BOB Rambler Combo Review

The Beast of Burden Company (BOB) was launched in 1994 by making Yak bike trailers. New fathers, Roger Malinowski, and Philip Novotny, started the company when they identified a need for a quality jogging stroller prompting the development of the BOB Sport Utility Jogging Stroller. BOB continued to modify the design and was the first to develop a locking swivel wheel for joggers which was a game-changing addition.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Attaching Car Seat

With the purchase of a compatible adapter, you can use the Rambler with a variety of infant car seats. The Rambler works with some infant seats from the following brands: Britax and BOB (Britax owns BOB), Chicco, Graco, and PegPerego.

Popular individual seats include the Chicco Keyfit 30 with the BOB 2016 Single Infant Car Seat Adapter for Chicco, and the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 using the BOB 2016 Single Infant Car Seat Adapter for Peg Perego. We tested our Rambler with the Britax B-Safe 35 using the BOB 2016 Single Infant Car Seat Adapter for Britax & BOB.

The Britax/BOB adapter for the B-Safe is snap on and has some screws to connect the straps to the frame. You can use the adapter with the toddler seat and canopy in place. To attach the carrier, you need to press down hard, and even after it clicks, it may not be connected. The straps then go over the leg portion of the carrier to firmly secure the carrier to the frame. Once installed, it is stable and secure. You can install it incorrectly if you fail to use the straps. The Rambler's car seat attachment score is low with a 1 of 10 because of the strap step in the connection process and the potential for it to go intentionally undone or potentially forgotten.

Weight and Folded Size

With a larger size and weight, the Rambler isn't the best for use with a car seat. It is on the smaller and lighter side for a BOB stroller and compares well to the other joggers with a weight of 25.8 lbs and a folded size of 13,150 cubic inches. The size is good for a jogger, but compared to other frame and full-size options, it isn't great and could be frustrating to transport.

Maneuverability

The Rambler is an easy mover, and no stroller scored higher. This stroller moves well over any surfaces and transitions from flat to off-road with ease. The rubber tires and adjustable suspension provide a comfortable ride. The swivel front wheel lets it negotiate small spaces and crowded places with ease considering its size. While you shouldn't jog with children under 8-12 months old, and infants are better kept on flat surfaces, this stroller will serve you well into toddlerhood when maneuverability is more important.

Ease of Use

The Rambler is more challenging to use thanks to features that aren't as user-friendly when used in combination with an infant car seat.

Fold and Unfold

The Rambler requires two hands to fold and has a manual lock and no carry strap. This product does not self-stand and is rather bulky when folded. Unfolding is also easiest with two hands and requires picking up the stroller to shake it loose.

Brakes

The center plastic brake pedal on the Rambler is easy to access, and the rocking motion makes it friendly and pain-free to use no matter what shoes you wear.

Storage

The large storage bin has okay access from the sides and back and holds up to 10 lbs of supplies. We fit our large diaper bag inside, but it may not hold everything you'll need for a newborn.

Sunshade

The sunshade will work when a car seat carrier is attached. It has a limited ability to open, and there is a chance you can't use the peek-a-boo window to see your little one.

Ease of Setup

The Rambler took 5:30 minutes to assemble and comes with average documentation. It does require an Allen wrench, but this comes with your Rambler and is only for the front wheel attachment.

Quality

The Rambler has durable parts and has a sturdy frame that doesn't flex. It isn't up to par with the BOB Revolution, as it lacks the thermo-molded seats, but it is still nice with the same canvas and similar though smaller features. This stroller has pneumatic tires and plastic wheels. It comes with a foam covered rounded handlebar. The handlebar isn't adjustable, but the height is good for most pushers. The Rambler has adjustable suspension and tracking that both work well, and the sling-style seat makes for a comfortable ride.

Manufacturer's Video