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When you are in the market for something lightweight and sturdy enough to handle whatever activities you get up to, then you are undoubtedly looking at both the Bugaboo Bee 5 and the UPPABaby Cruz. Both of these strollers are awesome in their own right, but which one is the best bet for you? Well, you can’t go wrong with either, but let’s take a more in-depth look to see which might be the absolute best for your needs.

Bugaboo Bee 5

Bugaboo strollers go above and beyond in terms of performance, and are built to last, often serving for 10 years or more with minimal maintenance. They also remain compatible with newer models, allowing your old Bugaboo to be updated with new fabrics or parts such as baskets, wheels, and more. While they may tend to be more city-focused, Bugaboo strollers are well-equipped to deal with suburban settings as well.

The secret to Bugaboo’s success comes down largely to two great design features. The first is the clever rounded frame which does a fantastic job of evenly distributing the weight of its cargo across the four wheels. No one spot endures too much pressure, even on the roughest terrain.

Combine that with probably the best suspension on the market, with thick, durable 3-inch coils on the front and back wheels. The Bugaboo Bee has enough give and bounce to handle brick and cobblestone expertly, despite its size.

These aren’t the only selling points, however. Attention has been paid to the seat as well, providing it with great features such as the ability to face in either direction (forward- or rear-facing) even when folded. It also has an excellent method of adjusting the seat and straps, allowing you to simply raise the back of the seat as your child grows. The butt of the seat operates the same way, which means you can essentially extend the back and butt to support a larger child. This gives extra space for the crotch strap and ensures that the stroller is suitable even for taller children.

The Bogaboo Bee 5 is made with vegan leather (as opposed to the genuine leather employed by UPPABaby) and is fully customizable from the frame and fabric to the canopy and wheel caps.  It also features an extendable handle that allows parents of even 6 1/2 feet or taller to push the stroller in comfort.

Some of the ways that the Bugaboo Bee 5 is similar to the Uppababy include the reversible seat, ability to add a bassinet, leather(ette) handlebar, and an extra-large UV-protectant canopy.

The Bee 5 has a one-hand fold and collapses into a neat little ball that is suitable for smaller car trunks.

UPPABaby Cruz

UPPABaby is a tried-and-true brand that has stood the test of time. Their Cruz stroller is a full-sized stroller ideal for suburban conditions, while the Vista, like the Bugaboo Bee 5 is geared a bit more toward urban environments.

UPPAbaby Cruz Stroller 2018 is a fantastic stroller with some excellent features, such as the 5-position recline, reversible seat (the Bee 5, in comparison, has 3 positions). The UPPABaby strollers are the only ones in the US market to feature real leather, and the updated, easy-to-clean fabrics available for 2018 are now a better competition for the style of the Bee. The UPPAbaby Cruz Stroller 2018 also boasts a number of features that are unique for its weight class, including:

• A sleep-safe bassinet and a stand option (both available separately) which allows your bassinet to be used apart from the stroller
• The biggest and deepest storage basket on the market for its weight class
• A standing fold that keeps the stroller upright and allows it to be stored in tight spaces

The Cruz is suitable for babies from 6 months onward, thus it requires a newborn insert-- UPPABaby Snug Seat- for children 6 months and under.

As mentioned above, the Cruz leans toward suburban environments, and this is largely due to the wheels and suspension. The Cruz has wheels of rubberized foam, similar to the Bogaboo Bee 5, but the front suspension is minimal, and it lacks rear suspension. With its comparatively rigid frame, it handles more roughly on bumps.

Despite the Bee 5 and the Cruz being similar in weight at about 19 pounds, the Cruz feels more substantial in size, being both longer and wider, but it distributes its weight nicely along the frame. The Bee, in comparison, feels like it lies somewhere between a travel stroller and a full-size.

Whichever choice you make, both the Bogaboo Bee 5 and the UPPABaby Cruz are sure to please both you and your little one, giving you years of use and comfort as you set out on your adventures.