After two months underway from The Netherlands to California, our Bugaboo Cameleon finally turned up this afternoon. In spite of the weight of the package and the length of time spent in transit, it arrived in great condition.
After inspecting the contents of the box, Sarah and I spent the evening reading the instructions and assembling Franbert’s new buggy. I’d heard that the forerunner to the Cameleon, the Frog, is quite involved to set up, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that there wasn’t all that much to assembling the Cameleon.
The improvements with respect to the Frog are definitely appreciated. The extensible push-bar is nice for parents of varying heights and the adjustable suspension on the castor wheels should make for a comfy riding experience for both baby and parent on all sorts of terrain.
Our chosen colour combination of a blue base unit with supplemental orange turns out to have been a pretty good one. Franbert’s going to look very snazzy in his new vechicle. We can’t wait to take him out for a spin in it.
We made one minor mistake in purchasing a Maxi-Cosi car seat adaptor for the Cameleon. We thought this was identical to the American Graco car seat adaptor, but it turns out to be a very different part, so we’re going to purchase a Graco car seat adaptor tomorrow at a local shop. Apparently, the adaptors for the Frog fit the Cameleon, too, so we can just buy a Graco adaptor locally and use that to affix our SnugRide to the Cameleon.
The Maxi-Cosi adaptor won’t actually be wasted, either, as it happens. When we eventually move back to Europe, our intention is to purchase a Maxi-Cosi car seat, anyway, as they are widely regarded as being the best on the market. Like the Cameleon, however, they’re not available on the American market. Whilst it seemed worth the time and trouble to import a Cameleon, we’re not fussy enough to go to the extra expense of importing a car seat, since the Graco is very good, too, so we’ll stick with that while we’re in the US.
It’s a relief that the Cameleon has finally turned up. I must confess I was starting to get a little worried about it. The nappy bag and transport bag are still in transit, however. They were sent about a month after the Cameleon itself, so I don’t think we’ll be seeing those until some time in early June, at which point Franbert will be amongst us.
Sarah hits 39 weeks tomorrow. F-Day is just one week away. The excitement continues to mount.
Congratulations on your new arrival, bet you can’t wait for your other scheduled arrival to make an appearance so you can test drive it for real!
Maxi-Cosi….news just in….they are launching an isofix version of the Cabrio. You can pre-order them here in the UK for delivery in August – you need a relatively new car to use them in but this is a huge improvement on the current model which fixes with the seat belt only. Just thought I’d pass this along.
Love the colour!! I am, today, about to place my order…sand base and red tailored fabric. Should arrive next week.
Very happy to have finished my lengthy research, completed the Buzz/Cameleon debate and FINALLY decided on a colour!
thanks for posting,
Jude
London, UK
Wonderful looking.. I may have to have another kid to warrant expense of second Bugaboo.
I have also purchased a BugaCameleon. I am awfully excited about the buga and in view of a girl on the way went with PINK!! and gray. I also ordered the Maxi Cosi Cabrio in Pink, what the hell, the slope already started with the Pink Buga!! I am curious about the Maxi since no “Latch” or ISO and was hoping that it was now made to work with. For those that own the currentt cabrio is it difficult to install in car properly?
Where are you guys buying these strollers? Is there an online store in the NL that will ship internationally?
Our Cameleon came from Baby Anco Plaza in Amsterdam. Their phone number is +31 20 6716788. They don’t have a Web site or accept credit cards, but they were very helpful and only charged € 50 for postage.
I got mine from Hartkamp for Kids, they have been fantastically helpful.
http://www.hartkampforkids.nl
Email Wilma Kremer (fabulous English and so kind and helpful!) on info@hartkampforkids.nl.
Again, they don’t take credit cards – I haven’t found an international shipper of Cameleons from the Netherlands that does. I did a bank transfer.
I did the whole transaction by email, very quick and efficient. Ordered it 2 days ago, and its on its way already. It will be here (UK) on Tuesday.
Please can you mention my name if you go through Wilma, as she has been such a help to me? Email me ifyou need more.
Other people have used Erwin at http://www.babycare.nl – I emailed him, but he didn’t respond. I think he’s better by phone, but I prefer email.
Sorry to hijack this thread!
Jude
UK
I just ordered one of these too – A question though, I am assuming that the manual is in English per usual EC norms but did the DVD work in a US dvd or computer? Sometimes movies (for example) are regionally coded – Thanks!
My wife and I are about to purchase the Cameleon as well, blue base and green canopy. We where hoping you could answer a few more questions based on your experience.
We want to be certain that the Graco car seat will fit. Where did you buy the car seat converters and is there only one type for the US?
When you switch from the bassinet to the child stroller seat, do you need an adapter set?
Did you receive a rain cover included with your purchase?
What carrier and level of service did you use to ship?
How long did it take to clear customs?
What was the additional customs charge and tax?
We live in New York City. We are planning to buy from Kid’s Factory in Holland, they have a website http://www.kidsfactory.nl and are working with Hanny. They have been very helpful.
Thank you in advance.
Hi HWH,
Yes, the manual is in English and several other languages, so you’ll have no problems there.
The DVD is probably Region 0, but it would still be at the European scan rate, so you’d need a player or a TV that does PAL to NTSC conversion. You should be able to play it without problems on a computer, though.
On the other hand, there’s really nothing on the DVD. It’s just the Gecko, Cameleon and Accessories video clips from the bugaboo.nl Web site.
Hi David,
There are two kinds of seat adapter for sale in the US: Graco and Peg Perrego. The box of the Graco is clearly labelled as such.
The Peg Perrego adapter consists of just a couple of plastic pegs, but the Graco adapter is larger and more unwieldy, consisting of plastic and metal, and looks like a rocking-horse base.
You don’t need an adapter to go from the bassinet to the seat. They both attach to the same piece of the Cameleon.
Yes, a rain cover is included with the Cameleon, along with a mosquito net.
We used the regular Dutch postal service to ship by surface mail, which took eight weeks, but cost only € 50.
It was not held up in customs at all, but came straight through with no import taxes. It may be different if you use a courier, such as FedEx or UPS.
I hope this answers your questions.
I love your Cameleon! I have been wishing for one as we are expecting our 2nd in November. My DH is having a hard time digesting the price. He doesn’t think it’s worth it! Thanks for posting the pics. The ones on Bugaboo’s site don’t do it justice. BTW, congratulations on your beautiful daughter!
Wow that was a bit of luck, I was just about to place an order for the frog, but will now seek to buy the camelon. Where is the best place to view the colours as the website is not very clear?
I am based in the UK – please could someone tell me how much is a good price to pay for one from the Netherlands in pounds /euros. Also any good suggestions on websites to check out.
Much appreciated. Sorry to but into the conversation – just I am about to place an order for the frog on monday and want to relaly check out the cameleon and know more about this replacement Jude mentioned for the maxi cosi.
Please e-mail me direct on denisesibthorpe@hotmail.com
Many thanks
Hi,
For anyone wanting so see colour combinations… I have photos of grey/red, grey/pink, grey/yellow, sand/red, sand/green, red/black, red/pink & red/red.
Can also recommend Wilma Kremer at info@hartkampforkids.nl and infact recommended Jude there… Hi Jude!
Francesca
Sorry.. if you want the photos emailed to you… my email address is checks007@hotmail.com… I also have prices too.
Francesca
About to order Cameleon…but lingering niggle remains…
Will it be painful to have to keep taking the frame and chassis apart to stow in boot? Can’t get my head round the juggling two parts plus baby scenario. Would anyone know if the entire thing would stow unfolded in the boot section of a landrover freelander estate?
Also, re: canopy and liner…..I take it these are an alternative to the hood and sun parasol? When I spoke to NL stockist she said I would not eeed them…what exactly are they? Does the liner go onto the seat unit and any blankets/cosytoes go on top? The canopy says it is fleece, so seems not suitable for rain or sun????? Pregnancy brain…..please help!!!!
Hi Jules
I do not know for sure, but would say that there si a very good chance that you would get the Cameleon into the boot of a Freelander Estate… certainly width wise it would be ok, you would just need to check you have enough height, but then you could always jsut fold the handle onto the floor.
The Hood/Canopy (depending on which part of the world you are from) is made of a double thickness fleece and is absolutley suitable for rain and sun… although you do get the raincover too don’t forget. The fleece fabric seems to repel the water and anyway if it does get a bit wet, fleece dries much quicker than the old Frog fabric.
In the Bugaboo Cameleon box you get the chassis and wheels, seat unit, carrycor unit, rain cover, mosquito net etc and the frame/bare bones of the hood/canopy. Then you choose your colour of ‘Tailored fabric’ – the fleece part and this comprises the hood/canopy fabric which slides onto the frame that you got with the buggy… the seat cover which is not really necessary when you have the footmuff on as you can’t see it…. and the carrycot apron, which zips on to the carrycot.
The hood/canopy is larger on the Cameleon than it was on the Frog, so it does have better sun protection, but I have a parasol too, because you can always guarantee that the sun will come from just the wrong angle!!
I hope that helps a little.
Francesca
really sorry about awful typing in that last post!
Thanks, Francesca,
That helps a lot!
So, I have to order cameleon, with say, base colour sand and tailored colour sand. Then, If I also get diaper bag, parasol, and footmuff.. I am all sorted Do you agree?
Thinking about it now, I suppose Bugaboo offer the canopy, liner and apron as a separate item, in case anyone wants to have a change of colour..say,you want the base and tailoring both in the sand, but then want a spare canopy pack in grey, for a change?
Anyway, I am going to go ahead, its the best looking piece of kit around and my other half reckons its the only buggy he would be happy to be seen with!!! So, thats ok then!!!
Hi Jules
yes you can choose your base colour and fabric colour.. .they do not have to be the same colour. I have dark grey base with red fabric, but sand and sand would be very smart too.
I do not like the new diaper bag and it does not attach to the handlebar like the old one did, which is a shame, but you may love it, so go for it.
My husband does not understand why I am so nuts about Bugaboos at all… but he seems to be happy enough pushing it about.
Good luck!
Francesca
Hi everyone,
I see that the Cameleon will be released in the US in September. Does anybody know what the recommended retail price will be?
Many thanks
Sarah 🙂
Hi – Does anyone know where I can ‘Pre – order’ the maxi cosi cabrio ‘ISOFIX’ which Jude mentioned above.
I have checked everywhere and know one seems to have heard of it in the UK.
Please e-mail me on denisesibthorpe@hotmail.com with any details.
Cheers,
Denise
We purchased ours at kidsfactory in Breda (WWW.KIDSFACTORY.NL)Amsterdam Total including footmuff 878 Euro (£600)
We went for grey/black. We dont know what the baby will be yet (due August) but if we want to change colour we can just buy the coloured zip on fleece and mix & match.
We had to pay 140 Euro DHL but it should take less than 1 week to arrive.
We live near Manchester in UK.
It is due to arrive on Tue next week & I’m soooooo excited
The Cameleon sounds like its worth the price – on that note, if anyone would be so kind as to share notes on prices they paid for theirs I’d certainly appreciate it – my e-mail is dma999999@yahoo.com.
Thanks!
David
hi how long has it taken for your Cameleon to be delivered to the uk, and which shop did you use.
Thanks
Natalie
A very nice man delivered my bugaboo cameleon to my husband’s hotel room in Amsterdam. I have the orange/gray one just like the picture. I’ve been using my bugaboo for almost two months and I love it.
Most of the strollers out there are too heavy and difficult to handle. My bugaboo is light and easy to push. The color is great and my 6 months baby boy loves to play and sleep in it. I am moving to Michigan next week and can’t wait to use it in the snowy weather.
Ok, So I already have a Frog, and a giant son (he’s six months and REAAAAALLY long, gonna be a tall guy!). He’s going to outgrow it WAY before the 4 year mark, he’s already almost at the top in the head part. Can anyone with a Cameleon tell me if it’s really that much bigger?? I’m like 3 seconds away from pre-ordering one, I love our Bugaboo Frog so much.
Any comments/suggestions from Cameleon users would be really appreciated!
Thanks!
Michelle
Hi, anybody out there that can help me find a Bugaboo Cameleon stroller for the best price im located in Los Angeles California please e-mail me please i am due any day now and i really want this stroller but for a good price..
The best place in LA is at babystyle over in the manhattan beach village mall. they have the grey base with all top colors in stock right now. $879 + tax and you will have it in your hard. i was there yesterday.
We had decided on the Frog over the Cameleon (we thought the main upgrade was purely asthetic- more color choices). But now I’m concerned about the smaller size of the Frog. Is the Cameleon really so much bigger as to justify the added expense? (I realize the handle bar is different too- but this is not a big deal for us). Thanks.
We love our bugaboo and maxi cosi– good choice. BIG FAVOR to ask you if you read this anytime soon– we are in the states visiting from the UK. We forgot our car seat adapter so we have our bugaboo base and our car seat. We really need to find adapters but they aren’t sold here as the maxi cosi isn’t sold here either. Any chance we could buy yours off you?!??? we are only here for 2 weeks (til oct 5) so pls let me know if you’re keen asap so we can put the baby down!!! 😉 Thanks!
Hey Jenna,
I’m afraid we no longer live in the US, as we moved back to Amsterdam in August. We still have the Maxi-Cosi adapter, but it’s at home in Amsterdam right now.
Perhaps you could get a Dutch shop to send you one by overnight courier? It would be expensive, I think, but I can imagine you might consider it worth the price.
Once the baby has outgrown the carrycot of the cameleon (is this around 6mnths?) is the seat in the reclined position comfortable for the baby to have a nap?
Yes, our baby, Eloïse, is now seven months old and happily sleeps in the seat when it’s tilted back.