20 Myths About 3 Wheel Buggies: Debunked
3 Wheel Buggies
Three-wheel buggies look elegant and sleek, with great maneuverability. Many of these have an upholstered sling that has a comfortable lay flat bed, perfect weight distribution and are ideal from birth.
The wheels are larger and often have suspensions for smooth movement over different terrains. The only drawback is that they could be heavier and more bulkier to store & transport.
Stability
Three wheel buggies are very stable - they don't tip over as easily as pushchairs that have four wheels when going in a straight line, and you'll be able to move them more quickly and easily. If you turn or stop abruptly, they could lose stability and even tip over. Some manufacturers add an extra wheel to their 3 wheel twin stroller-wheel buggy designs in order to increase the stability of the chassis.
You can also take on off-road terrain using the additional wheel. Choose models with air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres) that are able to take on off-road trails, sand, mud, and other surfaces like rocks and sand. They'll also typically include the option of locking the front wheel to give stability over rough terrain.
With the correct design, engineering and weight distribution these buggies can turn at a moment's notice easy to steer with just one hand; feature 360o front swivel wheel that allows mobility and agility to be easy and light in handling. They will also pass the same stability standards worldwide and tests as buggies with four wheels.
If you're looking for a cloth sling, then they are typically placed lower in the frame than modular seats, so that your baby's centre of gravity is closer to the floor and provides a more comfortable ride and less kerb pop (you don't need to apply the same amount of pressure or exertion to get the buggy up and over the kerb).
Maxi-Cosi is a household name for its car seats, but it recently expanded its product line with the Citylife lightweight travel system and pushchair. The 3-in-1 model was designed for urban living and is compatible for newborns with a carrycot or infant car seat. It comes with four wheels and an exclusive pewter-black aluminum frame that the brand calls'slim' and compact. It's just 2cm wider than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There are many three wheel buggies that can be folded in a compact way to fit into smaller spaces. Many of them can be folded using one hand and are simple to wash down. The smallest models will feature a simple handlebar height adjustment, while others may feature an adjustable suspension as well as an extendable 50+ UV canopy. They could also come with an enormous, spacious basket and a quick-release brake lever.
The most reliable 3 wheel buggy for tackling rough terrain
A 3 wheel baby stroller-wheeler will typically be more adept at dealing with off-road terrain than a 4-wheel model, but both can be stuck in difficult places. However, selecting a model with larger wheels on both sides can help. This will make them easier to push over uneven ground and is often helpful in getting up and down high kerbs.
The brand new Roma Atlas has been praised by many for its surprising agility despite its three-wheeled design. MFM reviewer Kath tried it with her baby and 3-year-old and said "it is very well-handled over bumpy pavements, cobbles, gravel tracks and dirt roads as well as on a few hills."
Stella, the new 3 wheel pushchair with car seat-wheel all-terrain buggy from Maxi-Cosi is a great alternative. It's suitable for babies when used with the carrycot. It's a smaller than the light 4wheelers (with a surprisingly slim frame of 54cm wide) but has big air-filled tyres, three recline positions, and a swift one-hand fold.
Its most appealing feature is its modularity - it's compatible across all the brand's baby strollers and car seats. This means you can create your ideal travel system for your day-to-day or longer walks, using only the chassis as a foundation.
Tyres
The tyres for 3 wheel bassinet stroller wheel buggies are available in a variety of styles and types of materials. Each has its own pros and cons. For instance, air-filled tyres provide a smooth ride and manoeuvrability, while foam-filled tyres last longer. The type you choose will depend on your needs and where you live.
For example, if you plan to travel often on rough or unpaved terrain, you might be interested in a 3-wheeler with sturdier tyres. Take into consideration the type of suspension you require. Suspensions that are strong are ideal to tackle humps and bumps but they can also be heavy and add to the overall weight.
Another aspect to be considered is the size of the tyre. Knowing how to understand tyre sizing is vital for ensuring safety as well as performance and durability. The combination of letters and numbers on a tyre sidewall may appear confusing until you get the hang of it, you'll be able to comprehend the tyre's dimensions. For instance, a tyre size of "185/70 R14' means that the tire is a 185/70 radial that has 14 inches of rim diameter.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are also lighter and more puncture resistant than rubber ones. If you aren't sure if a pushchair's tires are rubber or PU, simply slide the tires across the surface with a smooth surface. If they slide easily then the tires are made from PU. If not, they are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension on a three wheel buggy is a vital component to look for because it absorbs the jolts and bumps of rough terrain making it much more comfortable for your baby. Having large wheels, that are ideally air-filled and lockable for stability during jogging is crucial to ensure that your buggy will be capable of navigating off roads with ease.
Depending on the type of buggie you're seeking There are choices to fit every lifestyle and budgets. For instance the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a 3-wheel buggies. With perfect geometry and engineering their sling seat made of fabric sits snug within the frame, as opposed to sitting on top like modular seats, providing the lowest centre of gravity and sitting at the right height for optimal weight distribution, allowing it to easily take on kerb pops.
The Urban Glide 2 by Thule is another great option. It sports a sleek design, a huge wheel that is easy to maneuver and comes with a superb suspension. It also has an adjustable handbrake that can be turned to make it easier of use. MFM reviewer Kath put this buggy through its paces by walking on a rough terrain. She found that it was able to handle it very well and claimed that it "navigates over grass, bumpy cobbles, sidewalks, and dirt tracks, and makes it easy to drive up and down kerbs".
The Roma Atlas is another popular off-road model and, like the Urban Glide 2, comes in a range of colours to match your style. It also comes with an adjustable handlebar, a spacious basket, and an ultraviolet hood that is 50+. You can also pick from a variety of infant car seats that transform the buggy into pram. This includes the elegantly designed Carrycot Plus(tm), which is a comfortable lie-flat bed for newborns or babies until 12 months old.
Safety
Four wheels make the buggy more stable, less likely for it to tip over, and more easy to maneuver. It also makes it safer for your child because the weight of their body is evenly dispersed across the frame.
A four-wheel buggy also tends to have a lower center of gravity, making it easier to lift up and over curbs. The fabric sling seat sits in the frame instead of over it as modular seats. This makes for a low-slung seating position and a comparatively lighter buggy that is more easily maneuverable.
However, if you'd like to go out for an exercise with your child then a 4-wheeler might be better suited since it has suspension that allows the front wheel to move independently of the back one so you can tackle rough terrains and bumpy roads Be aware that not all buggies with 4 wheels are suitable for running (most aren't, such as the Phil and Teds). The exception is Mountain Buggies which have a specially-designed suspension system that has been tested by an independent party on all types of terrain.