Dad Gear Review: The BOB Stroller



I thought that I would do something different and present a product review. As a stay at home dad, I love items that make my life easier on me and my girls. But theproduct needs to work as advertised. Anytime a product can deliver on those two things, that is a good piece of Dad Gear.

In my mind there are only a few pieces of gear that are essential when you are out and about. The first would be a stocked diaper bag and the second would be a stroller. Now I have used many strollers from the umbrella stroller to the fixed wheel joggers but have not found one that surpasses the BOB line of strollers.

BOB Strollers come in a fixed front wheel style and the Revolution in which the front wheel can swivel or can be fixed for jogging. I will review the Revolution only.

For the sake of full disclosure, I have had 2 BOB Revolution strollers. A one single kid style and a double kid style. While I have not used the fixed front wheel version of the BOB, I would have to say that the swivel wheel is a must for going to the mall or the street festival. It can maneuver in very tight spaces even in the double stroller version. The cost is more for the Revolution but it is worth it when you are dodging Senior Citizens in the mall running to the bathroom before the advances made potty training will be lost with one accident.

The stroller has many storage compartments both for the pushee and the pusher. You can also purchase a handlebar console that has two drink holders and a small, zippered compartment. I have this for mine and I would recommend getting this option. Some other nice features are a foot operated brake, brake tether for jogging, a five point, padded seat belt system, removable wheels so the stroller can be folded flat, an adjustable suspension, sun canopies, reclining seats and a front wheel adjustability feature for keeping the stroller in a straight line when jogging.

Options include infant car seat attachments for the major manufacturers, a matching color diaper bag, a wind screen, a sun shield and a fleece liner for cold walks or runs.     

I have not used the double stroller for jogging. I don't know if I want to push my two and five year old on a 3 mile run. A heart attack is not on the calendar for 2011. I have used the single kid stroller for a jog and it worked great. A little adjustment of the front wheel and we were off. They roll very well on roads as well as on grass or gravel. We take our double everywhere. It is tricky sometimes to fit it in places with a lot of people but it easier than carry two tired kids plus gear.

The double BOB Revolution is priced anywhere from $450 to $630 depending on the seller. The single is between $305 and $430. Even if you use the stroller for a few years, you will get your monies worth out of it. You can very easily sell a nice used BOB online or to any friends that jog and have kids. It's easy to find new moms who want to lose some weight.

I liked the BOB strollers so much, I bought two of them. So, on the Dad Gear Scale, the BOB Revolution Double gets an extra dessert after dinner.