REASONS TO BUY
Machine wash and dry
Comfy for baby and parents
Economical
REASONS TO AVOID
Harder to use
Lots of fabric
Boba Wrap Review
Budget-friendly wrap that is comfortable but harder to use
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Baby Carriers
The Skinny
Beneath the Boba Wrap's affordable price tag, you get a soft fabric wrap that works for babies from 7-35 lbs. Its stretchy material consists of 95% cotton and 5% spandex, and its design provides a custom fit each time for the parent and baby, with few pressure points for parents. The Boba is machine washable, can be tumble dried, and you can easily spot-clean it for smaller messes, making it easier to clean than most of the top-ranked baby carrier competition. While we like nearly everything about the Boba, it has a learning curve and takes more time and effort to use due to the wrapping process. However, if you want a budget-friendly way to tote around your little one comfortably, the Boba Wrap should be on your shortlist.
Editor's Note: We updated the Boba Wrap gear review on October 18, 2022, with extra sections with information and product comparisons.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Boba Wrap | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $45 List Check Price at Amazon | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $45 List $44.95 at Amazon | $50 List $39.95 at Amazon | $36 List $32.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Economical and comfortable but you need to hold baby when you put it on | Budget-friendly wrap style that is easy to use and comfy enough | Hard to use wrap that is comfortable but can get hot | Somewhat average and uninspired with average comfort and features | Cheaper choice with poor features for comfort and useability |
| Rating Categories | Boba Wrap | Baby K'tan Original | Moby Wrap Classic | You+Me 4-in-1 | Infantino Flip Adva... |
| Child Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Parent Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Boba Wrap | Baby K'tan Original | Moby Wrap Classic | You+Me 4-in-1 | Infantino Flip Adva... |
| Min/Max Weight | 7 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 32 lbs | 8 - 32 lbs |
| Carry Positions | Facing In (Newborn - 35 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) |
Kangaroo Position (< 8 lbs) Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (5 mo - 35 lbs) |
Facing In (8 - 32 lbs) Facing Out (head control - 32 lbs) Back Carry (20 - 32 lbs) |
Facing In (8 - 32 lbs) Facing Out (head control - 32 lbs) Back Carry (sit up - 32 lbs) |
| Weight | 1.41 lbs | Sm: 0.89 Lg: 1.04 lbs |
1.3 lbs | 0.97 lbs | 0.92 lbs |
| Packable Size | Small (5.5 yards in length) | Small | Small (5.5 meters in length) | Large | Medium |
| Fabric | 95% Cotton 5% Spandex |
100% Cotton | 100% Cotton | Not Specified | Polyester, Cotton |
| Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
| Storage Options | Storage Pouch | Pouch on the belt. | None | None | None |
| Other Features & Notable | None | Azo Dye-free | None | None | Bib |
| Included Accessories | Storage Sack | None | Stuff Sack | Bandana Bib | None |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, hang dry |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Boba is a family business started in Boulder, Colorado. It has grown worldwide as the husband and wife co-founders traveled the world with their children while developing and expanding their baby 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 sells wraps and soft structured options in various fabric types and designs.
Performance Comparison
Babies feel secure and snug in the Boba Wrap thanks to the stretchy fabric and custom fit that grows with them.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Baby's Comfort
The Boba is above average for a baby's comfort compared to the competition.
Made with a stretchy fabric, the Boba wraps around the baby with 360-degree support, allowing 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.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Parent's Comfort
The Boba is fairly comfortable for parents to wear thanks to its wide, soft, stretchy fabric.
The wrap design results in a few pressure points and supports 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 one 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.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Boba is somewhat challenging to use. Like similar wrap-style carriers, the Boba hasna higher learning curve and wrapping process. Watching the video is a big help, but if you are out and about and can't remember, it could be a problem.
While parents will figure out the wrapping process with repeated practice, we think loading the baby into the wrap once it is on and in place properly, is challenging. You have to hold the baby as you pull the three sections of fabric around the baby's body, and depending on your baby or your dexterity, it can be more difficult than a structured carrier. The process gets easier with practice, but comparatively, putting on a sling or soft structured carrier is far quicker.
We also experienced trouble getting the wrap tight enough every time. This means you have to unload your baby and place them somewhere safe (which could be tricky to find in public without help) while you readjust and tighten the wrap. Once the wrap is tightened, you have to start over holding the baby and pulling the fabric up and around. If it still isn't tight enough (or now possibly too tight), you're in for another adjustment round. This can be tiresome and frustrating for the wearer and the baby.
The Boba comes with a stuff sack that makes transporting it in your diaper bag a breeze.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Boba includes a travel sack for easy transportation, which keeps the long piece of fabric contained and prevents it from getting tangled up in a diaper bag with all your other supplies.
The Boba can be machine washed and thrown in the dryer, making clean-up a snap.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Boba wrap is easy to clean and dry, which is good when your little one may spit up or experience a blowout. Its result is one of the highest in the group.
This carrier is machine washable in cold water. You can also tumble dry the wrap on low, which is rare, as most of the baby carrier competition 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.
Should You Buy the Boba Wrap?
The Boba Wrap brings a lot to best baby carriers competition, and its affordable price may be enough justification to learn how to wrap. It's great for the newborn period and super easy to clean. Its soft, stretchy fabric is delightful, and you can achieve a customizable, comfortable fit for different-sized parents. Also, many mothers appreciate its stretchy fabric during the fourth trimester (the first couple of months postpartum) when their bodies continue to change. If this sounds like what you seek, the Boba Wrap may meet your needs and budget.
What Other Baby Carriers Should You Consider?
If you want a wrap-style carrier without the extra fabric, check out the Baby K'tan Original. It offers the coziness of a wrap but doesn't require the wrapping process, making it much easier to use than the Boba. Another compelling option is the Nalakai Ring Sling. It's quick and easy to use, and its design also offers the adjustability to achieve a comfortable fit for a range of wearers.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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