3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
Whether you're a fitness enthusiast looking for a stroller for jogging or seeking a stroller that is all-purpose for use in everyday life There's a three-wheel compact stroller out there for you. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Writer and Managing Editor at Sentry tested these models to the test on both road surfaces and off-road ones. They also tested the safety of the seats for children.
Stroller Features
The top strollers come with features that allow you to travel with your baby more convenient. Whether you're shopping for a new 3-wheel stroller or a 4-wheel stroller look for convenience features like large storage baskets, parent tray 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.
BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for jogging. It has many practical features that keep parents content and comfortable. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different heights to accommodate caregivers. A wrist strap helps keep the stroller from rolling away while you jog. The Wayfinder also comes with the largest sunshade we've seen in our test group with a clear view at the top to let children look out while they're relaxing. And Jenni's 3-year-old found the seat to be comfortable padded, so bumps in the road don't make him feel too shaken.
3 wheel buggy jogging stoller has the handbrake to help maintain control on slippery surfaces. It can be folded into a compact, slim package that will take only a tiny space in the trunk of your car. It is also possible to convert it into an e-travel system by purchasing an adapter. It is also compatible with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.
If you're planning on taking on rough terrain, sturdy tires are a must for any stroller. While they don't provide the same level of comfort as air-filled or foam-filled tires, they're great to navigate potholes and bumps easily.
This jogging stroller has an easy-to-use fold that only requires two steps. It locks into position when folded and is compact enough to fit in the majority of elevators. It's not as easy as some of our other four-wheel strollers to maneuver, and the locking mechanism can be somewhat confusing. It involves pressing a button on the front of the stroller, closing a flap on the foot area, and then lifting the handle. We'd prefer a simpler system where it just clicks into the position or opens when pulled.
Stroller Weight
The weight of the overall stroller is a significant aspect to take into consideration. A stroller that is heavier tends to be more stable than a stroller that is lighter and could provide better performance in rough terrain. Many parents prefer a stroller that is lighter, as it is more maneuverable, and more suitable for day-to-day use.
The type and size of the wheels is another important feature. Certain strollers have bigger wheels, such as jogging ones that can make the ride more comfortable for your baby. However, larger wheels add to the overall weight of the stroller which makes it harder to fold, transport, and store.
Some models in our selection have air-filled tires that are designed to provide a comfortable and stable ride for your child, even over rough terrain. However, air-filled tires could easily get flat which will require you to change them out. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we suggest a model with solid tires that can stand up to frequent contact with different surfaces and last for a longer time.
Strollers with swivel wheel on the front are perfect for safely navigating escalators and stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most common stroller injuries. They can be especially hazardous for infants. If you cannot avoid taking the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we advise using it only if the child is securely strapped in the seat. Keep them close to you while walking up or down.
Some strollers can be purchased as complete travel systems that includes the car seat and stroller are sold together as a single unit. While these types of products typically boast attractive price tags and offer convenience by the time spent shopping but they are usually more expensive than their standalone counterparts and may not perform as well in the long haul. In addition many parents end up regretting purchasing a bundle product because it might not have all of the features they would like or may turn out to be incompatible with their vehicle or child seat. We recommend you choose an infant stroller that can be purchased separately from a car seat or capsule if you wish to upgrade to a more sophisticated model in the future.
Stroller Folding
The best 3 wheel strollers with a compact size fold easily and to store. Some even lock in position automatically when you open them. This feature is particularly useful for families who frequently take public transport or drive to walk.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to navigate through tight spaces such as aisles of grocery stores and other areas that are crowded with ease. Many are also equipped with suspension systems that give a more comfortable ride for your baby which is especially helpful on bumpy sidewalks.
The Guava Roam is a lightweight jogging stroller. It's a stylish stroller that can be used as a part of a travel system with adapters for car seats to fit Nuna MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats as well as the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards sold separately). 3 wheeled pushchair in two steps and locks in place once opened.
Another nice-looking 3-wheel jogging stroller is the Babyzen Yoyo 2. This stroller is a little more expensive than our top choices, but worth it if you travel a lot or live in the city. The lightweight stroller can fold down to a smaller size (20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1) and features an adjustable, padded 5-point harness that is no-rethread and a large basket. It can be used as a pram to carry newborns or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).
The Babyzen is a good product with a few nice features. It is spacious in its recline, and also has extra storage. However there are some parents who are dissatisfied in its performance. The seat doesn't lie flat when reclined and there are no cup holders or a tray for snacks for children. The brakes are difficult to engage and the handlebars are a bit high for some moms.
The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that is designed to be as light as possible without sacrificing comfort or convenience. It comes with a long list of features that are impressive, such as a large basket and a one-handed fold. The only issue with this stroller is that the brakes can be a bit difficult to engage, 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 in our review have a five-point safety harness that has adjustable and padding crotch straps. This allows for a customized fit. Some strollers come with a padded cushion that protects your child's head in the event that they fall or roll out of their seat. Some strollers come with a safety brake that locks two wheels, which is essential for strollers that jog since it prevents them from slipping when they're going up and down stairs or escalators, where they could be particularly risky for children.
In our tests, we rated the maneuverability of strollers in three different ways: a stroller's ability to bounce and turn over bumps and dips, its ability to maneuver when loaded with children and its capacity 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 the backrest the height of the handlebar, operate the brakes, and then attach and remove car seats (if necessary).
We found that strollers with 3 wheels were more maneuverable however, the advantages decreased as the weight of the baby increased. We recommend choosing a model with a hand brake. It will allow you to slow down or stop without exerting the same amount of effort as your body by itself. However, many of the top-scoring swivel wheel strollers do not come with this feature and only one of our top-rated fixed-wheel models does.
It's important to consider how often you will have to transport your stroller down the stairs or an escalator and whether it's safe to do so with the stroller in the same place. Elevators and stairs are more risky because they contain moving mechanical parts that make it difficult for you to control your stroller. We recommend looking for alternatives to these hazards, like an elevator, if possible or have a person else carry the stroller up or down with you. Some of the most highly-rated strollers can be pushed up an escalator or a set of stairs. an escalator, with their safety brakes engaged and locked but it's always better to be safer than sorry.