from you. If the hood is facing away from you as in world-facing position, the canopy bends towards you.
The joint that connects the canopy rods slot into either side of the seat unit back rest. If the seat unit is facing you then the white wings of the canopy clamp will also need to be facing you, with the longer of the two canopy elements at the front.
With those things in consideration, I wish you a painless process, or at least one that doesn't exceed 15 minutes.
For those of you who've also done this, what did you think about it? Did you survive? Am I just utterly incompetent? Feel free to let me know in a comment below.
Seat Mechanisms
The seat unit once complete with fabric and canopy, slots onto the chassis at a very peculiar angle, with the seat collapsed and facing downwards. Naturally, I was curious and studied the engineering behind this, and found out that it is a fail-safe mechanism that allows the seat to be locked in during use. Though it's a fiddly design, it's well-intended. Of course the annoyance might be enough to put you off as there are some also well-designed pushchairs out there which attach to the chassis with a click and release mechanism. You just have to consider whether it's a function you will use regularly, and weigh up the pros and cons. Personally, it would annoy me as I rotated the seat unit quite frequently with my first kiddo, and things that didn't function seamlessly would've sent me into a fit of rage (a sorry sight for all to see).
Anyway, I digress. If you're familiar with certain Bee models (I believe from the 3 onwards) then you know that the back rest and leg support are extendable. There is no button for these, you literally move the edges up or down where it will catch on little notches to adjust it to your kiddo's preference. My toddler is taller than age average (about 1m) and has the back fully extended and the bottom extended all but one notch.
Once that is all assembled, and the handlebar is adjusted to your height, you are good to go!
Old & New Features; Accessories
The Bee 6 has swanky new features that for me personally would make it a suitable upgrade from the Bee 5. We have been asking for a bumper bar for ages, and here it finally is, in all its glory, hinged and swivel-able. Note: the bumper is insanely narrow. It measures 32cm across and sits at a 45 degree angle with the option to angle it upwards to close the bottom panel, as it can be left attached when folding the stroller. Though I thought it would be too narrow for the kiddo, I tried it out and it wasn't. I even tried it out with a footmuff in place and it still wasn't too narrow. The one we have is the standard winter footmuff from Mamas & Papas. So maybe its narrowness is an overall advantage and enables the smaller footprint of the Bee.
Now, let's talk about the new shopping basket. Nearly every owner of a Bugaboo Bee in my experience has complained about the virtually non-existent accessibility of the Bee basket. I have discovered that you can access the basket through the side, via a sturdy velcro strap. I am so late to the party on this.
The Bee 6 wheels have also had an overdue revamp, an increase in diameter from six to seven inches. I could feel the difference immediately. Doesn't seem like a huge increase in size but it made an impact on manoeuvrability. The stroller doesn't seem to sway like the Bee 5 did when I tried it out in-store (remember those days?)
One other new feature of the Bee 6 is a nifty stand that allows the stroller to stay put vertically when folded. I found it to be a bit of a tease, looking like it would keel over at any moment but never actually doing so. It could be improved to be sturdier, but it's a good starting point. Just an FYI, Bugaboo are now selling the stand on its own as an attachment to older Bee models.
If you own an older Bee, you’ll be glad to know that the older seat unit and canopy is compatible with the Bee 6 chassis, meaning you could upgrade the chassis only. Though this option would mean you have no bumper bar as its mounted onto the new seat unit.
Bugaboo have also confirmed that the older model wheels are not compatible with the Bee 6 chassis due to the way it’s engineered.
Handlebar grips from Bee 5 models are compatible with the Bee 6.
Taking the Bee 6 for a Test Run
My one criteria for any vehicle that allows sitting upon is good quality suspension. I have a thing about comfort (and mini rolls for breakfast) that is set in stone. I cannot bear the thought of a wee bairn flailing around in a stroller, it actually makes me want to cry. That in mind, I rate the Bee 6 suspension as very good. Not the best, but definitely not awful. Concrete payments, tarmac, large cobblestones and grass? Your child would receive a suitable level of comfort. Snow, sand, pebbles/gravel and muddy forest tracks? Also good, but we are in wheel territory here rather than suspension, and the latter options would require air-filled, larger wheels coupled with good suspension to ride sustainably and comfortably. If you’re a city goer, someone who takes public transport a lot, or daily walks to the park, shops or playgroups/school, the Bee 6 is perfect for you.
Navigating small spaces with the Bee 6 is an absolute dream. The drive is precise and fuss-free. Should you find yourself in a pickle, the whole thing is light enough to lift. Getting off a bus for example, you could fold it one-handed (which requires practice) and carry it in one hand and kiddo in the other for older kids. For younger children it’s easy to lift the whole stroller without elbowing other commuters, since its design is so compact (I would never dare lift my Stokke Trailz despite it weighing the same as the Bee 6, or take it on a bus for that matter).
Our Review: Pros and Cons
The Bugaboo Bee 6 is a fine specimen of a stroller. It is lightweight for what it does and could easily function as your only travel system, with the addition of the bassinet/cocoon and a car seat via adaptors if you are living in a busy city like London. It is stylish and iconic. When I lived in Wanstead (East London), nine out of 10 strollers I passed were Bugaboo Bees.
Now that we have relocated outside of London to leafier pastures, the Bee is not the top choice for us as a daily stroller. The roads, or should I say tracks, here are unforgiving and varied. I mean, my daily footwear is a pair of La Chameau wool-lined wellies, that’s got to be saying something. The Bee 6 wouldn’t stand up to the frequent forest walks our family likes to take every weekend. Our requirements are completely different now than to when we lived in the city.
The Bugaboo would work for us when we drive down to London to see family or on holidays when we need something more compact and versatile. It is able to fit in the smallest of boots - my VW Eos with the top compartment closed, which is very impressive.
What car do you drive and how does your Bee fit inside? Share your experience in a comment below to help inform other parents.
L&L Verdict
If you are a city-dwelling family, buy the Bee 6. It’s a versatile yet sturdy stroller, is compact and packed with features. It also looks very sleek and is my personal favourite of all the Bugaboo models. You can dress it up or down and it’s easy to repair individual parts rather than replace the pushchair as a whole.
The newer, larger wheels make it a sturdier drive than the previous Bees and the fold is very swift once you get the hang of it. Great that the stroller comes with a raincover included (but I’ve heard that it’s not as good as the high performance raincover sold separately. Classic Bugaboo.) Still, if money isn‘t an issue, I would hands down recommend purchasing this stroller. If you rather something less expensive, I’d recommend a stroller like the Joie Mytrax.
Little L's Thoughts
Little L loved the Bee 6. He packed up the shopping basket with all of his toys once it was assembled, saying “I'm going on holiday”. If only I could have the same level of confidence right now.
Who makes the footmuff?