PREPELLO BUGGYBOARD
Review of the Prepello Buggy Board
I previously wrote a blog post about universal stroller boards that work with (almost) all prams and strollers. The post was published in 2019, and since then, there hasn't been much change in the selection. However, last year, a new universal board for strollers was introduced, which has a very unique design. I have received a test sample of Prepello, and the stroller board has been tested with a two-year-old and a five-year-old.
In the pictures, Prepello is seen on a Bugaboo Donkey, but the Prepello Buggy Board works with all strollers that have a straight rear axle. You can find more information about the exact requirements for the stroller's chassis on Prepello's own website. The buggy board is designed to not take up more space than necessary under the stroller and to be quickly attachable and detachable from the chassis. Prepello buggy board has a maximum weight capacity of 20 kg. The board has a double wheel of the inline type, a wheel that often rolls more quietly and smoothly than plastic wheels.
Easy to install Prepello on the pram
Not much is needed to install Prepello on the stroller. First, you unscrew a screw, for which you need a screwdriver that is not included with the buggy board. Then, you thread the bracket around the stroller's rear axle and screw it back together. To ensure that the bracket is at the right height, you need to measure according to the instructions that come with the buggy board. Essentially, you need to test hang Prepello so that the board is at the right height from the ground. There is an arrow that shows how it should look, so everything related to the installation is remarkably clear.
It was very easy to attach the Prepello bracket. According to the instructions, when it is in place, you should cut off the rest of the strap. But you can also thread the strap, so you retain some length if you want to use the buggy board on another stroller or pram later on. If you find that you want to use Prepello regularly on two different strollers, you can also buy an extra coupling.
Easy to attach and detach the buggyboard
With the coupling strap installed, it is easy to attach the buggy board to the stroller. Prepello has a hole with a tapering part, where you fit in the bracket and pull it into the right position. When you later want to remove the buggy board, you do the opposite, lifting Prepello slightly up and forward to detach it from the coupling. The buggy board never came close to detaching from the coupling while in use for us.
A big plus with Prepello is that the coupling is not in the way at all when the buggy board is not in use. You hardly even think about it being there. During use, it never seems that the bracket slides sideways when using the buggy board, but the frames Prepello has been tested on have been oval or more angular. It is possible that some lateral slippage could occur on a round frame, but probably not when driving with a child on the buggy board. With weight on it, Prepello stays in the chosen position all the time.
How the buggy board drives
The design of this sibling board initially raises doubts about how it will function on anything other than completely smooth, flat surfaces. But this concern is mostly unfounded. It may happen that Prepello scrapes on the surface a bit when going up a curb, but it doesn't always happen and seems to depend on how the edge is shaped. Generally, maneuvering over edges goes much better than one might initially think. Prepello is actually a buggy board that rolls very well, even on a lot of gravel. It is experienced as very easy to drive the stroller with Prepello, partly because the buggy board is narrow and can be mounted slightly to the side. This way, you have plenty of space to walk normally.
On some occasions, the stroller board has scraped the ground slightly when going downhill. This happened specifically on a steep slope with a lot of gravel. Otherwise, Prepello has never scraped the surface, whether a child is standing on the board or not. And the few times it has happened, it has not affected the driving or the child balance, but there’s of course a risk of some scratches on the underside of the buggy board.
How does Prepello work in the snow?
Compared to larger and heavier stroller boards, Prepello can sometimes be perceived as a bit shaky and bumpy. On some surfaces, such as slippery slushy snow, the buggy board can slide sideways. The wheels simply seem to temporarily lose contact with the ground. A more real problem is that you cannot reverse with the buggy board on the stroller. It gets in the way of the stroller's rear wheels because nothing forces the buggy board to always have a straight angle out from the chassis. Prepello also performs poorly when getting on the bus, but pretty much all buggy boards do, so it's always a good idea to let the child get on the bus by themselves and fold up or remove the buggy board when doing so.
Another downside of Prepello is also recognized from most other universal buggy boards. It is not so enjoyable to drive when no child is standing on it. Then the buggy board rattles a lot, a sound that is annoying. But it's really not a problem, as Prepello is so easy to remove. However, the disadvantage of alternating between using the buggy board on and off is that if it gets wet or snowy, everything comes into the shopping basket when you put Prepello in there. However, you can avoid the worst slush under the stroller by placing the buggy board so that the wheel sticks out.
What age is suitable for Prepello?
Prepello is a buggy board that, perhaps more than other buggy boards, requires a little balance from the child. How well the buggy board works is partly related to how old the child is. When a two-year-old stands on Prepello, there have been some occasions when the buggy board tipped to the side just as the child stepped on it. The two-year-old has also occasionally lost balance during the ride. As a parent, it is also important to ensure that the child is on board when you start rolling the stroller, as the small surface to stand on makes it easier to lose balance just as you start pushing the stroller.
A five-year-old will surely be able to use Prepello more steadily without losing balance. At the same time, the stroller board is narrower for a five-year-old's feet, especially when the child has big winter shoes on. But it works with the right technique; you have to try if it works best to stand with your feet to the side or have them in a row.
Since Prepello is suspended at the front, the stroller board can tilt sideways. The child needs to be big enough to be able to counter for this. This means the child must use a little more effort on this buggy board. Completely unproblematic for a five-year-old, but the two-year-old is perceived to not be able to stand on this stroller board as long as on a regular one. A one-year-old is probably too small for Prepello to be used properly.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Prepello buggy board
Prepello may not be the perfect buggy board, but for certain types of use, it is exactly what many have been asking for. The advantages of Prepello are many. The fact that the buggy board is so easy to attach and detach from its bracket is a big plus. In theory, it's something you can do every time the older sibling decides to walk instead of riding, or vice versa, gets tired of walking and wants to stand on the board again. It's also a very convenient buggy board for those who want to have one just in case; it hardly takes up any space in the shopping basket.
It is also a big plus that Prepello rolls so well. Despite the buggy board looking so small and neat, it maneuvers well on all common surfaces that you would drive a stroller on, even with other stroller boards. It also doesn't ruin the stroller's driving feel. If you have long legs or just take long steps, it's a big plus that Prepello doesn't steal much legroom behind the stroller or pram.
The disadvantages of Prepello are, of course, that the buggy board does not fit absolutely all prams or strollers. It requires a straight rear axle, and the stroller must have certain dimensions on the chassis for it to work. Compared to other buggy boards, Prepello requires a little more actively balancing from the child. This might mean that it is not best suited for younger older siblings but is perfect for older siblings - who can both balance themselves and who more often alternate between walking themselves and standing on the board. Also, it's super convenient that Prepello can be so easily removed from its coupling and placed in the shopping basket. But if it's wet and slushy, you should bring a plastic bag; otherwise, the buggy board risk messing up things in your shopping basket.
My verdict on Prepello
It is easy to believe that the stroller board's low position, as it hangs just above the ground, would be a problem. But this is absolutely not how Prepello is experienced in practice. The stroller board nicely gets through slush, but it would probably get stuck in deep snow. On the other hand, most other stroller boards would too. So the maneuverability is good.
There is no seat available for Prepello, which can be seen as a downside by some. But the uniqueness of this buggy board is its small size and convenience. As I see it, this is not a buggy board intended for children who need to sit down. Rather, it is perfect for older children who usually have the energy to walk but occasionally need a ride after a long day at preschool or need to rest their legs after a long outing. As long as you understand how Prepello is best used and have a compatible stroller, this is a convenient little buggy board that really fills a gap in the market.
Hi! My name is Anna Lavfors, and I have four children. I have been testing and writing about strollers, prams and accessories since 2011, and over these years, I have used over 200 different strollers. At Allt om barnvagnar, I update with new reviews of strollers, prams, footmuffs, buggy boards, changing bags, and other stroller accessories, and report on the most interesting stroller news.
All reviews are independent and written by me as an objective stroller expert. I have never been paid to write about anything and choose which strollers or accessories I find interesting to test.
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