3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review
If you're a fitness fanatic in search of 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. The 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 have features that make traveling with your child more comfortable. Whether you're shopping for a brand new 3-wheel or a 4-wheel stroller, look for convenience features like a large storage basket as well as a tray for the parent with cup holders, an adjustable canopy, and more. It's crucial to decide what features are important to you and your family and those you can live without.
The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller with a variety of useful features to keep moms and dads happy and comfortable. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of all sizes, and the wrist strap is designed to ensure that the stroller doesn't slide away when you're running. The Wayfinder has the largest sunshade of the strollers we tested, and a glass opening at the top that allows children to look out when they are resting. Jenni's 3-year-old son found the seat to have comfortable padding, so bumps on the road didn't cause any discomfort for him.
This jogging stoller comes with the handbrake to help keep control on slippery surfaces. It can be folded into a slim, compact package that will take only a tiny space in your trunk. You can also transform it into an e-travel system by purchasing an adapter. It is also compatible with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.
If you plan on tackling rough terrain, tires are essential for strollers of any kind. Solid tires aren't as comfortable as air-filled or spongy-filled tires, but they're excellent for navigating bumps and potholes.
This stroller for jogging has an easy-to-use fold that takes just two steps. It locks into position when folded and is compact enough to fit in most elevators. However, it's not as easy to move around as our other 4-wheel strollers and the lock mechanism is a bit difficult to understand. It's as simple as pressing an arrow near the foot area at the front of stroller and then lifting the handle. We'd rather have a simpler system that just clicks in place or opens by pulling.
Stroller Weight
The weight of the entire unit is an important consideration. A stroller that is heavier is more stable and can perform better on uneven terrain. However, many parents discover that a stroller with a lighter weight is easier to maneuver and more suitable for use in everyday situations.
The type and size of the wheels is an important aspect. Some strollers come with larger wheels, like jogging ones that can make the ride more comfortable for your baby. However, larger wheels increase the overall weight of the stroller which can make it more difficult to fold, transport, and store.
Certain models we offer 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 need to be changed out. If you plan to take your stroller on the road a lot, we recommend that you choose one with solid wheels. 3 wheeled pushchair can be able to withstand contact with various surfaces more frequently and last longer.
Strollers with swivel wheel at the front are great for safely navigating escalators and stairs. Falls on stairs or escalators are the most common stroller injuries. They can be particularly dangerous for infants. If you are unable to avoid using the escalator and stairs with your stroller, we recommend using it when the child is secured in the seat. Also, keep them close to you when you walk up and down.
Some strollers are an integrated travel system that incorporates both the car seat as well as the stroller. These are typically more expensive and convenient than their standalone counterparts, and could not last in the long term. Many parents are disappointed when they purchase a bundle product because it may not come with all the features they want or may not be compatible with their car or child seat. If you are planning to upgrade in the future we recommend you purchase a stroller that is separate from car seats or capsules.
Stroller Folding
The best compact 3 wheel strollers fold easily and put away. Some even lock into position automatically when you open them. This feature is particularly useful for families that frequently use public transportation or drive to walk.
Three-wheeled strollers can be maneuvered effortlessly in tight spaces, such as grocery store aisles or other areas that are crowded. A lot of them are equipped with suspension systems for a smoother ride. This is particularly useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.
The Guava Roam is a lightweight jogging stroller. It's a good-looking stroller that can be used as a travel set-up with the car seat adapters for Nuna Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex infant carseats as well as the bassinet for the Uppababy (car seats and stroller board sold separately). The stroller folds in two steps and locks into position after opening.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another stylish 3-wheeled jogging stroller that looks nice. It's a bit pricier than some of our top choices, but it's worth the cost if you 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 comes with a padded, adjustable 5-point harness that is no-rethread and an ample basket. It can also be used as a pram for newborns or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).
The Babyzen is a good product that has some great features. It has a spacious recline, and also has extra storage. However some parents are disappointed by its performance. The seat doesn't lay flat when it is reclining and there are no cupholders or snack trays for kids. The brakes can be difficult to engage and the handlebars are a bit high for certain moms.
The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that's designed to be as light as is possible without skimping on comfort or ease of use. It's equipped with a lengthy list of amazing features like a huge basket and a one handed fold. The only issue with 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
The safety features of a stroller must keep 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 and padding crotch straps. This allows for a customised fit. Some strollers come with a padded cushion that protects your child's head should they fall off or roll out of their seat. Some strollers have safety brakes that lock two wheels. This is particularly important for strollers that run jogging since it prevents them from flipping over when they're going down stairs or escalators, where they could be particularly dangerous for children.
In our tests, we rated the strollers' maneuverability in three different ways: the product's ability to rotate and bounce over dips and bumps its ease of maneuvering when laden with a child and its capability to travel over rough surfaces. We also assessed the ease of opening and closing the safety harness, folding and unfolding the stroller, adjusting its backrest and handlebar height, operating the brakes, as being able to attach and remove car seats (if necessary).
We found that some 3-wheel strollers are easier to maneuver than four-wheel models However, this advantage decreases as baby gets heavier. We recommend choosing one with hand brakes. It will help you slow down or stop without having to exert the same effort as your body on its own. However, the majority of best-scoring swivel wheel strollers don't come with this feature and only one of our top-rated fixed-wheel models has it.
It is also important to consider how often you'll need to use your stroller to go up and down escalators or stairs, and if it is safe to do so. Elevators and stairs pose more of a hazard because they move mechanical components, making it difficult to control the motion of the stroller. We recommend looking for alternatives to these obstacles, like an elevator, if possible or have another adult take the stroller up and down with you. Some of the top-scoring strollers can be carried up or down a set of stairs with the safety brake engaged. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry.