I’m sure if you have been out at the shops you have seen the famous bugaboo symbol being pushed around with pride . One of the most popular high-end brands on the market . Are they really all that they are cracked up to be and most importantly are they really worth the $$$?
Well lets review it then shall we ?
Having owned and sold close to a hundred of these bad boys, I am quite familiar with the day-to-day workings of these little gems . But as with all prams , they are not without fault.
The Good ; Bugaboo , what they most famous for
Variety of colours and patterns
This is one of their trade mark features that have kept them rolling in the dough for years. The ability to change your toppings into what ever colour you can imagine ( within the guides of what they produce) . With many limited edition colours and designer patterns , they are bound to fit anyone , quirky or conservative .
Colour swapping is so popular , that brands such as Lenka, are major based on making custom hoods for bugaboo prams.
But with all designer prams , if you think you can transform your colour at the drop of a dime, you should be think a rather Large dime. You will be looking at spending between $90 – $160 for regular, run of the mill colours . With a whopping $300+ for limited edition designer covers.
Light weight.
The Cameleon is one of the lightest , full service prams on the market . Boasting a light aluminium frame , or powder coated aliminum frame . They are light weight, yet very durable .
Handle bar reversible.
This is a really an understated feature . It allows you to move your handle in both directions , depending what is most appropriate for the surface you are pushing on.
Unlike most reversible handled prams . This feature is Not to allow you to face your baby or not. The seat reverses as a seperate feature. This feature is solely about the tires. Having small, very maneuverable tires at the front makes the handling on this pram second to none. But not very practical for grass , sand or many uneven surfaces. This particular feature allows you to place the handle at the front of the pram, making the Large all terrain tyres the leading wheels. This allows you to be able to take this pram on uneven surfaces with the press of the two small buttons.
Seat reversible
Having the seat reversible is an absolute must . Being able to see your toddler while you stroll along whilst being able to flip it around so they can see the big wide world .
Bassinet & seat using one frame.
I know that some people may not like this type of setup . But for me it is the most practical. In our busy lives , space in our homes seems to be filled up so easily. Having to store a full Bassinet after you are done with it, till the next baby or till you are ready to sell the whole pram is impractical. The cameleons Bassinet attached to the same frame as the toddler seat . So when you are done you only have to store a small flat fabric and board. Easily popped under the bed or in the cupboard.
Machine washable
This pram is so easy to strip down and wash. Every part of the fabrics are machine washable. Making it super easy to get you pram looking sparkly Clean again.
Breathable bassinet mattress inlay
More than anything this gives you a piece of mind, that your baby will have his little layer that sits them on top of, and not inset into the foam mattress.
Fixable
This hidden fact is one of the greatest reasons I love Caneleons, 95 percent of the pram is fixable. If the seat adjustment stops working, it’s fixable. If the handle bar adjusters start slipping, it fixable. I have only ran into 1 problem, that I found to be unfixable, in my year’s of Cameleon fixing. Bugaboo also sells spare parts. Making it super easy to upgrade, update and fix your entire pram. Huge thumbs up!
3 year warranty
In pram year’s 3 years is fantastic! It can spend the entire time your child is using the pram and that’s what you want. Keep in mind, to get the 3 years you have to register within a month of purchase and warranties are NOT transferable , if you decide to sell you pram before the warranty is up.
Reflux friendly
Bugaboos are the only brand that I have come across that offer a reflux friendly feature. I am not sure if it was designed for this purpose. But it works beautifully for Reflux babies. Having one myself, it was impossible for him to ever be laying down fully. The bassinet can be tipped at an angle, so baby does not lay completely flat, Just a small rolled towel under their bottom and your ready to go.
Great Accessories.
Bugaboo has really thought well through their accessories and have one of the best ranges on the market. They are always coming out with new more inventive accessories, such as a mobile/ cell phone holder. The high performance footmuffs are one of my personal favorites. As well as the Breezy hood.
The Bad; Stuff no-one likes to talk about, but is necessary to be aware of.
The Basket
The Cameleon Basket. In one word, impractical. Mothers apart of the bugaboos own forum are jumping at any chance to buy a buffalos ( another discontinued model of bugaboo) Basket. The Cameleons Basket is tiny. Enough room to fit a normal size nappy bag and nothing else. It’s just not practical for outing to the shops or out doors.
Although I have been told by a small few they do prefer it. Because it has the capability of closing up. So your items are secure and not on display.
Seat recline adjustment.
This part of the pram really was not thought out well. The other models of Bugaboo have a completely different system, so it seems odd that they have not change the came. Having to use both hands to adjust, then balance the frame on your knee or what ever appendage is available to move the seat.
Over the years I have found the knack of holding it a way as to adjust with just my hands. But it is still rather uncomfortable.
Lockable fold
Unlike the Cameleon 1 &2, the chameleon 3 does not have a locking fold. I found this to be quite awkward when lifting the pram into your car, as it can unfold half way. But once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t bother you too much .
Can not hang bags off handle
Repeat after me, I will NEVER hang bags off my cameleon handle bar. Tempting as it is, this is the #1 reason, people ruin their prams. The arm is not designed for heavy weight. It makes me shudder every time I see Someone walking with their large nappy bag or weekly shop hanging off their pram handle ( not to mention this voids your warranty) there are many alternatives, quite creative ones, for Nappy bag placement. Just not on the handle.
The in-between
The hand brake
This is a tricky one and really divides a lot of people. Some people rave on about how they hate the handbrake over a foot break. Others claim hand brakes are safer ( I’m still looking for solid evidence). Being on the right side, it can be a little bit tricky for our lefty friends to get the hang of, but it all comes down to personal preference.
The foam
Cameleons have foam everywhere, the seat frame, the handles, the bumper. This can be an advantage if it’s we’ll looked after. If you clean it correctly, your pram can come up brand new without a scratch on it. But if you don’t take care of it, It can kill the resale value of your pram and end up making the pram look old and tattered. The moral of the story? Take care of your foam!
Securing your hood
This one usually bothers people once or twice in their time owning this pram. But i feel i need to include it. Being able to change the colours at the drop of a hat, comes with some sacrifices. The rods and clamps used can often be more flimsy than those on a non removable hood. When comparing the Joolz Day Hood and the Cameleon 3 hood, there is no comparison, when it comes to stability and structure. But there is also draw backs. The joolz hood is not machine washable or changeable. Where the Cameleons is. So again it will only bother your maybe once or twice, but most owners never notice it at all.
Suspension
The suspension on these prams are epic. But in all my time owning one, I have never adjusted the suspension, other than to clean the wheels. It’s more of a set and forget feature. But not noticeable is a good thing, I guess.
No adjustable footrest for Baby
personally I think this is a highly over rated feature for most prams . Thus the reason I assume it has not been included
In conclusion
All in all the Cameleon is a fantastic pram , with almost every feature that you could want.
It’s a fantastic first pram for anyone that has reasonable boot space. It’s also perfect for those having c-sections because it’s so light weight.
I give it:
🤰🤰🤰🤰1/2
4.5 out 5 🤰 Happy Mama’s.
Let me know what you think!
Do you l😍ve your Cameleon or not so much. Leave me some comments below!
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