3 Wheel Compact Stroller Review

There are three-wheel strollers that fit all ages regardless of whether you're looking for a jogging stroller or a stroller for all-purpose use every day. 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 most effective strollers have features that make traveling with your child a lot easier. Look for features that simplify life, such as a large storage bin, parent tray with cup holders, a movable canopy, and more, when shopping for the latest stroller. It's crucial to decide the features that are important to you and your family members and those you can live without.

The BOB Gear Wayfinder, our top-rated jogging stroller, comes with a variety of useful features to keep moms and dads content and comfortable. The handlebar adjusts to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of different sizes and the wrist strap can help ensure that the stroller doesn't slide away when you're jogging. The Wayfinder has the largest sunshade of all the strollers we tested and a glass opening at the top that allows children to see out while they rest. 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.

The stroller is equipped with a hand brake to help you maintain control on slick surfaces. It folds into the size of a compact, slim package that takes up a tiny space in the trunk of your vehicle, and it can be converted into a travel system using certain infant car seats from brands such as Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex with the purchase of an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.

If you're planning to tackle rough terrains, solid tires are essential for any stroller. While they don't provide the same degree of comfort as air-filled or foam-filled tires, they're great for navigating potholes and bumps effortlessly.

This jogging stroller features a fold-up that takes just two steps. It locks when folded, and is compact enough to fit in most elevators. However it's not as simple to maneuver as some of our other strollers with four wheels, and the mechanism for locking 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 like to see a more simple system where it just clicks into the position or opens when pulled.

Stroller Weight

The weight of the entire unit is an important consideration. A heavier stroller is likely to be more stable than a lighter one and may offer better performance in rough terrain. However, many parents find that a stroller with a lighter weight is more maneuverable and more suitable for daily use.

Another crucial aspect of a stroller is the size of its wheels and type. Some strollers have larger wheels, such as jogging ones, which makes the ride easier for your baby. However, bigger wheels increase the overall weight of the stroller which can make it difficult to fold, transport, and store.

Some models in our selection include air-filled tires that are designed to offer an enjoyable and stable ride for your child, even on rough terrain. However, tires that are filled with air can easily get flat which will require you to change them out. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we suggest an option with sturdy tires that can stand up to frequent contact with different surfaces and last for a longer time.

Strollers that have swivel wheels at the front are great to safely navigate escalators and stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most frequent stroller-related injuries. They can be especially hazardous for infants. If you cannot avoid using an escalator or stairs while using your stroller, we recommend that you only use it when the child is secured in the seat. Also ensure that they are close to you as you walk up and down.

Some strollers are sold as complete travel systems where the car seat and stroller are sold as a single unit. While these types of products typically boast attractive price tags and offer convenience by reducing shopping time however, they are typically more expensive than their standalone counterparts and might not perform in the long haul. In addition, many parents later regret buying a bundled product as it might not have all the features they want or may turn out to not be compatible with their car or child's seat. If you want to upgrade in the near future, we recommend that you purchase a stroller separately from car seats or capsules.

Stroller Folding

The best compact 3 wheel double buggy wheel strollers are easy to fold and store. Some even lock in place automatically when you open them. This feature can be especially beneficial for families that frequently take public transportation or drive prior to going for a a walk.

Three-wheel strollers are designed to maneuver through tight spaces such as aisles of grocery stores and other crowded areas with ease. They are often equipped with suspension systems that provide a smoother ride, which is especially useful on sidewalks that are bumpy.

The Guava Roam is a compact jogging stroller. It's an elegant stroller that can also be used as part of a travel system, with adapters for car seats to fit Nuna, MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats, and the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller comes with a simple two-step fold and locks in place when it is opened.

Another stylish 3 wheeler buggy-wheel jogging stroller is the Babyzen Yoyo 2. It's a bit more expensive than our top choices, but it's well worth the money for those who love to travel or live in an urban area. The lightweight stroller folds down to a compact size (20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1) and features an adjustable, padded, five-point no-rethread harness and a large basket. It can also be used as a pram for newborns or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).

The Babyzen is a great product with a few nice features. It has a spacious recline, and it also has extra storage. However there are some parents who are dissatisfied by its performance. The seat doesn't lie flat when reclined and there are no cups or a tray for snacks for children. The brakes are difficult to engage, and the handlebar height is too high for a lot of short moms.

The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that's designed to be as light as possible without skimping on the comfort or convenience. It comes with a long list of impressive features including a large basket and a one handed fold. The only drawback to this stroller is that the brakes are a little difficult to engage, and they're not locking when the stroller is folded.

Stroller Safety

The safety features of a stroller should help to keep your child safe during use. The top-scoring strollers we've reviewed have a five-point safety harness with adjustable and padding straps for crotch. This allows for a customised 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 come with a safety lock that secures both wheels. This is particularly important for walkers who jog, as it stops them from falling over while walking up and down escalators and stairs.

In our tests, we rated the maneuverability of strollers in three different ways: a stroller's ability to rotate and bounce over dips and bumps, its maneuverability when laden with a child and its ability to travel over rough surfaces. We also evaluated the ease of opening and closing the safety harness, folding and unfolding the stroller, changing the backrest and height of the handlebar and operating the brakes as being able to attach and remove car seats (if applicable).

We found that 3 wheel pushchair off road-wheel strollers were easier to maneuver however, the advantages diminished as baby weight increased. We recommend choosing a model with hand brakes. It will help you slow down or stop without putting in the same effort as your body alone. However, the majority of top-scoring swivel wheel strollers do not offer this feature, and only one of our top fixed-wheel models comes with it.

It's also important to think about the frequency you'll need to transport your stroller down the stairs or an escalator, and whether or not it will be safe to do this while the stroller is in its place. Elevators and stairs are more hazardous because they have moving mechanical components which make it difficult to control your stroller. If you can choose to, we suggest using an elevator or having another adult help you carry the stroller. Some of the top-scoring strollers can be taken onto the stairs or an escalator, with their safety brake locked and engaged, but it's always safer to be safe than not be.