3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies offer superb maneuverability, and are a stylish, slim frame. Many of them come with an upholstered sling that has a comfortable lay flat bed, perfect weight distribution and are ideal for babies from the age of.
The wheels are larger, and they also often have suspensions for smooth movements on different terrains. The only drawback is that they may be heavier and more bulkier to store and transport.
Stability
Three-wheel buggies offer a lot of stability. They don't tip over as easily when going straight. They also allow you to maneuver more swiftly. If you attempt to stop or turn abruptly, they'll lose stability and could fall over. For this reason, certain manufacturers add an additional wheel to their three wheel buggy designs to improve the stability of the chassis.
The additional wheel also allows you to tackle off-road terrain. Find models with air-filled tires (also called pneumatic tyres) that can be used to handle off-road trails, sand, mud, and other surfaces such as rock and sand. These models will also have a lockable wheel in the front to improve stability on rough terrain.
The buggies are simple to maneuver and agile, thanks to a 360o front swivel wheel. They also pass the same global stability standards and tests as buggies with four wheels.
If you're looking for a cloth sling, then these tend to be placed lower in the frame than modular seats so that your baby's center of gravity is closer to the ground which means a smoother ride and less kerb pop (you do not need to apply the same amount of pressure or effort to lift the buggy over and up a curb).
Popular for its car seats, Maxi-Cosi has recently added an ultra-light pushchair and travel system to its product line with the eye-catching Citylife. This 3-in-1 is perfect for urban living, and comes with a baby car seat or carrycot. It comes with 4 wheels and uses an exclusive pewter black aluminium frame that the manufacturer claims is 'slim and compact'. It's just 2cm larger than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There are many 3 wheel buggies which can be folded down to fit into smaller spaces. Many of these buggies can be folded with one hand and are easy to clean. The smallest models will feature a simple adjustable height of the handlebars, while others may feature an adjustable suspension or an expandable 50+ UV canopy. Some models could have a large basket and a brake lever that is quick-release.
The best 3 wheel buggy to tackle rough terrain
A 3-wheeler is likely to be better able to cope with off-road conditions better than one with four wheels, however both can get stuck in difficult spots. But, picking a model that has larger wheels both front and back can help. This will make them easier to push over rough ground and is often helpful in moving up and down steep kerbs.
The 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 handles really well over cobbles, bumpy pavements, gravel tracks and dirt roads and also on some hills."
Stella, the new 3-wheel all-terrain buggy from Maxi-Cosi, is another option. It's suitable from birth when used in conjunction with the carrycot. It's a slightly larger than the lighter 4wheelers (with a surprisingly slim frame of 54cm wide) however it has large, air-filled tyres, 3 recline positions and a fast one-hand fold.
Its primary selling point is its modularity. It's compatible across all the brand's baby strollers and car seats. This means that you can design your ideal travel system for your day-to-day or longer walks, using just the chassis as a foundation.
Tyres
The tyres on 3 wheel buggies are available in a variety of styles and materials, and each has its pros and cons. Air-filled tyres, for example offer an effortless ride and superior maneuverability, while foam-filled tires are more durable. The type of tyre you select 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 may be interested in a 3-wheeler with sturdier tires. Think about the type of suspension you require. A strong suspension is ideal for handling bumps and humps, however it can be heavy and add to the overall weight of your pushchair.
Another important factor to consider is the tyre's size. Knowing how to read the size of the tyre is crucial for safety, performance and longevity. The combination of numbers and letters on a tyre sidewall may appear confusing until you get the hang of it, you can understand the tyre dimensions. A tyre having a size of 185/70 R14 for instance, means that it is a radial tire in 185/70 with 14-inch rim size.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are also lighter and more puncture-resistant than rubber ones. If you aren't sure if the tires of a pushchair are rubber or PU, slide the tires on the surface with a smooth surface. If the tires slide easily, they are made of PU. If they don't, then the tires are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension on a 3 wheel buggy is an important element to look for as it will absorb the bumps and knocks 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 essential to ensure that your buggy will be capable of navigating off roads with ease.
Depending on the type of buggy you're looking for There are a variety of options that will fit all lifestyles and budgets. For example, the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a three-wheel buggie. Their sling seats made of fabrics are designed with perfect geometry and engineering to fit perfectly inside the frame rather than sitting on top like modular seats. This provides an lower center of gravity and sits at the ideal height to distribute weight evenly to conquer kerbs.
The Urban Glide 2 by Thule is a great alternative. It sports sleek design, a huge wheel that's easy to maneuver and combines it with exemplary suspension. It also features the twist handbrake to facilitate ease of use. MFM reviewer Kath put the buggy through its trials by taking it for a walk on a rough terrain. She found that it performed admirably and said that it "navigates over bumpy grass, cobbles, sidewalks and dirt tracks and allows you to easily go up and down kerbs".
The Roma Atlas is another popular off road option and like the Urban Glide 2, comes with a variety of colours to match your style. It also comes with a movable handlebar as well as a large basket. You can also pick from a range of infant car seats that transform the buggy into a pram. 3 wheel double buggy includes the stylishly designed Carrycot Plus(tm) that is a comfortable lie-flat mattress for babies and infants up to 12 month old.
Safety
The presence of four wheels makes the pushchair much more stable, less likely to tip and easier to maneuver. It also makes it more secure for your child since the weight of their body is evenly distributed across the frame.
A four-wheeled buggy has lower center of gravity, which makes it easier to get over curbs and get up. The fabric sling seats are positioned inside the frame, not on top like modular seats. This results in a low seat and a buggy that can be easily maneuvered.
If you're planning to run with your child, then a 4-wheeler is the ideal option. It comes with a suspension system that allows the front wheel of the buggie to move independently from the rear. This allows you to tackle rough terrains or bumpy roads. However it is not the case that all 4 wheel buggies can be used for running. Mountain Buggies are the exception since they feature an exclusive suspension system that has been tested independently across all types of terrain.