REASONS TO BUY
Jogger
Good for everyday use
REASONS TO AVOID
Strap in car seat connection
BOB Rambler Combo Review
Strap car seat attachment make this great jogger a poor combo choice
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Stroller and Car Seat Combos
Our Verdict
The BOB Rambler is a jogging style stroller you can use with infant car seats with the purchase of an adapter. While the Rambler is a great smaller jogger with useful features that is easy to push and turn, the two-step process of car seat attachment that includes straps make it one we think parents should skip. Why? We worry parents will think the click onto the metal adapter is connection enough or that parents may forget or intentionally skip the strap that is a must for safe carrier connection. This potential for injury and the size and weight of the Rambler make it a poor choice for carrying your infant car seat. We think parents will be happier with a simple frame stroller during baby's first nine months before choosing the Rambler as your primary or jogging stroller.
Our Analysis and Test Results
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
The Rambler accepts certain car seats with the purchase of the applicable adapter.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The Rambler car seat connection includes the metal bar and the red attachment straps seen here.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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 car seat adapter for the Rambler requires some assembly and is not easily removable on the fly as it requires tools.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The Rambler is a small folded jogger compared to most of the jogging competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The canopy on the Rambler is large with a useful peek-a-boo window, but you may not be able to use it when you attach a car seat to the stroller.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The large brake pedal on the Rambler is a rocker style that is foot friendly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The storage bin on the Rambler is large enough for diaper bags, but the weight limit is only average with a 10 lb capacity.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The Rambler canopy works in conjunction with the car seat carrier, but it doesn't open wide enough to utilize the peek-a-boo window.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
BOB is known for long term durability and the Rambler is no exception with quality materials that feel sturdy and look good.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team
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