BOB Sport Utility Stroller

Bob Sport Utility Stroller (SUS) circa 2008
Thanks to Lia for the review!

I made lists of pros and cons, prices versus features and what I wanted versus needed before settling on a stroller for my kiddo.  Perhaps it was due to that difficult mental debate, but I have been completely happy with Bob.

Here is a run down from top to bottom-

Handlebar - I am 5’11 and it is at a comfortable height for walking and running.  It has a soft, cushion that has no sign of wear.  I received the handlebar console and love that I can store two drinks (or bear spray) in the cup holders and my phone or keys in the zippered compartment.  

Brake - I take my stroller places that it really should not go and the hand brake is essential.  While it doesn’t completely stop the stroller, it provides enough resistance that I can make a safe descent.  The foot brake is also wonderful for stopping on inclines.  The strap (you put on your wrist for running) wraps around this foot brake and stops the stroller should you fall or suddenly stop.  

Shade - There is a generous sun hood or roof that allows my child to be in a “cave”.  It also protects him from rain quite nicely.  There is a small, clear window on the top allowing me to peek in on the occupant.  I am amazed that there is no sign of wear on this part of the stroller.  My son is tall at three years old and his head is just now touching the hood.

Seat / Harness - The seat reclines quite far with two buckles (can be done one handed) allowing my son to sleep easily.  When in its upright position, my children both are comfortable.  There is some padding, but I was given the fuzzy, fleece pad that made it quite snuggly.   There is a 5 point harness with sternum adjustment.  This worked well when they were smaller, but got increasingly difficult for me to use.  I haven’t used it for quite a while and haven’t lost a chid yet. There are two little pockets for kiddo toys that I like to fill with a few items on long trips for him to find.

Wheels - These are burly and I love it.  I go off road and can work it over fallen trees, crevasses, and large roots.  It also runs smoothly on roads while I am running.  I haven’t had to pump them up or buy new ones yet and I don’t know how many miles I have put on Bob.  These wheels also allow me to push it in snow without much work.   The front wheel is fixed (doesn’t pivot, you have to lift up the front for turning) and this hasn’t bothered me at all.  It makes hiking trails easier and I haven’t had trouble running either.

Infant use - I bought the car seat adapter and my kiddo was in this from day two (day one we rested a bit).  The child faces you and raises him up for easy access.  The shocks provide cushioning and a less jolty ride for the kiddo.  I soon moved him down into the seat, fully reclined with blanket surrounds for paved trail walking.

Storage - It is hard to get items into the basket underneath the seat.  I tend to take items out of any large sack so I can access them easier.  There is a mesh area on the back of the seat for quick draw, flat items (a diaper and travel wipe container).

Transportation - You flip the top over towards the front wheel and then pull up on  handle so it folds down rather flat.  I love how small it gets and that it fits in the car.

Overall - I love this stroller and recommend it to friends who want a jogging stroller.  It is limited by the fact that you can’t tow it behind a bike or pull it on skis.  I have not had one problem, concern or failure in this stroller in its almost continuous use.  If you want a strong stroller for running that you can take off road, I recommend the BOB SUS.  

BOB Duallie Revolution Stroller

 BOB Duallie Revolution Stroller

Thanks to Rita for this Review

The BOB duallie revolution stroller was the best choice for my family’s active lifestyle. I began using the stroller immediately after the birth of my second child with the infant seat adapter bar. It is a large stroller but does fit in stores and through a standard doorway (just barely!), though it is a bit awkward to take shopping and in and out of small shops isn’t easy or recommended. I chose this over the front/back double strollers because I don’t think that either of my children would like being in a back seat where they wouldn’t be able to see the action.

The double BOB has a great division between the two seats so when there are two children in the stroller they are not pressed up against each other. This gives them their own space with their own separate sunshade to expand and retract as they wish. My son called it his ‘cave’ and loved to hide in it when we were out in the stroller. The car seat adapter bar has a snack tray attachment to use if desired, we had this attached on the side my son was seated, but we never actually used it, the water bottle holder isn’t large enough to hold a Klean Kanteen so he just kept it with him in the side pocket in the seat. It was occasionally used to hold rocks and sticks picked up along our walks. I love how I can push and turn the stroller easily with one hand on most surfaces. It is a smooth ride on most terrain with no complaints from kids or stroller operator. We outgrew the double BOB just recently when my son turned four, he is now just over three and a half feet tall and can still fit in the stroller, but his legs cross over onto his sister’s side and they kick each other often and he just looks too big to be in his ‘cave’. He doesn’t stay in the stroller for long and prefers to run or walk now.

My only dislike with the BOB is the undercarriage basket was very difficult to access. The basket is a decent size and holds enough gear that we needed on our outings, however getting items in and out of the basket is hard to do, the space to squeeze a diaper bag into the basket is small. Reaching in to grab a water bottle is easy, but an ergo or lunch bag is a bit harder and you have to stuff it in and really pull to get it out. This would not deter me from ever getting another BOB, it is a minor inconvenience and the pros offset this one con.

Something to consider with this stroller is its size: I drive a Honda Pilot and when the stroller is laying flat in the back of my car it takes up the entire cargo space. I usually drive with the stroller standing up on its side and secured so that it will not tip over.

Kidarooz Jogger/Bike Trailer

Kidarooz Jogger/Bike Trailer
Thanks to Julie for this Review!

 

Pros:
• The very best thing about this stroller is the HUGE trunk. It must have 5-6 times the space of the little thing on the back of the Chariot. It’s fantastic. I can stuff itfull of anything my son and I will need on a day hike and not have to carry a thing on my back. It’s great for a (jogger-accessible) backpacking trip and this is why I got it.
• For me, the small swivel front wheel is a pro over the Chariot’s big fixed wheel. I use it mostly on a paved jogging path, for which the swivel wheel is ideal. I love not having to pop the stroller up to make every little turn in the trail! I can still take it on rough terrain and just tip it back on its two big wheels when we go through rocks, etc. If I were going to use it exclusively on rough trails though, I might prefer the bigger wheel up front.
• When it collapses the footprint doesn’t get any bigger (unlike the Chariot, which lengthens as it folds). This means that the double Kidarooz fits easily (folded) into the trunk of my Subaru – taking only the handle bar off. With my single Chariot, I have to take off the handle bar, the front wheel and the bars that attach the front wheel, which can be a pain because one of our bars happens to stick
pretty bad.
• It’s very quick and easy to convert from a jogger to a bike trailer (pin-release wheel off, pop pin-release bike arm on), unlike my Chariot which takes a bit more effort (wheel off, both wheel bars off, then trailer arm on), and honestly, is a bit of a pain.
• My toddler is comfortable in the Kidarooz.
• I find all of the flaps (screen, plastic rain shield, trunk) well placed and easy to use.

Cons:
• The “seatbelts” are nowhere near as secure as I’d like them to be. Kidarooz calls it a 5-point harness, but I wouldn’t. It’s a 3-point harness with a separate lap belt that goes across both seats, making it hard to get snug when there’s only one child in it. The shoulder portion (3-point harness) itself is wobbly – each side is a separate strap, and while they both thread through the U-shaped pad that goes across the tot’s shoulders and down his chest, they attach to a D-ring, instead of a more secure clip. I think the harness in the Chariot would hold my toddler in place even if the Chariot rolled over while biking, but the Kidarooz wouldn’t perform as well. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be toting an infant in the Kidarooz without rigging up something separate.
• For some strange reason there’s a fender in front and back. The one in front causes no problems but I sometimes kick the one in back while running. It protrudes beyond the back wheels, while the bottom of most joggers is several inches inside the back of the wheels.
• The quick-release wheels aren’t the right size to take the Chariot’s skis. This is a major bummer.

Choosing the Right Stroller for your Family

Every other week Taiga Trekkers does a stroller friendly hike. This is the first in multiple part piece on choosing the right stroller for your family's needs. Members of the group have graciously written reviews of their strollers for me. If you have a stroller we haven't mention please feel free to email your review along with a picture of the buggy in action. We would love to have a comprehensive listing.

All reviews, as they are available, can be found under the Stroller Reviews and Gear topics on the left.

Here is a list of considerations when looking for the right fit:

• Above all else price is important. Craigslist has been a great source for many of our families.
• How will the stroller fit in your vehicle? Will you have to disassemble it to make it fit?
• How compact does it get for traveling? Could it easily be checked plane side?
• Does it serve other functions such as a bike trailer or ski pulk?
• Pivoting vs. fixed front wheel.
• Jogger vs. standard.
• Restraint system - 5pt. harness vs. lap belt.
• Does it recline?
• Does it provide protection from the sun?
• Does it come with, or can you buy and infant car seat adaptor?
• Is there storage for extra clothes, bottles etc.
• Does it come with, or can you purchase a rain cover?
• Some strollers hold higher resale values then others.
• Should I purchase a double or a single?
• Do I want it to be able to handle unpaved trails?
• Is there a bug netting or cover to keep out the mosquitoes?
• While not as pertinent in Alaska, but often on vacation, how would it handle in sand.
• Does it come with, or can you purchase a case for traveling?
• Does it come with a leash in case the stroller gets away from you?

 

Byron Glacier Trail

The Byron Glacier Trail is the perfect hike for a toddler! Just shy of a mile out, it is a flat well kept trail that is most definitely jogging stroller friendly and probably could easily accommodate a regular stroller, though it is not paved. Tucked back in the valley that houses Portage Glacier and the tunnel to Whittier, it is always hit or miss as to what the weather will be like. Last year when we attempted it looked like the sun might have broke out any time on the highway, but back in the valley the winds were gusting and the rain pouring. This year we were given a gift with this phenomenally glorious sunny day! The toddlers did a lot of the hiking on their own two feet. The parent talk was of wild berries and where to pick them. Many in the group had done a recon mission to see what state the blueberries are in right now. My Little Bear and I picked a bunch of raspberries by the house.

The creek fed directly from the glacier on this hot (for Alaska) day, was too much for my little water baby. He stripped down and splashed around in the freezing water. Many played on the glacier itself. Two mamas showed their support for International Breastfeeding Week by nursing their boys on the glacier. Then we had a lovely picnic and let the kids play.

As always I forgot to turn on the Garmin at the trailhead. We actually started where we ended.

Campbell Creek Trail from... Campbell Creek Park

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, you can almost hear the chorus of angels singing as the skies opened up and let the sun shine down us for our Trek yesterday morning. Not long after I returned home we were back to the rain we've been experiencing all week. As usual mother nature showed us her approval, and welcome the about 20 parents with their kids into the woods and on the trail for another wonderful hike with our friends. 

This week was a stroller friendly week, so we headed out on the Campbell Creek Trail from... you guess it, the Campbell Creek Park near the corner of Lake Otis & Tudor. This is a portion of the paved bike trail that weaves in and around Anchorage. It was recently added on to over the past year and now connects to the Chester Creek Trail. We traveled along on an old section and then along some of the newer connector route. We did not spot any wildlife on the trail. Typically you can see salmon in the creek, when looking from above on the many bridges, or moose, but nothing on this early August morning. Before and after the trek the kids played at the playground and some took a dip in the watering hole along the creek.

While some looped around to Elmore Rd and back to the park, the family that was going the same pace as me and my kiddo hit the Tudor overpass walkway and then retraced our steps back. Of course I did not turn my Garmin on when we left, but the full trip back was recorded. Double what you see on the map for accurate distance. Much of that was impressively done by these two toddlers on their own feet, with some stroller breaks in between.

The Alaska TravelGram Radio Show

Lia (of Skedaddle) and I have been asked and will co-host the Alaska TravelGram Show with our friend Erin Kirkland of AKontheGo.com. You can catch the live stream at 2 pm tomorrow at:    http://www.1020koan.com/.