BOB Revolution Pro Stroller Review: Worth It!

revpro1-300x284BOB has been busy lately releasing strollers, and quite frankly, they’ve been great ones. Two of the most recent single stroller models released by BOB include the Revolution Flex jogging stroller, which I recently had the pleasure of reviewing, and the Revolution Pro, which I’m going to talk about today. As with the Revolution Flex, the Pro is simply another upgrade to the Revolution SE that inspired both variations.

Because the changes are so slight, I do wonder why BOB decided to mark them as new models, as now they have several different versions of the Revolution. At any rate, let’s take a look at the details of the Revolution Pro together; I’d like to make this the most detailed review of the Revolution Pro on the Internet.

Quick Review of the BOB Revolution Pro Single Stroller

revpro2-300x284Just as with the Revolution Flex, one of the main differences between the SE and the Revolution Pro is that the Pro now comes with an adjustable handlebar that can be set to 9 positions. There are also a number of different colors present with the Revolution Pro, and the Revolution Pro, unlike the Revolution Flex, comes with a hand brake on the handlebar that connects to the rear wheels.

The Revolution Pro also resembles the Revolution SE in that there is a large, oversized canopy, a 5-point adjustable no-rethread harness, a large basket and comfortable seat, and wonderfully large air-filled wheels. Besides the basket beneath the seat, there are also a pair of mesh pockets within the seat that your child can use to store toys and foods. It’s also handy for parents who need to store essential kid things. You can use the Revolution Pro with infants at least 8 weeks old and the upper weight limit is 70 pounds. If you’re interested in using the seat with a newborn, you can do so and make the Revolution Pro a travel system with the use of a car seat adapter. Mike has written a number of great reviews of infant seats compatible with the BOB Revolution line.

All of the features above are pretty great, but as a mom, what I love most about the BOB Revolution Pro are its wheels. This is a quality jogging stroller with generously large, air-filled tires, and a suspension system that’s easily adjustable to provide a comfortable and smooth ride. I’ve tried a number of strollers, and the BOB suspension systems are nearly unequaled. You can swivel the front wheel for maneuverability or lock it for jogging stability. You can fold it easily and compact it well for a jogger.

The Revolution Pro weighs around 28.2 pounds, or 3 pounds more than the weight of its SE twin, which weighs 25.2 pounds. These are typical weights for single seater jogger strollers. The adjustable handlebar and hand brake contribute to some of the additional weight. The Flex weighs 26.2 pounds.

If you’re having trouble deciding between the Revolution Pro and the Revolution Flex, here are my thoughts in a nutshell. The Pro model is likely a better choice if you’re planning on using your BOB to jog on varied terrain, especially around lots of hills. This way, you’ll be able to stop or slow down in much less time thanks to your attached hand brake. On the other hand, if you’re going to jog on even surfaces, such as in a park, then the Flex might be better since you won’t have a hand brake to bump into on the handlebar. Keep in mind that there are more color and frame options available with the Flex than with the Pro; the Pro only has a silver frame, although I personally think it looks as good as the black frame option available in the Flex.

I give the BOB Revolution Pro 5 out of 5 stars, just as I did with the Flex, simply because it’s part of the Revolution family, which are the best jogging strollers money can buy today. The only significant changes I would make would be to add an automatic lock to the stroller and perhaps to switch the double strap recline to a single strap or single lever recline. Besides that, I have no complaints; it’s a great stroller. It’s also available in a dual version.

You can buy the BOB Revolution Pro for free shipping, with free returns, and without sales tax directly from Amazon here.

Buy the BOB Revolution Pro Stroller on Sale at Amazon.

Pros of the BOB Revolution Flex

revpro3smallExpanded canopy. The canopy for the Revolution Pro is large and can be adjusted in multiple positions, which makes it a great choice for keeping little ones shaded from the sun. Above the canopy is a viewing window, or peekaboo, that allows you to see your child without needing to retract the canopy. It’s made of plastic and works well. I only wish the closure system were quieter; the Velcro can get a bit noisy when opening and shutting it.

Adjustable handlebar. The Revolution Pro, like the Flex, features a 9-way adjustable handlebar. You can use it from a lower range of 34″ to a high of 45″ above the ground. My husband and I always appreciate adjustable handlebars since we vary significantly by height.

Buy the Revolution Pro on Sale at Amazon here.Hand brake. A significant upgrade from the Revolution Pro is the handbrake included in the handlebar of the pro. It activates a set of drum brakes on the rear wheels, and believe me, it’s handy to have them when you’re on a run or a jog on a steep hill and need to come to a quick stop. The inclusion of the hand brake is the main reason why the Revolution Pro weighs around 2 pounds more than the Revolution Flex.

Runaway wrist strap. As a safety feature, both the Revolution Flex and the Revolution Pro include a runaway strap on the handlebar. A runaway strap is essentially a strap you clip around your wrist to keep your stroller attached to you while you’re on the go; this way it won’t get away from you during a run. You can also use it to lock your stroller once you have it folded.

revpro5smallComfortable and roomy seating. The Pro’s seat is designed for space and comfort, and can be used for a child who is at least 8 weeks old. However, you might want to wait for infants to reach at least 6 months unless you use an infant seat, or else they might not have enough support. There’s a lot of room in the seat; I’d say it’s around 23″ high, top to bottom, and 14.5″ in width.

The Revolution’s Pro seat has a good amount of recline–nearly flat, I’d say. Something I’m not a fan of, however, is the fact that there are a pair of straps you’ll need to adjust in order to recline the seat, which means you’ll need two hands to do so since the straps are on the opposite sides of the seat. Hopefully this will be changed to a single strap or lever in the future. Something I do like is the generous amount of padding that comes with the seat. The nylon fabric is designed to repel water and be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. It’s also designed to be durable and hold up for years of active use. We’ve had our BOB SE Duallie for a couple of years now, and I can verify that the fabric is indeed designed to last. The seat also comes with a 5 point harness that’s padded and adjustable, and you can release it with a nice big center buckle. I’m also a fan of the generous padding at the shoulder straps.

revpro6smallRoomy basket under the seat.  The basket beneath the Pro is large and easy to access. I can stuff a diaper bag and a number of toys there without issue.

Extra Storage. The Pro gives you a good amount of storage, including a mesh pocket behind the seat itself that’s useful for storing grown up things and a pair of mesh pockets within the seat that your little one can use for his or her things, such as extra spoons and sippy cups.

revpro7smallBig, air-filled wheels. The Pro doesn’t skimp when it comes to wheel size and quality, and these are among my favorite parts of the Pro. The tires are made of rubber, filled with air, and are large enough to handle just about any kind of terrain while helping give a smooth ride along the way. The wheels themselves are made of a thick and durable plastic. The front tire is 12.5″ in diameter while the rear tires are 16″ in diameter. Naturally, you can either keep the front wheel locked for speed when jogging or allow it to swivel for stability when walking.

Adjustable suspension. I’m also a fan of BOB’s patented suspension system that makes its way toward every Revolution they sell, including the Pro, which has a pair of settings you can adjust, depending on the terrain and how much your little traveler weighs.

Foot-activated parking brake. The brake is located at the center spot between your rear wheels; you simply step on it to get both of your rear wheels locked and safe. You’ll need a lot of force to move it, however, so you might not be able to activate it with flip flops.

Easy to fold. Finally, I like how easy to fold the Revolution Pro is. You need two hands, but it doesn’t take much time. I only wish there were an automatic locking system; you need to use the runaway strap to lock it. Similarly, you can’t fold it while standing, which means you need to put things down and sit with the stroller to get it folded up.

Cons of the BOB Revolution Pro 

No auto braking system, no auto lock. I wish the Pro came with an automatic braking system, as this is a huge safety feature that’s only available in a handful of strollers on the market right now, such as the Phil & Teds Navigator. Similarly, I’d also like to see an automatic locking setup so I wouldn’t need to use the runaway strap. Hopefully these features are modified with the next refresh of the Revolution.

Specifications of the BOB Revolution Pro

The Pro weights 28.2 pounds and has a 70 pound weight limit. Its folded dimensions are 16″ in height, 25.5″ in width, and 39″ in length. It’s 46″ long in swivel mode and 51.5″ long in jogging mode, while it ha a 25.5″ overall width. The handlebar ranges from 34″ to 45″ and has a seat height of 23.”

Warranty on the BOB Revolution Flex

You have access to a 5 year limited warranty with the BOB Revolution Pro for the frame and a 1 year warranty for the fabric and small parts in the stroller. Since BOB strollers tend to be highly reliable, you’re unlikely to need it, but it’s nice to know it’s there.

Where to buy the BOB Revolution Pro

I prefer buying my strollers and similar baby items from Amazon, since they often have the lowest prices, free returns and shipping, and don’t charge sales tax. I completely recommend the BOB Revolution Pro. You can buy it here in green, here in orange, and here in black.

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.