Okay, so here are the two heavy hitters in jogging strollers; the Mountain Buggy Terrain and the BOB Revolution. While there are other good joggers out there, like the Baby Jogger Summit XC, if you are seriously into jogging or cross country running, then these are the two that you will generally go for. So what’s the difference between them? In some ways, they are very, very similar, but in others they are lightyears apart. Let’s break down each, weigh the pros and cons, and see who comes out on top!
The BOB Revolution:
BOB has been making a superior jogging stroller for a good many years now and they have most recently done a complete redesign of the Revolution, which is there swivel wheel jogger. The stroller now boasts a more user friendly anchor point for car seat adapter and trays. The seat has more padding and the fabrics have been improved. The strong points of the stroller, a rock solid frame, front wheel tracking device, and compact fold have all remained. The Revolution weighs 25 pounds, which is only slightly up from the 23 of the old model. The canopy is very large and the seat is 14 inches wide, proving comfortable for most children. The leg room still isn’t the best, but at least the child won’t feel too cramped. With a weight limit of 75 pounds, the Revolution can handle virtually any sized child that would be in a stroller. Folding the Revolution involves two steps, with the seat initially folding in half and the rear forks collapsing in the final step. The lock is still the Velcro on the safety strap, so it’s a bit awkward. The Revolution will sit on it’s side, but won’t stand up. In all honesty, I liked the older model better as it had less plastic on it. Regardless of the durability of the plastics used, there is no substitute for metal in my book. BOB has also resisted adding a deceleration brake on their strollers, which can be a serious safety concern in any hilly area. The basket is a good size, but is uncovered, so if you are running on a dirt trail, expect whatever you stored under there to wind up at your feet! The Revolution is suitable from about 6 months on up, but parents shouldn’t jog or run with a baby until they are at least 8 to 9 months old. The handle on the Revolution is fixed at 40 inches from the ground and has a foam cover. This cover can be torn over time and does not wear well. Another flaw on the BOB that has shown up over time is there closing mechanism. When engaging the second part of the close, there are bolts that are stressed and will often bend. Fortunately, they are standard bolts and easily replaced. When you consider that the Revolution has an MSRP of $449.99 and $469.99 for the Stroller Strides fitness model, one would think that the Revolution would have gotten stronger, rather than seemingly moving down scale with all the plastic. It is possible that this represents the fact that BOB strollers have found their way into more large chain stores like REI, Buy Buy Baby, and even some Babies R Us stores. When companies go mass market, the quality tends to drop as they begin to rely on their reputation rather than on the quality of their product.
The Mountain Buggy Terrain:

For a company that is known for their all terrain strollers, it is surprising that the Terrain is their first jogging stroller. The Terrain is based on the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle frame, with slight modifications in the positioning of the shock absorbers, the addition of a deceleration brake, and larger 16 inch rear wheels. The Terrain offers a tracking adjustment on the front wheel, like the BOB, and the front wheel can be locked in two positions, rather than just one. The stroller seat is wide and there is more legroom on the Terrain. The crotch strap on the Terrain offers two positions, depending on the size of the child and the harness requires two hands to unlock, making it child proof! A front bar is included, although there is currently no option for a solid tray. The canopy on the Terrain is very large, will follow the sun, and has a flip down sun visor for extra sunny days. The handle on the Terrain adjusts for different heights and incorporates a mount for a cup holder. Such an accessory is somewhat redundant as there are two bottle holders attached to the frame! A foot operated wheel lock will keep the stroller in place while the deceleration brake works drum brakes on the rear wheels. The basket is very large, with side pockets and other areas for storage. The big plus here is the zippered cover that keeps anything you put in there secure even when the terrain gets rough! For those who want to only have one stroller, the Terrain has a definite edge over the BOB as it can be used from birth with the addition of a pram that mounts securely to the frame. This keeps the newborn in a flat position, rather than being always in the car seat, which is also an option. Car seat compatibility is very good with a universal adaptor, one for the Peg Perego, and one for the Graco infant seats. As a plus, the Britax Chaperone fits securely into the stroller without the use of an adapter, making for an especially good combination. The Terrain weighs in at 28 pounds, heavier than the BOB but lighter than many other all terrain and even conventional strollers. It does have the highest weight capacity in its class at 78 pounds. Folding the Terrain is very easy and there are no stress points on the stroller as there are on the BOB. The Revolution may fold into a smaller package, but it is taller, which is a concern in some sedans with smaller trunk openings. The Terrain will stand on it’s own as well. Color options certainly favor the BOB as the Mountain Buggy currently only offers one color, Marble Gray, with the Terrain. Fortunately, this is a color that is both unisex and wears well. While the Terrain is slightly more expensive than the BOB at $499.99, the added features and the benefit of being able to be used as the primary stroller make it money well spent.
So which stroller comes out on top?
Certainly the BOB is a great product and has a very good reputation, but the new model demonstrates some of the pitfalls of going into the mass market. We give the Terrain the edge in versatility as it is more suited to a newborn and thus can be the primary stroller right from birth. The adjustable handle provides more comfort for different sized parents, and the deceleration brake is a huge plus when it comes to safety as it allows the parent to maintain control of the stroller. Touches like the covered basket become more valuable in everyday use as items placed there are sure to remain there after you finish your run. We’d like to see more color options, but overall, the Terrain is the superior jogger and the choice of professional athletes and the Baby Boot Camp, one of the best known family fitness programs. They liked the Terrain so much that they made it their official stroller! While many parents might be perfectly happy with their BOB, when they see the Mountain Buggy Terrain, they will have to fight back those dreaded feelings of buyer’s remorse!