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Published: August 2026 · Both models reviewed hands-on · Specs verified against icandybaby.com and bugaboo.com August 2026
The decision in one sentence
Two of the best compact travel pushchairs in the same category, separated by one defining feature each: the Butterfly 2 has the fastest fold we’ve used in twenty years of testing, and the Pip has one of the tallest handlebars we’ve found on a compact pushchair. Which of those matters more to your daily routine is the entire decision.
Quick answer: Choose the Pip if you’re tall (or your partner is) and have struggled with low handlebars on compact strollers — the 104.5cm fixed handlebar is the Pip’s reason for existing, and nothing else in this category comes close. Choose the Butterfly 2 if fold speed is the priority — airports, bus doors, train platforms — and you want Bugaboo’s build confidence in a cabin-compatible package.
At a glance
| iCandy Pip | Bugaboo Butterfly 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Weight | 7kg | 7.3kg |
| Fold | One-hand, seat stays attached | One-second, self-standing |
| Handlebar | Fixed 104.5cm — one of the tallest we’ve found on a compact | Standard height |
| Folded size | 44.5 × 24 × 56cm | 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5cm |
| Basket | ~10kg | 8kg |
| Cabin compatible | ✅ | ✅ |
| From birth | ✅ lie-flat | ✅ lie-flat |
Our scores are not the verdict here. The Pip scores lower overall but could still be the better purchase for a tall parent — and this comparison is a good example of why scores alone don’t decide it.
🚫 Skip this comparison if…
- You mainly walk on rough terrain, grass or woodland paths — neither of these is the right tool; see our all-terrain guide instead
- Budget is the primary consideration — the Mamas & Papas Airo at £189 covers city and travel use at less than half the price of either
- You need a side-by-side double — see our large family pushchair comparison
iCandy Pip
7.5/10 · 7kg · Fixed 104.5cm handlebar · Cabin compatible
- Fixed 104.5cm handlebar — tallest of any compact pushchair
- 7kg — 300g lighter than the Butterfly 2
- One-hand fold with seat attached
- ~10kg basket capacity
- From birth (lie-flat) to ~25kg
- Tested hands-on — fold and push by Mark, real daily owner feedback
Bugaboo Butterfly 2
8.5/10 · 7.3kg · One-second fold · Cabin compatible
- One-second self-standing fold — nothing else comes close
- Cabin-compatible dimensions: 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5cm
- From birth (lie-flat) to 22kg
- 8kg basket — shoulder strap included
- Tested in store and at Hesketh Farm, West Yorkshire
- Suspension stiffer on rough ground — honest caveat from real testing
The fold: one-second vs one-handed
The Butterfly 2 folds in one second with one hand. The pushchair stands unsupported once folded, and a shoulder strap means you can carry it across your body while managing a child. In more than twenty years of reviewing pushchairs, it’s the fastest fold we’ve used. At a gate, a bus stop or a train door under pressure, that difference is real and it matters.
The Pip also folds one-handed with the seat staying attached — a genuine practical advantage over pushchairs that require seat removal before folding. It is not a one-second fold. If fold speed is the primary reason you’re buying a compact pushchair, the Butterfly 2 wins this comparison cleanly.
The handlebar: the Pip’s defining feature
The Pip’s 104.5cm fixed handlebar is its standout reason to choose it over its closest rivals. For parents over roughly 5’8″ who have spent time stooping over lower handlebars on travel strollers, this is a specific and meaningful advantage. The owner I spoke to in a pub beer garden had chosen the Pip specifically for this reason, after trying alternatives that left her uncomfortable pushing for any length of time.
The Butterfly 2’s handlebar is at a standard height. It doesn’t have the Pip’s reach, and for taller parents that difference is felt in daily use. If handlebar height is your primary concern, the Pip is the only compact pushchair that specifically addresses it.
Weight and dimensions
The Pip is lighter at 7kg vs the Butterfly 2’s 7.3kg. Both are cabin compatible. The folded dimensions are near-identical — 44.5 × 24 × 56cm for the Pip and 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5cm for the Butterfly 2. For practical purposes both fit airline cabin guidelines; always check with your specific airline before travelling.
The Pip’s basket holds approximately 10kg by weight. The Butterfly 2’s holds 8kg — a meaningful difference if you carry a lot. Neither basket is large physically, but the Pip wins on capacity.
Terrain and suspension
Both pushchairs are built for city use — smooth pavements, airports, supermarkets. Neither is marketed as an all-terrain option, and neither should be used as one. But there is a meaningful difference in how each handles the margins of that category.
The Butterfly 2 was tested at Hesketh Farm in West Yorkshire on grass and bark chippings. It handled the surfaces but the ride was noticeably firmer than the spec sheet implies — Bugaboo’s “full suspension” description sets an expectation the pushchair doesn’t quite deliver on rough ground. The Pip was tested on smooth surfaces in line with its intended use. Neither review provides evidence of strong rough-terrain capability, and neither claims it.
Build quality and brand confidence
The Butterfly 2 carries Bugaboo’s build quality — unmistakably premium, with a 2-year warranty extendable to 4 years on registration. For parents who want the confidence of a Bugaboo, that matters. The Pip is iCandy — a British brand with strong fabric and finish standards and a longer history in the compact pushchair category than the Butterfly. Both are well-built pushchairs. Neither is a disappointment on quality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the iCandy Pip if:
- You’re tall, or your partner is, and handlebar height matters in daily use
- The 300g weight saving and larger basket capacity are useful to you
- iCandy build quality and heritage appeal
- You want a good one-handed fold without requiring the absolute fastest
Choose the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 if:
- Fold speed is paramount — airports, bus doors, train platforms under pressure
- You want a self-standing fold with a shoulder strap for carrying
- Bugaboo’s build confidence and brand backing matter to you
- You fly frequently and want the fastest gate-to-cabin fold we’ve tested
Frequently asked questions
Both are compact cabin-compatible pushchairs weighing around 7kg. The Pip’s defining feature is a fixed 104.5cm handlebar — one of the tallest we’ve found on a compact pushchair, suited to taller parents. The Butterfly 2’s defining feature is a one-second self-standing fold — the fastest we’ve used in over twenty years. Both fold one-handed; the Butterfly 2 is meaningfully faster. The Pip scores 7.5/10 and the Butterfly 2 scores 8.5/10 — but for a tall parent, the Pip could still be the better purchase.
Yes — the Pip has a fixed 104.5cm handlebar, which is among the tallest of any compact pushchair. A daily user I spoke to (a taller mum) chose it specifically for this reason. The handlebar is fixed and does not adjust, so confirm it suits your height before buying. The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 does not offer the same handlebar height.
Yes — the Butterfly 2 folds in one second, one-handed, and stands unsupported once folded. The Pip folds one-handed with the seat attached, which is faster than many rivals but not as fast as the Butterfly 2. For airport gates and busy public transport, the Butterfly 2’s fold is meaningfully quicker in practice.
Both are designed as cabin-compatible travel pushchairs. The Butterfly 2 has a slight edge for flying: the one-second fold is faster at the gate, it self-stands once folded, and it includes a shoulder strap for carrying through the terminal. Cabin baggage limits vary by airline, fare class and aircraft type — always confirm with your specific carrier before travelling.
Neither is suited to rough terrain, and neither claims to be. The Butterfly 2 was tested at Hesketh Farm on grass and bark chippings — it handled the surfaces but the ride was noticeably firmer than the spec sheet implies. Both are designed for city pavements, airports and smooth surfaces. For genuine off-road capability see our all-terrain pushchair guide.
Also worth reading
- iCandy Pip full review — pub beer garden real-owner encounter, fold tested by Mark
- Bugaboo Butterfly 2 full review — in store and Hesketh Farm hands-on
- iCandy Pip vs Stokke YOYO³ — how the Pip stacks up against the best overall compact
- Stokke YOYO³ vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2
- iCandy hub — all iCandy models reviewed and compared
- Bugaboo hub — all Bugaboo models reviewed and compared
- Best Pushchairs for Flying
- Best Pushchairs for Public Transport
- Best Lightweight Pushchairs
📋 All iCandy reviews: iCandy hub →
📋 All Bugaboo reviews: Bugaboo hub →
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 →
Not sure which is right for you? Get in touch — happy to help.