Baby Jogger vs BOB: Design for On-The-Go Living

If you’re into jogging or running, a stroller that’s purpose-built for this activity is essential for comfort and safety too. There’s a wide range of jogging strollers available, including doubles, so the choice can be mind-boggling and somewhat confusing for buyers.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the joggers offered by specialists Baby Jogger and BOB. First of all, let’s consider what essential qualities you should look for in a good jogging stroller.

What to look for in a jogging stroller

There’s no point in skimping and trying to cut corners on how much you spend when you’re buying a jogging stroller. If you buy the best stroller that you can afford, it will be better-constructed, safer for your passenger, and will last you longer than a cheaper, lower quality model.

When choosing a jogging stroller, there are a number of essential features that you’ll want your ride to have:

Fixed or lockable front wheel

A fixed front wheel or one that can be locked into place will help to keep the stroller straight when you’re pushing it across rough terrain, preventing your arms from becoming strained.

Pneumatic tires

Although there is always the risk of picking up a puncture, a jogging stroller must have pneumatic tires. That ensures a smoother ride for the passenger over rough terrain and makes pushing the stroller easier.

Remember to purchase a puncture repair kit if one isn’t included with the stroller and make sure that you know how to use it! Also, you’ll need to check the tire pressures regularly.

Suspension

A decent suspension system is a must for any jogging stroller. Suspension ensures that your child will enjoy a smooth, bump-free ride.

Wrist tether

When you’re jogging or running downhill, a stroller can get away from you pretty quickly, especially if you have a large toddler onboard. Make sure that your chosen stroller has a wrist tether attached to the handlebar. That’s a very important safety consideration!

Handy accessories

Although not absolutely essential, a cup holder saves you having to carry your water bottle, a storage basket is useful for carrying small baby items, and a passenger snack tray can help to keep a toddler occupied while you enjoy your run.

A reclining seat is also necessary so that your passenger can take a nap if he wants to.

So, now let’s take a look at these two major stroller brands in more detail:

Who is Baby Jogger?

Baby Jogger first began making strollers back in the early 1980s.

Creator Phil Baechler wanted to take his young child with him when he went out running along the mountain trails close to his home. Baechler found that a regular stroller couldn’t cope with the rigors of running. To solve his problem, Baechler created a stroller that could handle the strains and demands of moving faster than just walking speed.

The Baby Jogger range of products also includes car seats, strollers, and associated accessories. Whether you want a stroller that will take you and your child into the Great Outdoors or simply to your local mall or coffee shop, Baby Jogger has a stroller to suit your needs.

Who is BOB?

BOB is a U.S. company that entered the market in 1991 with a revolutionary single-track bicycle trailer. As a spin-off, BOB created a super-lightweight stroller that was designed for off-road use. Likewise, BOB has designed several strollers for on-the-go families who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors.

Since 2011, BOB has expanded its range of all-terrain and jogging strollers and continued to go from strength to strength.

Now let’s take a look at some of the strollers offered by Baby Jogger and BOB and see how they compare.

Baby Jogger Summit vs. BOB Revolution FLEX Jogging Stroller

These two strollers are both of the very highest quality construction. And if you have twins or two kids of similar ages, the Summit is available in a double version.

Baby Jogger Summit X3

One obvious difference between the Baby Jogger Summit X3 and the BOB Revolution FLEX is that the Summit has a much smaller fold. Now, that’s an essential consideration for families who love to travel to jogging or hiking locations when trunk space is at a premium.

The braking system on the Summit is far superior to that of the BOB Flex. The Summit has a handbrake that enables you to slow the stroller quickly in an emergency. Also, there’s a footbrake that you can use when you want to park the stroller.

If you’re negotiating uneven terrain, you’ll want to lock the front wheel of your stroller. The Summit has a wheel-locking lever situated conveniently on the side of the stroller so that you don’t need to bend down to engage it. In comparison, the locking mechanism on the BOB means that you have to go to the wheel itself physically. Although that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, the procedure does take a bit more effort.

The Summit has an incredible canopy! Not only is the canopy huge, but it also has peek-a-boo window flaps on the top and the side. The windows are made from mesh fabric, ensuring that your child enjoys a cooling breeze during their ride. The BOB also has a peek-a-boo window that lets you check on your passenger, but it doesn’t provide the ventilation for your child that the Summit does.

Although the BOB has a wrist tether, it also acts as their clip to lock the stroller. In comparison, the Summit has a logger jogging tether that’s attached to the bottom of the stroller rather than the handlebar. That gives the stroller much more stability and reduces the risk of the whole thing tipping if you have to stop suddenly in an emergency.

The Summit is very quick and easy to fold away in just one simple step. However, the BOB fold has advantages in that it folds inward, rather than outward, which helps to keep the seat clean.

If seat recline capability is important to you, you’ll find the Summit’s seat is easier and quicker to recline than the BOB’s. Also, the seat on the Summit folds almost flat, which is perfect for kids who like to sleep during an outing.

The Summit is perfectly designed for running over every type of terrain that you’re likely to encounter when you’re out jogging or hiking off-road, largely thanks to its all-wheel suspension system that makes the stroller extremely stable.

The Summit can be adapted for use as a travel system. You’ll need to use the same seat adapters as you do for the City Mini and the City Mini GT. That means that you can use your jogger to transport your baby around until he’s big enough to join you on runs.

Never use a car seat on your jogging stroller! Also, always ask your doctor or pediatrician if your baby is ready to join you on runs. As a general rule, it’s not safe to take your child on a run with you until he can hold his head up independently.

The BOB FLEX can also be used as a travel system, but it has fewer adapter options. At the time of writing, you can only use the FLEX for Peg Perego, Graco, and Chicco.

You can see a video of the Baby Jogger Summit X3 by clicking on this link.

BOB Revolution FLEX Jogging Stroller

The BOB FLEX is an upgraded version of the early Revolution SE stroller. The main difference between these two excellent jogging strollers is the adjustable handlebar that’s adjustable to achieve a comfortable push.

Both of these strollers take a load of up to 75 pounds. However, the seat on the BOB stroller is larger, meaning that a big toddler will still be able to enjoy a comfortable ride for longer. The BOB harness is very easy to adjust in comparison with that of the Baby Jogger. That’s because you can adjust the harness via a track, rather than rethreading it.

When it comes to storage, you’ll want plenty of space to carry essentials for a day out on the trail. Although both strollers have under-seat baskets of a reasonable size, the basket on the BOB is a little bit bigger than that of the Baby Jogger Summit.

As far as the construction of the strollers is concerned, the frame on the BOB is a little sturdier than that of the Summit. This is due to the BOB having aluminum alloy everywhere, rather than only in the bottom wheel suspension.

The BOB FLEX has an extremely flexible suspension system. Furthemore, you can also alter it to provide better traction on different terrain. When it comes to the push, you’ll appreciate the lighter weight of the BOB, coming in at 25.45 pounds compared with the Summit’s 28.10 pounds.

The BOB Flex comes in many colors and also has reflective safety strips on the canopy to provide increased visibility in poor lighting.

To check out the Flex in action, take a look at the manufacturer’s video at this link.

Baby Jogger Summit X3 Double vs. BOB Revolution Duallie

If you have twins or two small kids, you’ll need a double jogging stroller when you go out running.

The Baby Jogger Summit X3 comes in a double version that we’ve compared with the BOB Revolution Duallie.

Baby Jogger Summit X3 Double

Like all jogging strollers, the Summit X3 Double is a three-wheeler. This stroller has big wheels with pneumatic tires for a smooth, bump-free push. Because of its all-wheel suspension system, the Summit ensures that all the bumps of an uneven surface are absorbed. 

If you’re a mom who enjoys jogging and running, a decent canopy is an important factor when choosing a stroller. The Summit X3 has a massive, three-sided canopy with mesh fabric ventilation windows on each side. This breathable design will help improve ventilation on hot days.

While you’re jogging, you’ll need to keep an eye on your child. For your convenience, the Summit X3 has two peek-a-boo windows. Also, when the seats are fully reclined, there’s a large mesh window behind the seats to help keep the temperature down. Due to this extra ventilation,  your children will be even more comfortable while they sit in the Summit.

The seats recline to an almost flat position so your children can nap or sit upright and enjoy the scenery while you’re running.

The stroller’s handlebar is not adjustable, and that could be an issue for very tall parents. However, the handbrake fitted to the handlebar does make it easier to control the stroller when you’re running downhill.

BOB Revolution Duallie

The Duallie is BOB’s offering of a jogging stroller for families that have two children to transport.

Like most joggers, the Duallie is a three-wheeler. Weighing just 19 pounds, the Duallie is incredibly light. Its lighter frame makes it perfect for packing it in the car on days when you need to travel. Also, the Duallie compatible with Britax car seats as long as you use a suitable adaptor.

At first glance, the Duallie’s canopy looks quite restricted as it only has two panels. However, you can adjust the panels to five different positions to cut out the sun or wind. There’s a peek-a-boo window in each canopy that allows you to keep an eye on your kids while you’re jogging.

The seat on the Duallie is perfect for napping because it’s extremely roomy. Not to mention that it also reclines to an angle of over 70 degrees. Behind the fully reclined seat, there’s a mesh window that allows improved air circulation on hot days.

Unlike the Summit, the Duallie has a fully adjustable handlebar. This feature is extremely handy if you or your partner are taller than average.

The BOB Duallie has high-impact polymer, air-filled tires. So, you can quickly re-inflate a tire if you catch a flat without using a puncture repair kit. The tires provide a cushioned ride, which is further enhanced by the adjustable suspension system.

Final thoughts

If you enjoy running, there’s no need to let having a baby stop you. You can take your child with you in a specially designed jogging or all-terrain stroller.

Baby Jogger and BOB are manufacturers who specialize in producing strollers that are built to negotiate difficult, uneven terrain. This terrain can include anything from patchy sidewalks to rough hiking trails. However, these strollers will keep your little one safe and comfortable with each step.

Both brands include the essential features that a jogging stroller needs, though the BOB often has an adjustable handlebar, whereas Baby Jogger’s don’t. That might not be a deal-breaker for you if you and your partner are of average height. However, if you’re tall, the ability to adjust the height of the handlebar to fit could save you the discomfort of stooping over the stroller while you’re running.

 

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