BOB Alterrain Pro Review

Ease of Use

The Alterrain is easy to use, with features that are thoughtfully placed and designed.

Fold and Unfold

The Alterrain is one of the easier strollers to fold and unfold. It requires one hand and uses a slide-and-twist handle under the leg rest. It stands on its own when folded and locks in place.

The Alterrain can then be rolled like luggage when folded, so you don't have to carry it.

Storage

The storage bin is middle-of-the-road in size and has a zippered cover. It has average access, unless it is in recline mode when that decreases, but the real limitation is the bin's 10 lb limit. While this is better than some joggers, many full-size options have limits of over 20 lbs. For storage of small, quick-access items like a phone or keys, it also has a small zippered pocket on the back of the canopy and two medium mesh pockets on the back of the seat. The passenger has two mesh pockets inside the seat for holding treasures.

Harness

The harness isn't necessarily hard, it's just not as easy or straightforward as others. It has a buckle that's a little stiff and could require both thumbs to press.

There are five different components you need to marry to strap your child in securely, which could be challenging if they fight back. We like the non-tethered shoulder straps and the red D rings to tighten the lap belt, but we wish there were fewer parts to deal with.

Brakes

The Alterrain has two brake styles, a handbrake and a parking brake.

The handbrake on the Alterrain is easy to use and is primarily designed to slow the stroller when running or moving downhill.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

If you have a longer stride, there is a chance your feet might knock on the rear axle or brake pedal on the Alterrain.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The handbrake slows the stroller when running, especially on downhill slopes. The parking brakes are single-action, and the pedal works well, but it takes more pressure than some to engage them.

Car Seat Compatibility

With the purchase of adapters, you can pair your Alterrain with some infant car seats from the following brands: Britax, Chicco, Graco, and Peg Perego.

Ease of Setup

The Alterrain comes mostly assembled, and the remaining components can be added in 5-10 minutes. You don't need tools; it is somewhat intuitive and has clear instructions. It requires adding the wheels and canopy; it might require some tire inflation.

Maneuverability

If you want a smooth mover to head off the beaten path or to effortlessly navigate hard surfaces, the Alterrain is a good choice. With quality wheels and tires that are rubber and air-filled, the Alterrain is an easy stroller to push.

It is a little sporty and more like an SUV than a sports car on flat, hard surfaces. It is easy to push, but its long design requires a little extra space compared to shorter options. The suspension is soft, and the rear wheels are wider apart than other BOB strollers we've tested, making it feel somewhat less precise in its movements.

Off-road, it continues to excel and outperforms most competitors with the ability to roll over darn near anything (within reason, keep it safe!). However, the softer suspension means kids over 30 lbs might feel more bumps than they would on other joggers with stiffer suspensions. It is also easy to pop up in the front for navigating curbs, but the heavily weighted back end will need some strength to lift it up with a kid on board.

Transporting and Storing

No jogger is truly small or lightweight, and the Alterrain is no exception. It weighs 33.50 lb in our tests, making it one of the heaviest in the review. If lifting isn't your strong suit or you have a more petite stature, it could make handling this beast more than you want to handle.

While it has an easy fold that is less awkward than some bulkier options, it still measures 17,357 cubic inches when folded. The other BOB we tested is almost 3,000 cubic inches smaller, indicating you don't need an absolute unit of a stroller if you want a jogger.

In short, if you plan to frequently transport your stroller by public transportation or in your car, you might want to measure or choose a smaller jogger.

Quality

If you love a good quality product, the Alterrain will impress, earning one of the higher scores for quality. The seat material is a mix of canvas and softer fabric. It has a tight weave and isn't the most skin-friendly, but it feels durable and easy to clean. The canopy and footrest are made of a much coarser canvas, which will likely show more wear and tear over time.

The pneumatic rubber tires are top-notch with a durable, dense plastic rim that can be locked in place. All three wheels are larger, which makes moving at higher speeds and over rougher terrain easier. However, the pneumatic wheels will need inflating from time to time and can go flat. The aluminum frame tubing is an oval shape with minimal left-to-right flex. It has a more finished look than the traditional BOB. The overall fit and finish are sleek, resembling a stealth bomber, with no exposed fasteners and everything in its place.

Kid's Comfort

The Alterrain demonstrates an excellent level of kid comfort. It has a lightly padded sling-style seat with an adjustable recline and a stationary, angled leg rest. The leg rest is also padded and extends fully down to the plastic footrest. This looks comfortable for kids of varying ages and heights.

The reclining mechanism on the Alterrain is two straps from the sides of the seats that run through a toggle and can be tightened or loosened depending on your reclining needs.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Alterrain's shocks and sling seat help absorb some bumps along the way proving more comfort for passengers.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The seatback has a push-button release toggle that reclines the back. It takes one hand to pull and recline, but two hands to hold the toggle and pull the straps through to raise it upright. It is easy enough to do, but it feels dated compared to some competitors that have a single mechanism you can operate with one hand, up or down.

The canopy on the Alterrain is large and covers to the knees of most riders. It features UPF50+ and a vinyl peek-a-boo window with mesh ventilation. It isn't the ultimate canopy, but it is pretty darn close. The windows have magnetic covers, which we love. They are both effective and silent.

Continuous Sleeping Comfort

Nothing is worse than finally getting a cranky kiddo to sleep on a stroll and having some bump or crack in the road, jolt them awake. We measured the potential for wake-ups on asphalt and everyday terrain during an average stroll and the Ridge v2 scored way above average with only two minimal potential wake-ups. We assume the pneumatic tires and the suspension on the frame have this jogging stroller floating like a cloud over all obstacles.

Should You Buy the BOB Alterrain Pro?

The Pro is a high-performing jogger with enough features to make a suitable full-size stroller. This could potentially save you money and limit the number of strollers you need to buy. However, the Alterrain is bigger than our favorite joggers and costs more. If you are a serious runner, the cost might be worthwhile for a dedicated jogging stroller, but if you aren't, it could be more stroller than you need, and it isn't the best at double duty.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?

If you want a good cross-over jogger for daily use as a full-size option, our favorite is Guava Roam. Earning impressive scores in every metric, including runability in our jogging stroller tests, the Guava folds ultra-small and costs less than many joggers. It folds stupidly small, often more compact than the travel strollers we've tested. We also like the UPPABaby Ridge v2, which moves over almost everything and has covered storage with a larger capacity than the Alterrain for shopping treasures. The BOB Revolution 3.0 is also a compelling choice that can save you money compared to the Alterrain Pro, especially if you love BOB strollers.

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