In-depth reviews guided by a Pediatrician

Boba Wrap Review

Budget friendly wrap that is comfortable but harder to use
Best Value Award
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Price:   $40 List | $40 at Amazon
Pros:  Machine wash and dry, comfy for baby and parents, economical
Cons:  Need to hold baby while you put it on, lots of fabric, hard to wrap
Manufacturer:   Boba
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team  ⋅  Feb 19, 2018
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63
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 16
  • Child Comfort - 25% 7
  • Parent Comfort - 35% 7
  • Ease of Use - 30% 4
  • Ease Of Cleaning - 10% 9

The Skinny

The Boba Wrap is a soft fabric wrap that works for babies from 7-35 lbs. This wrap provides a custom fit each time so it fits most body types and works well as your baby grows. The fabric is somewhat stretchy providing a snug and secure space for little ones and few pressure points for parents. The Boba is machine washable, can be tumble dried and spot cleans with ease. While we like just about everything about the Boba it is harder to learn and use thanks to the wrapping process and the design that requires you to hold your baby while you perform the wrapping. This process can be difficult even when you know what you are doing. However, if you want a budget-friendly way to comfortably carry our little one, the Boba Wrap should be on your shortlist.


Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
This Product
Boba Wrap
Awards Best Value Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award 
Price $40.00 List
$39.95 at Amazon		$135.00 List$95.00 List$190.00 List
$129.99 at Amazon - 32% off		$50.00 List
$49.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Machine wash and dry, comfy for baby and parents, economicalEase to use, soft fabric, comfortableComfortable, easy to adjust, pocketEasy to put on, super comfortable to wear, cozy for kidsBudget-friendly, easy wrap, machine wash and dry
Cons Need to hold baby while you put it on, lots of fabric, hard to wrapPrice, extra hanging fabricHang to dry, rough fabricLong drying time, lots of buckles and straps, expensiveSize specific, no adjustability
Bottom Line Budget friendly wrap that is comfortable but harder to useComfortable to wear and sit in, this sling is easy to use and cleanEasy to wear and adjust with comfort for baby but the fabric could be softerMost comfortable to wear with a cozy seat and easy attachmentInexpensive, easy to use, wrap style without the wrap hassle
Rating Categories Boba Wrap Tula Ring Sling Maya Wrap... BabyBjorn One Baby K'tan Original
Child Comfort (25%)
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
7
Parent Comfort (35%)
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
10
10
0
7
Ease Of Use (30%)
10
0
4
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
7
Ease Of Cleaning (10%)
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
5
10
0
9
Specs Boba Wrap Tula Ring Sling Maya Wrap... BabyBjorn One Baby K'tan Original
Min/Max Weight 7 - 35 lbs 8 - 35 lbs 8 - 35 lbs 8 - 33 lbs 8 - 35 lbs
Carry Positions Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) Facing In (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (8 - 35 lbs *BGL recommends Head/Neck/Torso Control) Facing In (0 - 3 mo) Facing Out (3 - 6 mo) Hip Carry (6 mo - 35 lbs) Facing In (0 - 36 mo./33 lbs) Facing Out (5 - 15 mo./26 lbs) Back Carry (12 - 36 mo./33 lbs) Kangaroo Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hug Position (8 - 35 lbs) Adventure Position (8 - 35 lbs) Explore Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Position (8 - 35 lbs)
Weight 1.41 lbs sm 1.05 lg 0.97 lbs sm 0.92 lg 1.16 lbs 2.26 lbs sm 0.89 lg 1.04 lbs
Packable Size Small Small Small Large Small
Fabric 95% Cotton 5% Spandex 100% Cotton Cotton, Polyester Cotton, Polyester, PU Foam 100% Cotton
Hood No No No No No
Storage Options Storage Pouch None Zippered pocket on tail None Pouch on the belt.
Other Features & Notable None None None Adjustable Seat Width, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class 1 Azo Dye-free
Included Accessories None None None None None
Optional Accessories None None Ring Covers, Wet Sac None None
Care Instructions Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Machine wash cold, hang dry. Machine wash warm, hang dry. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Boba is a true family business started in Boulder Colorado and grown around the world as the husband and wife co-founders traveled the world with their children while they started and grew their carrier business. Answering emails and running a business from shores far and wide the couple grew their family of two children up to five as their business also grew from selling their first two carriers to selling wraps worldwide. In 2016, Boba merged with Beco carriers and now sell wraps and soft structured options in various fabric types and designs.

The Boba Wrap is a soft fabric carrier that works for little ones from 7-35 lbs.
The Boba Wrap is a soft fabric carrier that works for little ones from 7-35 lbs.

Performance Comparison


The chart below is a comparison of the Boba's overall score (in blue) compared to the overall scores of the other products we tested in this review.


The sections below include information on how the Boba performed compared to the other carriers in each metric. Individual metric results were used to calculate the overall scores with an emphasis on comfort and ease of use.

Babies feel secure and snug in the Boba Wrap thanks to the stretchy fabric and custom fit that grows with them. Wraps can be harder to put on however because you need to hold your baby as you move the fabric around you.
Babies feel secure and snug in the Boba Wrap thanks to the stretchy fabric and custom fit that grows with them. Wraps can be harder to put on, however, because you need to hold your baby as you move the fabric around you.

Baby's Comfort


The Boba earned a 7 of 10 for baby's comfort.


Made with a slightly stretchy fabric the Boba wraps around baby with a 360-degree support that allows some freedom for shifting and getting cozy without so much room that little ones are free-floating around unsecured. The fabric is very soft and stretchy and you can position portions of it for added head support or adjust the seat for comfort or proper support. The lack of structure offers significant opportunities for a personalized fit.

The way the Boba wraps around the wearer increase comfort by avoiding pressure points and the slight stretch hugs you while you wear it for a form-fitted supportive feel.
The way the Boba wraps around the wearer increase comfort by avoiding pressure points and the slight stretch hugs you while you wear it for a form-fitted supportive feel.

Parent's Comfort


The Boba earned a 7 of 10 for parent comfort thanks to wide, soft, stretchy fabric.


The wrap design results in few pressure points and provides support where you need it most. The only real downside is the layer of fabric over clothes while holding a warm baby can get hot in warmer weather leaving both parent and little ones hot and sweaty.

Wrapping the Boba can be difficult thanks to the learning curve of what goes where and because you need to hold your baby as you perform the wrap.
Wrapping the Boba can be difficult thanks to the learning curve of what goes where and because you need to hold your baby as you perform the wrap.

Ease of Use


The Boba earned a 4 of 10 for ease of use. Much like the similar Moby Wrap, the Boba is difficult to use due to a higher learning curve and difficult wrapping process.


While parents will quickly figure out the different wrap styles with repeated practice, we think putting the wrap on while holding your baby is somewhat like getting dressed while holding a baby; its possible, but you don't want to do it if you don't have to. Unfortunately, there is no way to put the wrap on and then put your baby inside. You have to hold the baby as you wrap the fabric around you. This process gets easier with practice, but it is far easier to put a carrier on and then put a baby inside. We repeatedly had trouble getting the wrap tight enough and regularly had to readjust and tighten the knots once we had our baby fully tucked inside.

The Boba comes with a stuff sack that makes transporting it in your diaper bag a breeze.
The Boba comes with a stuff sack that makes transporting it in your diaper bag a breeze.

This wrap can be stuffed into its included travel sack for easy transportation of an unused wrap. this keeps the long piece of fabric contained and prevents it from getting tangled up in your diaper bag with all your other supplies.

The Boba can be machine washed and thrown in the dryer making clean up a snap.
The Boba can be machine washed and thrown in the dryer making clean up a snap.

Ease of Cleaning


The Boba earned a 9 of 10 for ease of cleaning. This score is the highest in the group shared by a handful of the competition.


This carrier/wrap is machine washable in cold water. You can also tumble dry the wrap on low, which is rare for any of the carrier styles we tested, as most require air drying. Tumble dry, along with being easy to spot clean accidents on the go, make this product one of the best with the least amount of downtime related to keeping clean.

Manufacturer Video




Other Versions

  • The Boba Carrier in Dusk
    Boba Carrier — The Boba Carrier is a soft structured carrier that works for little ones form 7-45 lbs. It comes with an infant insert, foot straps, and a hood. It features a zippered waist pocket and is machines washable. If you aren't sold on a wrap and want something with a little more structure, this may be a good option.


— Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team