My Honest Thoughts on the BOB Alterrain Pro Stroller

BOB Strollers have been around for 2 decades now! Originally, they were developed by an avid biker and an airline mechanic who wanted the best of everything. A stroller that could not only be used leisurely in town, but also when running, hiking, or off the beaten path.

As a nanny I had the ability to test out quite a few strollers, and for me personally, my favorites were always the ones with three wheels instead of four!

The family I nannied while I was pregnant had an Uppa Baby stroller, a very popular and trendy four wheel stroller.

And y’all. I did not like it.

It would get stuck after stopping at intersections due to a wheel spinning in a weird way, it didn’t go over sidewalk bumps well, and any kind of off-road scenario (think walking across grass to get to the playground) was off limits!

The Uppa Baby looked great. But I found that for the money it didn’t function as I would hope.

If you are looking for something to take to a shopping center or use only on well kept pavement, it might be right for you!

As an avid outdoor walker, I knew that I would need something with more functionality and better manuverability. When it came time for me to look for a stroller, I looked pretty exclusively at 3 wheeled strollers.

A little background on my location to set the scene.

My family and I live in a historic neighborhood in Colorado. There are bumpy sidewalks, large hills, and trails everywhere.

I wanted something that I could use daily in the neighborhood (again, bumpy sidewalks and hills galore) but, also something I could take with me elsewhere. Think long romantic walks around Target.

I landed on a BOB Alterrain Pro Stroller. I splurged for the pro because I felt that with the hills in my neighborhood it would make me feel more confident walking around. I am happy to report that it does!

I also have two dogs that join me on many of my walks, and holding two leashes and a stroller downhill sounded like a recipe for disaster…and back problems.

Have you ever noticed how you lean back walking down a steep hill? Well, to off-set the weight and roll of the stroller the lean is even worse!

Now that you know why I chose the BOB Alterrain Pro, let’s get into the good stuff. These are my honest thoughts on the stroller after 8 months of regular use! (By regular I mean at least 3-4x a week)

*This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing something from this link, you do not pay more, but I may make a small commission*

What I love about the stroller:

1. The maneuverability

I can easily push and turn the stroller with one hand!

The front wheel operates on a swivel (that can and should be locked while jogging) and because of this I can take tight corners and turn easily.

I am able to steer it using the attached jogging strap without issue, and even with a toddler and a loaded basket the stroller is still easy to push.

Sometimes I wonder if it propels itself.

2. The hand brake

This feature is one that I love!

Once I discovered that strollers could have hand brakes I knew I had to have one. If a hand brake is important to you I can confirm that it does work and it works well!

This brake operates like a bike hand brake. It isn’t all or nothing, and I am able to apply light pressure for small hills or if I pick up too much speed- or squeeze down firmly to stop the wheels completely going down a big hill.

My brake does squeak- I haven’t tried to lubricate it as a squeaky brake doesn’t bother me. I don’t know if this is a common problem or a me problem!

Pictured below you will see the handle bar and hand brake.

3. The fully customizable reclining seat

The seat is something I really enjoy about the Bob!

The seat reclines on a set of straps, it doesn’t go completely parallel to the ground, but it is pretty close!

Because it reclines based on straps it is 100% adjustable. There aren’t preset settings for height, I can lower the backrest an inch or all the way.

My son naps easily in the seat when it is fully reclined and rides comfortably fully upright!

Pictured below you will see the strap used to adjust the seat recline.

4. The pockets

I love the pockets on this stroller!

There is a mesh pocket either side of the seat that I like to shove toys into for my son to find while we are out and about.

Two mesh pockets on the back of the seat that I like to use for a water bottle or my wallet, dog poop bags, chapstick, my gloves, and sunscreen!

There is a zipper pocket between the handlebars that is perfect for my keys, phone, headphones, and a few other small things I like quick access to while walking.

I like that this pocket has a zipper because in light rain or snow my electronics stay dry. I also don’t have to worry about them falling out!

There is also the basket compartment that has good storage also. I haven’t had an issue with space while using the stroller.

Pictured below you will see the zipper pocket and two back seat pockets.

5. The large canopy

When looking at strollers I knew I wanted a large canopy and that it had to actually be protective from the sun and precipitation.

The canopy is LARGE! I love it, and my son loves that his eyeballs are never being blasted by the sun.

Before purchasing the stroller I read a few reviews where users complained that there was a gap between the stroller frame and canopy that allowed light in on their child’s face. I do see the gap, however, I haven’t noticed that the sun is ever peaking through it and onto my son.

The canopy has two windows on the top. One is mesh, and below it there is a clear plastic one.

I really appreciated this feature when I removed my son’s car seat attachment and I felt the need to watch him the entire walk to make sure he wasn’t flopping around lol.

The cover is magnetic and stays in place well even during gusty wind. When you want it out of the way it rolls up and into its own pocket above the windows.

The canopy has three true settings. All the way out, half way out, and not out at all.

If you position it somewhere in between any bump you go over will cause it to pop all the way out. This isn’t super bothersome, but I wish it would stay where I put it!

Top Row Left to Right:

1. Mesh screen and clear plastic window

2. Canopy all the way in

3. Canopy half way out

Bottom Row Left to Right:

1. Canopy in-between all the way out and half way in (it won't stay here while moving over bumpy terrain)

2. Canopy all the way out from the side

3. Canopy all the way out from the front

6. The adjustable handlebar

I appreciate the adjustable handlebar when walking in stores with tight space or when my husband and I swap stroller control.

While walking in small stores or crowded areas I put the handlebar all the way down so I can stand as close to the stroller as possible, minimizing the amount of space I am taking up.

My husband is 6 feet and I am nearly 5’ 8”. We don’t have a huge height difference but it is really nice to be able to adjust the handle bar up and down with the push of the side buttons.

This feature is exceptionally nice for those above 6’ 3”, as the handlebar can be positioned completely vertical, making it ergonomic and easy to hold.

If there is a large height difference between you and the other stroller pushers in your life- I think this would be a big plus for you!

Pictured below you will see the fully lowered and upright handle bar positioning.

7. The BOB is built to last

The stroller looks amazing. I get compliments on it almost every time I use it, and in this case, the quality matches the looks!

The BOB’s weight limit is a whopping 75 pounds, making this a stroller you could use well into toddlerhood and beyond.

The materials are high quality and easy to clean.

The canopy is waterproof, not just water resistant or repellent and SPF 50.

The folding mechanism is easy to use and well structured so you won't have to worry about it breaking with regular use.

The rims and some details on the fabric are reflective for safe use at dawn, dusk, or night time.

What I don’t love about the stroller:

1. The space between the basket and the seat

I love that the BOB has a decent sized basket- but sheesh can it be tough to get things in and out of it!

If my son is sitting in the seat it is super cumbersome to get anything of size in or out of the basket.

Think…

Diaper bag

Bag of groceries

Gear

Large Lunch Box

Heavy or Down Jacket

It isn’t impossible, but it does take a lot of kneeling and wrangling and some swear words. I wish that the basket was a good 8 inches below the seat. Right now it measures in at 5.

I will say the basket does tip down a smidge in the front, about an inch. That does make it easier to put things in. But large items are still a challenge that require a good shove.

With the seat empty this is nowhere near as problematic. I try to load up and unload with my son out of the seat to avoid this issue. Typically, I can.

Trips to the zoo, market, or shopping though- it is difficult to access those large items in the basket, or add large items to it.

Pictured below is the storage basket at the one inch decline.

2. This mug is HEAVY and BIG

The BOB Alterrain Pro clocks in at a whopping 32 pounds! It is one of the heaviest single rider strollers on the market.

It is also quite large. Before purchasing this stroller you will absolutely need to evaluate your trunk space. Despite being easy to fold, it does not fold up small. According to bobgear.com the folded dimensions of the stroller are:

Length / Depth: 39.3 in (99.7 cm)

Width: 25.5 in (64.8 cm)

Height: 16 in (40.6 cm)

I don’t feel the weight of the stroller while pushing it, but I sure do when getting it in and out of our SUV.

We have a Volkswagen Atlas and the stroller takes up about half of the trunk space as it has to lay on its side and not stand upright.

I do appreciate that the stroller can be rolled in and out of the car, but the initial lift is quite something. When I was newly postpartum it was absolutely too much for me to lift safely.

We don’t bring our BOB stroller while flying, but I know some do. The size and heft of the stroller deters us from bringing it along for the ride.

3. You must purchase an adapter to use your car seat with it

I knew that this would be my primary stroller, and because of that I wanted my son to be able to ride in it right away.

In order to pop his car seat into it, I had to buy a $60 adapter, now it looks like they are $80!! This felt like, and is, a lot of money to spend on top of the cost of the stroller itself.

I will say that the adapter was incredibly easy to install and worked perfectly. We never had an issue with it. But for the cost of the stroller, I wish the adapter was far less expensive.

The adapter is also not universal.

I purchased my BOB during a huge sale on AlbeeBaby.com (I paid $520 dollars for my stroller which at the time was selling for $750), because I already had the stroller my car seat options were somewhat limited as not every car seat on the market is compatible with one of the BOB car seat adapters.

This wasn’t a huge deal by any means, but it was annoying. Especially now that I have a useless $60 piece of metal in my garage waiting on a possible second baby or to be listed on a resale site.

4. The price tag

As of the day I published this article, a BOB Alterrain Pro stroller is $699 on both Amazon and BobGear.com.

If you have your sights set on BOB I highly suggest watching for Facebook Marketplace listings- I inquired about quite a few that all looked like they were in great condition.

I ultimately decided to pass on them because I was set on having a hand brake!

A few times a year AlbeeBaby.com has a huge sale! I scored my BOB for such a deep discount because the color was discontinued.

I am not someone who is picky about color- and also a big fan of green, so this was a huge win for me.

Even though the price tag is quite high, I haven’t met anyone who regrets purchasing their BOB, and in Colorado I run into plenty of other BOB owners.

They are built to last and built with quality materials.

Finally:

All in all, I am super pleased with my purchase. I love my BOB and am glad that I chose this to be an item I really splurged on before my son was born.

I hope you found something helpful in this review- if you have any specific questions I would be happy to answer them down in the comments or via email!