Bugaboo Cameleon - Dark Brown Standard Stroller

I got the Bugaboo Chameleon when my son was 18 months old, and haven't regretted it for a second. It was at my house in three days, and assembled in about 10 minutes, even without looking at the instructions. I did have to pump up the tires a little at my in-laws house, but bugaboo later sent along a tire pump to go with it.

I got the red fabric, which I adore, and even got the red footmuff, which my son loves. When it's all together, he likes it zipped up to his neck in the cold and calls it, "My Cozy Hole" The fleece is a vibrant red, and has maintained that color through three washings, two of which were in one week, as my boy had the flu and wanted only to sit in his stroller chair and watch Dora. The seat pops off quickly and can be used as a stand-alone chair on the floor. It really is the most comfortable seat in the house, and he sits in it quite often.

After washings, the fabric dries quickly and is easily reattached, which is a miracle because I shrink EVERYTHING in the wash usually. As I said, I purchased the footmuf, which was perfect in the 20 degree weather with 20 mile an hour wind. We have to walk our dog, as we have no yard, and my husband is often away, so I needed to keep my child warm while we were out. We put the sunshield all the way down, and the footmuff al the way up, and he's very content.

We got the Chameleon instead of one of the others for its adjustable handle and longer seat. At 2 years, my son was already three feet tall, and we wanted a stroller that wouldn't put his knees in his face. My husband is 6'1", I am 5'5", and the handle adjustment was essential.

It's the perfect stroller for our lifestyle, which includes a tremendous amount of walking, often over uneven ground. We live in an historic neighborhood with 200 year old cobblestone streets and skinny bumpy sidewalks, and there's only one or two spots that it's difficult to maneuver through.

I previously had the Mac3, 2004 version, and the Chameleon is of course far easier to get through the shops due to the swiveling front wheels.

The other major selling point for us was the full recline. Our son is now 32 months, and will only nap in a stroller or car, so a full recline was essential for maximizing naps without the weird neck creak. He's really comfortable in it, and I can even wheel him to the house, then take the seat off while he's sleeping and carry it into his room for him to finish his nap. Another bonus of the removable seat.

The seat on the Cameleon is tall enough that you can roll it right up to a restaurant table and the child is at a comfortable height to eat with you. No dingy restaurant chairs to worry about. This is great for us because my son was too tall to fit in restaurant highchairs at about the time we bought it for him. You do have to remove the bar in the front to put it flush against the table, but it's easy once you've done it a few times.

I deeply regret not bringing the Cameleon to Eastern Europe for our 3 month stay. I was traveling alone with the child, and already had too many bags. The cost of shipping it was kind of prohibitive, and we ended up buying a Huack Memphis three weeks into our stay here, which was still cheaper than shipping. Oh, I miss the cozy hole, too. My son even told me he wanted his "nice big stroller" a few times.

I use it for grocery shopping, and find the basket is a good size, but a little tough to get to when the child is in full-upright position. That seems to be a common thing, and not a big deal. I wish it held more weight, but I can fit a gallon of milk and plenty of other things in there and I've had no problems.
The raincover is GREAT, nice and thick and actually stays on unless your child is a chronic kicker, like mine. We use it more for a wind screen than anything else, but take care in the summer that you don't roast your child if you're using it for a wind screen. I works so well it turns the stroller into a greenhouse.

As far as traveling with it, I brought it through an airport once, and for some reason they wanted me to collapse it and put it through the conveyor belt, which I TOLD THEM it wouldn't fit, and it didn't. But I had no problems zipping it in its bag, and was happy to bring it with me. I have a very small car, a Saturn SL, 1996, and the stroller fits fine in the trunk. Yes, you have to take the seat off, but that's really easy to do.

Folding it does take a bit of practice, but Bugaboo is very upfront about that. It recommends practicing the fold several times before first use, presumably so you're not frustrated and exhausted from a screaming baby the first time you use it.

I never used the bassinet, as my son was much older, but honestly wouldn't have used it with an infant anyway, as I wear my babies. I put my son in one once, and hated they way he bobbled all over the place in it.

You can get a stroller bar basket to put sippy cups snack and toys in from Carry You, and I have one on ours, so that problem is solved.

They've made a cupholder, which I intend to buy once I'm back stateside, along with the "Breezy" sunshade so he can have some wind in the summertime, although he's never complained before.

I love this, I tell everyone to get it, and I would buy it again.