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Bugaboo Donkey
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Bugaboo Donkey

DISCONTINUED in 2018
see 7 parent reviews

The Bugaboo Donkey is an extremely versatile high-end stroller for one child, twins or siblings with a small age gap. It was released in 2011. It is the first stroller to be priced at over £1,000.

Its unique chassis can be extended or narrowed in three simple clicks. On the chassis, you can attach one or two seats, carrycots, car seats or any combination of one of these with an optional side basket, which can be also carried as a handbag. The carrycot and the bucket seat textiles are attached to the same frame. The Donkey is only 74 cm wide despite the side-by-side seats. It will pass through regular 80 cm doors easily. However, you should keep in mind that the car seats with adapters widen the stroller. One car seat widens it to 80 cm, two to 86 cm. The large air-filled tires are easy to maneuver and can handle all kinds of terrain. When shopping, you will appreciate the huge basket with high weight capacity.

The stroller is available in different configurations. The Mono is designed for one child with one chassis, a carrycot, a seat and a side basket. The Duo is suitable for siblings of different ages with two frames with seats, one fabric set for the carrycot and a side basket. The Twin is designed for twins, and it comes with two carrycots, two seats and a side basket. In addition, it can also be purchased as a separate chassis and assembled according to your needs.

The Donkey has under gone several improvements. From2012, the exchangeable hoods can be extended. Models since 2014 have a longer brackets attaching the seat/carrycot onto the chassis. Seats from previous years will therefore not fit. Since 2017, the chassis folds more compact and can be folded with the seats or even the carrycots attached. The foam handles were covered with leatherette.

The Donkey also comes in special and limited editions. One of the most popular is the 2016 Weekender with a matching travel bag that fits into the place of one of the seats. There are also the Diesel Denim, or the 2017 collaborations Niark1 and the tiger-patterned We Are Handsome.

Bugaboo Donkey Features & Specifications

The Basics

Type
2in1 stroller system, 3in1 stroller system, Chassis-only, Double sibling stroller (side-by-side)
Stroller weight
13 kg (alt. 15 kg)
Unfolded dimensions (h×w×l)
106 cm x 60-74 cm x 114 cm
Folded dimensions (h×w×l)
87 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm
Chassis material
Aluminum
Country of origin
Netherlands
Only available as a stroller system
Yes

The Seat unit

Maximum weight capacity - seat load
17 kg
First seat's maximum weight capacity
17 kg
Recommended age range (best to use with a child of)
0-36 months
Reversible seat unit
Yes
Easy-release memory button(s) on the seat or the carrycot
Yes
L-shaped, bucket-type seat unit
Yes
Reclining backrest
Yes, 3 positions
Full-recline backrest (a bigger-than-a-150-degree-angle to a lie-flat)
Yes
Backrest recline type
Rear-located recline mechanism (e.g., lever-operated)
One-hand backrest recline system
Yes
Extendable backrest
No
Legrest positioning
No
Extendable leg rest
No
Wipe-clean layer on the leg rest
No
Footrest
Yes
Backrest height
49 cm
Width and depth of the sitting surface
26 x 23 cm
Total length of the seat unit
94 cm
A higher seat unit's position on the chassis
No
Height-adjustable seat
No
Seat unit's proper attachment indicator
No
2in1 convertible carrycot/seat unit (pramette travel system)
Yes
Fabrics removable for cleaning
Yes
Seat fabrics cleaning
Machine washable
Safety harness type
5-point
Harness padding
Yes
Height-adjustable harness belts
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the seat
No
Second seat can be attached (single-to-double convertibility)
Yes

The 2nd Seat unit

Full-size second seat
Yes
Second seat's maximum weight capacity
17 kg
Recommended age range for the second seat (best to use with a child of)
0-36 months
Second seat unit's reversibility
Yes
L-shaped, bucket-type second seat unit
Yes
Second seat's reclining backrest
Yes, 3 positions
Full-recline second seat's backrest (a bigger-than-a-150-degree-angle to a lie-flat)
Yes
Second seat's backrest recline type
Rear-located recline mechanism (e.g., lever-operated)
Second seat features a one-handed backrest recline
Yes
Second seat features a leg rest
Yes
Second seat features a footrest
Yes
Second seat unit's backrest height
49 cm
Second seat's width x depth of the sitting surface
26 x 23 cm
Total length of the second seat unit
94 cm
Second seat unit equipped with a canopy/hood
Yes
Second seat's equipped with a bumper bar
Yes
Usable also in single-child configuration
Yes

The Canopy (Hood)

Seat unit equipped with a canopy/hood
Yes
Extendable canopy/hood
Yes
The canopy/hood features a sun visor
No
Floating, follow-the-sun canopy
No
Height-adjustable canopy
No
Removable canopy
Yes
Waterproof canopy
No
UV protection in the (canopy) fabrics
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the canopy
No
A pocket integrated into the canopy
No
Peek-a-boo viewing window present on the canopy
No
Reinforcing side clasps present on the canopy
No

The Bumper bar

Bumper bar
Yes
Bumper bar type (style)
Bar
Removable bumper bar
Yes
Gate-opening (swing-away) bumper bar
No
Height-adjustable bumper bar
No
Bumper bar features a fabric (non-wipe-clean) cover
No
Bumper bar features an extra crotch strap
No

The Wheels

Number of wheels
4
Front wheel(s) type
Air-filled (inflatable) tires
Rear wheels type
Air-filled (inflatable) tires
Front wheels diameter
25 cm
Rear wheels diameter
30 cm
Swivel wheels
Yes
Lockable wheels
Yes
Removable wheels
Yes
All wheels are double wheels
No
Wheels equipped with mudguards
No,
Two-wheel mode
Yes

The Suspension

Suspension
Yes
Suspension type
Frame
Adjustable suspension softness
No
Rocking chassis
No

The Brake

Central brake system/type
Push down-lift up pedal brake
Deceleration handbrake
No,

The Fold

Folding system
Flat (compact) fold
One-hand fold
No
Plane-travel-friendly stroller with an ultra-compact fold (suitable as carry-on luggage)
No
Folds with the (forward-facing) seat attached
Yes
Folds with the rearward-facing seat attached
Yes
Self-standing fold
Yes
Auto-lock feature of the folded chassis
No
Folded stroller can be pulled behind like luggage
No
Stroller folds and/or unfolds by itself
No
Equipped with a carry strap/carry handle
No
Folds with both seats attached
Yes
Outward fold (the seat fabrics are on the outside after folding)
No

The Handlebar

Handle height adjustment
Telescopic
Handlebar material
Foam, Leatherette (PU/eco-leather)
Handlebar height
88-106 cm
Reversible handlebar (handle can be flipped to the other side)
No
Safety wrist strap
Yes

The Basket

Shopping basket
Yes
Large shopping basket
Yes
Basket's weight capacity
10 kg
Closable basket
No
An extra basket can be attached to the frame
Yes
A pocket integrated into the seat/elsewhere on the stroller frame
No

The Carrycot

Carrycot compatible
Yes (without adapters)
Internal dimensions of the carrycot - mattress measurement
76 x 30 cm
Carry handle on the carrycot
Yes,
Inclining carrycot mattress
No,
Foldable carrycot
Yes,
Rocking-base carrycot
No
Ventilatilated carrycot base (bottom ventilation system)
Yes,
Carrycot installable in the car instead of a group 0+ car seat (Auto carrycot)
No,
Carrycot positioned high on the frame
No

The Car seat

Car seat compatible
Yes (with adapters)
Car seat sold separately
Yes
Maxi-Cosi/Cybex car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes
Britax Römer car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes
Two car seats at the same time compatibility
Yes

The Accessories & Extra features

Parent tray/organizer on the handlebar (included)
No
Cup holder can be attached
Yes
Reflective elements
No
No pushchair mode/seat-unit configuration available
No
Rain cover included
Yes
Mosquito net included
No
Leg cover (apron) included with the seat unit
No
Seat liner/insert included
No
Changing bag included
No
Carry bag/transport cover for the folded stroller included
No
Motorized/Baterry-powered
No
LED light(s)
No
Built-in audio speakers
No
A storage/bag can be attached instead of a seat
Yes

Parent reviews of the Bugaboo Donkey

4.6/5
Add YOUR review
if you own(ed) it, own it ;-)
parents say thx^^

THE stroller for twins or siblings

5
  • passes through 90cm doors = at all offices, shops, including the bus (unless it is a long-distance connection with narrow doorway)
  • mono version possible (!)
  • easily changeable appearance
  • goes over anything
  • large storage basket
  • stable
  • easy to buy spare parts
  • great after-sales service
  • possibility of two identical or different seats at the same time
  • holds its price better
  • good original equipment (a lot of girls sew BGB pads, liners, footmuffs, etc.)
  • narrow seats - but this is aso that it can go anywhere (so it's not such a disadvantage)

Among strollers for twins or siblings, this is truly THE stroller. Best choice, money well invested. I'm sorry it didn't stay with us for long :-) (hasty sale when my daughter had a momentary stroller veto)

THE stroller

5

THE stroller 😍

Satisfaction

5

A lot of satisfaction.

THE stroller you need

5
  • Large, inflatable wheels
  • Adjustable handle
  • Huge basket
  • Side basket
  • Reversible
  • Bulky for the car trunk

There is nothing to complain about - it's THE stroller you need. It can handle any terrain.

Not much of a stroller for the price

3

Unfortunately for us, not much of a stroller for the price. Feels unfinished, technically bad design, no handbrake, no total suspension... for me, a very unfortunate design, where the whole weight rests on two joints that are too stressed. Extendable handle - when I put a not very heavy bag on it, the stroller falls over very easily.

Very little room in the bottom basket. If used for two children at the same time, very little storage space...

In my opinion, not very compact - the chassis together with the seat is not very efficient to fold e.g. in the car.

The "cradle" style seat is not, according to our physiotherapist, suitable for the proper development of mainly hip joints etc, which of course leads to another downsides, in my opinion uncomfortable position for sleeping, the child cannot choose a natural position without having to have his legs up - he sits lying down...

Design-wise, very nice. For some, even practical because of the possibility of narrowing it down to a mono version for just one child. Great that the seats/cots can be freely rearranged, reversed in/against direction of travel...

The best twin stroller on the market

5
  • large, air-filled wheels
  • summer canopies with mosquito net
  • low weight
  • compact and easy to fold
  • beautiful design
  • possible to use as mono as well as duo stroller

The best twin stroller on the market. Thanks to air-filled wheels, it glides through every kind of terrain. As the only model, it allows the children to sit facing both forward, both rearward, as well as in opposite directions. If you need to only take one child with you, you just don’t take the second seat unit...

  • loads and loads of storage space in Mono version
  • many accessories
  • beautiful colors
  • so many possible variations
  • easy to use
  • stable
  • slightly larger (dimensions)
  • a little heavy

Perfect stroller even in the Mono version. Lots of storage space, no additional bag needed. Driveability is great even in snow and on harsh surfaces. It passes through any door - but you need to have a large car boot; otherwise, you need to click off more elements of the chassis. Fortunately, in our car, it fit in one piece.

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