Boba Wrap Review
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
Bottom line: Budget friendly wrap that is comfortable but harder to use
Editors' Rating:
Carry Positions: Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs)
Weight: 1.41 lbs
Manufacturer: Boba
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.
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Review by:
Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team
Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team
Last Updated:
Monday
February 19, 2018
Monday
February 19, 2018
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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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- 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
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Most recent review: January 30, 2018
Summary of All Ratings
BabyGearLab Editors' Rating:
(4.0)
Average Customer Rating:
(0.0)
Rating Distribution
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