3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies offer superb maneuverability, and are a stylish, sleek frame. A lot of them have a fabric sling with a cosy lay flat bed, which is ideal for weight distribution and are ideal starting at birth.
The wheels are bigger and, in many cases, come with suspension for agile smooth movement on various terrains. The only downside to these wheels is that they may be bulkier and heavier to store and transport.
Stability
Three-wheel buggies provide lots of stability. They don't tip over as easily when you are going straight. You can also manoeuvre them more quickly. If you stop or turn abruptly, they can lose stability and even tip over. To avoid this, certain manufacturers add an additional wheel to their 3 wheel buggy designs to increase the stability of the chassis.
You can also take on off-road terrain by adding an extra wheel. Look out for models with air-filled tyres (also called pneumatic tyres) as they are able to deal with off-road paths as well as other surfaces such as rocks, sand and mud. They'll also typically include the option of locking the front wheel to give stability over rough terrain.
With the correct geometry, engineering and weight distribution these buggies can be turned on a dime - easy to steer with one hand; have 360o front swivel wheels allowing agility and mobility to be effortless and light to handle. They'll also pass the same rigorous stability standards and tests as the 4-wheel buggies.
If you're looking for a cloth sling seat, 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 have to exert the same amount of pressure or exertion to get the buggy up and over a Kerb).
Maxi-Cosi is most well-known for its car seat range however, it recently expanded its product line with the Citylife lightweight travel system and pushchair. This 3-in-1 is perfect for urban life, and comes with a baby car seat or carrycot. It has 4 wheels and uses an exclusive pewter black aluminium frame, which the brand claims is 'light and compact'. It's just 2cm larger than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a variety of 3 wheel buggies that fold compactly to fit in smaller spaces. A lot of these buggies can be folded with one hand, and are easy to clean. The smallest models will feature an easy handlebar height adjustment, while others may have an adjustable suspension as well as an extended 50+ UV canopy. Certain models may come with large baskets and brake levers that are quick-release.
The best 3 wheeler for rocky terrain
A 3-wheeled buggy is usually better equipped to handle off-road terrain compared to a 4-wheeled model but both can get stuck on tight corners. A model with bigger front and rear wheels will help. This makes it easier to push them across rough terrain and will assist you in climbing up and down high curbs.
One option is the new Roma Atlas, which has been praised for its agile handling despite its 3-wheel design. MFM reviewer Kath tried it with her infant and 3-year-old and said "it is very well-handled over bumpy pavements, cobbles dirt roads and gravel tracks and also on a few hills."
Another alternative is the new all-terrain 3 wheel buggy from Maxi-Cosi's car seat brand which is called Stella. It is suitable for babies from birth when used with a carrycot. It's a bit bigger than the 4-wheelers that are lighter, but it has air-filled tires and three recline positions and an easy fold with one hand.
Its main selling feature is its modularity - it's compatible with all of the brands' 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 buggies come in a variety of styles and materials, and each comes with its pros and cons. For instance, air-filled tyres, offer a smooth ride and great maneuverability while foam-filled tires are more durable. The kind of tyre you pick will be determined by your lifestyle and the place you reside.
For example, if you plan to travel often on rough or unpaved terrain, you might want to consider an all-wheeler with more durable tires. Also, you should consider the type of suspension you need. Suspensions that are strong are ideal for tackling bumps and humps however they can be quite heavy and add to the overall weight.
The size of the tyre is crucial. Understanding how to understand tyre sizing is vital to ensure safety performance, durability, and performance. The combination of numbers and letters on a tyre's sidewall can be confusing at first, but decoding it allows you to understand the dimensions of the tyre. A tyre that has the size 185/70 R14 for instance, means that it is a radial tire in 185/70 and has 14-inch rim diameter.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are also lighter and more puncture resistant than rubber ones. If you're unsure whether a pushchair has rubber or PU tires, try sliding the tires on a smooth surface and tie them. If they move easily, then the tires are made from PU. If not, they are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three-wheel buggy can make it more comfortable for your child as it absorbs any knocks or bumps that occur from rough terrain. Large wheels that are air-filled and that can be locked to ensure stability when jogging are also crucial. This will allow your buggy to travel on off-road surfaces with ease.
There are many options for buggy styles that will suit any budget and style of life. For instance the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a 3-wheel buggies. Their fabrics sling seats are designed with perfect geometry and engineering that fits snugly inside the frame, rather than sitting on top like modular seats. This gives a lower center of gravity and allows it to be placed at the right height to spread weight evenly to conquer kerbs.
Another option that is worth considering is the Urban Glide 2 from Thule that boasts a sleek style with large highly manoeuvrable front wheel, a great suspension and an easy-to-use handbrake with a twist. MFM reviewer Kath took this buggy to the test by taking it for an excursion through the rough terrain and she was impressed with how it handled the terrain really well saying that it 'navigates easily over grass, bumpy cobbles, pavements, dirt tracks and even makes light work of climbing and descending the kerbs'.
3 wheeled pushchair is another popular off-road model and, similar to the Urban Glide 2, comes in a variety of colors to complement 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 selection of infant car seats that transform the buggy into a pram. This includes the chicly designed carrycot plus(tm) that is a comfortable lie-flat crib for babies and infants up to 12 months old.
Safety
Four wheels make the pushchair much more stable and less likely to tip over and easier to maneuver. It also makes it safer for your child because the weight of their body is evenly dispersed across the frame.
A four-wheeled buggy also tends to have a lower center of gravity and therefore is easier to lift up and over curbs. The seats of the fabric sling are built into the frame rather than on top of it like modular seats. This creates a low seating position and an automobile that is easily maneuvered.
However, if you want to go out for a run with your baby then a 4-wheeler might be better suited since it comes with a suspension system that allows the front wheel to move independently of the back wheel which allows you to navigate bumpy roads and rough terrain Be aware that not all 4 wheel buggies 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.