3 Wheel Buggies
Three-wheel buggies look stylish and sleek, with excellent maneuverability. Many of these have a fabric sling with an incredibly comfortable lay flat bed, which is ideal for weight distribution, and are perfect starting at birth.
The wheels are bigger and often have suspension to ensure smooth, agile movement on different terrains. The only drawback to these wheels is that they tend to be more bulky and heavy to transport and store.
Stability
Three-wheel buggies offer a lot of stability. They don't fall over more easily when moving straight. They also allow you to maneuver faster. If you turn or stop 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.
The additional wheel can also help you tackle off-road terrain. Choose 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 on the front to increase stability over rough terrain.
With the right design, engineering, and weight distribution these buggies can turn on a dime - easy to steer with just one hand; they have 360o front swivel wheels allowing agility and mobility to be easy and light to handle. They also meet the same stability standards globally and test as 4-wheel buggies.
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 centre of gravity is closer to the ground which means a smoother ride and a lighter kerb pop (you do not need to apply the same amount of pressure or effort to lift the buggy up and over a curb).
Best known for its car seats, Maxi-Cosi has recently added a light travel system and pushchair to its line-up with the attractive Citylife. This 3-in-1 model is designed for urban living and is compatible for newborns with a carrycot or infant car seat. It has 4 wheels and an exclusive pewter black aluminium frame that the manufacturer claims is 'slim and compact' - it's actually only 2cm wider than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a good choice of 3 wheel buggies that fold down to fit into smaller space. Many of these buggies can be folded in one hand and are easy-to-clean. The smallest models will feature an easy adjustable height of the handlebars, while others could have an adjustable suspension as well as an extended 50+ UV canopy. Some models may have an enormous basket as well as a brake lever that is quick-release.
The best 3 wheel buggy to tackle rough terrain
A 3-wheel buggy will usually be more adept at dealing with off-road conditions than one with four wheels, however both can get stuck in difficult places. However, choosing a model with bigger wheels both front and back will help. This will make them easier to push over rough ground and is often helpful in moving up and down the high kerbs.
One option is the latest Roma Atlas, which has been praised for its surprisingly agile handling despite its 3-wheel design. MFM reviewer Kath tested it with her baby and 3-year-old and said "it does really well on bumpy pavements, cobbles gravel tracks and dirt roads and also on a few hills."
Another great option is the latest all-terrain 3 wheel buggy made by car seat brand Maxi-Cosi which is called Stella. It's suitable for babies when used in conjunction with the carrycot. It's a slightly larger than the lighter 4wheelers (with an impressively slim frame of 54cm wide) but it comes with big, air-filled tyres, 3 recline positions, and a swift one-hand fold.
3 wheeler pushchair is its modularity, though it's compatible with all of the car seats for infants from the brand and strollers. You can build your own travel system, regardless of whether you want to go on an easy stroll or a longer one, by using the chassis.
Tyres
The tyres for 3 wheel buggies are available in a variety of designs 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 type of tyre you select will be determined by your lifestyle and the place it is that you live.
If you plan to travel on unpaved roads or rough terrain often, you might think about a three-wheeler with more robust tyres. Take into consideration the kind of suspension you need. Strong suspensions are useful to deal with humps and bumps but they can also be heavy, adding to the overall weight.
The size of the tyre is also crucial. Knowing how to read the size of the tyre is crucial for safety, performance and longevity. The combination of letters and numbers on a tyre's sidewall can seem initially, but decoding it will allow you to comprehend the tyre's dimensions. A tyre with a size of 185/70 R14, for example is a radial tire that has a size of 185/70 and has a 14-inch rim diameter.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are less heavy and puncture resistant than rubber ones. If you aren't sure if a pushchair's tires are rubber or PU, slide the tires on the surface with a smooth surface. If they slide easily, then the tires are made of PU. If they do not then the tires are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three-wheeled buggy can make it more comfortable for your child since it absorbs any bumps or knocks caused by rough terrain. Large wheels that are air-filled and are able to be locked to ensure stability while jogging are essential. This will allow your buggy to maneuver over off-road surfaces easily.
There are a variety of buggy styles to suit every budget and lifestyle. The Mountain Buggy, for example was the first to introduce all-terrain agility in a three-wheel buggie. Their fabrics sling seats are designed with precise 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 spread weight evenly to take on the kerbs.
Another option worth considering is the Urban Glide 2 from Thule that has a sleek design with large highly manoeuvrable front wheel, excellent suspension, and an easy-to-use handbrake with a twist. MFM reviewer Kath put the buggy through its trials by going for a ride on a rough terrain. She was impressed with how it handled it really well and claimed that it "navigates over bumpy grass, sidewalks, cobbles and dirt tracks, and even allows you to easily go up and down kerbs".
The Roma Atlas is another popular off-road option that, like the Urban Glide 2, comes with a variety of colours to complement your style. It also features an adjustable handlebar, a spacious basket, and a 50+ UV hood. You can also pick from a variety of infant car seats that transform the buggy into a pram. This includes the stylishly designed carrycot plus(tm) which is a cosy lie flat baby bed suitable for infants and newborns up to 12 months old.
Safety
Four wheels make a buggy more stable, less likely for it to tip over, and more easy to maneuver. 3 wheeler pushchair makes it safer for your baby as 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 therefore is easier to pop over curbs and up the stairs. The sling seat is affixed within the frame, not over it as modular seats. This results in a lower seating position and a comparatively lighter buggy that is more easily manoeuvred.
If you want to run with your child, an all-wheeler is the best option. It has a suspension system which allows the front wheel to be independent from the rear wheel. This will allow you to take on rough terrain or bumpy roads. However, not all four-wheel buggies can be used for running. The exception is Mountain Buggies which have a specially-designed suspension system that has been tested independently on all types of terrain.