Prams - bugaboo bee or strada

[Alice925]

Hi,

Trying to make my mind up on prams. We live in London and don't have a car so whatever we use needs to be light and easy to manoeuvre.
I'm currently looking at the bugaboo bee 5 or the mamas and papas strada.

Has anyone used either of these prams? Or any other ideas

Thanks

[newtothenet]

I don't know what the Strada is like but I bought the bee for my first daughter, used it until my second daughter was born, used it with a buggy board for both children, and I can't bear to part with it. I could push it with one hand, even with an older child, the steering is so easy, unlike any pram / buggy I've ever pushed. I can't recommend it enough. My only gripe is if you have it forward facing as a buggy it looks a bit odd (I think they expect you to turn it around to rear facing) but this is purely appearance and not function, and the buggy fleecy lining thing is a faff to take on and off.

[mynameiscalypso]

We also live in London and have a Bee. It works very well for us - easy to manage, we can take it on the tube without too much issue and DS finds int comfortable. We also have a lighter pram (babyzen yoyo) which is useful from time to time but DS doesn't like it as much.

[Alice925]

@newtothenet @mynameiscalypso thanks so much! Definitely swaying towards the bee

[Carrive]

I have the Bee and like it - like others say, it is easy to manoeuvre with one hand and really compact. My only dislike is that it is very low down compared to others which are popular now. Bee is stylish too - I have a black frame, black fabric, tan leather handles and white rimmed wheels - looks really nice.

[DragonPie]

I loved my Bee! Used it for both DC so a total of about 5-6 years use and it’s still great. Makes a great toddler buggy too. Infact I need to sell it really.

[Meanameicallmyself20]

Definitely a Bee! We are in London too and got one 9 years ago for eldest child and still using it for my youngest - had a double for one year during that time but otherwise it’s been used regularly and still going strong! So easy to push and manoeuvre and does newborn to toddler (and preschooler when their legs get tired!)

[KitKatKit]

I tested the Strada in a M&P store a few weeks ago and honestly it's heavy and way more cumbersome than they're advertising it to be! All these Instagram influencers are receiving Strada's for free, but it's nothing special.
I'm going for another pram but the I'd suggest the Bee over the Strada!

[ChickenDipper28]

I've just bought the bee 5 and although I haven't used I yet I've put it together and I absolutely love it 😊

[IWantAPetUnicorn]

Have you seen the new Bugaboo Ant?

[Alice925]

@IWantAPetUnicorn I did see it today. However it is just soooo small and like much more suited to quick weekend breaks rather than an everyday pram. I've decided I want a carrycot for newborn and the ant is an insert rather than a separate cot

[NWnature]

I tried the M&P Strada and Ocarro recently and way preferred to Bugaboo equivalents personally - the fold on the M&P is so much simpler. Bugaboo folding is a massive faff! I loved the Strada, we went Ocarro in the end because I want something big for rural trips and the Heath and imagine we will get a Babyzen Yoyo once the baby is a big bigger. We were worried about the Yoyo and Bee being low to the ground too.

Do you have to go up steps into your home? If you aren't lifting the pram up stairs/into the car then I would think an easier fold is more important than it being mega light weight.

That said, I am a FTM so know nothing really and I do see lots of Bees around when out and about in London.

[Nimsay1]

I don't have the Strada but have M&P Flip XT and love it, and love M&P. A few friends have Bees and I just feel they're a bit flimsy and low in comparison. The Flip XT is lightish but sturdy and folds up easily and compact. A bit snapped off the hood after 18 months (probably from overuse) and M&P were amazing. They gave me a temporary buggy while they completely serviced mine and replaced the broken but, as well as a few other bits I'd scruffier up over time (brakes, buggy bar, handle). I'd check out the Flip and Ocarro from them for comparison.

[Flynn2019]

I would say the bugaboo any day of the week. I have been part of a baby group for over a year with over 10 people and every one of us had a different pram. I opted for the bugaboo fox but someone in the group had a bee and someone had the Occarro. I love love loved my fox but its more on the bulky side. If I was city living I would opt for the bee. I now have a babyzen yoyo buggy but I would consider it with the bassinet also as I love that one too. The Occarro I thought was so heavy compared to the bugaboo and definately doesn't handle as nice. Plus I prefer the look of the bugaboos. Oh and lastly if u have a big baby the Occarro bassinet is useless. The girl in the groups little boy grew out of it before he was 3 months x

[FluffyTRex]

I had a bee for my youngest from when he was about 1, and I wish I'd had it for all of mine, I wouldn't have gone through as many prams/buggies! It's so light and manoeuvrable, I liked that it was low down because my other children liked pushing it from time to time, plus it was comfortable for me as a short arse! If I were to have another child I'd definitely go for that without a second thought.

[ciaralily]

We considered the bee but went for the babyzen yoyo in the end - it's brilliant on public transport

[Alice925]

Thanks so much for all the advice. Going to go and have another look before making the final decision.
I'm being so indecisive

[Newmamanoa]

Hi I don't think I will be much of a help
I have same problem
I am between strada and bee
However last time I was in the shop my mind went for strada.
I also live in London SE1 and I don't have a car, and I have two dogs.
My opinion
I love bee because is light and easy however I think strada is also very easy to move, I could move it with one hand. (adding I am very small woman)
I think strada has a nice basket to put things there and reach whenever you want. Bee the only access to the basket is from the front. I found it annoying
Also I prefer strada carrycot, it is strong.
The wheels in strada are bigger and London is a city but not with great roads lol.
I love the look of bee, I think is great and the colours, in the other hand I don't like much the colours of strada but are OK. I will get the grey mist, if I go for this.
Another thing I like from strada is the way it folds and open, I personally find it easier than bee but this is just maybe because I am small. Strada opens by itself, bee u need to push.
One thing I will suggest you is to do what I will be doing today
Write down the weight, the measures of the buggy open and close, and check where are u going to leave the buggy at home and whichone is better
Even though my flat is OK the entrance is narrow and I will leave the buggy in a wardrobe in the entrance so today I will measure all that and maybe go at the weekend again to try the buggies.

[AegonT]

We have a second hand (from Ebay) Bee+ (two models ago) that we used from birth to three years for my daughter and will get back out when this baby arrives. It's great, so easy to steer and fold.

[kirinm]

I live in South East London and have a Bugaboo Bee 5. As do most of the people in the park it seems. Really easy, small and good for tubes / buses if we ever use them again.

[kirinm]

@NWnature

I tried the M&P Strada and Ocarro recently and way preferred to Bugaboo equivalents personally - the fold on the M&P is so much simpler. Bugaboo folding is a massive faff! I loved the Strada, we went Ocarro in the end because I want something big for rural trips and the Heath and imagine we will get a Babyzen Yoyo once the baby is a big bigger. We were worried about the Yoyo and Bee being low to the ground too.

Do you have to go up steps into your home? If you aren't lifting the pram up stairs/into the car then I would think an easier fold is more important than it being mega light weight.

That said, I am a FTM so know nothing really and I do see lots of Bees around when out and about in London.

I have steps to my flat and was able to lift the Bugaboo up them (still do). I think it is meant to weigh c9kg.

[HelloRose]

Another vote for the Bugaboo Bee. Been such a great pram and perfect for London. I also like all the accessories you can get with the Bugaboo brand. There's a reason you see them everywhere in London
I think Bugaboo Bee6 is about to launch

[ScarMatty]

I've had the bee, it's fantastic.
But it doesn't fold small and is heavier than it looks.
We swapped to a yoyo

[FolkSongSweet]

We live in London with no car and have the Bee (5). It’s absolutely perfect for us and has been amazing for DS from birth to now (he’s 2.5), and planning to use it for new baby due soon.

We looked at the yoyo but the bee has the option of parent facing after 6 months whereas the yoyo doesn’t. Yoyo also a bit more flimsy. I worried that both would be low down but it hasn’t been a problem at all. Also we live near a huge common/woodland area and the bee has coped surprisingly well with off road given it’s meant to be a city pram.