3 wheel pushchair with car seat Wheel Compact Stroller Review
If you're a health-conscious person in search of an jogging stroller, or simply looking for an all-purpose stroller for use in everyday life there's a compact three-wheel stroller that is suitable for you. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Writer and Managing Editor at Sentry tested these models to the test on 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. Find features that make life easier, such as a large storage bin, parent tray with cups holders, adjustable canopy and more when you are shopping for a new stroller. The most important thing is to determine which features are non-negotiable for you and your family, and which ones you could live without.
BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for jogging. It has many practical features that keep parents comfortable and happy. The handlebar can be adjusted to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of different heights, and the wrist strap can help ensure that the stroller doesn't slide away when you're running. The Wayfinder has the largest sunshade of all the strollers we tested and a glass opening at the top that allows children to look out when they are resting. Jenni's three-year-old son found the seat to have a comfortable padding, which meant bumps in the road did not bother him.
This jogging stoller has a handbrake to help you maintain control on slippery surfaces. It folds to an extremely compact and slim size that takes up very little space in the trunk of your vehicle, and it can be converted into a travel system with the best infant car seats from brands including Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex with the purchase of an adapter. It is also compatible with the Uppababy Mesa V2 bassinet.
If you plan on tackling rough terrain, sturdy tires are a must-have for strollers of all kinds. They're not as comfortable as spongy or air-filled tires, but they're excellent for navigating potholes and bumps.
This stroller for jogging features a fold-up that requires just two steps. It locks into position when folded and is compact enough to fit in the majority of elevators. It's not as simple as our other four-wheel strollers, and the locking mechanism is a bit difficult to understand. It involves pressing the button in the foot area at the front of stroller, and then lifting the handle. We'd like to see a simpler system that simply clicks into place or opens when pulled.
Stroller Weight
The weight of the entire unit is a significant consideration. A heavier stroller is more stable and will perform better on rough terrain. Many parents find a lighter stroller easier to maneuver, and more suitable for everyday use.
Another crucial aspect of a stroller is its wheel size and type. Some strollers have larger wheels, such as jogging ones which makes the ride easier for your baby. However, larger wheels increase the overall weight of the stroller, which makes it difficult to fold and transport as well as store.
Certain models in our collection have air-filled tires that are designed to offer an enjoyable and stable ride for your child, even over rough terrain. However, air-filled tires could quickly become flat and require you to swap them out. If you plan to travel a lot with your stroller, we recommend an option with sturdy tires that can withstand regular contact with various surfaces and last for a longer time.
Strollers with swivel wheel at the front are great to safely navigate escalators and stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most common stroller-related injuries and can be particularly hazardous for infants. If you cannot avoid using the stairs or escalator with your stroller, we suggest using it only when the child is safely strapped into the seat. Keep them close to you as you walk up or down.
Some strollers are available as a complete travel system in which the car seat and stroller are sold as a unit. These are typically more expensive and less convenient than their separate counterparts and may not perform well in the long-term. Many parents regret buying a bundle product because it may not have all the features they want or be incompatible with their child's car seat or. If you are planning to upgrade in the future, we recommend that you buy a stroller separate from car seats or capsules.
Stroller Folding
The best compact 3 wheel strollers are easy to fold and put away. Some even lock into the position automatically after you open them. This feature can be particularly beneficial for families that frequently use public transportation or drive before going on walks.
Three-wheel strollers are designed to navigate through tight spaces such as aisles in grocery stores and other crowded areas with ease. Many are equipped with suspension systems to provide an easier ride. This is especially beneficial on sidewalks that are bumpy.
The Guava Roam is a compact jogging stroller. 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 for the Uppababy (car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller features simple two-step fold, and can be locked once it is opened.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another attractive 3 wheel stroller with seat-wheeled jogging stroller with a nice design. This stroller is more expensive than our top choices, but is worth it if frequently or live in the city. This stroller is lightweight and can be folded down to a small 20 17x7 inch size. It comes with five-point, non-rethread, cushioned harness. It can be used as a stroller for infants and young toddlers with an infant car seat adapter.
The Babyzen is a quality product that has some great features. It offers a large recline, and also has extra storage. However some parents are disappointed with its performance. The seat isn't completely flat when reclined, and there aren't any cups or a snack tray for kids. The brakes can be a little difficult to engage and the handlebars are a bit high for some moms.
The Graco Fastaction stroller is designed to be as lightweight as possible, without the comfort or convenience. It comes with a plethora of features, including a large basket and a one-handed fold. The only issue with this stroller is that the brakes are difficult to activate, and they're not locking when the stroller has been folded.
Stroller Safety
The safety features of a stroller should ensure your child's safety while using it. Some of the top-scoring products in our review have five-point harnesses with adjustable crotch straps that are padded and padded that allow for a customised fit. Others have a padded seat cushion to shield your child's head should they fall out of the seat or fall off. Some strollers are equipped with the safety lock that locks both wheels. This is particularly important for jogging walkers, as it prevents them from tumbling over while walking up and down escalators and stairs.
In our tests the maneuverability of strollers was evaluated in three distinct ways. We scored it based on the ability to turn and bounce when bumps and dips are encountered and its comfort with a child loaded and its capacity to navigate over rough terrain. We also assessed the ease of opening and closing the safety harness as well as folding and unfolding the stroller, changing the height of its backrest and handlebar, operating the brakes, as being able to attach and remove car seats (if appropriate).
We discovered that some 3 wheel stroller for newborn-wheel strollers are simpler to maneuver than four-wheel models, but this advantage diminishes as baby gets heavier. This is why we suggest choosing a model that has hand brakes, which assists you in slowing down and stop without as much exertion as using body power alone. However, many of the best-scoring swivel wheel strollers don't offer this feature, and only one of our top fixed-wheel models has it.
It's important to consider the frequency that you will need to take your stroller up the stairs or an escalator, and if or not it will be safe to do it with the stroller still in the same place. Escalators and stairs present greater risk due to the fact that they move mechanical parts that make it difficult to control the motion of the stroller. We suggest finding a solution to these obstacles, like an elevator, if possible or have a person else 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. However, it's better to be safe than regretting.