3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
If you're a fitness fanatic seeking a stroller for jogging or need a stroller for everyday use there's a compact three-wheel stroller out there for you. The Managing Editor Sentry and Senior Review Writer Wendy Schmitz put these models through the paces on both pavement and off-road surfaces, aswell as assessing the comfort of children in the seats.
Stroller Features
The best strollers have features that make traveling with your child easier. Find features that make life easier, such as a large storage bin, parent tray with cups holders, adjustable canopy, and more when you are shopping for the latest stroller. It's important to determine what features are important to you and your family members and those you can live without.
The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller with plenty of convenient features to keep moms and dads content and comfortable. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of different sizes, and the wrist strap helps ensure that the stroller doesn't roll away when you're running. The Wayfinder comes with the largest sunshade among the strollers we tested and a glass window on the top lets children to see out while they rest. Jenni's three-year-old son reportedly found the seat to have a comfortable padding, which meant bumps on the road didn't bother him.
This stroller for jogging also comes with a hand brake that helps you keep control on slippery surfaces. It folds down to an extremely compact and slim size that occupies a small space in the trunk of your car, and it can convert into a travel set-up with certain infant car seats from brands including Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex with the purchase of an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 bassinet.
If you're planning on taking on rough terrains, solid tires are a must-have for strollers of any kind. Although they don't offer the same degree of comfort as air-filled or foam-filled tires, they're perfect for navigating potholes and bumps easily.
This stroller for jogging comes with a fold that requires just two steps. It locks in place when folded, and it's small enough to fit in most elevators. It's not as simple as our other four-wheel strollers to maneuver, and the locking mechanism can be a little complicated. It involves pressing a button on the front of the stroller, a flap on the foot area, and then lifting the handle. We'd rather have a simpler system that just clicks in place or opens by pulling.
Stroller Weight
The overall weight is an important consideration. A stroller that is heavier tends to be more stable than a stroller that is lighter and may offer more performance on rough terrain. Many parents find that a stroller with a lighter weight is more maneuverable, and more suitable for day-to-day use.
Another important aspect of a stroller is the size of its wheels and type. 3 wheel buggy come with larger wheels, such as jogging ones, which can make the ride smoother for your baby. Larger wheels can add weight to the stroller, making it difficult to fold and transport, as well as store.
Certain models in our collection come with air-filled wheels, which provide an enjoyable, stable ride for your child on rough terrain. However, tires that are filled with air can quickly become flat and require you to swap them out. If you are planning to take your stroller with you frequently, we recommend you purchase one with solid wheels. They can endure contact with various surfaces more frequently and last longer.
Strollers with swivel front wheels are ideal for walking up and down escalators and stairs safely. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most frequent stroller-related injuries and can be particularly dangerous for infants. If you cannot avoid using the escalator and stairs with your stroller we recommend using it when your child is secured in the seat. Also, keep them close to you as you walk up and down.
Some strollers are a travel system that includes both the car seat and the stroller. While these products often boast attractive price tags and offer convenience in terms of reducing shopping time, they are generally more expensive than their standalone counterparts and may not perform in the long haul. Additionally many parents end up regretting purchasing a bundle because it may not include all of the features they would like or could turn out to be incompatible with their vehicle or child's seat. If you are planning to upgrade in the near future we suggest that you purchase a stroller that is separate from a capsule or car seat.
Stroller Folding
The best 3 wheel compact strollers fold quickly and easily to make storage and transport easy. Some locks automatically lock into place when you open them. This feature is particularly beneficial for families that frequently use public transportation or take a car to walk.
Three-wheeled strollers can be pushed easily in tight spaces, like grocery store aisles or other areas that are crowded. Many are also equipped with suspension systems that provide a more comfortable stroll for your child, which can be especially useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.
If you're seeking a jogging stroller that doesn't weigh you down, the Guava Roam Crossover is a great alternative. It's a stylish stroller that can be used as a travel set-up with the adapters for car seats for Nuna Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex infant carseats as well as the bassinet Uppababy (car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller comes with simple two-step fold, and locks into place once opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another attractive 3-wheeled jogging stroller with a nice design. It's a bit pricier than some of our top choices, but it's worth the cost If you're a lover of travel or reside in the city. This stroller is lightweight and can be folded down to a small 20 x 17 x 7 inch size. It has a five-point, no-rethread, cushioned harness. It can be used as a stroller for newborns or toddlers who are young, with an infant car seat adapter.
The Babyzen is a quality product that has some great features. It is spacious in its recline, and it also has extra storage. However, some parents are disappointed in its performance. The seat isn't fully flat when reclined, and there's no cup holders or a tray to serve snacks to children. The brakes can also be difficult to engage and the handlebars are too high for some moms.
The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that's designed to be as light as possible without sacrificing comfort or convenience. It's equipped with a lengthy list of features that are impressive, such as a large basket and a one handed fold. The only drawback to this stroller is that the brakes are a little difficult to engage and they're not locking after the stroller is folded.
Stroller Safety
The safety features of a stroller must ensure that your child is safe using it. Some of the best-scoring strollers we've reviewed come with five-point safety harnesses with adjustable and padding crotch straps. This allows for a customized fit. Some have a cushioned seat cushion to protect your child's head in the event that they fall from the seat or fall off. Some strollers come with the safety lock that locks both wheels. This is particularly important for jogging walkers, as it stops them from falling over while going up or down stairs and escalators.
In our tests, we evaluated the strollers' maneuverability in three different ways: a stroller's ability to rotate and bounce over dips and bumps its ability to maneuver when loaded with a child and its ability to travel over rough surfaces. We also evaluated the ease of opening and closing the safety harness as well as folding and unfolding the stroller, adjusting the backrest and height of the handlebar, operating the brakes, as also the ability to attach and remove car seats (if necessary).
We have found that 3-wheel strollers are more easy to maneuver than four-wheel models however this benefit diminishes when your baby becomes heavier. That's why we recommend choosing a model that has a hand brake, which assists you in slowing down and come to a stop with as little effort as using body power alone. A majority of the top-scoring swivel-wheel strollers do not have this option. Only one of our top-rated fixed-wheel strollers comes with it.
It is also important to consider how often you'll be required to utilize your stroller to go up and down stairs or escalators, and if it's safe to do it. Stairs and escalators pose more of a hazard due to the fact that they move mechanical parts that make it difficult to control the movements of the stroller. If you can, we recommend using an elevator or having another adult assist you with the stroller. Some of the top-scoring strollers can be taken up or down a set of stairs with the safety brake engaged. However, it's safer to be safe than regretting.