3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
If you're a fitness fanatic looking for a jogging stroller or just looking for an all-purpose stroller to use for everyday use There's a three-wheel compact stroller that is suitable for you. Managing Editor Sentry and Senior Review Writer Wendy Schmitz put these models through the paces on both 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 a lot easier. If you're looking for a brand new 3-wheel or a 4-wheel stroller look for features that make life easier, such as large storage baskets and a tray for parents with cup holders, adjustable canopy, and more. The trick is determining which features are non-negotiable for you and your family, and which ones you're able to live without.
BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for jogging. It comes with a variety of practical features that keep parents happy and comfortable. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different heights to accommodate caregivers. A wrist strap helps keep the stroller from slipping while you are jogging. The Wayfinder comes with the largest sunshade of the strollers we tested and a glass opening at the top that allows children to see out when they are resting. And Jenni's 3-year-old found the seat to be comfortably cushioned, which means bumps on the road don't make him feel too shaken.
This jogging stoller has a handbrake to help you keep your grip on slippery surfaces. It can be folded into a slim, compact package that will take up little space in the trunk of your car. You can also convert it to an e-travel system by purchasing an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.
If you plan on tackling rough terrains, solid tires are a must-have for strollers of any kind. While they don't provide the same degree of comfort as foam-filled or air-filled tires, they're perfect to navigate potholes and bumps easily.
This stroller for jogging comes with a fold that only requires two steps. It locks into position when folded, and is compact enough to fit into the majority of elevators. However it's not as easy to maneuver as our other 4-wheel strollers and the mechanism to lock it is a bit hazy. It's as simple as pressing the button in the foot area on the front of the stroller and then lifting the handle. We'd prefer a simpler system that simply clicks into the position or opens when pulled.
Stroller Weight
The overall weight is a crucial aspect to consider. A heavier stroller is likely to be more stable than a lighter one and may offer superior performance in rough terrain. However, a lot of parents find that strollers with lighter weights are easier to maneuver and more suitable for daily use.
Another important aspect of a stroller is the size of its wheels and type. Certain strollers, such as ones that jog have wheels that are larger and will provide a more comfortable experience for infants. However, bigger wheels increase the overall weight of the stroller, which makes it harder to fold and transport as well as store.
Certain models we offer include air-filled tires that are designed to offer a comfortable and stable ride for your child even on rough terrain. Air-filled tires are susceptible to flattening, so you must replace them. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we recommend a model with solid tires that can withstand frequent contact with various surfaces and last for a longer time.
three wheel pushchair with swivel wheels on the front are ideal to safely navigate escalators and stairs. Falls on stairs or escalators are the most common accidents involving strollers, and can be especially dangerous for infants. If you can't avoid the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we suggest using it only when the child is safely strapped into the seat and is close to you while walking up or down.
Some strollers are a travel system that includes both the car seat as well as the stroller. Although these strollers often have attractive price tags and provide convenience by the time spent shopping however, they are typically more expensive than their standalone counterparts and might not perform in the long haul. Additionally many parents end up regretting purchasing a bundle product because it may not include all the features they desire, or it could prove to not be compatible with their car or child seat. If you plan to upgrade in the future we suggest that you buy a stroller separate from car seats or capsules.
Stroller Folding
The top 3 wheel compact strollers fold easily and quickly to make storage and transportation effortless. Some lock automatically into place when you open them. This feature is particularly useful for families that frequently use public transportation or take a car to walk.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to move around tight spaces like aisles of grocery stores and other areas that are crowded with ease. A lot of them are equipped with suspension systems for a smoother ride. This is especially useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.
The Guava Roam is a lightweight stroller for jogging. The stroller is elegant and can be used as a part of a travel set-up with car seat adapters to fit Nuna MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats, as well as the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller comes with simple two-step fold, and locks into place once it is opened.
A similar stroller with a nice design is the Babyzen Yoyo 2. This stroller is a little more expensive than our top picks but is worth it if you travel a lot or live in a city. The lightweight stroller can be folded down to a small 20 17x7 inches size. It comes with a five-point, no-rethread, padding on the harness. It can be used as a pram for infants or toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).
The Babyzen is a quality product with a few nice features. It has a spacious recline and has storage space. However there are some parents who are dissatisfied with its performance. The seat isn't fully flat when it's reclining, and there are no cup holders or a tray for snacks for kids. The brakes are a bit difficult to activate and the handlebars are too high for certain moms.
The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that's designed to be as light as possible without sacrificing comfort or ease of use. It's equipped with a lengthy list of amazing features like a huge basket and a one handed fold. three wheel pushchair to this stroller is that the brakes are a little difficult to activate, and they're not locked when the stroller has been folded.
Stroller Safety
The safety features of a stroller should help to keep your child safe during use. Some of the best-scoring strollers we've reviewed come with a five-point safety harness with adjustable and padding straps for crotch. This allows for a customised fit. Some have a cushioned seat cushion to shield your child's head should they fall out of the seat or roll off. Some strollers come with a safety lock that secures both wheels. This is particularly important for walkers who jog, as it stops them from falling over when going up and down escalators or stairs.
In our tests the maneuverability of strollers was assessed in three different ways. We scored it on the basis of a stroller's ability to bounce and turn when bumps or dips are encountered, its ease of use with a child loaded and its capacity to traverse rough terrain. We also evaluated the ease of opening and closing the safety harness as well as folding and unfolding the stroller, changing the backrest and height of the handlebar as well as operating the brakes as being able to attach and remove car seats (if appropriate).
We found that 3-wheel strollers were more maneuverable, but the advantage decreased as the weight of the baby increased. This is why we recommend a model that has a hand brake that helps you slow down and stop without as much exertion as relying on body power alone. However, many of the best-scoring swivel wheel strollers don't offer this feature, and only one of our top fixed-wheel models does.
It's important to consider how often you will need to take your stroller on a set of stairs or an escalator and whether it's safe to do it while the stroller is in its place. Stairs and escalators pose more dangers because they move mechanical components that make it difficult to control the motion of the stroller. If you are able choose to, we suggest using an elevator or having another adult assist you with the stroller. Some of the top-scoring strollers can be carried up a set or stairs with the safety brake engaged. However, it's safer to be secure rather than regretting.