The Bugaboo Cameleon concept:
Bugaboo's logo-heavy pushchairs usually elicit either a love or hate reaction, the latter not least because of the price tag, their distinctive look, celebrity endorsements and the fact that they're currently all over the pavements. Bugaboo's Cameleon pushchair-pram combination is designed to be a do-it-all, go-anywhere option, with lots of functionality but minimal fuss and minimal weight costs. With it's 32 colour combination options it's also designed to appeal to those who care about such things as having a pushchair that's a little individual.
The Cameleon in action
Being cynical by nature, we were fully prepared to be unimpressed by the Cameleon and at first sight found it pretty ugly too. But then we got our hands on one and couldn't help but be impressed by the clever design that makes it so flexible and yet uncomplicated.
The Cameleon includes a single chassis and frame to which you fit different parts to make up either a pram or a pushchair. This is a pretty efficient way of doing things and means that both the carrycot and seat options collapse down for storage when you're using the other part. Changing from carrycot to seat takes about ten minutes and the instructions are simple to follow.
Both the carrycot and seat unit are reversible, so that you can set them on the frame either facing you or facing out, regardless of which wheels you want to lead with (see handling for wheel details). This is unbelievably simple to do thanks to the click and detach buttons on the side, although it does require the use of both hands. Both carrycot and seat have a detachable carry handle to help you move the units around or on and off the frame and both units can stand alone, so you can set them on the ground or other flat surface.
The Cameleon as a pram
Because the carrycot is fixed to the chassis only at the centre, there's enough flexibility that you can jig the carrycot up and down or side to side slightly with one hand. Combined with the good suspension this gives the Cameleon the closest feel to a traditional pram that we've seen in two-in-ones and we're a big fan of this slight springiness. This is though, a matter of personal taste and some people will prefer a carrycot that's fixed more rigidly.
The first and last word on comfort, however, goes to the baby, and ours clearly found the carrycot really comfortable as it was his preferred place to sleep during the day, whether on the move outdoors or just moving room to room with Mummy. It comes with a breathable mattress and is designed to be usable in place of a moses basket in the first few months. We used it as an overnight bed when on holiday or visiting in the first few months - saved us lugging around a travel cot - and he slept in it every bit as happily as his cradle.
The Cameleon as a pushchair
When your baby is around six months' old, or able to sit independently, you can remove the carrycot from the frame and attach the seat unit, which has three positions, including one that is nearly flat. What we did find slightly odd about the seat unit is that the frame pivots on the chassis when you change the seating position while the seat itself remains rigid. This means that whether sitting upright or nearly fully reclined, your child's body stays in a seated angle with bent knees. We thought that this might not be comfortable for a baby that's used to being able to lie fully flat in the pram but in fact ours took to the seat immediately and was asleep within seconds in the lying position.
Changing the position of the seat is, as with nearly all the adjustments on the Cameleon, admirably simple: You simply press in the two large buttons at the sides and tilt and click to the next position, there are no fiddly little catches - really easy to do without disturbing a sleeping baby.
Because you can detach the seat and use it as a stand alone, you can also use it to seat your baby when out and about and you can detach the seat and carry it in the house separately if you need to negotiate a flight of stairs, tiny lift or very narrow doorways.
Collapsing for transport and storage
If you're looking for a buggy that folds and opens in one smooth motion or can umbrella-fold with one hand, then this buggy is not for you. The Cameleon requires two hands to operate. You first need to take the carrycot or seat unit off the chassis, and then the chassis folds down flat and the large wheels can be removed if need be. You can fold both the carrycot and the seat so that they're more or less flat, but this does require an extra step that we didn't usually bother with. To open up the pushchair you lift up the handlebar and flick out the wheels and then click the unit you're using onto the chassis.
This two-step process might be a hassle if the attaching and detaching of the units and the collapsing of the chassis weren't so darned easy. It does take a bit of practice to get the hang of the chassis part but once you've got it down pat it's very simple and quick.
How the Cameleon handles
One of the features that sets the Cameleon aside from many pushchairs is the impressive handling. The two small pivoting wheels up front give great manoeuvrability for tight spaces and around town, while the two chunky back wheels make for easier handling over rough or difficult terrain. The front swivel wheels can also be set to a fixed position, so you have the best of both worlds.
Because you can very simply flip the handlebar over the top of the buggy you can use the big wheels at the front if you're traipsing over uneven ground, sand or snow etc. That's something that won't be useful for everyone mind, although it is something that we've made reasonably frequent use of so far.
Taking it a step further, over really rough or snowy terrain you can adjust the chassis so it uses just the two back wheels. This may be useful in some countries, but for most people in the UK it's probably overkill.
For a travel system that does so much, the Cameleon is surprisingly compact and lightweight. With the seat the buggy weighs in at 9kg, not much more than many lightweight strollers. It is significantly more bulky that most lightweight strollers but compares quite favourably with many ordinary pushchairs. We use it frequently on public transport and have no problem getting it in and out of modern buses etc. complete with baby and shopping.
Bugaboo bugs
If you're a big shopper you might find the shopping basket a little on the small side, more importantly it's also not very accessible when used as a pram. To be able to pack a decent amount into the basket you're best off removing the carrycot first, which is so easy to do you'll have people looking on in astonishment, but it's not much help if you're in a crowded shop with not enough space to put the carrycot down. With the seat fitted accessibility is fine.
We do have a gripe with the carry handle. The central positioning of the handle is important for stability when handling the seat or carrycot, but this does mean that with the carrycot it's downright awkward to put your baby in with the handle in place. You're better off removing the handle to put your baby in, but it's rather stiff to attach and detach at the beginning and takes some practice. With adjusting so simple elsewhere on the buggy, this stands out as awkward.
Being quite pernickity now - but hey, with that price tag we should be - if you're not careful when releasing the brake lever then it can release quite suddenly and we imagine it could hurt if you release it onto your fingers.
Pricey accessories
I have heard a few mums complain that the Bugaboo accessories are ridiculously expensive, and they are definitely on the pricey side, but this will only be an issue for you if you feel you must have the same branded parasol, footmuff and changing bag etc. Whether that's essential to a sleek look or too matchy-matchy is a personal opinion. One accessory you're quite likely to be interested in are the adaptors for the Maxi Cosi car seat, which will set you back about £30.
How's it different to the Gecko?
If you're considering both the Gecko and the Cameleon and wondering what extras your extra pounds get you, the main difference is one of size: The Cameleon is 6cm longer than the Gecko, the seat and carrycot sit higher and the storage basket is a bit bigger (which also makes the Cameleon a kilo heavier). There's no freestanding option with the Gecko's seat unit and it doesn't have the same adjustable swivel wheel suspension at the front.
