3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies offer superb maneuverability with a stylish and streamlined frame. Many of them have a fabric sling seat with a cosy lying flat bed and excellent weight distribution, ideal from birth.
The wheels are larger and often come with suspensions to allow for smooth, agile movement on different terrains. The only drawback to these wheels is that they tend to be bulkier and heavier to transport and store.
Stability
Three wheel buggies are remarkably solid - they don't fall over as easily as pushchairs that have four wheels when going in a straight line. Also, you'll notice that you can maneuver them more quickly and easily. If you stop or turn abruptly, they could lose stability and even tip over. Some manufacturers add an extra wheel to their 3-wheel buggy designs to improve the stability of the chassis.
The additional wheel can also help you to tackle off-road terrain. Choose models that have air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres) that can be used to handle off-road trails, sand, dirt, as well as other surfaces such as rock and sand. They'll also come with a lockable front wheel to provide stability on rough ground.
Buggies are easy to maneuver and agile thanks to the 360o front swivel wheel. They will also pass the same stability standards globally and test as 4-wheel buggies.
If you're looking for a cloth sling seat, they tend to be set lower in the frame than modular seats so that your baby's centre of gravity is closer to the ground which means a smoother ride and a less noticeable kerb pop (you don't have to exert the same amount of pressure or effort to lift the buggy up and over a curb).
Maxi-Cosi is most well-known for its car seats however, it recently expanded its product range with the Citylife compact travel system and pushchair. This 3-in-1 is ideal for urban living and comes with a newborn car seat or carrycot. It has 4 wheels and has an exclusive black pewter frame, which the brand claims is 'light and compact'. 3 wheeler pushchair 's just 2cm larger than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a good choice of 3 wheel buggies that fold compactly to fit into smaller space. Many of these buggies can be folded with one hand, and are easy to clean. The smallest models will have an easy adjustable height of the handlebars, while others could have an adjustable suspension or an expandable 50+ UV canopy. Some models could have an enormous basket as well as a brake lever that is quick-release.
The most efficient 3 wheel buggy to tackle rough terrain
A 3-wheeled vehicle is generally better equipped to handle off-road conditions in comparison to a model with four wheels however both can be a bit stuck on tight corners. A model with bigger rear and front wheels can assist. This makes them easier to push across rough terrain and can help in moving up and down the high kerbs.
The brand new Roma Atlas has been praised by many for its remarkable agility despite its 3-wheeled design. MFM reviewer Kath tried it with her infant and 3-year-old and said "it is very well-handled over cobbles, bumpy pavements, gravel tracks and dirt roads and also on some hills."
Another great alternative is the new 3-wheel buggy that is all-terrain from Maxi-Cosi's car seat brand named Stella. It's suitable for babies when used with the carrycot. It's smaller than the light 4wheelers (with an impressively slim frame of 54cm wide) but it comes with big air-filled tyres, three recline positions and a fast one-hand fold.
3 wheeled pushchair is its modularity - it's compatible with all the brands' infant car seats and strollers. You can create your own travel system, regardless of whether you're planning to take a shorter walk or a longer one, using the chassis.
Tyres
The tyres for 3 wheel buggies come in many styles and materials. Each comes with its own pros and cons. For instance, air-filled tyres, offer a smooth ride and great manoeuvrability while foam-filled tires are more durable. The type of tyre you choose will depend on your lifestyle and where you live.
If you plan to travel on roads that are not paved or on rough terrain frequently, you might be interested in a three-wheeler with more durable tyres. Think about the type of suspension you require. The suspensions that are strong are great to deal with humps and bumps but they can also be heavy, adding to the overall weight.
Another aspect to be considered is the size of the tyre. Understanding how to read the tyre's size is essential for safety, performance and durability. The combination of numbers and letters on a tyre sidewall may be confusing until you get the hang of it, you will be able to understand the tyre dimensions. A tyre with an 185/70 size R14 for instance indicates that it is a radial tire that has a size of the 185/70 size with a 14-inch rim diameter.
PU tires are lighter and more puncture-resistant than rubber tires. If you aren't sure if the tires on a pushchair are made of rubber or PU, simply slide the tires across a smooth surface. If the tires slide easily and smoothly, they're made of PU. If not, then they are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three wheel buggy will make it more comfortable for your child because it absorbs any knocks or bumps that occur from rough terrain. A large wheel that are ideally air-filled and can be locked to ensure stability while jogging is also important as this will ensure your buggy is capable of maneuvering off roads with ease.
There are many options for buggy styles to suit every lifestyle and budget. For example, the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a 3-wheel buggies. With the perfect geometry and engineering their fabric sling seat sits snug inside the frame as opposed to sitting on top like modular seats, resulting in an lower center of gravity and sitting at the perfect height to ensure optimal weight distribution that allows it to easily handle the kerb pops.
Another option worth considering is the Urban Glide 2 from Thule that has a sleek design with a massive, manoeuvrable front wheel, excellent suspension and an easy-to-use handbrake with a twist. MFM reviewer Kath tested the buggy its tests by walking on a rough terrain. She found that it was able to handle it very well, saying that it "navigates over grass, bumpy cobbles, sidewalks, and dirt tracks and makes it easy to go up and down kerbs".
The Roma Atlas, like the Urban Glide 2 is a popular off-road option. It is available in a variety of colours that will complement your style. It also features an adjustable handlebar, a spacious basket and an ultraviolet hood that is 50+. You can also select from a selection of infant car seats that will transform the buggy into pram. This includes the elegantly designed Carrycot Plus(tm) that is a comfy lie-flat bed for newborns or babies up to 12 month old.
Safety
Four wheels make the pushchair more stable, less likely for it to tip over and is easier to maneuver. It is also more secure for your baby since their weight is distributed more evenly across the frame of the pushchair.
A four-wheel buggy also tends to have a lower center of gravity and is therefore easier to lift up and over curbs. The seat made of fabric is inside the frame rather than over it as modular seats. This creates a low seating position, and a lighter buggy that is more easily maneuvered.
However, if you'd like to go out for an exercise with your child then a 4-wheeler may be better suited since it comes with a suspension system 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 like the Phil and Teds). The exception is Mountain Buggies which have a specially-designed suspension system that has been tested by an independent party across all kinds of terrain.