Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Review: The One-Second-Fold Travel Stroller
~16 lb · one-second fold · roomy 45L basket
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📝 Honest note: I haven’t personally traveled with the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 yet, so this is a research-backed breakdown of what owners and expert testers consistently report… plus how I’d weigh it as someone who’s spent years flying with two little kids. I’ll update it first-hand if we get one. If you’d rather see the travel stroller I’ve personally pushed for seven years across two kids, here’s my hands-on Babyzen YoYo review. If you want the compact travel stroller I have actually used for years, here is my hands-on Babyzen YoYo review.
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is the current version of Bugaboo’s ultra-compact city-and-travel stroller, famous for a true one-second, one-hand fold into a tiny self-standing package. (There’s also a newer Butterfly 2 Plus that’s newborn-ready out of the box… more on that below.)
What is in this review
The short version
Buy it if you want a premium compact stroller with the fastest fold in the category and a surprisingly roomy basket. Reconsider if you want the lightest option (it’s ~16 lb) or the lowest price (~$599 before the travel bag and adapters).
Bugaboo Butterfly 2 at a glance
- Weight: ~16 lb
- Folded: ~17.6 x 9.6 x 21.8 in; self-standing
- Fold: true one-hand, ~one-second fold
- Limits: ~6 months to 50 lb (birth with car seat + adapters)
- Recline: deep, near-flat (flatter than the original Butterfly)
- Basket: ~45L, unusually roomy; IATA-compatible
What owners love
The one-second fold into a compact, self-standing package is called best-in-class again and again… it clears many overhead bins, making it a genuine air-travel pick. The ~45L basket is huge for the category, and the Butterfly 2’s larger wheels and suspension ride noticeably better on uneven ground than the original. Premium fabrics and a big UPF 50+ canopy round it out.
The honest flaws
It’s expensive… around $599 before you add the travel bag or car-seat adapters… and heavier (~16 lb) than a Joolz Aer or Yoyo. The footrest is often called under-padded, and to use it from birth you need adapters (or you step up to the pricier Butterfly 2 Plus).
How it compares
| Bugaboo Butterfly 2 | Babyzen/Stokke Yoyo3 | Joolz Aer+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | ~16 lb | ~14 lb | ~13 lb |
| Fold | One-second, one-hand | Two-step | One-hand |
| Basket | ~45L (roomy) | Small | Small (~11 lb) |
| Price | ~$599 | $450-530 | ~$449–499 |
Who it’s for
Get it if you want the fastest fold and a roomy basket in a premium compact stroller. Prefer the Joolz Aer+ for lighter carry, or the UPPAbaby Minu V3 if you want it to double as your everyday stroller. And if you want the carry-on stroller I have personally put through seven years and thirteen countries, here is my hands-on Babyzen YoYo review.
FAQ
Is the Butterfly 2 airplane / overhead-bin approved?
It’s IATA-compatible and fits many overhead bins… confirm with your airline.
Can it be used from birth?
From ~6 months in the seat, or from birth with a compatible car seat + adapters; the Butterfly 2 Plus is the fully newborn-ready version.
Butterfly vs Butterfly 2 vs 2 Plus?
The 2 improves recline, wheels, and ride over the original; the 2 Plus adds an out-of-box newborn-ready seat.
Is the travel bag included?
No… the padded transport bag is a separate purchase.
The verdict
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is the compact stroller to beat on fold speed and basket space, with a ride that holds up on real-world pavement. You pay for it… in dollars and a couple extra pounds… but for city-plus-travel families it’s a genuinely great one-second-fold option.
