3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
There are three-wheel strollers designed for all ages regardless of whether you’re looking for a jogging stoller or a stroller that you can use for every day. The Managing Editor Sentry and Senior Review Writer Wendy Schmitz put these models through their paces on pavement and off-road surfaces, as well test the comfort of children in the seats.
Stroller Features
The best strollers have features that make traveling with your child a lot easier. If you’re shopping for a brand new 3-wheel or 4-wheel stroller, look for features that make life easier, such as large storage baskets as well as a tray for the parent with cup holders, a movable canopy and more. The key is determining what features are essential to you and your family, and which ones you can do without.
The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller, comes with a wide range of features to keep moms and dads comfortable and happy. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of different heights, and the wrist strap helps ensure that the stroller doesn’t roll away when you’re running. The Wayfinder comes with the largest sunshade of all the strollers we tested and a large, clear window on the top lets children to look out when they are resting. Jenni’s 3 wheel stroller with bassinet-year old found the seat to be comfortably padded, so bumps in the road don’t make him feel too shaken.
This jogging stoller has a handbrake to help you maintain control on slippery surfaces. It folds into an extremely compact and slim size that occupies a small space in the trunk of your vehicle, and it can be converted into a travel set-up with certain infant car seats from brands like Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex with the purchase of an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.
If you plan on tackling rough terrains, solid tires are a must for any stroller. While they don’t offer the same degree of comfort as foam-filled or air-filled tires, they’re great to navigate potholes and bumps easily.
This jogging stroller comes with a fold that only requires two steps. It locks into place when folded, and is compact enough to fit into most elevators. It’s not as simple as some of our other four-wheel strollers to maneuver, and the locking mechanism is somewhat confusing. It’s as simple as pressing an arrow near the foot area on the front of stroller and then lifting the handle. We’d like to see a more simple system that simply clicks into place or opens when pulled.
Stroller Weight
The weight of the entire unit is an important consideration. A heavier stroller is likely to be more stable than a stroller that is lighter and may offer superior performance in rough terrain. However, a lot of parents find that strollers with lighter weights are easier to maneuver and is more suitable for use in everyday situations.
The size and type of the wheels is an important feature. Certain strollers, like jogging strollers have wheels that are larger and can offer a more comfortable ride for baby. Larger wheels can add weight to the stroller and make it difficult to fold and store, transport and fold.
Some models in our selection come with air-filled tires, which are designed to offer a comfortable and stable ride for your child even on rough terrain. Air-filled tires are more prone to flattening, so you must replace them. If you plan to travel with your stroller a lot, we recommend that you choose a model with solid wheels. They can endure contact with different surfaces more frequently and last longer.
Strollers with swivel wheel at the front are great for safely navigating escalators as well as stairs. Falls on stairs or escalators are the most common injuries to strollers. They are especially hazardous for infants. If you cannot avoid using the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we recommend using it only if the child is safely strapped into the seat. Keep them close to you while walking up or down.
Some strollers are an integrated travel system that incorporates both the car seat as well as the stroller. These products are often more expensive and less convenient than their standalone counterparts, and they may not be as effective in the long-term. In addition many parents regret purchasing a bundle because it may not include all the features they desire or could turn out to not be compatible with their car or child’s seat. If you are planning to upgrade in the near future we recommend you purchase a stroller separately from the car seat or capsule.
Stroller Folding
The best compact 3 wheel push chair wheel strollers are easy to fold and store. Some even lock into the position automatically after you open them. This feature can be especially beneficial for families that frequently take public transportation or drive prior to taking a walks.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to navigate around tight spaces like aisles in grocery stores and other areas that are crowded easily. They also have suspension systems that offer a smoother stroll for your child and can be particularly helpful on bumpy sidewalks.
If you’re looking for a stroller that is jogging-friendly that doesn’t weigh you down, the Guava Roam Crossover is a great option. It’s a good-looking stroller that can be used as a travel system, with the car seat adapters for Nuna, Maxi-Cosi and Cybex infant carseats as well as the bassinet for the Uppababy (car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller folds down in two steps and locks into place when it is opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another nice-looking 3 wheel stroller with infant car seat-wheeled jogging stroller. It’s a bit more expensive than some of our top choices, but it’s worth the investment if you love to travel or reside in the city. The lightweight 3 wheel stroller stroller can be folded down to a tiny 20 17×7 inch size. It comes with a five-point, no-rethread, padded harness. It can be used as a stroller for newborns and toddlers, if you have an infant car seat adapter.
The Babyzen is a great product with some nice features. It is spacious in its recline and has storage space. However there are some parents who are dissatisfied with its performance. The seat isn’t fully flat when reclined and there’s no cups or a snack tray for kids. The brakes are also difficult to engage and the handlebar’s height is too high for many moms who are petite.
The Graco Fastaction stroller is designed to be as light as it is possible, but without sacrificing comfort or convenience. It comes with a long list of impressive features including a large basket and a one-handed fold. The only downside to this stroller is that the brakes are difficult to engage and they don’t lock when the stroller has been folded.
Stroller Safety
The safety features of a stroller should ensure that your child is safe using it. Some of the best-scoring models in our review feature a five-point harness with adjustable crotch straps that are padded and padded that allow for a customized fit. Some strollers come with a padded cushion that shields your child’s head should they fall off or roll out of their seat. Some strollers are equipped with a safety lock that secures both wheels. This is particularly important for those who run, since it stops them from falling over while going up or down escalators and stairs.
In our tests, we rated the maneuverability of strollers in three different ways: a product’s ability to bounce and turn over bumps and dips, its ability to maneuver when laden with a child and its ability to maneuver over rough surfaces. We also assessed how easy it was to open and close the safety harness, fold and unfold the stroller, adjust its backrest, handlebar height and brakes and attach and remove car seats (if appropriate).
We found that strollers with 3 wheeled buggies wheels were more maneuverable however the advantages decreased as the weight of the baby increased. We recommend selecting one with hand brakes. It will help you slow down or stop without putting in as much effort as using your body by itself. Many of the top-scoring, swivel-wheel strollers don’t have this feature. Only one of our best-rated fixed-wheel strollers comes with it.
It’s important to consider the frequency you’ll have to transport your stroller down a set of stairs or an escalator, and if or not it’s safe to do it with the stroller still in place. Elevators and stairs pose more dangers because they move mechanical components which make it difficult to control the motion of the stroller. We suggest finding a solution to these obstacles, like an elevator, if you have one or have another adult to carry the stroller up and down with you. Some of the top-scoring strollers may be carried up a set of stairs or a set with their safety brake engaged. It’s always safer to be secure rather than regretting.