3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
Whether you're a fitness enthusiast looking for a jogging stroller or just looking for an all-purpose stroller 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, put 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 best strollers have features that make traveling with your child much easier. If you're looking for a new 3-wheel or 4-wheel stroller, look for convenience features like a large storage basket, parent tray with cup holders, 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're able to be content with.
BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for jogging. It is loaded with useful features that will keep parents comfortable and happy. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different heights to accommodate caregivers. A wrist strap prevents the stroller from slipping when you're jogging. The Wayfinder comes with the largest sunshade of the strollers we tested, and a glass window on the top lets children to look out when they're resting. Jenni's 3-year old found the seat to be comfortable cushioned, which means bumps on the road won't make him feel too shaken.
The stroller is equipped with an automatic hand brake that can help you maintain control on slick surfaces. It can fold into a slim, compact package that will take only a tiny space in the trunk of your car. It is also possible to transform it into a travel system by purchasing an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.
If you're planning to tackle rough terrain, tires are a must for strollers of any kind. Solid tires aren't as comfortable as spongy-filled or air-filled tires, but they're perfect to navigate bumps and potholes.
This stroller for jogging has an easy-to-use fold that only requires two steps. It locks into position when folded and is small enough to fit in most elevators. However, it's not as easy to maneuver as some of our other 4-wheel strollers and the lock mechanism is a bit difficult to understand. It's as simple as pressing a button near the foot area at the front of stroller and then lifting the handle. We'd like to see a simpler system that clicks into place or opens when pulled.
Stroller Weight
The weight of the entire unit is an important consideration. A heavier stroller is more stable and will perform better on rough terrain. However, many parents discover that strollers with lighter weights are easier to maneuver and is more suitable for everyday use.
The type and size of the wheels is another important feature. Certain strollers, like those that run on jogging with larger wheels can provide a smoother experience for infants. The larger wheels can weigh more on the stroller, making it difficult to fold, transport and store.
Some models in our selection come with air-filled wheels, which provide an enjoyable, stable ride to your child even on rough terrain. However, tires that are filled with air can quickly become flat and require you to change them out. If you plan to travel a lot with your stroller, we recommend a model with solid tires that can withstand regular contact with different surfaces and last longer.
Strollers with front wheels that swivel are ideal for walking up and down escalators and stairs safely. Falls on stairs or escalators are the most frequent stroller-related injuries. They can be especially hazardous for infants. If you are unable to avoid using the escalator or stairs with your stroller we recommend using it when the child is safely strapped into the seat. Also keep them close to you when 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 provide convenience by reducing shopping time but they are usually more expensive than their stand-alone counterparts and may not function as well in the long term. Additionally many parents end up regretting purchasing a bundle because it may not include all of the features they want or may turn out to not be compatible with their vehicle or child's seat. We recommend you choose a stroller that is purchased separately from the car seat or capsule if you'd like to upgrade to a more sophisticated model in the near future.
Stroller Folding
The best 3 wheel compact strollers fold up quickly and easily to make storage and transportation easy. Some lock automatically into place when you open them. This feature is especially beneficial for families who regularly use public transportation or drive prior to going for a walks.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to maneuver around tight spaces like aisles of grocery stores and other crowded areas easily. They are often equipped with suspension systems that provide a smoother ride, which is particularly useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.
The Guava Roam is a lightweight stroller for jogging. It's a good-looking stroller that can be used as a travel system with the adapters for car seats for Nuna, Maxi-Cosi and Cybex infant carseats and the bassinet Uppababy (car seats and stroller boards sold separately). The stroller comes with a simple two-step fold and can be locked once it is opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another attractive 3-wheeled jogging stroller with a nice design. It's a bit more expensive than our top picks, but it's worth the cost if you love to travel or reside in the city. The lightweight stroller can be folded down to a tiny 20 x 17 x 7 inch size. It comes with five-point, non-rethread, padding on the harness. It can also be used as a pram for newborns or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).
While the Babyzen has some nice features, including the spacious recline and the extra storage space, some parents are dissatisfied with its performance. The seat doesn't lie flat when it's reclining, and there aren't any cups or a tray for snacks for kids. The brakes can be a little difficult to engage and the handlebars are too high for certain moms.
The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that is designed to be as light as is possible without skimping on comfort or ease of use. It comes with a long list of features that are impressive like a huge basket and a one-handed fold. The only downside to this stroller is that the brakes are a little difficult to engage and they don't lock when the stroller has been folded.
Stroller Safety
A stroller's safety features should help to keep your child secure during use. Some of the best-scoring strollers in our review have a five-point safety harness that has adjustable and cushioned straps for crotch. This allows for a customised fit. Some have a cushioned seat cushion to safeguard your child's head in the event that they fall out of the seat or fall off. Some strollers have the safety lock that locks both wheels. This is especially important for those who run, since it stops them from falling over while walking up and down escalators and stairs.
In our tests the maneuverability of strollers was assessed in three different ways. We evaluated it on the basis of a stroller's ability to bounce and turn when bumps and dips occur and its comfort with a child on it and its capacity to travel over rough terrain. We also evaluated the ease of opening and closing the safety harness as well as folding and unfolding the stroller, adjusting the height of its backrest and handlebar as well as operating the brakes as being able to attach and remove car seats (if applicable).
We found that strollers with 3 wheels were more maneuverable however, the advantages diminished as baby weight increased. This is why we recommend one with hand brakes, which helps you slow down and stop with as little effort as relying on body power alone. However, 3 wheel pushchair of the best-scoring swivel wheel strollers don't offer this feature, and only one of our top fixed-wheel models comes with it.
It's important to consider the frequency you'll need to transport your stroller down the stairs or an escalator, and whether or not it's safe to do it with the stroller in place. Elevators and stairs are more hazardous because they have moving mechanical components that make it difficult for you to control your stroller. We recommend finding an alternative to these obstacles, like an elevator, if possible or have another adult to carry the stroller up and down with you. Some of the best-scoring strollers are able to be carried up a set of stairs or an escalator with their security brake locked and engaged but it's always safer to be safe than to be sorry.