The Bugaboo Cameleon 3 is a luxury all-terrain stroller that has a reversible seat, and reversible handlebar and comes with a matching bassinet. It is a 3rd generation model of the Bugaboo Cameleon designed for everyday life.
You can take it to the park, shopping center, or for a walk in the neighborhood. Since the seat is removable, you can use it as a frame with an included matching bassinet or with an infant car seat (purchased separately). This buggy grows with your baby!
For this year, the handlebar and the bumper bar were upgraded to vegan leather which makes this stroller even more elegant.
The maneuverability is absolutely great! The all-terrain foam-filled 12″ rear wheels and adjustable front-wheel suspension will provide your child with a smooth ride.
What is interesting about Cameleon 3 is that when you reverse the handlebar, the large rear wheels will become your front wheels allowing you to get through the rougher terrain like grass, mulch, or even snow.
One very unique feature of Cameleon 3 is its ability to transform into a TWO-WHEEL mode by removing the smaller front wheels. I’ve never seen a stroller do that! Supposedly, it will make it easier to go over sand or snow.
I have not tried it myself, but it does look very unstable to me. Other features that parents enjoy are a large canopy, a roomy seat, and a large basket. With all these great features Cameleon 3 weighs ONLY 21 lbs.
OVERALL
I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because I absolutely love the design and the high quality of all the materials. This buggy will last you for years and multiple kids. Love the included bassinet for the newborn.
Since the all-terrain wheels are foam-filled I don’t have to worry about a flat. The canopy is the best! The weight is also important for me because I have a bad back so throwing heavy strollers around is not my thing.
Of course, it does have some drawbacks like bulky fold, lack of adjustable footrest (like on most luxury strollers), and lack of peekaboo window. But the main problem I have with Cameleon 3 is the super high price of $1,219. What?! I know…
I would never be able to spend that much money on a stroller. It’s more like a down payment for a car for my child. LOL. It comes in eight colors and retails for around $1,299. It does include a bassinet, bumper bar, and rain cover. I also would like to see a cup holder included for that price.
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Features
CANOPY
The canopy used to be large. Now it has a zipped-in extra penal that makes it absolutely HUGE. It goes all the way down past the bumper bar.
Unfortunately just like all Bugaboo models it still does not have a peekaboo window. I also would like to see a mesh somewhere for better air circulation on a hot summer day.
HANDLEBAR
I absolutely love this handlebar! It’s not only telescoping, but is also reversible which is a very rare feature. It goes from 39″ up to 44″ from the ground. Great for shorter and taller parents.
To get over rougher terrain, you can reverse the handle so that the rear wheels are in the front. That way, it will be much easier to get over grass, mulch, or gravel. They say it can go over even snow (I have not tried that). Since 2017 the handle has been covered with vegan leather instead of foam.
To avoid tipping the stroller backward when the seat is fully reclined, hang your diaper bag on the frame using stroller hooks. You can also use it to hang your water bottle or shopping bags.
There is a strap attached to the handlebar that prevents the stroller from running away from you (not like you are going to jog with it, but I guess some people use it).
BRAKE
In a previous model, the hand brake made multiple clicking sounds when you lift it, now it’s just one click.
SEAT
The seat is very roomy. It is 13″ wide and 23″ high from the back of the seat to the top of the canopy. The depth of the seat is 11″. It can hold a child from 6 months and up to 37.5 lbs.
Since the seat is one molded piece, it will keep its ‘V’ shape when reclined, so your child is ALWAYS in a sitting position even when he is sleeping. It has 3 recline positions that are adjusted by pushing two white buttons on both sides of the frame. You will need both hands.
I am not sure why wouldn’t they do a one-hand lever recline like on the Bugaboo Donkey model. The seat is also removable and reversible. All you need to do is push two buttons on both sides and swing it around.
Easy! Now, your child will be facing you. The seat is made out of durable material that is also machine washable.
FOOTREST
The footrest has a 9″ leg drop with plenty of room for a growing child.
BUMPER BAR
INCLUDED! It is a removable swing-away bumper bar that is now covered with vegan leather.
HARNESS
It has a padded adjustable 5-point harness with a center release buckle. The straps slide up and down without re-threading!
BASKET
It has a large easy-to-access basket that can fit a lot of stuff. It’s attached to the frame with snap straps instead of velcro. And what I REALLY like about it is that you don’t have to remove all the stuff from the basket before folding the stroller. There is a material that you can cinch up to keep all the stuff from falling out.
I can’t count how many times I folded my stroller forgetting there was stuff in the basket. One time, I forgot a bottle of sunscreen. Of course, it fell out when I folded the stroller AND I ran it over with my car when I was backing up. I thought my tire got flat when I heard a popping noise. LOL.
For even more storage I would recommend getting a universal stroller organizer. That way you can take not only your coffee cup, but also a LOT of stuff including keys, phone, water, wallet, snacks, diapers, toys, and more. The amount of stuff it can fit is unbelievable.
WHEELS
It rolls on four all-terrain foam-filled rubber wheels with 12″ wheels in the back and 6″ in the front. To remove the rear wheels, you just need to push a white button and the wheels pop right off. The front wheels are swivel but can be locked straight for more stability. These wheels can tackle ANYTHING!
The front wheels have an adjustable suspension system with four positions.
TWO-WHEEL MODE
Now this is a unique function that I’ve not seen yet. You can actually remove the small wheels and reconfigure the frame to transform it into a two-wheel mode.
While in this mode it will be easier to get over snow and sand on the beach, it is not very stable, so I wouldn’t go very far. You will need to remove your child from the stroller before converting it.
FOLD/UNFOLD
The fold has been updated to make it easier. Thank God! There were SOO many complaints from parents who said the frame would lock up sometimes driving them crazy.
Have you ever seen a crazy-looking parent kicking and hitting a stroller out in the parking lot? That was probably a lucky owner of a Cameleon. LOL.
We (the parents) are pretty stressed out as it is, and a little stroller malfunction can push us right over the edge. Anyways, it’s still a two-piece two-hands fold. You need to remove the seat before folding the frame. To fold the frame, push two white buttons located on both sides of the frame and fold the frame down.
The new fold has a little less steps than the old one. The folded dimensions without the wheels are 35″L x 20″W x 12″H. Bulky! I also wish there would be something preventing the handlebar and the basket from scrapping the floor every time you fold and unfold it.
BASSINET
INCLUDED! One of the selling points of the Cameleon 3 is the included bassinet. You can easily convert your stroller into a fab pram by replacing the seat with the bassinet.
TRAVEL SYSTEM
You can convert it into a travel system by replacing the seat with an infant car seat. It works with the most popular brands like Peg Perego, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Britax, Cybex, and Chicco. Check out my list of the top 10 safest car seats.
RAIN COVER
It comes with a rain cover.
Cons
-No peekaboo window. For such a large canopy there should be a peekaboo window. What luxury stroller doesn’t have one? I don’t know why none of the Bugaboo strollers have a peekaboo window.
-Bulky. It will take a LOT of room in your trunk. That big one-piece seat and the frame will not fit in a smaller car.
-No adjustable footrest. Since the seat is one molded piece, it does not have an adjustable footrest that many other similar luxury strollers have.
-Little storage. Except for the basket, there is no additional storage for small items like keys or cell phone. I would like to see a zipper pocket in the back of the canopy or the seat.
-High price. It retails for $1,219 which is one of the most expensive strollers on the market.
-Low weight limit. The seat can accommodate a child only up to 37.5 lbs which is on a lower side compared to most of the stroller that has a weight limit around 50 lbs.
-Two-hand recline. I am not sure why they did this two-hand recline instead of a one-hand lever recline in the back of the seat like Bugaboo Donkey has. You need both hands to push buttons on both sides. Why?
Video Review
Here is a video overview of the Cameleon 3 2017 features.
Here is another great video from BabyGizmo that goes over some of the accessories.
Specs
Stroller weight: 21 lbs
Weight limit: 37.5 lbs
Folded dimensions: 35″L x 20″W x 12″H
Handlebar height: 39″ – 44″
Seat to canopy height: 23″
Rear wheels: 12″
Front wheels: 6″
Overall length: 34″
Overall width: 24″
Warranty
Bugaboo provides a 3-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be an original owner.
Available colors
The Bugaboo Cameleon 3 has 8 different colors for the canopy and two seat colors plus 7 special collections that have different color combinations of the seat, canopy, and bumper bar.
Where to buy it
You can get Bugaboo Cameleon 3 in one of the eight beautiful colors for around $1,299. The price can vary depending on the color and the collection.
This is an expensive luxury stroller that doesn’t have any good sales. It does include a bassinet, bumper bar, and rain cover.
This stroller is SUCH a disappointment! It is bulky, a hassle to fold up and takes up too much space in your car, the board for your older child to clip on the back is such a poor design! You have to walk on the side so your foot does not hit the board with every step! It also gets caught on curbs and you have to bend down to lift it, usually with your purse sliding off your shoulder because there is NO storage for keys or coffee or anything. Of course you can purchase those things separately for hundreds more! The storage basket underneath is useless because you cannot get anything in or out of it because the bassinet sits too low on top of it. For the amount of money this stroller costs it should be perfect!. Think twice before you buy this designer stroller. The ONLY thing it is good for is a leisure afternoon stroll and status symbol. I am so upset that I have spent over $1600.00 after all the add-ons. I wouldn’t mind it if it served every purpose but it does not even come close.
Hi Patty. I think the main features of Cameleon 3 are the all-terrain wheels and reversible seat. Everything else is about fashion and status. This is definitely not very practical stroller. I would recommend getting UPPAbaby Vista over Cameleon 3 any day of the week.
We had considered buying this stroller for a long time before our baby appeared. Finally, we decided to spend over 1,000 USD and truly believed it was a good decision and the stroller would serve at least 2 children.
Initially, we were super happy with the purchase: light, easy to drive, stable, with so many practical functions! We absolutely loved it! It was a pleasure to go for walks, no matter the season or terrain as it was so easy and quick to reverse the handle bar and be able to chose the wheels that suited best. Also, we had no problems with folding the stroller into the car trunk.
However, our love and admiration of the stroller dissipated some weeks ago when it appeared that one of the hinges in the frame got broken and it’s no longer possible to reverse the handlebar or to fold the stroller altogether.
We contacted the manufacturer (through the supplier who was very concerned and helpful) and got the answer that the stroller is no longer under warranty so we have to bear the cost of repair.
I am very disappointed for many reasons: first of all that the stroller has only a 2-year-warranty (although I have noticed on bugaboo.com that now the warranty can be extended by an extra year – a pity that it was not possible when we bought our stroller) even though it cost almost 1,200 USD. Secondly, that it got broken after such a short time. We won’t be able to use it properly and fully with the second baby (being on the way). Thirdly, that it is impossible to conduct any repair on your own as the stroller has only rivets, not screws, which can’t be mended.
In general: I don’t recommend investing so much money in the stroller that breaks relatively quickly. We bought it almost 2 and half years ago but have used it less than that as we frequently travel for extensive periods of time and during those times are using a different stroller.
For this money one can buy either a stroller that has a life-time warranty or two cheaper ones and then don’t feel bad when one breaks down.
Shame!
I have a set of twins as well as a single baby that followed so I have a lot of experience with strollers—both single and double.
There are numerous issues with the Cameleon that make it not only ridiculously overpriced, but frankly not even as useful as the $200 Babytrend Snap’N’Go. If you are a new mom, please understand that your biggest priorities are: (1) safety (2) ease and usability and (3) ability to carry a lot of stuff at once. The Cameleon fails on all accounts.
So first– convertibility: Bugaboo does not make a carseat which means that any carseat you purchase will require a converter piece to fit on to the Cameleon and allow the carseat to work with the stroller. Maxicosi is supposed to be the best conversion for Bugaboo so I purchased the Maxicosi carseat and $60 corresponding converter. The converter sucks. It holds the car seat at a strange upright angle. It’s very difficult to get the carseat on and off of the converter and I’m often nervous that it’s not properly attached which means my baby is at risk of falling. If Maxicosi is indeed the best conversion, I cannot imagine how difficult and awkward it would be to fit a different manufacturer’s car seat into the Cameleon. Attention new moms: when your child is under about one year of age, you will not want to take him in and out of his car seat so that you can put him in his stroller. You will want to put his carseat directly into the stroller so that you don’t have to wake up him when he’s napping and also just because it’s way, way easier. So convertibility is a big issue not just for safety but for usability.
While we’re on the safety issue– the handle that controls the brakes on the Cameleon is a massive fail. It was a good idea in theory. In practice, it’s liable to injure a little hand and has indeed bruised my adult hand more than once. It is extremely tight—meaning that there’s a lot of tension involved in pulling and releasing the brake. So when I push the button to release the brake, the handle snaps violently back. Again—good idea in theory. In practice, it hurts. Literally.
The next issue is the underseat basket and it has made me want to kick and scream on a regular basis. It is a freaking joke. For one thing, it is absolutely tiny. For another, it rocks back and forth such that anything stored inside is in constant danger of falling out. Finally, because of the size and angle, I cannot reach anything that I store inside of it while the seat is on top. I have to remove the seat to put anything in it or take anything out of it which is a massive hassle—not to mention dangerous because I have no place to put the car seat when I do take it on and off which means my baby is sitting in his carseat on the ground in a parking lot while I attempt to cram the simplest of things into that sad basket. Perhaps the underseat basket is not a priority for other moms but for me—this alone is a deal breaker.
Now—on to the fold. When a carseat adapter is in place, the only thing that folds on the Cameleon is the handlebar, which means it remains giant an awkward and barely fits into the trunk of my Honda Odyssey.
In sum—I know Bugaboo is a status symbol and I will admit that the appearance is quite chic. But the aesthetics, as great as they may be, just aren’t worth the massive hassle. Unfortunately, I found the same to be true of the Donkey when I bought it five years ago for my twins.
The Bugaboo Comfort Board in my opinion RELATIVE to every other board on the market is hands down the BEST. I agree, it has every single problem in your comments, unfortunately no other board on the market has solved it nor has any manufacturer sorted out how to carry 2 children on a stroller when one child is too heavy to sit in the seat and too young to walk the distances.
I think the reason the Bugaboo Board is the best, comes down to mechanics; it is the only board I know with one wheel, not 2. Geometrically, it is very difficult to turn 6 wheels, which is every other board setup (4 wheels on the stroller and 2 wheels on the board). 6 wheels equals 3 axles (2 wheels per axle). Bugaboo has a total of 5 wheels (4 wheels on the stroller and 1 wheel on the board). 5 wheels equals 2 axles plus 1 swivel or a rotational point. Geometrically, this setup seems to make it much easier to steer as the 1 swivel wheel is much freer than an axle.
The way the single wheel typically gains lateral stability, meaning, keeping the board from see-sawing left or right vs. a 2 wheel board setup is by relying on the strength of the Bugaboo rear stroller axle & to some degree, weight. Effectively, the rear stroller axle acts as 2 axels in one. The reason I am guessing Bugaboo can do this is because it has not made its board universal; probably due to the fact there are so many Bugaboos sold that its ecosystem is big enough not to have to generate additional profit by making it fit other manufacturers.
Any board attached to the back of a stroller will get kicked, there is no way around this. A lot of people walk slightly back from the board but this results in back hunching which is quite uncomfortable for some. UPPAbaby’s PiggyBack tries to address this by making what seem to be a very shallow board but even the average stride, one still seems to end up kicking it. Lascal seems to address the kicking by making a high board with reasonably spread apart wheels so one can get their feet under the board; this is better but on occasion, one still kicks it. The old Bugaboo board seemingly addressed this by saying, rather than getting your 2 feet between the 2 wheels like other boards, we want you to get your feet to either side of the 1 wheel on centre; additionally, they tapered the back of the board to a round point to allow additional foot clearance. Unfortunately, one still on occasion kicks the board when turning since the wheel is wider rotated on its side than frontal.
Bugaboo’s new board probably took the view that most standard strollers are wide enough to accommodate a parent and child side by side. This resulted in their flip-able (left handed or right handed) solution where the parent can walk on the left or on the right of the child so one does not end up kicking the board. Obviously, as the push is now asymmetrically loaded, the stroller needs to be extremely nimble and frictionless (Bugaboo seems to market the one-hand on handle push and one hand to hold other child a lot) to turn which the Bugaboo is quite good at, at least based on the strollers we have tried.
The one caveat about all boards is that due to the extra axle or wheel, the overall wheelbase is longer making it harder to turn. Our experience is that it is best to stick to U-handle strollers vs. 2 individual handles one often finds on umbrella type strollers. A U-handle is wide making it easy to turn, a bit like wide handlebars on a bike. The 2 individual handles on umbrella strollers are harder to grasp and requires one to use a twisting action when a push and pull is all that is needed to turn. Additionally, most umbrella strollers seem due to their inherent geometry are softer than their full size counterparts which incidentally gain stability via the U-handle; in mechanics, a closed loop is more stable than an open loop.
As for the curbs, the Bugaboo board has a reasonably large wheel so I would not say it is better or worse than some other large wheel boards for curb hopping.
Believe me, we resisted the Bugaboo for 4 years because of the status symbol thing (we have a Maclaren) but when we had our second child, we needed a solution. We bought what we thought was the best board, unfortunately, the stroller came attached.
As a side note, the board turns slightly better with the Cameleon than the Bee. The Bee is designed to be light and narrow for the city and with that comes a loss of rigidity. A lot of the energy used to turn the Bee ends up going into counteracting its floppiness compared to the Cameleon. Kind of like moving a brick with a bamboo stick vs a 2×4 stud. The weight of the Cameleon also seems to help as the board is light in comparison. With a Bee, the board is relatively much heavier making it harder to keep your jumping child from laterally tipping over the entire assembly.