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First published: August 2026 · Last reviewed: August 2026 · Next scheduled review: February 2027 · Specs verified against bugaboo.com August 2026
The decision in one sentence
If a second child is a firm plan, the Donkey 6. If you want the finest all-terrain single Bugaboo makes — lighter, cheaper, and built around one brilliant purpose — the Fox 5. Both are expensive and both are heavy. The question that settles it is whether you need that conversion.
This comparison sits at an interesting crossroads in the Bugaboo range — Fox 5 vs Donkey 6, both scored at 8.5/10, both expensive, both heavy. Neither is a compact, lightweight or travel pushchair. The question isn’t which is better — it’s which is right for your family at this point in your life. I’ve tested both in store: the Fox 5 against other premium all-terrain options, the Donkey 6 specifically for the single-to-double conversion mechanism. Both gave clear verdicts. The Fox 5 is the finest all-terrain single Bugaboo makes. The Donkey 6 is the best single-to-double conversion on the market. Which you need depends on one question more than any other.
Verdict at a glance
Why trust this comparison?
Tested by: Mark — Fox 5 tested in store against other premium all-terrain pushchairs, including suspension, steering, fold and build quality. Donkey 6 conversion mechanism tested personally in store — the single-to-double process assessed hands-on, not just observed.
Evidence basis: Hands-on in-store assessment of both pushchairs. Specs verified against bugaboo.com August 2026.
Conflict of interest: This page contains affiliate links. This does not affect our verdicts.
Head-to-head
← Swipe to see full specs on mobile
| Bugaboo Fox 5 | Bugaboo Donkey 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Price | ✅ From £1,115 ★ | From £1,245 |
| Weight | ✅ 12.2kg ★ | 15.3kg |
| Rear wheels | ✅ 30cm — all-terrain ★ | Large all-terrain |
| All-terrain performance | ✅ 10/10 — benchmark ★ | 9/10 — very capable |
| Single-to-double | No | ✅ Yes — under 1 minute ★ |
| Two-wheel mode | ✅ Yes — sand & snow ★ | No |
| Storage | Large underseat basket | ✅ Underseat + side bag (up to 15kg) ★ |
| Fold | One-handed | One-handed (seat removed first) |
| Twins compatible | No | ✅ Yes ★ |
| Suitable from | Birth to 22kg | Birth to 22kg per seat |
| Warranty | 2 years (4 with registration) | 2 years (4 with registration) |
The question that settles it — is a second child a firm plan?
Yes — second child planned or here
Buy the Donkey 6.
One chassis from single to double in under a minute. Better value than buying two separate pushchairs. The conversion mechanism works exactly as claimed — tested personally in store.
No — one child, outdoor family
Buy the Fox 5.
The finest all-terrain single Bugaboo makes. Lighter, cheaper, and built around one brilliant purpose with nothing held in reserve for a conversion it will never make.
The all-terrain gap — Fox 5 vs Donkey 6 outdoors
Both are properly capable all-terrain pushchairs. But the Fox 5 is the benchmark in its class — and that’s not a casual claim. In more than twenty years of covering this market I’ve assessed many pushchairs that claim all-terrain capability. Most mean dry park paths without complaint. The Fox 5’s 30cm rear wheels, full suspension and two-wheel mode for sand and snow are built for something more serious: woodland paths, coastal walks, muddy fields, gravel tracks, farm visits. It is a go-pretty-much-anywhere pushchair and it earns that description.
The Donkey 6 is also a capable all-terrain pushchair — easier to steer than its size suggests, long-term testing confirms it handles kerbs and uneven ground without difficulty. But it’s not the Fox 5. The engineering priorities are different: the Donkey 6 is built around the conversion mechanism, and the terrain capability is excellent rather than exceptional. For most outdoor families the Donkey 6 in single mode is more than adequate. For genuinely rough or varied terrain where nothing should stop you, the Fox 5 is the right tool.
💡 What surprised me about the Fox 5
The one-handed fold. For a pushchair this substantial — a hunk and a chunk at 12.2kg, large all-terrain wheels, premium chassis — the fold mechanism is remarkably well-engineered. Bugaboo have clearly put serious thought into making this manageable despite its size. It doesn’t change the weight reality, but it makes daily use considerably more practical than the spec sheet might suggest.
What surprised me about the Donkey 6 conversion
I expected the expansion mechanism to feel flimsy. A frame that widens by 14cm sounds like it might wobble or feel compromised once extended. It doesn’t. Three clips, press a button, slide to expand the frame — it widens by 14cm, then swap the side bag for a second seat. Under a minute once you know what you’re doing. More importantly, once locked into double mode the Donkey 6 feels like a single-piece chassis rather than something that’s been extended. The engineering is genuinely impressive for what it does — and that’s the thing the Donkey 6 absolutely needed to get right.
The weight question — both are heavy, one is heavier
The Fox 5 weighs 12.2kg. The Donkey 6 weighs 15.3kg. Neither is a lightweight pushchair — but there’s 3.1kg between them, roughly the weight of carrying another newborn, and that gap is real when you’re lifting into a car boot daily, navigating gates on a country walk, or carrying one of them up a flight of stairs.
The Fox 5’s weight is the direct consequence of its wheels, suspension and robust all-terrain chassis. Every gram is earned. The Donkey 6’s extra weight is the direct consequence of the expandable frame that makes the conversion possible. Both are honest trade-offs, not padding. If weight is a genuine daily concern for you, neither of these is the right pushchair — but between the two, the Fox 5 at 12.2kg is the more manageable option.
⚠️ The biggest buying mistake with both
With the Fox 5:
Buying the best all-terrain pushchair and then mainly using it on smooth pavements. The Fox 5 is 12.2kg and from £1,115 — that weight and price are the cost of capability you must actually use. If your daily reality is mostly smooth surfaces, the Ocarro 2 is a more honest all-terrain choice at a lower price.
With the Donkey 6:
Buying it speculatively “in case” a second child arrives. The Donkey 6 is 15.3kg and from £1,245. Buying it on the off-chance is an expensive gamble — and if the second child arrives much later with very different needs, you may find you’ve paid for flexibility you didn’t use.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Bugaboo Fox 5 if:
- All-terrain performance is your overriding priority — this is the benchmark
- You have one child and a second isn’t an imminent plan
- You want the finest all-terrain single Bugaboo makes, lighter and cheaper
- Woodland paths, coastal walks, muddy fields and varied terrain are genuinely part of your life
- You want two-wheel mode for sand and snow
Choose the Bugaboo Donkey 6 if:
- A second child is a firm plan — or already here
- You want one chassis that grows from single to double without buying a second pushchair
- Outstanding storage matters — the underseat basket plus side bag is exceptional
- Twins are the situation — the twin configuration is available from birth
- You still need genuine all-terrain capability alongside the family flexibility
💡 The honest summary
Both are scored 8.5/10 and both earn that score for different reasons. The Fox 5 earns it by being the best all-terrain single pushchair I’ve assessed — nothing else at this price comes close for genuine off-road capability. The Donkey 6 earns it by solving a genuinely difficult engineering problem: a single-to-double conversion that actually works as claimed, with a chassis that feels solid in both modes.
The extra £130 between them doesn’t buy a better pushchair. It buys a different future — one that converts to a double when the time comes. If I had one child and an outdoor life, I’d buy the Fox 5 without hesitation. If a second child was on the way, I’d buy the Donkey 6 for exactly the same reason. The decision really is that specific.
How they compare with the wider Bugaboo range
← Swipe to view comparison on mobile
| If this matters most… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Best all-terrain single Bugaboo | Bugaboo Fox 5 — benchmark all-terrain, 10/10 terrain score |
| Single-to-double flexibility in Bugaboo range | Bugaboo Donkey 6 — under a minute, solid in double mode |
| Lightweight compact Bugaboo | Bugaboo Butterfly 2 — 7.3kg, cabin-approved |
| Reversible seat in compact format | Bugaboo Dragonfly — city compact with reversible seat |
| All-terrain at lower cost than the Fox 5 | Out n About Nipper V5 — strong terrain at fraction of the price |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bugaboo Fox 5 better than the Donkey 6?
Both score 8.5/10 — so neither is objectively better. The Fox 5 is the stronger all-terrain pushchair and better value as a single. The Donkey 6 is the right choice for growing families who need single-to-double flexibility. Which is better depends entirely on whether you need that conversion.
Can the Bugaboo Fox 5 convert to a double?
No — the Fox 5 is a single only. If single-to-double capability is a requirement, the Donkey 6 is the Bugaboo to buy. The Fox 5 has no double or tandem option.
How much heavier is the Donkey 6 than the Fox 5?
3.1kg — the Fox 5 weighs 12.2kg, the Donkey 6 weighs 15.3kg. That gap is noticeable in daily use. Both are heavy pushchairs by any measure, but the Fox 5 is meaningfully more manageable for lifting and carrying.
Which is better for outdoor use — Fox 5 or Donkey 6?
The Fox 5 — its 30cm rear wheels, full suspension and two-wheel mode for sand and snow are the benchmark for all-terrain performance in this category. The Donkey 6 is a capable all-terrain pushchair in its own right, but the Fox 5’s terrain credentials are stronger and that’s what it’s specifically built around. See our best all-terrain pushchairs guide for the full market comparison.
Should I buy the Donkey 6 speculatively for a future second child?
No — and this is the clearest piece of advice on this page. At 15.3kg and from £1,245, the Donkey 6 is a significant investment in a specific flexibility. If the second child is a firm plan, it’s excellent value against buying two separate pushchairs. If it’s a “maybe in a few years” scenario, the Fox 5 is the more honest choice today — you can always reassess when the plan is confirmed.
Also worth reading
- Bugaboo Fox 5 — full review and verdict
- Bugaboo Donkey 6 — full review and verdict
- Silver Cross Reef 2 vs Bugaboo Fox 5
- Bugaboo Fox 5 vs Out n About Nipper V5
- iCandy Peach 8 vs Bugaboo Donkey 6
- Bugaboo Dragonfly vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2
- Best All-Terrain Pushchairs — full market guide
- Best Double Pushchairs — if a double is the priority
- Bugaboo hub — all Bugaboo models reviewed
About the reviewer
Mark founded MyPushchair.co.uk in 2006 after struggling to find honest, straightforward pushchair advice as a new dad. With more than 30 years in the family travel and leisure industry — and after returning to relaunch the UK’s original independent pushchair review site — he continues to test products with one aim: helping parents buy the right pushchair the first time. Janette contributes a female perspective to every hands-on assessment.
Mark Hartshorne · Founder, MyPushchair.co.uk · Read the full story →
Still not sure which Bugaboo is right for your family? Get in touch — happy to help.