The BOB Revolution was first released in 2007, making it one of the first off-road strollers ever made. Since then, it has gone through numerous upgrades. The Revolution Flex 3.0 is the latest model. Here’s what you need to know about the stroller to decide if it’s right for you.
Quick Verdict:
The BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 is one of the best strollers for trail jogging and off-road hiking. It’s got tons of features like an amazing suspension system, full canopy, adjustable handlebar, padded seating with ventilation, and safety features.
The only strollers which really rival the Revolution Flex 3.0 are the BOB Alterrain Pro and Thule Urban Glide 2.0. The Alterrain Pro has an even better suspension and a hand brake. The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 has a sleeker design and also a hand brake. But the Revolution Flex 3.0 is more affordable than these two strollers. You might also like that the Revolution Flex 3.0 folds with the fabric inwards instead of outwards.
You can get the stroller at Amazon or REI.
Also read: Best Off-Road Strollers Compared
Check out how the Revolution Flex handles TWINS in the snow!
Specs and Features
| BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 | |
|---|---|
| Max child weight/height | 75lbs/44inches |
| Stroller weight | 28.5lbs |
| Hand Brake | No |
| Tires | Air-filled |
| Front wheel size | 12.5" |
| Back wheel size | 16" |
| Lockable front wheel? | Yes |
| Adjustable handlebar? | Yes - 9 positions |
| Folded Size | 39"x24.5"x16" |
| Open Size | 45”L x 24.5”W x 43”H |
| One-Handed Fold? | No |
| Interior Seat Width | 14.5” |
| Unique Features | Fully upright position; Adjustable suspension |
| Buy At | Amazon, REI |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Amazing suspension system
- Full canopy with UV protection
- Lots of storage
- Seat adjusts from almost flat to fully upright
- Handlebar adjusts to 9 positions
Cons
- Big and bulky
- Two-handed folding
- Expensive
- No hand brake
See current prices at Amazon and REI
Age Range
You can buy an adapter bar which allows you to fit the BOB stroller with a car seat, thus making it possible to use this stroller with a newborn. The seat also reclines nearly flat, so you could use it with an infant from 8 weeks old (babies 0-8 weeks should only use this stroller with a car seat attached).
Because of how large the stroller is, it can even be used for older toddlers or young children. The weight capacity is 75lbs, and there is plenty of headroom in the stroller. There’s also a ride-along board option, so you’d be able to use it with two children too.
Here’s what BOB says about the age range:
- From birth: If using an infant car seat – walk only
- From 8 weeks: In stroller – walk only
- From 8 months: In stroller – jogging and off-road
- Weight limit: Up to 75lbs – includes child’s weight and weight of any gear in stroller
- Child height capacity: 44 inches – after this, your child’s head will hit the top of the canopy
Car Seat Compatibility
The BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 is compatible with these car seats. Note that the infant car seat adapter bar has to be purchased separately.
- BOB Gear
- Britax
- Chicco
- Graco
- Peg Perego
- Cosi
- Nuna
Suspension System
The suspension systems on BOB strollers are legendary. The strollers practically push themselves and can even go over snow. Because the suspension system absorbs shock, your child will be safe from bumps and jolts. Less shock goes to the handlebars, so your wrists won’t suffer like they would if you tried to push a normal stroller over bumpy terrain.
The BOB Revolution Flex suspension system makes it easy to push even heavy loads. This is the older model.
Adjusting the Suspension
Not only is the suspension on the Revolution Flex 3.0 incredibly smooth over bumpy terrain, it can even be adjusted. There are shock release knobs with two different positions based on your child’s weight. Use position 1 for 0-40lbs and position 2 for 41-75lbs. There is also a double version of it available.
Wheels and Tires
In addition to the suspension system, another reason the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 handles so well is the large wheels and air-filled tires. You can easily switch the front wheel from locked to swivel position. When putting the wheel back into locked position, it can be a bit tricky to ge it to sit perfectly straight. There is a “tracking adjustment” knob which helps you get the stroller to go straight. It will take some fiddling to learn how to use it, but it’s nice that this feature exists at all.
Another nice feature is that the wheels have quick-release. The stroller is massive and you’ll probably need to remove the wheels to get it into your car, so this is really useful.
Brakes
The Revolution Flex 3.0 has a fairly large foot brake. It’s easy to engage or disengage the brake with just the tip of your shoes.
Annoyingly though, the Revolution Flex stroller doesn’t have a hand brake. If you go down hilly terrain often, the hand brake is useful to help you slow down (strollers are heavy!). Only the newer BOB Alterrain Pro has a hand brake. But that stroller is significantly more expensive, so it’s your call whether a hand brake is worth paying for.
Handlebar
As a very short woman, I love that the BOB Revolution Flex handlebar can go in 9 different positions. In addition to adjusting to your height, the handlebar height should change depending on the terrain. Keep the position lower when you want to go faster over smooth terrain. Put the position up a bit higher when you are on tougher terrain and need to exert more force.
Folding
To fold the BOB Revolution 3.0 stroller, you have to squeeze two levers located underneath the handle. This requires two hands. This step folds the stroller in half, and then you pull up to collapse the stroller. A buckle secures the stroller in place.
This isn’t exactly hard to do, but it is impossible to do if you ever need to fold the stroller while holding your child.
The newer BOB Alterrain strollers have one-handed folding. But they fold with the fabric facing outwards. All other one-handed folding joggers (that I know of) also fold with the fabric outwards. This is incredibly annoying – especially if the stroller is muddy and you have to put it in your car. The fabric will get dirty! It sucks that you have to decide between easier folding or keeping the fabric clean.
Size
Like all off-road strollers, the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 is really large and bulky. The size is what allows it to handle bumpy terrain so well. But there’s a good chance that the stroller won’t fit in your car trunk. You will likely need to remove the wheels to get it inside.
The size also means the Revolution Flex is not great for everyday use. I’d recommend getting a smaller stroller for use around town and leaving this one for trail running and hiking. Also read: Can I use a jogger as my everyday stroller?
Fully Upright Seating
Most all-terrain strollers don’t have a fully-upright position. This is because a reclined position is better at absorbing shock. However, BOB realized that many of their customers were using the stroller everyday too, so they made it possible to adjust the seat into a fully-upright position.
The upright position option is great if you want to feed your child in the stroller, or just want your older child to have a better view. The stroller also goes to near-flat recline, so kids can nap in it too.
Full Canopy
BOB really got the canopy on the Revolution stroller near perfect. The UPF 50 canopy goes way down, so it will block sun from your sleeping child.
Extra Features
- Lots of storage: 6 pockets plus a large basket
- Full canopy: With UV 50 protection
- Ventilation: Air vents keep your baby cool
- Reflectors: The stroller has lots of reflective trim. The Lunar model is especially reflective. It practically glows when light hits it.
- Magnetic peek-a-boo window
- 5 point harness
- Wrist strap
- Water-resistant fabric
The Lunar version is incredibly reflective!
Price
The BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 definitely isn’t cheap. And, honestly, most people don’t really need this good of a suspension system on their stroller. But, if you go off-road hiking or on snow often, there really aren’t many other budget-friendly options. The Jeep Chariot is one of the only ones which comes close but it isn’t nearly as good as the Revolution Flex 3.0.
The good news is that BOB strollers have a high resale value, so you’ll be able to sell it once your kid outgrows it.
Ready to buy? You can get the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 at Amazon or REI.
Or read:
Best All-Terrain Strollers Compared
BOB Alterrain vs. BOB Revolution Flex 3.0
Image credit: “_” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Roebot
“Kate walks in the snow today with the tw” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by dionhinchcliffe
Post your comments