BOB Revolution Flex Duallie

When it comes to the three-wheeled stroller, BOB is synonymous with awesome. So does that make BOB’s Revolution Flex Duallie doubly awesome? By their nature, double strollers are big, and they can be a complete pain when you’re navigating tight spaces. But the necessary evil of size aside, yes, the Duallie is awesome when you’re routinely hauling around two tiny people.

Let’s kick things off with the manual, which seems pretty comprehensive. Don’t let that scare you. It’s big because it’s written in two languages, and really, this stroller is designed so well that there’s very little need to reference the manual at all. From assembly to collapsing, things are pretty intuitive, and the learning curve is gentle, especially if you have any prior experience with BOB strollers. When you do need to check the manual, it’s very simple and clear, laying out the bells and whistles of this pretty piece of engineering in a logical manner with straightforward illustrations. The manual covers the standard warnings: always use the harness; don’t let your kiddo stand in the stroller. Plus a few that were new to me: “Do not wear roller skates or inline skates while pushing stroller.”
Straight out of the (gigantic) box, we needed to install all three wheels. They went on, literally, in a snap, with no tools required. That’s a good thing; when you’re stashing this stroller in the back of the car, you may need to remove at least the front wheel to make it fit. It sounds like a pain, but it’s quick and easy to take the wheels off and then back on again. For testing purposes, we loaded the Duallie into the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee (no problem), a Toyota 4Runner with a third row (took a little finagling, but we made it fit) and into the trunk of a Ford Focus (the front wheel had to come off, but it fit!). Given the Duallie’s size, it doesn’t ever get small, but it does fold down into a relatively compact bulk. At its tiniest, and with the wheels off, you can squish it down to about 13 inches high. It’s probably not going to fit easily into a hall closet, but it’ll work in the garage. And take note, the Duallie fit through our front door, but not through the garage door. The overall width is a hair over 30.5 inches, so apparently we have a very small interior garage door.

If you’re planning to use the Duallie with an infant, you’ll need to buy a separate infant seat attachment, which runs about $80 to $90 and is available for a range of popular car seat brands. They fit across both seats, with a snack tray/cup holder combo permanently affixed on one side and the infant seat attachment on the other. This means your toddler will always have a specific side, which may or may not be an issue. The seat attachment is quick and easy to install (and folds with the stroller), and then you’re ready to strap in the baby seat, load up your toddler and hit the road. And don’t worry about waking the baby. BOB strollers, with their air-filled tires and fancy adjustable suspension system, are known for their exceptionally smooth ride, and that’s definitely the case with this version. The usual jarring from sidewalk cracks, gravel and even curbs is greatly reduced, and you can move easily from pavement to grass to the trail.

For its size, the Duallie is incredibly easy to push and maneuver. Really, it turns on a dime (Unless, of course, you want it to stay straight, and you’ve engaged the front wheel tracking). And it’s amazingly lightweight for something that weighs nearly 35 pounds, particularly when you factor in two kids and all their gear. And since there’s likely to be some stop and go action when you’re out with little ones, it’s nice that the Duallie’s foot brake, like those on all BOB stroller brakes, is so well done. It extends the stroller width and totally immobilizes the stroller when you push it down with your foot. Toe it up to get moving again.
The same thoughtfulness was applied to the stroller’s folding/unfolding methodology. Like all BOB strollers, the Duallie uses a two-step system. After clearing out your kids and gear, it’s a simple matter of squeezing two buttons on the handlebar at the same time and folding the seats forward. A red release handle becomes visible, and you pull that up to fold the stroller down and even flatter. Because of the Duallie’s size, there’s a little strap and buckle to keep it all tucked together. You’ll need two hands to do this, so keep that in mind when you’re out and about. To unfold the Duallie from the collapsed position, just grasp the handlebar with both hands and pull it back toward you sharply with a bit of “pop.” Voila! The stroller will swing up and snap into shape.
One of the most recognizable features of BOB strollers is the sun canopy. On this model, there are two separate canopies, and they both feature generous peek-a-boo windows that you can uncover to keep an eye on your kiddos. The canopies are enormous and super adjustable, so you don’t have to worry about the sun in anyone’s eyes. The material seems a little flimsy, but I speak from experience when I say it’s both durable and easy to clean. Inside the seats, the five-point harnesses are well made and appear comfy—no issues from my little guy. The seats themselves are nicely padded and can be reclined to an almost horizontal position from behind. This process involves a few straps and buckles, so it’s a bit of a production to move them back to their upright position. It’s much easier to do with no passengers. And new on this model is the adjustable handlebar, which can be set to nine positions for maximum comfort no matter who’s doing the pushing.
The Duallie can accommodate up to 100 pounds, so you can’t escape the fact that it’s big. Still, I had no trouble navigating the busy sidewalks and streets on the walk to school. You can’t pull up alongside anyone on a standard sidewalk, and it wouldn’t be my first choice for any tight spaces, but I didn’t have problems passing people and you won’t find a better option for running. As for storage, there’s ample space in the shared cargo basket beneath the seats and in both seat backs, not to mention four interior seat pockets for stashing drinks and snacks.
You can buy a few accessories to fancy things up: a handlebar console with a cup holder, a weather shield for running in the rain, a double snack tray if you aren’t using an infant seat adaptor and something called the “Warm Fuzzy,” a cuddly fleece liner for warmth. These are all available at an additional cost, and the Duallie isn’t cheap to start. But with a bit of care, basically, keep it somewhere sheltered when you’re not using it, the doubly awesome Duallie will outlast your stroller years. And then you’ll have no trouble selling it secondhand to recoup some of that initial investment.
The Duallie retails for $690.00, though it’s often on sale for under $500, so search online for the best price. It’s available in black, blue, orange and green.
Price: $690
To Buy: bobgear.com