Bugaboo Gecko

Discontinued

Reviewed

January 2008

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

Reversible handle and seat
Smooth ride; all-terrain
Lots of accessories
Made from aerosleep fabric

Cons

Uncomfortable seat angles for riders
Difficult to adjust seat positions
Hard to fold
Expensive
Hand brake is hard to use

Our Analysis
Specs

Reviewers say that despite its popularity with various celebrities, the Bugaboo Gecko leaves much to be desired. Although reviewers enjoy features like the reversible handle, experts are disappointed by the Bugaboo Gecko's hard-to-reach seat-position lever and complain that it's difficult to fold. One reviewer tested the Gecko and cited a potential safety hazard -- children could get their fingers caught between the handle and the seat. Clearly, the Bugaboo Gecko is primarily a product whose popularity hinges on its cachet, modern-looking design and status rather than its performance aspects.

The best review of the Bugaboo Gecko can be found on the website of the British publication Which? magazine. This stroller is also evaluated by Australia's Choice magazine, where it's compared to the competition. Parents post comments about their experience with the Bugaboo Gecko on StrollersAndPrams.com. Consumer Reports has not yet evaluated this model.

Our Sources

1. Which.co.uk

British review publication Which? uses professional panelists plus parent testers to evaluate strollers, and each is also subjected to a series of durability tests. This is an excellent and credible review -- more thorough and detailed than reviews at Consumer Reports. Editors have tested several Bugaboo strollers, including the Bugaboo Gecko, with surprising results.

Review: Pushchairs, Editors of Which.co.uk, Feb. 2006

2. Choice.com.au

Australian review magazine Choice routinely tests strollers according to a strict and detailed set of criteria. In this review, editors evaluate ten full-sized, full-featured strollers, including the Bugaboo Gecko, for ease of use and durability as well as safety. Several models are recommended, but the Bugaboo Gecko isn't one of them.

Review: Four-wheel layback strollers, Editors of Choice.com.au, Apr. 2006

3. StrollersandPrams.com

Parents posting to this site have mixed feelings about the Bugaboo Gecko stroller. While some say it's easy to navigate and use, others disagree. Several mention the inconveniently placed seat-adjustment lever, an issue that comes up in other reviews as well.

Review: Bugaboo Gecko Review, Contributors to Strollers And Prams.com

4. Amazon.com

A sizeable handful of owners have reviewed the Bugaboo Gecko at Amazon.com. Although the overall ratings are largely positive, sprinkled among the reviews are postings from some owners who don't think the Gecko is worth the high price.

Review: Bugaboo Frog Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

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