Bugaboo Donkey Stroller Review

Jess-Miller-Sunglasses
Published by 
Jess Miller
Last updated: 
April 14, 2023

If you want a baby stroller that puts design and space functionality at the top of its list, then the Bugaboo Donkey is the perfect device for you. But is it worth the steep expense? Come read out in-depth Bugaboo Donkey Review and find out!

If you decide that you want to invest a good deal of money in a quality stroller, then odds are you want to make sure you get a product that is worth the expense. No one likes dropping a lot of money on something only to find that it does not meet their expectations.

Luckily, in this review of the Bugaboo Donkey stroller, we provide you with a comprehensive assessment of the baby carrier, so you know whether or not the product is right for you. But before we begin our Bugaboo Donkey review, let us take a closer look at what the product actually is.

What Is A Bugaboo Donkey?

The Bugaboo Donkey is a luxury brand baby stroller that became popular during the early 2000s. When it first hit the market, there was just nothing else like the Bugaboo available for purchasing. As such, it quickly dominated the market as the best stroller that money can buy.

Today, the hype surrounding the Bugaboo has certainly died down since its heyday. But, the product certainly still comes with its charms, and there is no denying that it appeals to a specific type of parent who wants the absolute best for their child.

There are three different versions of the Bugaboo Donkey stroller that you can purchase. First, there is the Bugaboo Donkey Mono. This version features a single seat which you can replace with a bassinet. It also features a bag that you can detach from the device.

The Bugaboo Donkey Duo offers a detachable bag, one seat and one bassinet carrier. Alternatively, you can also get the Bugaboo Donkey Twin, which provides the same features as the Bugaboo Donkey Duo, but with an additional seat or bassinet.

The Bugaboo company specifically designed the Donkey for use in urban environments. It is both light and aerodynamic, and it handles like a dream. Essentially, the Bugaboo Donkey is the sports car of baby strollers — you are paying for the style and brand name, but it feels fantastic using it.

As the name suggests, the Bugaboo Donkey can carry quite a bit of supply — just like an actual donkey. This feature is thanks to the helpful side bag addition. If you only use the stroller with one child, then the second half of the chassis can hold a large handbag that can hold anything that needs it.

Alternatively, if you have two babies or toddlers that need dealing with, then you can remove the detachable handbag and add a second seat for your other child. As such, we recommend investing in the Bugaboo Donkey early on with your first child — especially if you plan on having more of them.

This customization works excellent because when one of your children grows out of the Bugaboo Donkey, then you are not stuck lugging around a whole extra seat. Instead, you can adjust the device to fit your needs depending on the outing or current baby situation.

Bugaboo Donkey Product Specifications

The product weighs roughly twenty-nine pounds, which makes it a considerably hefty stroller. In terms of the specific dimensions of the product, the sizing comes out to approximately thirty-four inches by twenty-four inches by thirty-four inches.

The company designed the product for holding infants and toddlers. As such, the weight limit on the product generally should not exceed thirty-seven in half pounds. Though the product mainly comes in black, if you order off their website then you also get these additional color design scheme options:

  • Classic grey mélange and black chassis
  • Classic grey mélange and aluminum chassis
  • Classic dark navy and aluminum chassis
  • Black sun canopy, black fabrics, aluminum chassis
  • Grey melange sun canopy, grey melange fabrics, aluminum chassis
  • Black sun canopy, black materials, black chassis
  • Blue melange sun canopy, blue melange fabrics, black chassis
  • Grey melange sun canopy, grey melange fabrics, black chassis

The company makes both the canopy material on the device and the fabric material out of one hundred percent polyester. The canopy material is waterproof and provides UPF 50+ sun protection so you can expect protection on hot or wet days.

The Bugaboo Donkey comes with a two-year warranty, so if you have any issues with the product within this timeframe, then the company will work toward getting it fixed. Additionally, if you register your product within the first three months of owning it, then the company will add on another year of warranty.

Specification Table

Weight:Twenty-nine pounds
Dimensions:Thirty-four inches by twenty-four inches by thirty-four inches
Weight Limit:Thirty-seven in half pounds
Fabric material:Polyester
Waterproof?:Yes, the canopy is one hundred percent waterproof
Sun Protection?:UPF 50+
Color Options:Nine
Warranty Length:Two years (three years if you register the product)

How the Bugaboo Donkey Compares With Other Brand Names

In this section, we compare the Bugaboo Donkey with two other types of popular baby strollers — one in the low-tier budget and another in the middle-tier budget. Specifically, we will look at the Hot Mom Baby Stroller 360 Rotation Function Travel System Pram and the Baby Trend Expedition LX Jogger.

We make these comparisons so that you can see the areas where the Bugaboo brand excels and areas where it could use improvement. We also offer these strollers as good alternatives for customers who cannot afford the expensive nature of the Bugaboo Donkey stroller.

1) Baby Trend Expedition LX Jogger, Elixer

If the Bugaboo Donkey falls out of your budget, then we recommend the Baby Trend Expedition LX Jogger as a good value alternative. It might not come with the best quality, but considering the budget, it is a pretty good deal.

Ease of Use

While the product does work pretty well on smooth conditions, you can forget about using it on any rough terrain. There is no quicker way you can mess up the wheels and machinations on this product.

Build Quality

If you take good care of the product, then it will hopefully last the duration of your child’s timeframe for using it. Unfortunately, the build quality is relatively weak, considering the affordability, so even slight misuse will cause the product to break. Some buyers report things like the front wheel falling off after repeated use.

Warranty

The company does not offer a warranty on its product.

2) Hot Mom Baby Stroller 360 Rotation Function Travel System Pram

The Hot Mom Baby Stroller 360 Rotation Function Travel System Pram is our selection for the mid-budget model that competes with the usability of the Bugaboo Donkey.

Ease of Use

While it might not operate on the same level as the Bugaboo Donkey, you cannot deny that this stroller provides a smooth and comfortable ride. People also report that the stroller is much lighter in comparison. However, the product does not break down as easily into a more transportable size, so people with smalls cars may want to look elsewhere.

Build Quality

The stroller comes sleek and lightweight, but it can still survive the bumps and nicks from daily use. It also features a stylish, modern design that differs from a lot of other strollers in its category.

Warranty

The company does not offer a warranty on its product, but you can purchase additional “protection plans” on the product.

​Pros and Cons

The most apparent pro that comes along with the Bugaboo Donkey is the evident quality of the product. While some baby stroller barely lasts a year of heavy use before breaking down, this luxury brand offers consistent craftsmanship of the product.

Plus, as everyone loves to note, the stroller handles like a dream. You barely need to apply any weight to get the thing moving, and once it does move, it can make sharp and coordinated terms. This coordination is thanks to the proper tires on the product, which can handle hard bounces.

Also, the design of the thing is impeccable. We do not think that you will find another customizable double stroller that can fit through a door without collapsing first. The straps offer another great design aspect.

Most products give you a flimsy strapping system that involved multiple buckles that take a lot of fidgeting to get your child secure. This wait gives them plenty of time to get upset while they wait. Luckily, the streamlined buckling system offered by the Bugaboo Donkey fixes this issue.

The biggest flaw that comes with the product is the budget. While there is an undeniable increase in quality that comes with the stroller, the real question is whether or not this inherent quality is worth the hefty budget.

Bluntly speaking, fifteen hundred dollars is just too much for many new parents to afford. But, if you see the product as an investment and expect that you will get proper usage out of it, then we recommend you buy it. Otherwise, select one of the much cheaper, but affordable, stroller brands.

However, there are some other issues customers complained about besides the budget. For one thing, though it is slim, the Bugaboo Donkey also contains the right amount of heft and weight to it. People transporting the stroller to and from their cars will probably quickly notice this.

Also, the stroller does not break down easily. Some customers could not operate the latch system for locking the stroller into and out of place. While this issue is not the most important thing to worry about, considering the high budget we think the latch system should operate correctly.

Pros

  • Superior quality
  • Long-lasting product
  • Great handling
  • Slim design
  • Good strap system

Cons

  • Incredibly expensive
  • Slim, but bulky
  • Too heavy for some people
  • Confusing latch system

Conclusion

In the end, we recommend it correctly for situations that can get multiple uses out of it. Since the stroller comes with various customization settings, you can change it to fit your needs — whether that is more passengers or more space.

This feature makes it easy to use throughout the year. For instance, families planning on having multiple children will get repeated uses out of it whereas a family with an only child will only use it for a few years before they need to sell it.

While the quality and performance of the stroller are undeniable, we believe the expensive budget will dissuade a lot of customers.

We hope this Bugaboo Donkey review helped you decide if the product fits your specific need. While this stroller undeniably falls on the more luxurious side of baby transportation, we think it provides such a spike in the performance that it is worth the expense — if you can afford it.

Featured Image via Bugaboo

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