The Complete Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller Review: A great addition for seamless travel with children (2023)

A new addition to the travel stroller category, the Bugaboo Butterfly is a great choice for travel that provides a number of great features that parents will love when traveling or even just using for everyday use!

Let’s start with the good stuff. The Bugaboo brand is renowned for its top-notch build quality. It’s sturdy and built to last using quality materials and providing an overall sleek and sturdy design. With its one-hand folding button, collapsing the Butterfly is a breeze even with kids or other items, making storage and transport hassle-free. When it comes to smooth surfaces, this stroller glides like a dream, and you’ll hardly notice any wheel vibration or noise. Plus, it adds a touch of elegance with a refined faux leather handle.

Your little ones will be riding in comfort with its cushioned seat, suitable for kids up to 4 years old or 50 lbs which is super easy to clean from spills to crumbs. And speaking of convenience, the spacious storage basket is a real game-changer for parents who need to lug around all the essentials. While smaller than a larger stroller you can still pack quite a bit under the stroller.

Now, let’s talk about some of the drawbacks. The price point might make you do a double-take; it’s on the higher end compared to other lightweight strollers (about $449 USD). Keep in mind that this stroller is best suited for smooth surfaces, so rough terrain isn’t its forte. And, if you were hoping for built-in cup holders, snack trays, or parent consoles, you’ll need to make additional purchases. Additionally, some parents may find the fully upright seat position a bit lacking in terms of their child’s view.

Now, let’s see how the Bugaboo Butterfly stacks up against some competitors. When pitted against the Babyzen YoYo2, both strollers offer maneuverability, but the Butterfly takes the lead with its one-hand fold feature, although the YoYo2 wins in the weight and airline-friendliness department even though the Butterfly is IATA compatible. The Joolz Aer is another strong contender, with its lighter weight and slightly smaller fold, but the Butterfly reigns supreme with its generous storage basket and user-friendly seat recline and harness adjustment.

So, what’s the final verdict? We recommend the Bugaboo Butterfly, ranking it among the top three umbrella strollers. Its durability, quick folding, and smooth maneuvering make it ideal for city life. However, it’s worth noting its limitations on uneven terrain and the need for additional accessories. If you’re willing to invest a bit more, the Bugaboo Butterfly is a solid choice for a comfortable and durable lightweight stroller.

Bugaboo Butterfly Pros

1. High-Quality Build: The Bugaboo Butterfly is a high-quality stroller known for its durability and craftsmanship.
2. Quick and Compact Folding: It boasts a quick and convenient folding mechanism, making it easy to stow away or transport.
3. Maneuverability: The stroller offers excellent maneuverability on smooth surfaces, with minimal wheel vibration and noise.
4. Quality Materials: Bugaboo Butterfly uses high-quality materials, including a refined faux leather handle, providing a premium feel.
5. Age Range and Weight Limit: The Bugaboo Butterfly stroller is suitable for children aged 6 months to 50 pounds (22kg), providing versatility for growing kids.
6. Canopy: The stroller features a large, zippable canopy that provides ample coverage and stability. It’s a great feature for keeping your child protected from the sun and elements.
7. Storage Space: The under-the-seat basket is spacious and easy to load and unload, making it convenient for carrying essentials.
8. Footrest: Bugaboo Butterfly includes an in-built footrest, which some parents may find useful, especially for babies during naps.

Cons:

1. Price: The Bugaboo Butterfly is relatively high-priced compared to some other lightweight strollers.
2. Limited Terrain Capability: It struggles on unpaved or uneven terrain, making it less suitable for rough outdoor adventures.
3. No Included Accessories: The stroller does not come with built-in cup holders, snack trays, or parent consoles, which may require additional purchases.
4. Seat Recline Angle: The seat’s fully upright position may not be as upright as some parents prefer, which could affect a child’s view.
5. Limited Color Options: Bugaboo Butterfly is currently available in only a few colors, limiting choice for parents who prefer more colorful options.
6. Uncomfortable Straps: The shoulder straps on the stroller may be uncomfortable for taller or larger children, and adjusting them fully may not be suitable for kids with higher weight percentiles.
7. Newborn Use: While it can be used with car seat adapters for newborns, Bugaboo Butterfly lacks a full recline option, limiting its suitability for very young infants.

Comparisons:

1. Babyzen YoYo2 vs. Bugaboo Butterfly: Both strollers offer easy maneuverability and steering, but the Bugaboo Butterfly has a one-hand fold feature, while the YoYo2 requires two hands. The YoYo2 is lighter and more likely to be accepted by airlines, but the Butterfly has a larger under-seat basket.
2. Joolz Aer vs. Bugaboo Butterfly: Both strollers are highly recommended, but choosing between them depends on personal preference. The Joolz Aer is lighter and folds slightly smaller, while the Bugaboo Butterfly has a larger storage basket. The Butterfly’s seat recline mechanism and harness adjustment are faster and easier to use.

Author’s Opinion: The author highly recommends the Bugaboo Butterfly as one of the top three umbrella strollers. They praise its high-quality build, quick folding, and maneuverability on smooth surfaces. However, they note its limitations on rough terrain and slight tipping risk. They appreciate the comfortable seat for kids and the spacious storage basket. Additionally, the author finds the stroller’s seat recline mechanism and harness adjustment convenient. While it comes with a higher price tag and lacks certain included accessories, the Bugaboo Butterfly is an excellent choice for those seeking a durable and comfortable lightweight stroller.

Pros:

1. Age Range and Weight Limit: The Bugaboo Butterfly stroller is suitable for children aged 6 months to 50 pounds (22kg), providing versatility for growing kids.
2. Maneuverability & Design: The stroller offers smooth maneuverability and a sleek design. It handles tight corners well and has a built-in leg rest.
3. Canopy: The stroller features a large, zippable canopy that provides ample coverage and stability. It’s a great feature for keeping your child protected from the sun and elements.
4. Storage Space: The under-the-seat basket is spacious and easy to load and unload, making it convenient for carrying essentials.
5. Footrest: Bugaboo Butterfly includes an in-built footrest, which some parents may find useful, especially for babies during naps.

Cons:

1. Quality: The stroller’s quality is a major concern, with visible scratches appearing after minimal use. The frame seems prone to damage, which may not justify its high price tag.
2. Limited Color Options: Bugaboo Butterfly is currently available in only a few colors, limiting choice for parents who prefer more colorful options.
3. Uncomfortable Straps: The shoulder straps on the stroller may be uncomfortable for taller or larger children, and adjusting them fully may not be suitable for kids in higher weight percentiles.
4. Recline: The stroller’s recline feature is less impressive compared to some competitors, requiring manual adjustments, especially for the seat material to lay flat.
5. Newborn Use: While it can be used with car seat adapters for newborns, Bugaboo Butterfly lacks a full recline option, limiting its suitability for very young infants.

Comparison to Other Strollers:

• The Bugaboo Butterfly is compared to the Babyzen Yoyo, with the latter being favored for its lighter weight, better quality, and more comfortable design.
• The review also mentions the Joolz Aer+ as a preferred option, suggesting that it might be a better choice than the Bugaboo Butterfly.

Author’s Personal Opinion: The author expresses disappointment with the Bugaboo Butterfly, primarily due to quality issues. Despite some positive features like maneuverability, a large canopy, and spacious storage, the stroller’s susceptibility to scratches and wear and tear, especially considering its price, is a major drawback. Additionally, limited color options and discomfort with the shoulder straps for taller children contribute to the overall disappointment. The author indicates that, for their family’s frequent flying lifestyle, the slightly larger size of the Bugaboo Butterfly is a deal breaker, and they will continue using the Babyzen Yoyo.