3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
There are three-wheel compact strollers for everyone regardless of whether you're seeking a jogging stoller or a stroller that you can use every day. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Writer and Managing Editor at Sentry The models were put to the test on both road surfaces and off-road ones. They also evaluated the seating comfort for children.
Stroller Features
The best strollers come with features that make traveling with your child much easier. If you're looking for a new 3-wheel or 4-wheel stroller, look for features that make life easier, such as an ample storage basket, parent tray with cup holders, a movable canopy and much more. It's important to know what features are important to you and your family, and which you can do without.
The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller with plenty of convenient features that will 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 while you jog. The Wayfinder also has the most extensive sunshade in our testing group, with a clear window up top to let kids observe the world while they rest. Jenni's 3-year-old son found the seat to have a comfortable padding, so bumps in the road did not cause any discomfort for him.
This jogging stoller has a handbrake to help you keep your grip on slippery surfaces. It folds into a slim, compact package that occupies a small space in the trunk of your vehicle, and it can be converted into a travel system using 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.
If you're planning on taking on rough terrains, solid tires are essential for strollers of all kinds. While they don't provide the same degree of comfort as foam-filled or air-filled tires, they're great for navigating potholes and bumps easily.
The jogging stroller folds in just two steps. It locks when folded, and is small enough to fit in most elevators. However it's not as easy to move around as our other 4-wheel strollers, and the mechanism for locking is a bit hazy. It involves pressing an arrow near the foot area on the front of stroller and lifting the handle. We'd prefer a simpler system that 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, many parents find that a stroller with a lighter weight is easier to maneuver and more suitable for daily use.
The shape and size of the wheels is another important aspect. Certain strollers, like ones that jog have wheels that are larger and will provide a more comfortable experience for infants. The larger wheels can weigh more on the stroller and make it harder to fold and store, transport and fold.
Certain models in our collection have air-filled tires that are designed to offer a comfortable and stable ride for your child even over rough terrain. Air-filled tires are prone to flattening and must replace them. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we suggest a model with solid tires that can withstand regular contact with different surfaces and last for a longer time.
Strollers with swivel wheels on the front are perfect to safely navigate escalators and stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most common stroller-related injuries. They can be particularly hazardous for infants. If you can't avoid taking the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we advise using it only when your child is securely strapped in the seat and hold them close to you while walking up or down.
Some strollers are available as an entire travel system where the car seat and stroller are sold together as a single unit. Although these strollers often have attractive prices and offer convenience in terms of reducing shopping time however, they are typically more expensive than their standalone counterparts and may not function as well over the long run. Many parents are disappointed when they purchase a bundle product because it might not include all the features they desire or be incompatible with their car or child's seat. We suggest that you purchase 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 that are compact are easy to fold and store. Some of them lock automatically when you open them. This feature is especially useful for families that frequently use public transportation or take a car to take a walk.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to navigate around tight spaces like aisles of grocery stores and other crowded areas easily. Many are also equipped with suspension systems that give a more comfortable stroll for your child, which can be especially useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.
The Guava Roam is a compact jogging stroller. 3 wheel buggy is a stylish stroller that can 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 sold separately). The stroller folds down in two steps and locks into place when it is opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another nice-looking 3-wheeled jogging stroller. It's a bit pricier than some of our top picks, however it's well worth the money for those who love to travel or live in an urban area. This lightweight stroller folds down to a small size (20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1) and features padding, a detachable, five-point no-rethread harness and an ample basket. It can even be used as a pram for infants 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 has storage space. However some parents are disappointed with its performance. The seat isn't flat when it reclines and there's no cupholders or snack tray for children. The brakes are difficult to engage, and the handlebar height is too high for many moms who are petite.
The Graco Fastaction stroller is designed to be as light as is possible, yet not the comfort or convenience. It has an impressive list of features, including a large basket and a fold that is one-handed. The only drawback to this stroller is that the brakes are difficult to engage, and they're not locked when the stroller has been folded.
Stroller Safety
The safety features of a stroller should assist in keeping your child safe while using it. Some of the top-scoring strollers we've reviewed come with a five-point safety harness that has adjustable, cushioned straps for the crotch. This allows for a customized fit. Some strollers come with a padded cushion that shields your child's head should they roll off or fall out of their seat. Some strollers feature a safety brake that locks two wheels. This is essential for strollers that run jogging as it stops them from rolling over when they're going down escalators or stairs, which can be particularly dangerous for children.
In our tests, we evaluated the strollers' maneuverability in three different ways: a stroller's ability to turn and bounce over bumps and dips, its ability to maneuver when loaded with a child and its capacity to traverse rough terrain. We also assessed the ease of opening and closing the safety harness folding and unfolding the stroller, altering its backrest and handlebar height as well as operating the brakes as being able to attach and remove car seats (if applicable).
We found that 3-wheel strollers were more maneuverable, but the advantage diminished as baby weight increased. We recommend choosing the model that has hand brakes. It will allow you to slow down or stop without having to exert the same amount of effort as your body alone. Many of the top-scoring swivel-wheel strollers do not come with this option. Only one of our best-rated fixed-wheel strollers has it.
It's important to consider how often you will have to take your stroller on a set of stairs or an escalator and whether or not it will be safe to do it while the stroller is in its position. Elevators and stairs pose more dangers because they move mechanical components, making it difficult to control the movements of the stroller. We suggest finding a solution to these hazards, like an elevator, if you can or have a person else to carry the stroller up and down with you. Some of the top-scoring strollers may be taken up or down a set of stairs with the safety brake engaged. However, it's better to be safe rather than regretting.