Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2: Travel and Beyond
Compact travel buggies usually make their biggest gains by cutting weight, shrinking the fold and keeping everything as simple as possible. That is exactly where the Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comparison gets interesting, because the two buggies take very different approaches to what ‘compact’ should mean.
Butterfly 2 leans hard into travel convenience, with a lighter frame, narrower footprint and one-piece IATA-compatible fold. The Nipper Compact is still a genuine travel buggy, packing to an IATA cabin-size 55 × 25 × 35cm in its supplied backpack, but it keeps more of the capability you would normally expect from a larger everyday pushchair.
That broader brief is really the point of the Compact. Larger wheels, more control and certified running from 9 months+ give it much more to offer once it is unfolded, whether that means negotiating rougher city streets, heading through the park or simply using the same buggy day after day rather than keeping a separate one mainly for travel.
Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 at a glance
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| Spec | Out 'n' About Nipper Compact | Bugaboo Butterfly 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Current UK RRP | £525 | £435 |
| Weight | 8.9 kg | 7.3 kg |
| Overall width | 52 cm | 44.8 cm |
| Everyday folded size | 52 × 77 × 36 cm (wheels on) | 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm |
| IATA cabin-size travel format | Yes, 55 × 25 × 35 cm (wheels removed) | IATA-compatible 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm |
| Suitable from birth | Yes, lie-flat seat | Yes, lie-flat seat |
| Maximum child weight | 22 kg | 22 kg |
| Wheels | 12-inch front, two 14-inch rear puncture-proof ETPU Magic Wheels | 14.1 cm front, 15.1 cm rear |
| Handlebar | Adjustable, 73 to 108 cm | Fixed, 102.4 cm |
| Brakes | Handlebar brake and foot parking brake | Foot parking brake |
| Running | Certified from 9 months+ under BS EN1888-3:2023 | Not suitable for running or skating |
| Storage | Under-seat basket, zipped hood storage and rear seat storage | 8 kg under-seat basket and seat-back pocket |
| Carrying | One-piece fold with built-in shoulder strap; supplied IATA cabin-size travel backpack | One-piece fold with integrated carry strap. Travel bag sold separately (£54.95) |
| Included accessories | Rain cover and wheel covers | Rain cover |
Put side by side, the main difference becomes much clearer. Butterfly 2 puts more emphasis on lower weight and getting into its cabin-size format with minimal effort, while the Nipper Compact keeps more of the features that matter once the buggy is back on the ground.
It’s much larger wheels, adjustable handling and running capability give the Compact a broader everyday role, with the quick-release wheels only coming off when you want its smallest cabin-size travel format.
Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2 for cabin travel?
For parents whose priority is easy cabin travel, the Butterfly 2 has an obvious appeal. At 7.3 kg, that 1.6 kg saving can make a meaningful difference when you’re carrying the buggy. That could be on stairs, through a station or while carrying a sleepy child too.
Both buggies keep the fold itself simple. The Butterfly 2 folds in one piece to 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm with the wheels still attached, and Bugaboo describes the process as taking just one second.
Our Nipper Compact also has a quick one-handed fold. Pull the fold strap and the frame collapses with all three wheels still attached, with that same strap extending into the built-in shoulder strap so you can pick the Compact up and carry it straight away. The only extra step comes when you want its smallest 55 × 25 × 35 cm IATA cabin-size format, when the quick-release wheels come off and pack with the frame inside the supplied travel backpack.
That extra bit of preparation is really where the travel difference lies. The Butterfly 2 reaches its cabin-size format with the wheels attached, while the Nipper Compact asks for another minute of packing. In return, it keeps the much larger wheels that give it more capability once you arrive, without giving up genuine cabin-size travel.
Individual airlines still set their own cabin baggage policies, so it is always worth checking the rules for your flight before travelling. IATA’s passenger baggage guidance also notes that allowances can vary by airline, cabin class and aircraft size.
Which is better for all-terrain use, Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2?
Once you move away from smooth airport floors and flat pavements, wheel size starts to make a much bigger difference. The Nipper Compact uses our Magic Wheels: a 12-inch front wheel and two 14-inch rear wheels, all made from puncture-proof ETPU foam, giving it a very different setup from the much smaller wheels on the Butterfly 2.
Larger wheels cope better when the surface becomes uneven. They roll more easily over rough paving, gravel and park paths without being disrupted by every bump or change in level. The Compact's three-wheel design adds to that ability, combining stability with easy manoeuvrability, while the front wheel can be locked when the ground calls for more control. Built-in suspension helps smooth things out further.
Bugaboo did increase the wheel size for the Butterfly 2 compared with the original model, and its full suspension helps it cope with more than perfectly smooth surfaces. Those wheels are still much smaller than the Compact's, though. A Mumsnet review found the Butterfly 2 performed well on grass but noted that “the buggy struggled on cobblestone roads and gravel, and rarely managed to successfully bump up large kerbs.”
In this Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comparison, all-terrain use is one of the clearest points of difference. The Compact is not designed to replace our larger Nippers for more demanding off-road use. But its much larger wheels, three-wheel design and suspension give our compact travel buggy far more freedom over where it can comfortably go.
Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2 for active city life?
A compact buggy still needs to work when you’re not travelling. The Butterfly 2 is well suited to tighter spaces, with its 44.8 cm width making it easy to manoeuvre through busy shops, cafés and narrow entrances.
In a busy city like London, a buggy might spend the morning moving through busy streets or tucked beside a table in a coffee shop, then need folding because the Underground station ahead has steps instead of a lift. Back above ground, the route can just as easily take you over broken paving or through a park.
That switch from pushing to carrying is where our Nipper Compact shows its versatility. Pull the fold strap and the buggy collapses one-handed. The same strap extends into a shoulder strap so you can carry it straight away. Back on the ground, the three-wheel design keeps steering nimble, while the larger Magic Wheels and suspension help when the paving gets rougher. That balance is part of what makes the Nipper Compact work so well as an everyday and travel buggy.
An adjustable handlebar helps when parents of different heights share the buggy, while the handlebar brake adds control on slopes. Later in the day, you might fancy a run through the park. Because the Nipper Compact is certified for running with a little one from 9 months+, those same larger wheels, suspension and braking features become just as useful at a faster pace.
That ability to move between public transport, busy streets, varied city terrain and running is what makes the Nipper Compact such a strong city buggy for active parents. It stays compact when space matters, without being designed only around the smallest possible footprint.
How do Nipper Compact and Bugaboo Butterfly 2 compare from birth?
Both pushchairs can be used from birth with their lie-flat seats. You do not need to add a car seat simply to make either buggy suitable for a newborn. Both also have a maximum child weight of 22 kg, giving them plenty of use beyond those first few months.
The Butterfly 2 offers upright and lie-flat recline positions, an adjustable leg rest and an extendable UPF 50+ canopy. Bugaboo also offers its Baby Nest and compatible infant car seat options if you want a different newborn setup.
Our Nipper Compact gives you that flexibility from the start too. The seat also reclines to lie-flat, making it suitable for a newborn, while the optional Nipper Pod gives you a parent-facing option for those early months. A compatible infant car seat can also be fitted with our Universal Travel System Adapters, so you can choose the setup that works best for you rather than being tied to one newborn configuration.
Can you run with Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2?
Running is one area where there is a clear difference between these two compact pushchairs. Bugaboo states that the Butterfly 2 is not suitable for running, so however capable it is for travel and everyday walking, running is not part of its intended use.
Our Nipper Compact is certified for running from 9 months+ under BS EN1888-3:2023. Lock the front wheel, secure the wrist strap, and you have a compact buggy that is ready to run with. The large Magic Wheels keep things smooth as the pace picks up, while the handlebar brake gives you extra control when you need it.
That running capability gives the Compact something most travel buggies simply do not offer. Instead of having one buggy for everyday use, another for travel and something else for running, the Compact can cover all three.
Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 price and what’s included
Price is an important part of the Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comparison, especially once you look beyond the buggy-only RRP. At current UK RRPs, the Butterfly 2 cost £435 and the Nipper Compact £525, so there is a £90 difference between the buggies themselves. But the price gap looks quite different once you compare what is included for travel.
Both come with a rain cover, while our Nipper Compact also includes its cabin-size travel backpack and wheel covers. Bugaboo sells its protective Butterfly transport bag separately for £54.95. That takes the Butterfly 2 and bag to £489.95. That brings the difference between the two protected travel setups down to £35.05.
The Butterfly 2 still costs less, and for someone mainly looking for a lightweight travel buggy, that may be enough to decide. With the Compact, the extra spend goes into a buggy that also gives you the larger Magic Wheels, adjustable handlebar, handlebar brake, and certified running capability we’ve already covered.
Buying directly from Out ’n’ About also gives you a 2-year manufacturer's warranty and our 60-day free trial, so you can see how the Compact fits into your routine before deciding whether it is right for you.
Our verdict on Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2
The Butterfly 2 is a very capable compact buggy in its own right. Its lighter weight, narrower frame and wheels-on cabin format make it particularly appealing for frequent travel and busy city life, while its suspension, storage and from-birth seat mean it is certainly not limited to airports and holidays.
Where our Nipper Compact goes further is in the range of situations it can comfortably cover. You still get genuine cabin-size travel, but with the much larger Magic Wheels, three-wheel handling and all-terrain ability we’ve covered throughout the comparison. Add certified running from 9 months+, and the Compact starts to make a lot of sense for families who want one buggy to take on more than the usual compact pushchair brief.
For us, the Nipper Compact vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 comparison shows why versatility is the real strength of the Compact. You're not choosing it because it is the lightest or smallest option here. You're choosing it because it stays genuinely compact while giving you far fewer reasons to reach for a different buggy.
One buggy. No Compromises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lighter, Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2?
The Butterfly 2 is lighter at 7.3 kg versus 8.9 kg. Our Nipper Compact is still lightweight, with that extra weight supporting much larger wheels, more control and greater all-terrain capability.
Which is easier to take on a plane?
Both work well for cabin travel. The Butterfly 2 keeps its wheels attached, while the Nipper Compact packs to an IATA cabin-size 55 × 25 × 35 cm in its supplied travel backpack.
Do I need to remove the Nipper Compact wheels every time I fold it?
No. Its quick one-handed, self-standing fold keeps all three wheels attached. You only remove the quick-release wheels when packing the Compact into its smallest IATA cabin-size format.
Which is better for all-terrain use?
For mixed terrain, the Nipper Compact keeps plenty of Out ’n’ About’s all-terrain Nipper DNA, with much larger Magic Wheels, three-wheel handling, suspension and a lockable front wheel.
Can you run with Nipper Compact or Bugaboo Butterfly 2?
The Nipper Compact is certified for running from 9 months+ under BS EN1888-3:2023. Bugaboo states that the Butterfly 2 is not suitable for running.
Are Nipper Compact and Bugaboo Butterfly 2 suitable for a newborn?
Yes. Both have lie-flat seats suitable for newborns. The Nipper Compact also offers the parent-facing Nipper Pod and compatible car seats including Maxi-Cosi, BeSafe and Cybex, while the Butterfly 2 offers its Baby Nest and selected infant car seats with adapters.
