There are A LOT of strollers out there. They do A LOT of different things. Some fold up really small, some wind through the smallest store aisles, some fold up small enough to carry on your flight to Cabo San Lucas… I have had the chance to use quite a few strollers and will try to impart some of that knowledge and experience to you beginning with this post!
I like to run and I have tried out a few running strollers. Okay, more than a few. Let me tell you about my experience with three different BOB strollers: The Ironman stroller, the Revolution stroller, and the Duallie Revolution stroller.
Ironman B.O.B. Stroller
This is first and foremost a running stroller. It is light (21 lbs.), with narrow 16-inch wheels. The wheels roll very easy and the front wheel is fixed, which also helps reduce rolling resistance. The seat is very comfortable for your kid and even reclines if your run gets VERY long and they want to snooze (technically reclines up to 70°). There are two pockets in the seat to put cereal, snacks, or maybe even a sippie cup. There is also a lower gear pocket and pocket on the back of the seat to place your gear if you need immediate stowing abilities. The seat straps are very easy to use and are padded so it is comfortable. The five point safety harness is also very safe.
The padded push bar is very comfortable and the brake can be adjusted up or down to suit your needs. The shocks are pretty stiff and the tires are made for road running so they roll very easily – the ride is very smooth.
As far as portability, the Ironman folds up with a quick, two step folding motion. The stroller doesn’t fold up very small but I didn’t find this to be a real problem. I have found that with other strollers, the smaller they fold up, the less stable they seem to be – for the most part. In this case, stability is much more important than folding up really small. The Ironman stroller will carry your child all they way up to 70 pounds. (Seriously, if you are training for a marathon or an Ironman and pushing around a 60 pound child – my hat’s off you!) Plus, it works great when you’re not running and just need a good stroller.
It comes in two colors, yellow and navy.
Gripes: I only have one real gripe – the lack of height adjustability on the push bar. I am 6’1” and the push bar is just barely too low to be comfortable. I got used to it and it wasn’t a terrible issue, but it would be nice to have the option to raise (or lower) if needed.
Revolution/Duallie Revolution B.O.B. Stroller
This stroller works great as a running stroller and an everyday stroller. The basic features on the Revolution are identical to the Ironman stroller. Child cockpit and safety features are the same. Storage options are also the same. The most important feature that is different is the pivoting front wheel. The Revolution gives you the ability to lock the front wheel or let it swivel for very easy turning and maneuvering through the grocery store or mall or wine store… Locking the front wheel gives you the option of using the Revolution as a running stroller and helps provide stability when traveling over rough terrain.
Overall, I didn’t notice much of a difference in the Ironman stroller and the Revolution on shorter runs (3 o five miles). It is an obvious place to note that there was a bigger difference with the Duallie and two kids, but I don’t think it had anything to do with rolling resistance or the locking wheel! The single Revolution is heavier than the Ironman (2 pounds heavier) and the rolling resistance isn’t as efficient as the Ironman, but it certainly gets the job done. I have noticed that on long walks, I like the Revolution and the Duallie because of the pivoting front wheel. That being said, the Revolution is more versatile than the Ironman because of the front wheel. It steers VERY easily, is very stable and strong. The Revolution and Duallie fold up the same way the Ironman stroller folds.
The Revolution comes in a variety of colors: Navy/Cool Gray, Chocolate Brown/Pink, Mesa Orange/Chocolate, Chocolate/Blue, and Black/Camel.
The Duallie comes in Navy/Cool Gray and Mesa Orange/Chocolate.
Gripes: I really don’t have any real gripes about the Revolution or the Duallie stroller. I wouldn’t buy it if you are looking for a running stroller to take on long runs – but if you are looking for a versatile stroller that you can take on shorter runs and a comfortable stroller to take everywhere, the Revolution is the way to go.
Accessories for both strollers: You can get a car seat adapter for all BOB strollers. I highly recommend it for younger children! They are fairly easy to install and work very well. I would also suggest the warm fuzzy and the weather cover. I know my daughter LOVED to run in the rain – and having the warm fuzzy and the weather cover made me get out and run!
