Bugaboo Butterfly 2 review: big on storage, but small enough to fly with

What’s the difference between the Bugaboo Butterfly and the Bugaboo Butterfly 2?

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is an upgrade on the original Bugaboo Butterfly - the most important difference being that the seat on the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 can be used from birth as it has a fully lie-flat (as well as a fully upright) recline. The original Butterfly was only suitable from the age of six months unless used with a baby car seat. 

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 also has larger wheels than the Bugaboo Butterfly, allowing for improved performance on different surfaces, as well as an additional storage pocket at the back of the seat. 

While the Bugaboo Butterfly is made using recycled materials, the Butterfly 2 uses both bio-based and recycled materials, which Bugaboo claims reduces CO2 by 37%. This gives the Butterfly 2 a lower carbon footprint, and makes it more sustainable and environmentally-friendly than its predecessor.

I tested the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 during holidays to the Netherlands and the Cotswolds

How we tested the Bugaboo Butterfly 2

• One month of using the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 multiple times a week

• Used on a holiday to the Netherlands

• Used on a weekend break to the Cotswolds

• Used on days out

• Used on a variety of terrain, including grass, gravel and tarmac

• Tested with a three-year-old

I tested the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 out over the course of a month with my three-year-old daughter. My husband also tested the buggy to assess how it fared for different heights. 

We used the Butterfly 2 on days out, general errands around town (i.e. grocery shopping), longer walks in our local area, as well as during a weekend break to the Cotswolds and a 10-day holiday to the Netherlands.

We took a ferry to the Netherlands so didn’t have a chance to fly with the Butterfly 2, however it was transported for long journeys in the car then used every day once we were abroad, especially as a place for my preschooler to rest her legs and nap when she got tired. 

As well as assessing its travel-friendliness, I made sure to test the Butterfly 2 on a variety of terrain, including grass, gravel, tarmac, and paved and cobbled paths, to see whether it functioned well as more than just a travel stroller. Spoiler: it did.

Once testing was complete, I scored the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 on eight key criteria: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, ease of folding and unfolding, comfort and storage. After adding all the scores up, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 achieved a total of 88 out of 100, which equates to a five-star rating.

Bugaboo Butterfly 2: what’s in the box?

• Pushchair base

• Seat

• Sun canopy

• Underseat basket

• Instruction manual.

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comes with four key components, but I was provided with the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Rain Cover (usually an extra) as part of the testing process. 

In addition to the rain cover, there are other accessories you can buy for the Butterfly 2 such as: the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Car Seat Adapters, Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Bumper Bar, Bugaboo Parasol+, Bugaboo Mosquito Net, Bugaboo Cup Holder and Bugaboo Organiser.

How easy is the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 to assemble?

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comes fully preassembled, so all I had to do was unfold the buggy straight out of the box then adjust the straps to fit my three-year-old’s height. It took less than two minutes to get it set up for use. I appreciated the lack of plastic packaging and the fact that the rain cover comes folded away in its integrated rectangular pouch. 

Four Bugaboo Butterfly 2 colour options

Bugaboo Butterfly 2: how does it look?

As expected from Bugaboo, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is chic and well designed, crafted out of durable bio-based material and recycled aluminium. According to Bugaboo, it has the “lowest CO2 footprint in our stroller lineup,” which makes the Butterfly 2 a more attractive option than the original Butterfly. 

Its fabrics feel premium and are both water-repellent and PFAS-free, while the handlebar has a 100% vegan leather finish for a comfortable push. 

I tested out the Heritage Black colourway with black chassis, which was my own personal preference, but there are an additional three fabric colour options to choose from: Desert Taupe (a neutral grey/brown colour), Forest Green and Deep Indigo. Not quite as many as the likes of the popular Stokke Yoyo3, but enough choice for different tastes nonetheless. 

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 brake and five-point harness

Is the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 safe and sturdy?

Yes! I was very impressed with the sturdiness of the Butterfly 2 considering how compact and lightweight it is. I found it to be sturdier than my regular buggy, the Stokke Yoyo3, when used with my three-year-old, even though both can be used up to 22kg (around age four). However, the Butterfly 2 is wider than the Yoyo3.

Bugaboo states that the Butterfly 2 has been tested beyond industry standards, which involves fold-cycle testing - the Butterfly 2 has been engineered to handle over 10,000 folds, which is seven times more than the industry requirement - and the wheels tested over 4,000km (2,485 miles) to simulate prolonged use on a variety of surfaces.

From a parent perspective, I found the five-point harness to be easy to use as you simply click each point into place. The straps are also easy to adjust, even in a hurry, and they stay in position when the harness is unbuckled to help you get your child in and out without having to grapple with twisted straps (you’ll also find this on other Bugaboo buggies like the Bugaboo Dragonfly). Once folded, the Butterfly 2 automatically locks into place so that it can be carried safely.

The footbrake on the Butterfly 2 functioned perfectly, even on sharper inclines, and I found it to be easier to use than on the Stokke Yoyo3, mostly down to its positioning - the Butterfly 2’s brake is in the middle of the bar whereas the Yoyo3’s is positioned on the righthand side. I tested the Butterfly 2 out in summer, so was able to try the footbrake out with sandals and found it just as easy to use as with my regular shoes.  

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 extendable sunshade and lie-flat recline

How comfortable is the Bugaboo Butterfly 2?

I tend to judge the comfort of a buggy by how well my child naps in it, and the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 did not disappoint. 

During our trip to the Netherlands, we enjoyed the delights of an evening festival, which began around my daughter’s usual bedtime. Happily, she slept in her buggy for the entirety of the event before we were able to successfully transfer her to bed later on. She also napped in the buggy at other times during our holiday. 

The Butterfly 2 seat has three recline angles, including a lie-flat recline. I found the recline angle could be adjusted smoothly using a handle and pull strap at the back of the seat, and I only needed one hand to put the seat back into its upright position. I also appreciated the popper that keeps the recline strap in place so that it doesn’t dangle down unnecessarily. This also means that the back of the seat stays as compact as possible when the buggy is folded.  

The seat has a padded liner as well as padded straps. You’ll also find a handy integrated footrest for smaller legs that can be moved up or down one-handed when needed. 

While fairly small in size, which is typical for a lightweight stroller, all four wheels have full suspension and the front wheels are slightly larger than on the original Butterfly to increase both comfort and manoeuvrability. 

The handlebar (with a height of 102.4cm) unfortunately isn’t adjustable, but the Butterfly 2 is still suited to different heights. I am 5’6” while my husband is much taller at 6’4” and we both found the Butterfly 2 comfortable to push, even with one hand. This was enhanced by the handlebar’s beautiful vegan leather finish, alongside a strap that you can wrap around your wrist for extra security.

As on other travel strollers like the Stokke Yoyo3, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 doesn’t come with a bumper bar (you have to buy one separately), which is one of the only downsides to this buggy, especially for younger children.

What’s the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 like to use with a newborn?

While I didn’t try the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 out with a newborn, the lie-flat recline makes it safe for use from birth. 

The Butterfly 2 is car seat-compatible if you buy the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 car seat adapters, which fit with certain infant car seats including the the Britax Baby-Safe Pro, Cybex Cloud G i-Size, Cybex Aton B2 i-Size and the BeSafe Go Beyond. 

It can soon be used with the Bugaboo Baby Nest, a soft newborn insert launching in September 2025.

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 rain cover and pouch

What’s the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 like to use day to day?

I made sure to test it on holiday to see how it performed as a travel buggy, moving it in and out of the car boot, using it around the holiday park I stayed at as well as in a handful of Dutch towns and small cities. I also used it in a variety of Cotswolds villages when on a weekend trip with my family, including the ever-popular Bourton-on-the-Water.

Despite being touted as a travel stroller, I found the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 to be a versatile everyday buggy too. I used it for general errands around my local town with my daughter in tow, navigating narrow shop aisles and busy streets with ease thanks to the compact buggy’s tight turning circle. 

Both in the UK and abroad, I was able to test the Butterfly 2 out on a variety of terrain, including grass, gravel, cobblestones, paved paths and tarmac. 

While the buggy struggled on cobblestone roads and gravel, and rarely managed to successfully bump up large kerbs, it performed surprisingly well on grass, speeding across the surface smoothly and remaining a comfortable ride for my three-year-old thanks to the four-wheel suspension.

On sunnier days, the extra-large, UPF 50+ extendable canopy is a game changer. It provides great coverage when extended to the max, especially when the seat is in the lie-flat position. I found it didn’t quite cover my three-year-old’s legs completely, but provided much more coverage than we are used to with the non-extendable sun hood on the Stokke Yoyo3. It has two zips - one to extend the sun canopy and one to provide ventilation. There is also a mesh peekaboo window for increased airflow, with a cover that simply folds back. 

On wetter days, the rain cover, which I tested in multiple downpours, provides adequate protection against the elements and can be attached to the buggy quickly using Velcro straps. The rain cover can then be rolled up after use into its integrated and flat-pack storage pouch.

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 storage basket and pocket

What's the storage basket like?

The underseat storage basket is one of my favourite features of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 and is one of the largest I’ve seen on a lightweight buggy, beating the 5kg storage basket on the Stokke Yoyo3 by a mile. 

It has an 8kg capacity - which was large enough to comfortably hold my backpack, three reusable water bottles, my daughter’s travel potty and a rolled-up waterproof jacket during testing - and it can be filled from both the front and the back (unlike the Stokke Yoyo3).

You’ll also find a much smaller storage pocket at the back of the seat, which I found handy for storing the rain cover. 

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 folded

Bugaboo Butterfly 2: how easy is it to fold and unfold?

Very easy. Both folding and unfolding the Butterfly 2 is very intuitive and quick to master - so much so that I didn’t even need to consult the instructions. It has a concertina fold, which makes it ultra compact and IATA-compatible for plane travel, as well as an integrated strap for carrying the buggy over your shoulder when folded. At only 7.3kg, it’s not at all heavy to carry.

While Bugaboo says the fold takes one second, I found it takes around four - still hugely convenient if you need to be able to fold your buggy quickly and with one hand, especially when travelling. 

You fold the buggy using the two buttons on the handlebar, holding both down at the same time. It then collapses down into a cabin-friendly size and stands upright when folded. You use the same two buttons to unfold it, pulling the frame upwards so that the buggy pops open. 

I found the quick-and-easy fold to be a major plus point when travelling in both the UK and abroad, making the buggy super easy to get in and out of the car boot. It folds up small enough to sit beside two cabin suitcases in the boot of my Volvo V40. I also managed to squeeze it between the driver’s seat and back seat when my boot was too full. 

While I didn’t test it on a plane, I plan to take this buggy with me on my next holiday where I will be flying to my destination. The fold and unfold is so quick that I have no concern about travelling with it through the airport and on the plane itself. 

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 and Stokke Yoyo3 in car boot

Is the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 easy to clean?

Unfortunately most of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2, with the exception of the seat inlay, needs to be washed by hand. The seat fabric, sun canopy and underseat basket are removable for washing, while the seat inlay can be machine-washed at 30°C. You will, however, need to clean the faux-leather grips with a damp cloth. 

During testing, the Butterfly 2 received some staining from snacks while we were on the go, but these stains came out well after cleaning. It helped that the fabric on the buggy I tested is black. 

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 vs Stokke Yoyo3 folded

Is the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 good value for money?

Compared to travel buggies from the likes of Joie, Joolz and Cosatto, the Butterfly 2 is definitely more expensive. That said, it’s worth the investment if you plan to use it from birth all the way up to four years old. 

The quick fold makes it a great travel companion and the storage basket is, quite frankly, one of the best I’ve seen in the compact stroller category, outperforming many comparable buggies in both capacity and accessibility - including my regular buggy, the Stokke Yoyo3.

While it’s been designed with travel in mind, I also found it to be a very practical day-to-day buggy, so wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other parents.

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a three-year-old, she is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable products for families.

With over nine years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier. 

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of product review videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.