BOB Sport Utility Stroller Review

BOB Sport Utility Stroller Review, reviewed by Lena on 2014-01-30T23:48:29-05:00 rating 4.7 out of 5

[UPDATE] This review has been updated with customers’ feedback from the last year. In my experience, this stroller is mostly chosen for off-road walking or jogging, and less so for rollerblading and running. But if I may say – it’s a matter of taste: do you prefer driving SUVs or sport cars (like Ironman)? If we disregard the customers who overlooked the fixed front wheel and are disappointed because of this, the SUS rides well and smoothly. This stroller is at its best out in the open. I can’t say that it’s a hugely popular model but it has its fans – and they’re very happy indeed!

If you’re looking for an outdoorsy stroller, look no further.
This is a durable, all-terrain jogger that’s hard to beat.
Dads just love the BOB Sport Utility Stroller! Well, men have their own views on a stroller’s appearance: a tough look, sturdy feel of the frame and smoothness of the ride.

Walkingmama says: SUS is something like a jogger hybrid of a mountain-bike and a Cadillac (it’s so comfortable for babies). Despite the heavy look, it rolls easily on any trail. It’s a high quality jogging stroller. One warning: like other BOB models, the seat height is a bit low; parents of taller children – beware!

Parents say – it’s the cheapest of the BOB lines and a very good purchase!

Summary

BOB Sport Utility Stroller is one of the best reviewed jogging strollers on the net and I have nothing but positive things to say about it.
Despite being a bit heavy, and having a non-dynamic look, SUS runs beautifully and is perfect for any terrain, especially off-road trail jogging or walking.
Here’s a natural question: what’s the difference between BOB Sport Utility and BOB Ironman, except for the price tag?

• BOB SUS and BOB Ironman both have 16” wheels, however, Ironman has harder, slicker 1.5” tires – for an even easier roll on paved roads, whereas SUS’s tires are wider, 2” for rugged terrain.
• Both have the famous BOB advanced three-inch suspension with shock absorbers, which have two positions, making them suitable for both small and big babies. Great for jogging even on bumpy roads.
• The dual-trigger folding mechanism is the same for BOB Ironman and SUS.

There’s no difference in the quality of construction, features or materials used for both BOB SUS and BOB Ironman. It’s more about the look and feel of the stroller: SUS feels better in the deep forest, and Ironman on the road.

Excellent shocks, sturdy, tough and rugged – they can handle trails at walking pace and are wonderful for jogging. BOB Sport Utility has many well-thought-out design features, like a shock release knob and tracking knob for a straight roll.
It seems as if BOB’s designersput a lot of thought into this stroller.

Another important thing:  SUS’s seat height is a bit short. If your child is heading for 40 inches – choose a bigger

stroller – Joovy Zoom ATS or Baby Jogger FIT.

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Is the BOB Sport Utility Stroller good for sports?

Sports usage includes: performance, alignment, durability, off-road performance and safety.

• Performance – how easy it rides
  BOB Sport Utility Stroller can be pushed with just one hand. Nearly every parent has found it a pleasure to run with this stroller. Maneuvered with virtually no effort, quite manageable to lift and excellent all-around traction. The stroller goes so smoothly, it can easily roll away from you.However, when going uphill, a couple of pounds less would be nice. It’s quite a workout.
• Durability: how sturdy it is and how long it lasts
  All BOB strollers are very durable – that’s the premium feature you’re paying for. No complaints on durability. Welded aluminum frame, durable polycarbonate plastic wheels. The stroller is sturdy and very robust. 70lb capacity, which is great but, because of its short seat, children tend to grow out of BOB strollers before they reach this weight limit. In general, it’s great for to 2 to 3 year-old-kids (up to 40” tall). However, if you completely open the roof of the canopy – taller children would still fit.
• Good alignment – the stroller doesn’t pull to the sides
  BOB SUS has almost no alignment complaints, although two reviewers complained about difficulties with the front wheel pulling in one direction or the other. For problems like this one, BOB SUS has an adjustable

  tracking feature that eliminates drift for a smooth and straight ride. It’s a handy feature, which I like.

  All the Hi-End joggers, like Joovy Zoom ATS or Baby Jogger F.I.T, have almost no alignment problems: however, if a problem appears, it can easily be solved by simply adjusting the lever on the front wheel axle. For BOB joggers – it’s the same adjustment, just performed by a simple twist of the front wheel knob.

• Off-road – this is what BOB Sport Utility Stroller was created for
  Semi-slick tires with water dispersion grooves, in tandem with great shocks – an excellent off-road recipe! Urban, suburban, beach, snow, mountains or deep woods, parents love this jogging stroller’s absolute mastery of bumps. SUS can be navigated anywhere.
• Safety – it has a standard safety set: rear and hand brakes, 5-point harnesses, a safety strap. There is a reflection tape on the canopy. Parents like this rear brake, as it can be easily kicked on and off. In addition, it’s very tough and secure. The hand brake also has a nice feature: a parking button that allows you to park the stroller quickly while loading or unloading it.

• Wrist strap – attached between the two back wheels of the stroller. The manufacturers say it’s safer as the baby will not be at any risk if you do happen to fall. However, it is easy to step on the strap as it hangs down at your feet.
• Handle bar – non-adjustable handlebar. Well padded. Placed 42” from the ground.

Is BOB SUS suitable for Walkingmama Stroller Fitness?

Not really. Walkingmama Stroller Fitness is all about doing exercises right on the go by holding the stroller’s handle one way or another. You need  to adjust the handle height  to work out the different muscles.

With BOB Sport Utility stroller you are perfectly equipped for all kinds of walking and running, including  weight loss walking, hiking and rollerblading pushing a stroller!

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Is BOB Sport Utility Stroller good for real life?

Measured for ease of use, child’s comfort,  storage space and parent extras.

• Ease of use: includes folding, adjusting and use of harnesses.

• Folding: BOB’s folding mechanism makes it very easy to fold & unfold the stroller. If it doesn’t fit into your trunk, just remove the wheels (via the quick-release lever). BOB SUS is convenient  for transportation and storage. Use the safety strap to lock it when folded.
• Adjusting: the seat reclines easily by pulling a strap. Deep, almost flat recline.
• Use of harnesses: no complaints, they’re easy to use. The harnesses are both safe and comfortable for the child. It would be nice to have some reflectors on them (there’s just one reflector on the canopy roof).

• Child’s comfort includes reclining seat, seat height & width, canopy, foot rest, quality of fabric and suspension

• Seat: quite roomy, soft, and reclines almost flat. The seat width is 14.5″, the same as BOB Ironman and Joovy ZOOM ATS, but it’s narrower than Baby Jogger FIT.  The seat height could be higher – some parents note that  40″ inch babies have difficulties fitting into the BOB SUS.
• Canopy:  a massive sun canopy (it even covers legs) that provides generous shade. Nice viewing window. It would provide even more space for the child if it had a curved roof (like Baby Jogger FIT). Another thing to be aware of: when the seat is fully reclined, the back is exposed.
• Foot rest: fabric leg rest. Placed a bit high and almost at a straight angle: it would be better if it had a longer drop (like Joovy’s ATS).
• Quality of fabric: high quality fabric – tough and more resistant to staining. The seat is composed of closed cell foam which stops mold and the smell of the materials. Water-resistant.

• Suspension: excellent. SUS absorbs shocks amazingly well, making the ride especially smooth. Suspension can be adjusted to accommodate the increasing weight of the child as he grows. One user even said that it can jump curbs when he’s jogging.

• Storage space: lots of space for storage (an underneath basket, a large back pocket, and two internal pockets). The baskets are easily accessed.

• Parent extras: everything has to be purchased separately, including the rain shield and the parent’s console.

Car seat adaptable YES

with BOB Infant Car Seat Adapter (sold separately).

Does it have any weaknesses?

• Not-adjustable handlebar: Taller parents (nearing 6ft and over) might not  feel comfortable while running. BOB manufacturers justify this by saying that the non-adjustable handlebar is safer to use – I would strongly disagree with this, as a quality handlebar will last for years. Aside from this point, I can’t see much correlation between an adjustable handlebar and the safety of the stroller. A swivel wheel is, in my opinion, much more controversial when it comes to safety. If you’re looking for a jogging stroller with an adjustable handlebar, Schwinn/Instep Arrow is the only option.
• Seat height could be higher:  I have had several complaints about 36″ tall children hitting their heads on the canopy.
• Alignment:. BOB SUS may pull a bit to the sides. However, this is quite easy to fix with the adjustment knob on the front wheel. If that doesn’t help – the reason might be fluctuations in tire pressure, as the tires are so  thick. Check your tires and always make sure they are balanced.

Some parents say BOB Sport Utility is big and heavy. Well, jogging strollers tend to weigh more than umbrella strollers :-).

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