Bugaboo Frog Stroller Review

The Bugaboo frog is a classic stroller which has been popular with celebrities like Claudia Schiffer (pictured below) and many others but unfortunately it is a discontinued model.  It has been superseded by the Bugaboo Cameleon 3.  If you’re looking for a brand new Bugaboo stroller which is similar to the Bugaboo Frog, check out my review of the Bugaboo Cameleon 3.  I personally love the Bugaboo brand and prefer the Cameleon3 over the Bugaboo Donkey (which is a double stroller) but they’re both great strollers.  Another high end stroller that I absolutely adore is the Stokke Xplory.  It has simply sensational style.  You may still want to purchase the Bugaboo Frog as a second hand item so we’ve kept our in depth review for you below.a

If the Bugaboo frog stroller you’re looking at purchasing second hand is a little damaged or has some wear and tear that you’re not happy with, you can always buy replacement parts.  I’ll go over the replacement parts and accessories below.  Pretty much everything can be replaced from tires to the canopy.  If there are issues with the second hand Bugaboo Frog and you fix them up with the accessories below, you will end up with a really stylish stroller which is almost as good as new, but much cheaper.

 

 

 

 

Alternatives to the Bugaboo Frog

What I’ve done below is put some alternatives that are much cheaper than your standard Bugaboo strollers.  All of the below options are much cheaper but have a similar style.  I’ve had to split it up into alternatives for people from the USA, UK and Canada because not every stroller is available in every country and even if it is, the price can vary dramatically.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a new stroller, check out my page on stroller deals.

In all of the below examples I’ve stuck to options that you’ll save hundreds of dollars/pounds.

Alternatives for Americans

 

Alternatives for residence of the UK

 

Alternatives for Canadians

 

My Bugaboo Frog Review

 

The Bugaboo Frog was named the “Frog” because of its frog-like suspension. This stroller has lots of features and accessories and there are many variations in the stroller configuration. . There are two non-swivel, 12″ wheels and two swiveling 6″ wheels.

The seat is reversible and has a 3-position tilt. It will accommodate a bassinet. The seat must be removed before folding and folding and unfolding is not a simple process.

Bugaboo Frog Features

• Dimensions Unfolded: 37 x 23.7 x 42 inches
• Dimensions Folded (without wheels): 35 x 20 x 10 inches
• Weight: 19 – 23lbs
• Seat: Reversible and can accommodate children weighing up to 44lbs
• Safety Harness: 5-point safety harness
• Wheels: Great suspension
• Handlebar: Reversible

Maneuverability

The wheels are great in the Frog and make steering it very easy. This is a very maneuverable stroller. Because the handlebar is reversible, the large wheels can be made to be at the front which is terrific for rough surfaces but does make the stroller harder to steer. The Frog is similar to the Peg Perego Skate in Maneuverability.

Frame

The frame is constructed of high grade aluminum. The quality is good and it will take a lot of abuse but the folding process is not good (see below).

Seat

Although the seating height is quite low and cannot be adjusted, the seat is of good quality. All the fabrics are machine washable and the seat has a 5-point safety harness. The seat is reversible so your child can face towards you or away from you. There is a foam covered bumper bar and this can get dirty and it is not easy to clean. The seat is rated to carry a child weighing up to 44lbs. The seat has a 3-position recline.

Folding

This is by far my biggest gripe about this stroller. There has been very little thought put into the folding process and the designers obviously did not try using the stroller for any length of time. The stroller cannot be folded without first removing the seat. The frame is folded by pressing buttons on the frame (fiddly). The frame has to be lifted into the trunk followed by the seat. Not nice when there is heavy rain.

Handlebar

As mentioned earlier, the handlebar is reversible. This is identical to the Bugaboo Cameleon and comes in very handy when you change from traveling on a paved surface to a rougher surface to vice versa. By flipping the handle and therefore having the large wheels in front, the stroller is much more capable of going over bumps and hollows without getting the wheels stuck. On paved areas, it is better to have the small wheels in front as the stroller is much more maneuverable this way.

1. When using the stroller in town, the handlebar should be over the large wheels and the smaller, front wheels should be unlocked. To move the handlebar over the large wheels, you need to pull the 2 release knobs on the inside towards you and then pull the handlebar across.
2. When using the stroller off-road, the handlebar should be positioned over the small wheels. The swivel hubs on the small wheels can now be locked by raising the locking switch.
3. When using the stroller on a beach, remove the seat from the frame, lock the swivel hubs and position the handlebar over the small wheels. Then push the crossbar between the swivel hubs down until it clicks. Place the seat back on the frame. The seat can only face in the direction of travel in their 2-wheel mode.

Wheels

The Frog has two larger 12″ wheels that do not swivel and do not have suspension. There are two small 6″ wheels that do have suspension and also swivel. This suspension is where the name “Frog” is derived. The suspension works great and gives a very smooth ride.

Brakes

The brakes are operated by a button on the handlebar and this works extremely well.

Shopping Space

Although the shopping basket is very large, it is located under the seat and it is not very easy to access. However this is not the only problem. Whenever the stroller is folded, anything inside the basket will get thrown out. This is a real pain and annoyance, especially when you are in a rush and forget to empty the basket first.

 

Bugaboo Frog PROS

• All fabrics are machine washable
• Adjustable/reversible seat
• Great bassinet
• Two wheel mode for soft or loose terrain
• Reversible handlebar
• Terrific suspension
• 2 year warranty
• Removable sun canopy
• Rain cover and mosquito net are included
• All fabrics are machine washable

Bugaboo Frog CONS

• Very tricky to fold and unfold
• Takes up a lot of space even when folded
• Large (4.8 gals) underseat storage is not easily accessible
• The seat safety bar is not easy to install or remove
• Expensive
• Sun canopy needs to be larger

Accessories and replacement parts

Before I conclude the review of the Bugaboo Frog Stroller, I get lots of emails from people who want to purchase a Bugaboo Frog Stroller but the second hand one they want to purchase has some wear or tear or some damage.  Most issues can be easily fixed so I’ll go over the accessories and replacement parts here.

Bugaboo Parasol

Inner tubes replacement

Bugaboo Frog wheels

Bugaboo Frog replacement canopy

Footmuff (comes in many different colors)

Wheeled Board for older children to stand on

The above Bugaboo Comfort Wheeled Board requires an adapter for the Bugaboo Frog

Bugaboo snack tray

Bugaboo Cup Holder

Bugaboo Cameleon and Frog Canopy Clamps

Bugaboo Diaper Bag

Bugaboo Organizer

Car seat adapter for Maxi-Cosi Cabrio, Citi and Mico, works for the Frog

Bugaboo Seat Liner (comes in many colors)

Bugaboo Mosquito Net

 

Summary

As mentioned the Bugaboo Frog has been superseded by the Bugaboo Cameleon 3.  This is a well constructed stroller and looks great. It comes in a range of colors and it is very useful if you do a lot of walking and is terrific over smooth or rough surfaces. The 2-wheel mode is very useful over soft surfaces such as sand. This is a very versatile stroller.  A more affordable Bugaboo stroller is the Bugaboo Bee.

However in our Bugaboo stroller reviews we had one major problem. Folding and unfolding was not a simple process. In fact it was downright difficult. If you intend to use this stroller on public transport or to keep in your car then there are other stroller more suited for this. If however, you only intend to use this stroller for walking then this is a terrific stroller as it is comfortable and sturdy. It comes with many accessories as standard. E.g. rain cover and mosquito cover. Overall, we liked this stroller but you need to know where you are primarily going to be using it. Occasional use in a car will be no problem but frequent use will be a real pain.  Check out my reviews on the Stokke Xplory Stroller and the UPPA Baby G Luxe stroller.  A really good functional and popular stroller at the moment is the Nuna Mixx.  If you’re looking for double strollers check out my reviews of the Chicco Double stroller or the Joovy Scooter X2 double stroller.

As great as high end strollers are, sometimes you just need a lite weight stroller to get around in.  Check out my page on the The ultimate guide to the best umbrella strollers.