3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
Whether you're a fitness enthusiast looking for a stroller for jogging or need a stroller to use for everyday use There's a three-wheel compact stroller for you. The Managing Editor Sentry and Senior Review Writer Wendy Schmitz put these models through the paces on pavement and off-road surfaces as well as assessing the comfort of children in the seats.
Stroller Features
The best strollers come with features that make traveling with your child easier. If you're looking for a new 3-wheel or a 4-wheel stroller, look for convenience features like an ample storage basket, parent tray with cup holders, an adjustable canopy and more. The most important thing is to determine which features are not negotiable for you and your family, and which ones you could live without.
The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller, comes with plenty of convenient features to keep moms and dads happy and comfortable. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different heights to accommodate caregivers. A wrist strap prevents the stroller from slipping away while you jog. The Wayfinder has the largest sunshade of the strollers we tested, and a clear opening at the top that allows children to look out while they rest. Jenni's 3-year-old daughter found the seat to be comfortable cushioned, which means bumps on the road don't shake him up too much.
The stroller is equipped with an automatic hand brake that can help you maintain control on slick surfaces. It folds to a slim, compact package that takes up a tiny space in the trunk of your car. Additionally, it can be converted into a travel set-up with select 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.
Solid tires are essential for strollers used on rough terrains. While they don't offer the same degree of comfort as foam-filled or air-filled tires, they're great for navigating bumps and potholes easily.
This jogging stroller has an easy-to-use fold that requires just two steps. It locks when folded, and it's small enough to fit in the majority of elevators. However it's not as easy to move around as our other 4-wheel strollers, and the mechanism to lock it is a bit confusing. It involves clicking a button on the front of the stroller, closing a flap on the foot area, and then raising a handle. We'd prefer a simpler method that clicks in place or opens by pulling.
Stroller Weight
The overall weight of a stroller is a significant factor to consider. A heavier stroller is more stable and can perform better on rough terrain. Many parents find that a stroller with a lighter weight is easier to maneuver and more suitable for everyday use.
The shape and size of the wheels is an important aspect. Certain strollers, like those that run on jogging, have larger wheels that can offer a more comfortable ride for babies. However, larger wheels increase the overall weight of the stroller, which can make it more difficult to fold and transport as well as store.
Some models in our selection come with air-filled tires, which are designed to provide an enjoyable and stable ride for your child even over rough terrain. However, air-filled tires could quickly become flat and require you to swap them out. If you intend to take your stroller with you often, we suggest you purchase a model with solid wheels. They can withstand contact with different surfaces more frequently and last longer.
Strollers that have swivel wheels at the front are great to safely navigate escalators and stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most frequent stroller-related injuries and can be particularly hazardous for infants. If you are unable to avoid the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we advise using it only if the child is securely strapped into the seat. Keep them close to you as you walk up or down.
Some strollers are available as an entire travel system in which the car seat and stroller are sold together as a unit. Although these strollers often have attractive price tags and provide convenience by the time spent shopping, they are generally more expensive than their stand-alone counterparts and may not perform as well in the long run. In addition many parents end up regretting purchasing a bundle product because it might not have all the features they would like or may turn out to be incompatible with their vehicle or child seat. If you are planning to upgrade in the future we recommend you purchase a stroller separately from car seats or capsules.
Stroller Folding
The best
3 wheel double buggy wheel compact strollers fold easily and quickly to make storage and transportation a breeze. Some even lock in place automatically when you open them. This feature can be especially beneficial for families that frequently use public transport or drive prior to going for a walks.
Three-wheeled strollers can be maneuvered easily in tight spaces like grocery store aisles or other areas with a lot of people. Many are also equipped with suspension systems that give a smoother ride for your baby which is especially helpful on bumpy sidewalks.
The Guava Roam is a compact jogging stroller. It's a stylish stroller that can also be used as part of a travel system with matching car seat adapters to fit Nuna MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats, and the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller folds in two steps and locks in place once opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another nice-looking
double buggy 3 wheels-wheeled jogging stroller. It's more expensive than some of our top picks, however it's worth the cost for those who love to travel or live in a city. The lightweight stroller can be folded down to a compact 20 17x7 inches size. It has a five-point, no-rethread, cushioned harness. It can be used as a stroller for infants and young toddlers with an infant car seat adapter.
While the Babyzen comes with some nice features, such as an ample recline and additional storage space, some parents are dissatisfied with its performance. The seat doesn't lie flat when reclined and there aren't cup holders or snack tray for children. The brakes are also difficult to engage and the handlebar's height is too high for many mothers who are short.
The Graco Fastaction stroller is designed to be as light as is possible, yet not sacrificing comfort or convenience. It's equipped with a lengthy list of impressive features like a huge basket and a one-handed fold. The only drawback to this stroller is that the brakes can be a bit difficult to activate, and they're not locking after the stroller is folded.
Stroller Safety
A stroller's safety features will assist in keeping your child safe during use. Some of the top-scoring strollers we've reviewed come with five-point safety harnesses with adjustable and cushioned crotch straps. This allows for a custom fit. Some strollers come with a padded cushion that protects your child's head if they roll off or fall out of their seat. Some strollers have a safety lock that locks both wheels. This is particularly important for walkers who jog, as it prevents them from tumbling over while walking up and down escalators or stairs.
In our tests, we rated the maneuverability of strollers in three different ways: a stroller's ability to bounce and turn over dips and bumps its ability to maneuver when loaded with a child and its capability to traverse rough terrain. We also looked at the ease of being able to open and close the safety harness fold and unfold the stroller, adjust its backrest, handlebar height and brakes and then attach and remove car seats (if necessary).
We found that some
3 wheel pushchair off road-wheel strollers are more easy to maneuver than 4-wheel options However, this advantage decreases when your baby becomes heavier. We recommend selecting the model that has hand brakes. It will help you slow down or stop without exerting as much effort as using your body on its own. Many of the top-scoring swivel-wheel strollers do not have this feature. Only one of our
best 3 wheel travel system-rated fixed-wheel strollers has it.
It is also important to consider how often you'll be required to use your stroller for going up or down escalators or stairs and if it's safe to do so. Escalators and stairs present more of a hazard due to the fact that they move mechanical parts which make it difficult to control the motion of the stroller. If you can choose to, we suggest using an elevator or having a second adult assist you in carrying the stroller. Some of the top-scoring strollers are able to be taken onto a set of stairs or an escalator, with their safety brakes engaged and locked, but it's always safer to be sorry.