Bugaboo Ant

Great compact pram – I purchased this as being my 4th child there is very limited storage space in my car with 4 kids 6 and under. It certainly is compact and I can fit under the kids feet or behind the third row of seats comfortably. My youngest is 3 months old so currently using with the Bugaboo adapters with a Maxi Cosi capsule. I did find the adapters a bit tricky… Read more

to work out how to put on at first as require handlebar to be fully out in order to click in and would be great if they were clearly labelled to indicate left/right and direction to place. I previously used capsule adapters on other Bugaboo models and found the adapters much easier to use on them but I have the hang of the ant ones now. It’s very easy to set up and fold and the built in adapters for wheeled board are handy with my toddler. I purchased this whilst pregnant as was naturally a little disappointed when the new Butterly model came out prior to me even taking the Ant out of the box. Had I known I would of waited and purchased the Bugaboo Butterfly instead but overall very happy with the pram!

Great travel pram! June 22 trip to UK was a success! – As a travel pram this was amazing. We travelled to the UK with our 7 month old and the ease of taking the pram up to the plane door and through the airports was the best. Our baby was very comfortable (we purchased the foot rest as well). Over some of the cobblestone streets it was a little bumpy but nothing we couldn’t manage. Show reply

Love the ant – Easy to put together, stylish. Compact which for us is great as we have a Campervan and travel a lot. When out and about lots of people have given us positive comments. Unfortunately my handle has started to not lock into place do I cannot use it, I am waiting to hear back from bugaboo on this matter. It is the only Pram I have so I am at a loss at the moment. Show details ·  1

Handle snapped after three months – Purchased in March for a infant. It was a good compact pram that’s great with the infant cocoon. Quite small when folded too and fits at the back of the car easily. Safety belt for the child is also great and easy to use. Pram feels sturdy when open. We had a hard time changing to the direction of the seat when the baby grew up a bit and wanted… Read more

to forward face. The hood fabric gets jammed in the insertion mechanism.

The folding up process is definitely more work than some other prams like the mountain buggy nano.

Unfortunately after three months, the left telescopic bar came apart and could not be repaired. Thankfully baby kingdom offered a refund.

Other complaints about the pram is that the safety strap is located at the centre of the handle and not very long. Uncomfortably to use. The hood folding mechanism also partly failed on our pram. The latch came loose and felt a little flimsy.

Still not pleased with having a $800 pram fail after three months of light use. Furthermore we purchased at least $300 of accessories which are now up in the air because we don’t think buying this thing again is viable and of course can’t be refunded.

Just FYI too, the skateboard attachment is pretty poor. Since there’s no handle for the sitting child to hold onto. Either they have to learn to grab on the prams bars or risk tumbling over (which has happened a few times).

Some kinks to work on with steep learning curve to go around them – I can't rate 3.8 so 4 is the closest I can go. I used the pram during a trip overseas few short months ago. Just to name a few things I really like about the pram. Dedicated compartment They have a dedicated compartment in the bag area that is for things that you don't have to take out when you fold the pram. It is very thoughtful to have that… Read more ·  2

considering this pram is mainly used as a travel pram. Many prams don't have that and even if you keep just essential things in pram, for a small kid or baby, it can be a lot. It is tedious to take them in and out every time you go up a transport of any sorts. So this dedicated compartment is very much appreciated.

Slim design. I can push the pram in the aisle of public buses. Something which I cant do with some other prams because I get stuck between the 2 rows of chairs. Again, very important if you take public transport a lot.

Adjustable height. I seat my 2 year old in without an issue and more room to spare if I pull up to the tallest setting.

One button function. You only need to push one button for most of the folding unfolding. Which leaves the other hand free to do the folding. This is a very intuitive design and makes sense, unlike some other prams in their line.

5 point harness This particular pram have all 4 side detachable 5 point harness. Which means there is no loops to hoop their little arms in etc whenever you put them in or out of pram. Very nice when you are putting a sleeping baby in because there are minimal movement for baby and you likely won’t wake them up.

Size

It folds down really well and is incredibly light. Many people are impressed by the size it folds down to. It really stands up well without needing to lean against the wall etc. I can almost hold it up like a work bag when its folded down.

Now for the kinks

The fidgetiness of some mechanism. The whole structure even though I am sure is safe, isn’t made very stable. Now the pram will not get blown away by wind or anything near. I am talking about the handle/mechanism, whichever folding parts you need to move. With the handle extended it feels shaky thus giving a soft feel when you need to manoeuvre a pram. Like you need to move more in each direction to get the pram moving. Pushing in the handle takes a bit of adjustment and getting used to. You may find the handle stuck at mid level not being able to go all the way in until a few tries later. Sometimes one side was able to go thru but the other side is stuck. Eventually I learned the “feel” of it and understand how I should go about doing it smoothly, but that is one big learning curve.

The click and clacks order. I am sure it is for safety reason. However, if you didn’t slide the seat in the right way, all the way. If you thought it did click but it wasn’t the right click and you want to proceed to fold it down. It is not going to work. Then you have to check thru, is the harness in the seat while you fold and nothing got stuck? Is the seat slided all the way? Did I fold the seat enough etc etc. Every step of the way. Everytime I realize the issue, I thought “oh yeah that should have been obvious, I must have missed that.” Then I am already in all sweats in a humid country. Delaying my companions etc. Eventually I understood how the whole thing works. It does take a while.

With no thigh rest. The pram is relatively compact to other prams, and that comes with a price. Baby leg will stick out totally from the seat even while in sleeping position. With nothing behind their thigh to support. So it’s free hanging and possibly going numb because the seat is thin. I believe this is one of the reason my son didn’t sleep as long as he did when using other prams that support his legs somehow.

Summary,

All in all, I think this is a great investment if you do travel a bunch. It wins other prams hand down when you are in foreign country and lack the security of knowing the facilities everywhere. This pram seems very accessible due to the compact size. Though you should really use it a lot at your comfort area before taking out for a real spin, just to work out the clinks and clanks.

Returned after 2 weeks – I love bugaboo pushchairs but unfortuanly was disappointed with the Ant. Returned after 2 weeks because handle jammed and unable to open. I was offered replacement but declined as too many negatives. Posititives - Smooth and easy to push Feels sturdy when pushing Negatives - Telescopic handle jams frequently Heavy and difficult to carry when folded Overpriced Tiny and hard/uncomfortable seat Doesn't lie back when forward facing No leg rest Show details

Compact but frustrating – I love bugaboo and had great expectations but I am unfortunately disappointed with my Ant. This pram is compact but the negative is it’s so hard to unfold as it always gets stuck. My baby is 10 months and only just fits in the tiny seat. I’m not sure how it is supposed to comfortably sit a 22 kg child. When you unfold and fold it is a big… Read more

process. It’s so frustrating as if you don’t follow the precise steps the seat will get so jammed and you are left stuck with an expensive pram that can’t unfold or fold.

The handle and chassis are very flimsy and compared to other bugaboos it doesn’t have that sturdy quality feel . The plastic handle feels awful compared to the leatherette ones. The seat doesn’t lay flat forward facing so if your baby falls asleep that way then you can’t recline. There is no extending foot rest so their legs just hang which isn’t good for the hips. I believe you can now buy that attachment. The canopy is ok but doesn’t extend to cover legs from the sun. You can’t fold it with a pram liner on either. There is no carry strap so you have to awkwardly carry it .

It’s a lovely looking pram. All bugaboos are a statement. I still love my other bugaboo pram and I am writing this honest review as I would have liked to know this before I purchasing my Ant.

Unfortunately I would not recommend this pram.

Great quality travel pram, with specific purpose! – Some of these reviews are super harsh! Just like vehicles, no one pram ticks all the boxes. Comparing the ability of the Ant to a full sized baby jogger is like saying your Hyundai Getz doesn't handle like your Ford Ranger. You just have to weigh up what is most important to you. Ive transitioned to our Ant (from the Cameleon) as I have a… Read more ·  1

small car, even smaller apartment & a 2 year old whose pram tolerance rapidly decreasing but there's still the occasional need. The boot now has to hold little trikes and all sorts of entertainment so the size of the Ant is perfect

Why I chose it over others: - Reversible seat. Yes, it only fully reclines in rearward facing mode. If my son is asleep before putting him in then I just flip the seat, if he falls asleep mid stroll, we (gasp) make do with mid recline. - Suspension in wheels and frame. The Ant glides and handles great. At present we literally only use the pram if we are going into shopping centres - Ability to add wheeled board if we have another baby.

Some delightful bonus things only discovered since using: - when folded up, anything left in your basket are secured by the seat and won't fall out -if toddler suddenly decids he wants to ride in the supermarket trolley I can just fold up the ant and put it in the trolley! Boom!

Not cons: but my top things to consider when deciding on this pram:

The seat: OK this is probably the main consideration. Bear in mind that it was designed as a travel pram - as in touring around foreign cities and taking on aircraft. If you want to use it as your primary pram then you really have to make some concessions. The seat is on the small side (wasn't that shocking to me) if you remove the canopy you gain a lot of head room. I honestly can't see my son wanting a bar of sitting in a pram at 4years old, but if he did, I'm sure he'd be fine. I've seen kids stuff themselves in the baskets if it's the only ride. There's no foot rest, so I would say 1-2year olds will have dangling feet, but they don't seem bothered by that in their carseats? My 2yo rests his feet on the front bumper. It's my personal experience that if a tot wants to sleep, they just do. See picture of us getting caught by an impromptu nap. Legs dangling and all it doesn't matter. If you use your pram every day as a rolling bed perhaps this one won't fit your bill.

Folding: Like every pram I have ever tried, it takes two hands, and has its own way to fold up. No-one can walk up to a pram and just know how it folds! You have to learn each one's quirks. I have not had one problem since I learnt the sequence.

Price: I think the price tag is actually what is making so many people angry about the few limitations the Ant has. At this price point seems many aren't content to just judge it in its own category -which is travel pram. Be sure to shop around there are loads of travel and small sized prams at different price points.

Domestic air travel: No personal experience but, if one of your top reasons for getting this pram is domestic air travel only.. I would encourage you to do your research. It seems domestically, most airlines let you roll to the gate but then you have to gate check your stroller, hence making the Ants size a little redundant. You could just as easily travel with a slightly larger stroller like the Bee.

Carriage that keeps on getting jammed. Very fidgety – Pretty carriage, easy to push and lightweight but this doesn't matter anything when it's so hard to fold. First I though that I will get it which I did but it constantly get jammed. You just end up standing on the street holding your baby with a carriage that doesn't open. It's insane a complete waste. Show details

Too many flaws! Terrible model! – I have had this pram for a few months now and have used it for domestic travel five times. Assembly I found the assembly of the pram incredibly straightforward. By comparison of my Bugaboo Fox which I absolutely love but it took me HOURS to put together. The pieces are easy to fix together and the only resources are helpful if you get stuck. … Read more

Overall pram quality

Some parts of the pram feel incredibly robust and sturdy. The straps and canopy are amazing quality and feel very durable. The handle however, does feel very flimsy and I feel like it can be moved around easy.

Ease of use

After a few practices I find this pram SO easy to use. You can switch from front facing to back facing in seconds and I could fold it down in less than 30 seconds (be mindful that you do need both hands to do this though!) I think the standout feature of this pram is how light and compact you can make it when it folds down. The basket is still accessible which is great for storage and it takes up minimal space. The basket is HUGE, there’s so much storage room without squashing your belongings.

When pushing the pram it feels light and efficient - I could dart around very smoothly with this pram and it can swivel and move in different directions very seamlessly but as soon as a surface becomes uneven it risks tipping over completely which is a huge safety concern. It’s not a pram made for bumpy surfaces or stairs - I came to a complete halt 3-4 times when walking down the street to my local supermarket because of very minor footpath textures. It’s also impossible to manoeuvre on stairs - I had to pick up the entire pram with my daughter in it to get down one step which isn’t reassuring from a safety point of view.

Once collapsed down it is so awkward and uncomfortable to carry. It should come with a strap, it does not make the logistics of travel easier because it’s a difficult shape to hold.

Comfort

Probably the biggest negative for me. My 7 month daughter is currently 8.5kg and 70cm tall and she looked rather squashed and uncomfortable in the pram, she did eventually fall asleep in it but only slept for half of the time and was quite restless. I couldn’t imagine being able to use it for a long time. Because of its compact design, I feel the seat lacks the softness and padding needed to make a comfortable ride for my little one. The seat itself is very shallow, when sat up my daughter looked very straight and like she was sitting right on the edge even though she was pushed back as far as possible. Also I feel a future feature for this pram could be an extended footrest, her legs were just dangling and because the design means she sits very low I just didn’t quite feel like she was surrounded and safe from the obstacles surrounding her. Because she’s so young her legs don’t dangle down completely, but more ‘stick out’ over the edge - I was very concerned she could catch her foot and bang herself as we turned round corners etc.

Final thoughts!

Overall it’s an ok pram for airports and helping with the logistics of traveling from A to B. Bugaboo is an absolutely premium brand and this pram has been carefully designed to be an optimum travel buggy. The hero feature is how compact and light it is, to achieve this capability a few things have been compromised but overall it does the job and was incredibly handy for our travels. For the cost I definitely don’t think it’s worth the money - there’s too many flaws and it doesn’t have longevity.

A big issue for me is the fact that accessories such as the rain cover and travel bag are sold seperately. For the investment, this should come with the model as standard. I’ve also seen new accessories coming out in 2020 that are trying to address the issues many have with this pram such as a strap to carry it on your shoulder and an extendable footrest, but I don’t think these should be added accessories that people pay for - it’s standard and should come with the pram. The updates to make this pram safe and comfortable should not come at even more expense to consumers for major design flaws at present.

Too small for average 2.5 year old – I was so excited to collect my new Ant from Layby today but left totally disappointed realising that my 2.5 year old does not fit! I had just happened to come across another lady already reselling her brand new Ant online as her toddler didn’t fit. I thought surely not, her toddler must be a giant, so I actually took my son in store and was… Read more

shocked to find that at 2.5 years (spot on average height) his head was already sitting above the canopy! I tried to open the canopy and the result was ridiculous, it was hitting my son’s head as it kind of slopes downwards unlike other stroller canopies that arch upwards. He was squashed up under the canopy and couldn’t see a thing and actually refused to sit in there. I was sure there was a mistake, how could a stroller be designed to last only 2 years max especially at this price point, however was assured by the salesperson that the canopy could not extend any higher. I am beyond disappointed as I was in love with the quality and aesthetic of this stroller and all the other amazing functionality. Having four children I’ve seen my fair share of prams and strollers but am totally baffled at this major functionality issue, is it supposed to be used only without a canopy from 2 years? What is the point of a higher weight limit if height is not also accommodated? I was originally tossing up between the Ant and the Yo-yo for a runaround and travel stroller, unfortunately the decision was made for me, I’m just glad I realised before the purchase was complete. (See review by Audrey and Me, she demonstrates the issue perfectly!)

Quality designs with minor flaws – The Bugaboo Ant came in 2 boxes and easy to unpack. Those environmentally minded will be glad to see that minimal plastic has been used in packaging the stroller. Although there were not to many parts to assemble, putting on the seat was downright painful. Perhaps that’s because the instructions were not very useful and the video reference… Read more ·  1

provided in the manual didn't work - perhaps made for USA market only and I couldn't get on with my Australian IP address. In any event, you can pretty much figure out how it all fits together. It took me a little under an hour and a half to have the stroller up and running.

First impressions: 1. Wheels can be put in and taken out very easily which is great if you need to check-in your stroller. The wheels then to get damaged since they stick out. The wheels can be easily taken off and popped into a plastic bag which can then be placed inside the little stroller pocket and the whole thing can be wrapped up in one of those airline bags they provide at check in. 2. The stroller when folded resembles international carry on luggage in a number of ways; light weight, easy to be lifted to place in overhead or into the boot of your car. We placed our inside the car as it fit neatly behind the passenger seat. Better still the handles can be lifted up so that the stroller can be pulled on its hind wheels. 3. Straps are easily extended and shortened both at shoulder and hip area. This is by far the most easy straps I have ever come across and yet still retain its safety function. 4. Seat when forward facing only has 2 positions and it doesn't fully recline. First position is upright and second has similar pitch to that of an economy airline seat when fully reclined. This is a big drawback when compared to something like the Baby Jogger City Mini Zip which reclines to an almost flat position. 5. Handle has 2 settings. my partner is 5” tall and at the low setting its comfortable to use. 6. The stroller is very compact but perhaps too compact. I have a 4 year old and a 9 month old. My 4 year old is of average height and slim but she didn't fit into the seat both width and height wise. The seat does extend however even at full extension it wasn't enough for my 4 year old. I tried with my 3 year old nephew and it was a pretty tight fit for him too. As for my 9 month old (he’s of average size), he took up a significant part of the stroller and I wondered whether I can get any use for him past 2 years. This is a huge negative for this stroller - you are paying a lot of money for something that at best can be used for 2 years. I am still using my Baby Jogger for my 4 year old and she can still fit comfortably in it. 7. The canopy can be easily removed however there are 2 metal prongs that can come out very easily and I think this may pose a potential dangerous situation given the prongs could easily go into the child’s eye. These prongs are also very easy to be removed by any curious baby/toddler. Perhaps a snap-lock type of mechanism which can stop the accidental release of over curious toddler, or a simple compression lock/pin. 8. The stroller is very easy to fold and open however if you are looking for one that can be done by one hand, this wont fit the bill as you do need to pull on the 2 white levers on the side at the same time to fold the stroller.

Try out: 1. The stroller is very easy to handle and manuevours extremely well - easy to turn and easy to push. I tested it over the grass and light sandy areas and it still moved reasonably well. However, the ability of the stroller to go over any bumps above 3/4cm is non existent (unless you were prepared and leaned on the handles to lift the front wheels over the hump/bump/branch etc). I found myself coming to a sudden halt a few times whilst pushing the stroller and talking to my companion. In a confine space like local market is huge advantages, being compact and ease of steering. 2. Sitting forward facing meant that seat could only go down slightly and there was no way my son was going to fall asleep in that position. We therefore changed the seat so that it would be rear facing and in this position the seat folders down to a flat position. The change from forward seating to rear facing was relatively easy and this is a great feature of this stroller. In this position the sun canopy doesn't come down far enough to prevent light shining onto the baby’s face. You will definitely need to have a little cloth/blanket/cover but this is no different to any other stroller if you want a little darkness for the little one. 3. Running with the Bugaboo Ant is very enjoyable, not sure if it was designed for this purpose, the light weight and easy control make it an enjoyable run. It would better if the canopy have a clear see through section instead of dark fabric material. Running on wet grass or rocky surface was ok, just a little rinse with the hose and the wheels are back to good condition. 4. Traveling with the stroller is no issue; can easily carry on (depend upon which carrier, they may asked you to check-in instead of carry on). I tried both way and no issue what so ever. If check-in just make sure you take the two small front wheels off. That part is simple; just press the white swivel release button and off they come. I carried those two wheels with me; instead of placing them in the rear luggage compartment.

Conclusion, Bugaboo Ant is definitely an attention seeker for it compact and sleek design. The ease of movement is amazing. The design of the safety harness was so easy to use. I did like the way it folded up to a nice luggage size and easy to handle carry on. The swivel release button for the front wheels worked extremely well. The brake is easy to activate, two thumbs up. 3 years warranty is a bonus.

Few negatives we did encounter; the canopy attachment via two metal prongs; often come off when the stroller is in the process of been folded. The sun canopy although provide full sun protection but it can get very hot under it without any ventilation vent or the ability of a parent to monitor their little one without any see through section. The limited reclining seat position available is down side. By far the biggest issue I encountered for Bugaboo Ant was how small the seat hardware actually is. I personally don’t think one would get too much long term use out of this stroller.

Perfect stroller and toddler board!! – The ant delivers with ultra smooth drive and sturdy frame. The comfort attaches so and no need to remove when folding. Bugaboo have nailed the board as parents aren't overreaching and kicking the board when they're walking. My 1 and 3 year old and absolutely hyped to get it. It's been the absolutely necessity in our house for school runs, walks and shops. Highly rate it other than other prams.. Show details ·  1

The concept seems sound, but in practice, it's not so good – We have been trialing this pram for a couple of weeks now, and as the proud previous owner of a Bugaboo Bee3, my expectations were set with the Bugaboo brand. And sadly, let down. Shipping.. Let me first start with how it shipped. The unit came in two boxes which one seemed totally unnecessary. The first, smaller box contained all the… Read more

components such as the cover, wheels, etc. The second and larger box contained the pram itself. While I can understand the logistics of this, the second larger box would have easily fitted the fully-assembled pram in it, if Bugaboo had wanted to ship them out fully-assembled.

Assembly.. As someone who already owns a Bee3, assembly of the pram was fairly straight forward for me. We travel with our Bee3 occasionally and when we do, we need to disassemble it so it can go on as oversize luggage on the plane. The Ant was similar in this regard, however, with the size of the Ant, I doubt it would need to be disassembled to travel. During assembly, I did have to refer to the instruction manual, but it was all fairly logical for me. A few things had me scratching my head for a few minutes as its all images, no text, in the assembly instructions, but I figured it out pretty quickly.

Handling.. Now on to the handling of the unit. We have only used it in shopping centres and around the streets of Melbourne, so I can only comment on that. The wheels on the front are incredibly small. This means when you are steering it around, it turns very sharply. This may seem like a good idea at first, especially if you want to turn on the spot. But after 10minutes of re-correcting the direction of the pram whenever I am trying to walk straight, it became quite annoying. I thought it might have just been me, so I handed over control of the pram to my wife, who instantly noticed and commented on it too. If you are not pointing DIRECTLY straight, it veers quite sharply in the direction that the small wheels are pointing. You are constantly swerving left and right to keep the pram going straight. In shopping centres on flat, smooth surfaces, it moves quite freely. It doesn't take much to move it, especially with the small wheels. I did notice that I needed to push a little bit harder than I would with our Bee3, but that is to be expected with the smaller wheels. On the uneven surfaces that is Melbourne CBD footpaths, the small wheels handled surprisingly well considering, but if you did hit something like a larger crack or bump, it did feel like you had just run into a brick. One thing I did notice though, which it has as an advantage over our Bee3, is the wheels aren't mounted on springs, which means when you do go over the rougher surfaces, the wheels don't bend under the pram like the Bee3 wheels do.

Folding down for transport.. As for folding it down to make it compact (such as to load it in the car), well this is the reason why we have stopped using it - it's absolutely atrocious. One of the most process-intensive and problematic prams I have ever tried using. With our Bee3, all I do is set the back to meet the level of the handlebars, press two buttons on the handlebars, and the pram nicely folds in on itself to go in the car. With the Ant, you need to fold the side of the seat in, fold the seat down and really force it into position until it clicks (my wife didn't have the strength to get it clicked in), pull two levers on the side until they click, fold the two legs together until they click, press the white button on the top and retract the extendable handlebars until they click, and then its ok to get in the car. And if any of these don't happen in order, or if anything doesn't "click", then the next step doesn't work. A few times, I couldn't get the handlebars to retract, so I had to fold the back seat down in the car to get it in. I even had to move our child seat over to one side of the car so I could do that. There were times I couldn't get the unit to fold up to get it in the car at home, so I gave up and just grabbed our old Bee3. As a whole, its too process intensive and too many things can go wrong or just don't work when you're trying to fold the unit down to get it in the car. And if you're in a hurry, that just adds to the frustration. It is compact though once folded down. Very compact. I think I could fit it inside one of our luggage bags, it's that small. That's if you can get it folded down.

Design.. The design of the Ant has some pros and cons too. The weight of the pram is amazingly light. My wife can easily lift it with one hand, its that light. The under-pram and back storage is quite decent for the size of the pram. You would think being a small pram, there would be minimal to no storage, but if anything, it's around the same size as our old Bee3 has, which is a larger pram. The seat only reclines to fully laid back if the seat is rear-facing. If the seat is forward facing, it doesn't fully recline. Our daughter did not like that - she likes to lay flat when she's napping as the Bee3 reclines almost fully. The front seat does not extend, nor does it fold up. This means children with longer legs don't have the support for their legs, and it also means getting larger items in and out of the storage underneath is a bit more difficult. The canopy is quite sufficient and covers the child quite well when fully unzipped and extended. However, when it's folded up, it keeps disconnecting from the pram itself. It's almost like the canopy is meant for a pram slightly smaller than the Ant. Without the canopy connected, our slightly taller 2yo fits well, and there's room for her to grow further and still fit in it. This is something that has concerned us with the Bee3, as she is already barely fitting in it from a height perspective. But without the canopy attached, the Ant doesn't have any lip at the top of the seat which means taller children will keep fitting in the pram.

Overall.. I wouldn't recommend this pram to people, not for the price that Bugaboo is charging. I think the concept of the very small pram is a great idea, however, the design and practicality of the Ant leave a lot to be desired. I'm sure over time, we would get used to the smaller wheels, but the frustration in trying to fold the pram down to fit in the car was the key reason why we stopped using it. When you are trying to get a pram in a car, the last thing you want to be doing is fighting with the pram to get it folded down. And that's exactly the issue we were running into every time - fighting with the pram to get it folded down. The folding of the pram is the primary reason why we have switched back to our old Bee3.

It's for... a niche market – FIRST IMPRESSIONS When my Bugaboo Ant arrived in two boxes, the first thing that crossed my mind was “it’s a bit much, isn’t it?” You have the main box holding most of the stroller, then you had the smaller box dedicated to the wheels, and fascia for the wheels and rear pillar trim (yes! I’m not exaggerating). ASSEMBLY The set up procedure was… Read more

a bit hands-on. Now, usually I’m the type that throws away instruction manuals, but on this occasion, I relented that the fiddly bits and pieces were not all fully logical enough and some consults were needed to know which sequence things fall into place, what part goes behind what, etc.

All in all, with some mild rage, I finally got the set up process under way in a total effort of 2 hours. Most of it spent on trying to understand what the pictures in the instruction manual actually meant. I know what part was being drawn. Just couldn’t quite understand what the actual instruction was with some of the steps.

Then, having assembled the stroller together, I finally folded it up, and realised to my dismay that the resulting work of art could have fit wholly into the main box all along. Really wonder why they didn’t assemble everything from the factory and ship it out to customers at a ready-to-use state in the first place!! It’s not like I have a burning desire to assemble this thing. It’s not like I gain a sense of pride or accomplishment for following someone else's instructions on doing something – I’ve got better things to do in life. Ikea furniture I get – you want to lug something home and if you don’t flat-pack it, you won’t be able to get all your materials to fit in your car. This is NOT one of those moments! The damn thing fitted in ONE of the boxes in the first place! If anything, you’re increasing the pallet space per unit from a logistics perspective!! The other ironic thing is the print on the second box, priding Bugaboo on being environmentally friendly with their packaging. What better way to be environmentally friendly with packaging than by REDUCING the packaging needed in the first place, eh?

This is in big contrast to my Safety 1st stroller I bought at Target for $199 – the whole thing was practically assembled and ready to go, which was a godsend, as I planned the whole day that didn’t rely on a pram. Then my plan abruptly changed, and I went into Target in panic mode, picked the most expensive stroller, hoping that it would be at least a decent quality, and started using it on the spot. Now, if I needed to assemble anywhere NEAR as much as the Bugaboo Ant given that emergency situation, I would have been annoyed.

OPERATION

True to Bugaboo’s claims, this stroller is indeed very compact and lightweight. Also, as it is a Bugaboo, you can rest assured that it’s built and designed to a certain expected level of sophistication. From the smoothness of the bearings (I mean, I suspect the reason why they ship it out disassembled is so that you have no choice but to pick up that wheel axle and go “whoa. OMG. This shaft and bearing is just solid as!”), to the way that the canopy tucks in as you fold the unit down, to the concealed height adjustment of the canopy (yes, this one caught me out. Originally, I was convinced this stroller didn’t fit my 18th month old because the canopy came down too short and I couldn’t find any information about any height adjustment save for the telescopic handlebar). Everything just screamed of quality, and echoed my first experience with the Bugaboo Chameleon 3+. Everything fitted snugly into place with reassuring clicks, and the front wheels even had some springs in them for some basic suspension. This is something less common in compact strollers, so it’s a nice touch. But with the construction of the front wheels, I must admit that even I can’t be too sure what the suspension is designed to dampen – they are mounted horizontally, not vertically! Then again, it is a Bugaboo. I’m sure their engineers would have a reason for it and not just whack it on purely for aesthetics. I’ll admit, I’m more into electronics and telecommunications, so mechanical engineering isn’t exactly my specialization.

RIDE QUALITY AND COMFORT

Okay, this is the part where I ignore the compact design nature of the stroller, and focus purely from the parent/bub’s perspective, so forgive me when (not if) I get a tad harsh. As mentioned in my previous comments, the bearings are amazingly smooth, as with any Bugaboo product. It glides around the shopping malls beautifully and effortlessly, with its compact design letting me weave through heavy crowds and tight spaces. When parked at the table during meal times, the telescopic handlebar collapses all the way down, away from everyone else’s path so that I may continue being a considerate member of society. All in all, a solid quality product.

That’s at the shopping mall.

Out on the streets, unfortunately not so good. The small wheels makes it difficult to navigate the slightly harsher terrains. A small crack in the footpath translates to quite a bump and if you come across a larger crack, it’ll be quite similar to crashing into a curb. Basically this thing can’t handle some of the terrain that all of my other strollers could have. And that’s comparing to the Bugaboo Chameleon 3+, the Safety 1st Tote Stroller, and the Mountain Buggy Nano. So unless you live in a city where all the footpaths and parks are beautifully paved, this may or may not be the right stroller for you.

One thing that I must praise Bugaboo for is its consideration for posture. The seat on both the Ant and the Chameleon can be adjusted so that it’s fully upright. On the Mountain Buggy and the Safety 1st, the seats are very slouched at its most upright position, so it looks very awkward and strenuous to see my little boy trying to reach over for the handlebar. Can’t be good for his back. Then again, maybe these were intentionally designed to exercise his core? I wouldn’t know. Perhaps someone could fill in.

So this one finally allows him to sit straight so he can reach the handlebar. Great. Except this thing HAS no handlebar. And there is little side support like in the larger strollers forcing his arms to be more or less in front of him. Which brings in another consideration: Where does his hands go? The answer? EVERYWHERE. Without something for him to grab onto, my son is now flailing his arms everywhere like he just don’t care. And care he don't, but you do! You now need to keep your eyes on the path ahead AND immediately in front so that you don’t chop a limb off when going though a tight squeeze. Speaking of tight squeeze, the actual seat portion is not so generous, so it feels as though you’re always sitting at the edge of your seat. Not sure why; with the way the folding is designed, surely they could have afforded 1 or 2 cm more.

CONVENIENCE AND HANDLING

One of the comments from my wife was how well the straps were designed. Compared to all of our other strollers, the straps on the Ant were very easy to adjust to size.

Other than that, the stroller folds and unfolds quite easily, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a one-hand operation. The Mountain Buggy and the Safety 1st – to some limited extent, each with their own shortcomings – are more or less designed so you can flick it out with one hand, in one swift motion. With the Mountain Buggy, it’s the tightness of the joints and with the Safety 1st, it’s the retention clip acting so stubborn that you literally need to dedicate one hand keeping the clip off so that your other hand can let the stroller unfold. With the Ant, ironically, it’s the lightness of the product acting as its limitation. I was going to write a lengthy piece on the folding and unfolding process, but thought I might spare you from all the boring text and instead point you to a YouTube video I found illustrating the operation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewqdnBOFgmY

So you can see: two hands needed. I can do MOST of it with one hand, but with impractical effort.

Next, as you can see from the video, it’s amazing how Bugaboo designed this very compact stroller such that it can be forward and rearward facing. One thing conveniently NOT clear on the video though – when unfolding from rearward mode, it gets quite annoying, because to unfold the seat, you need to press that large white button on the back. Now, in the rearward mode, the button is now obscured between the seat and the base cover. It’s remarkably difficult to squeeze your hand through the tight space to access that big white button.

Next is the sleeping position – you can only fully recline the seat in the rearward mode. You cannot do so in the forward facing position. So if your kid wants to or is falling asleep while facing the world, you now need to pick him/her up. Then, while holding him/her, you need to: collapse the backrest, fold the canopy, fold the seat, eject the seat, flip it over, unfold the seat, unfold the canopy, extend the backrest, and finally, recline it all the way down. It happened once but luckily I wasn’t alone. You really can’t do this part on your own, so it’s definitely something to be mindful of.

Finally, this compact folding design results in an elevated Centre of Gravity. Do not fit hooks on the handlebar to dangle your handbag. It can flip the stroller. However, this created a very roomy and practical undercarriage compartment. Stowing extra weight there can lower the average COG. So that’s something for you to consider. It’s not really going to take away a practical amount of storage, but it might be taking away some of the convenience.

IS THIS RIGHT FOR ME?

If you’re considering the Ant, then chances are, this isn’t your first stroller. No way I’d put a newborn in this thing. Then again, I’m a first-time parent, so maybe I’m being overly cautious as always.

Anyhow, the question should be: would you spend close to $1000 on a SECOND stroller?

Not if you were me.

Let’s break it down. Yes, it’s actually a well-engineered piece of kit. Yes, it’s a Bugaboo. Yes, it’s extremely compact – I’d give it that. And yes, at the end of the day, I do like it. But let’s be entirely honest here – I didn’t buy the Ant with my own money. This was given to me for free on a program. I was shocked when I found out how much this thing actually retailed for.

If I was going for a second pram, I’d be looking for something simple, basic, convenient and cost-effective. At an asking price of $850, I would have simply walked right past it in the shop without even batting an eye. No way I would be splurging on a backup stroller. The splurging was all done on the first pram! And this is even coming from a first-time parent.

But that’s just me in my situation. Maybe you actually have $850 cash lying around with nothing better to spend it on. Maybe you fly a lot with Bub and frequently need something that fits as a hand-carry. Or maybe you really like Bugaboo and have that sense of brand recognition. Nothing wrong with that, I totally get it. If any of the above is your thing, and you’re okay with all the cons I’ve listed below, then the Bugaboo Ant is by no means a bad choice at the end of the day.

PROS - Very smooth bearings - Has suspension (although efficacy unknown/not observed) - Very compact and foldable design - Convertible forward/rearward facing - Good storage space - Very light-weight - Strap length adjustment works very smoothly - Great upright posture - Can be lugged around like a trolley when not in use

CONS - No handle bar - Annoying (and unnecessary) assembly process - High centre of gravity - Constructed with tight tolerances resulting in joints, levers, extension points feeling a bit too tight/resistive and can cause confusion (i.e. is this supposed to come out or am I about to break something?) - No single-handed operation - Handle bar feels a bit wobbly - Cannot recline to sleeping position when forward facing - Unfolding in rearward facing position is awkward and difficult

I like it. Unfortunately, toddler does not – This pram was designed specifically to be light-weight for transport/travel, the criteria for which it easily fulfils as it weighs less than 8kg. From appearance, it is very well designed and of high quality in terms of manufacture, being both streamline and stylish. I love its ability to be either front or rear facing, which with most other… Read more

travel sized prams, is not an option. When fully closed, it is compact and almost equivalent to the size of a carry-on suitcase - which can easily be stored in overhead compartments during flights. The steering and suspension appears no different to my original, larger pram, and it has a fairly extensive canopy to protect against wet weather. My initial intentions were to fully replace my old pram with the Ant in the car, as it is so much easier to hoist in and out of a vehicle. However, due to its deliberate downsizing to specialise it for travel, it seems to lack certain comfort components. Whenever my toddler is in it for beyond a minute, he will start screaming and straining to get out. I initially thought this was a coincidence, and tried the pram in various environments (indoor/outdoor, with/without distractions), with the same result each time. I thought that perhaps due to the smaller wheels, he felt too jolted, so I attempted usage in a smooth-floored environment, but it didn't make a difference. We swapped back to our original pram on the same outing, and he stopped crying immediately. I doubt it is due to its unfamiliarity, as he only starts crying after being in it for a minute or two, not when we first buckle him in. Possible factors affecting comfort (as far as I could see) could be the fact that there was nowhere for him to brace his feet/legs, so they just hang off the edge of the seat. If he slips a little, there is no way for him to push himself back up into a comfortable position. I also noticed that the padding on the shoulder harnesses cannot be adjusted, so they sit quite snug on either side of him, and as he slips down, they rub against him causing further discomfort. In terms of use for the parent, the initial setup takes approximately fifteen minutes (if you follow an online video - not if you try to decipher the wordless instructions in the booklet). To ready the pram for use from its folded position is relatively simple, however takes longer than my original pram which simply snapped open. I find that the small wheels means that any cracks or stones in the pavement means additional jolting, and it does make stepping off/up sidewalks rather tricky. However, none of theses factors would have mattered much if my toddler had found it comfortable enough for use. If your child is used to a travel -sized pram with no leg support, then this could potentially be a great option for them.