3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies provide excellent maneuverability with a stylish and streamlined frame. Many of them come with an sling made of fabric with a cosy lay flat bed that is perfect for weight distribution and are ideal starting at birth.
The wheels are larger, and they also often come with suspension for agile smooth movement over a variety of terrains. The only downside to these wheels is that they can be bulkier and heavier to store and transport.
Stability
Three wheel buggies are remarkably stable - they don't tip over as easily as four-wheeled pushchairs when they're in a straight line and you'll notice that you can maneuver them more quickly and effortlessly. If you stop or turn abruptly, they could lose their stability and fall over. Some manufacturers add an additional wheel to their 3-wheel buggy designs to improve the stability of the chassis.
You can also take on off-road terrain with the extra wheel. Find models with air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres) that can be used to handle off-road paths, sand and mud, and other surfaces, such as sand and rock. They'll also include the option of locking the front wheel to add stability over really rough terrain.
Buggies are easy to maneuver and agile, thanks to a 360o front swivel wheel. They'll also pass the same rigorous stability standards and tests as the 4-wheel buggies.
If you're looking for a fabric seat, these tend to be smaller in the frame as compared to modular seats. This means that your baby's centre of gravity will be closer to the ground - instantly ensuring a smoother ride.
Maxi-Cosi is a household name for its car seat collection However, it has recently expanded its product range with the Citylife lightweight travel system and pushchair. This 3-in-1 is ideal for urban life, and comes with a newborn car seat or carrycot. It has four wheels and an unique pewter-black frame that the brand calls'slim' and compact. It's only 2cm wide than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a variety of 3 wheel buggies that fold compactly to fit in smaller spaces. A majority of these buggies are able to be folded with one hand and are easy-to-clean. Some of the smaller models have a simple handlebar-height adjustment, whereas others come with adjustable suspensions and an ultraviolet canopy of 50+ that can be extended. They could also come with an enormous, spacious basket and a brake lever that is quick-release.
The best 3 wheeler for rough terrain
A 3-wheel buggy will usually be more able to deal with off-road terrain than a 4-wheel model, but both can get stuck in difficult spots. A model with bigger front and rear wheels will assist. This will make them easier to push over rough ground and can help in getting up and down high kerbs.
One option is the latest Roma Atlas, which has been praised for its surprisingly quick handling, despite its 3-wheel design. MFM reviewer Kath tried it out with her baby and reported that "it did really well on cobbles, bumpy surfaces and dirt roads, gravel tracks and even some hills."
Another great alternative is the newest all-terrain 3 wheel buggy made by Maxi-Cosi's car seat brand, called Stella. It's suitable from birth when used in conjunction with the carrycot. It's smaller than the light 4wheelers (with an impressively slim frame of 54cm wide) but has big, air-filled tyres, 3 recline positions and a fast one-hand fold.
Its most appealing feature is its modularity, though it's compatible with all the brand's infant car seats and strollers. You can build your own travel system, no matter if you want to go on an easy stroll or take a longer stroll, using the chassis.
Tyres
The tyres of 3 wheel buggies are available in a range 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 type you select will be based on your personal preferences and where you live.
If you plan to travel on unpaved roads or rough terrain often you may be interested in a three-wheeler with more robust tyres. You should also think about the type of suspension you require. Strong suspension is useful for handling bumps and humps. However, it can be heavy and increase the overall weight of your pushchair.
Another important factor to consider is the size of the tyre. Understanding how to read the tyre size is important for safety, performance and longevity. The combination of letters and numbers on the sidewalls of tyres can be confusing initially, but understanding it helps you understand the tyre's dimensions. A tyre having the size 185/70 R14, for example, means that it is a radial tire that has a size of the 185/70 size with 14-inch rim size.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are lighter and more puncture-resistant than rubber ones. If you aren't sure if the tires on a pushchair are made of rubber or PU, simply slide the tires across an even surface. If they slide easily then the tires are made of PU. If they don't then the tires are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three-wheel buggy makes it more comfortable for your child as it absorbs any knocks or bumps that occur from rough terrain. Large wheels that are ideally air-filled and lockable to ensure stability while jogging is crucial to ensure that your buggy will be capable of navigating off road surfaces easily.
There are a variety of buggy styles to suit every budget and lifestyle. For example the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a 3-wheel buggies. Their sling seats made of fabrics are designed with perfect geometry and engineering to fit comfortably inside the frame rather than 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 bumps.
The Urban Glide 2 by Thule is another great option. It features an elegant design, a big wheel that's easy to maneuver and comes with a superb suspension. It also features the twist handbrake to facilitate ease of use. MFM reviewer Kath put this buggy to the test by taking it on a walk through rough ground and she found that it was able to handle the terrain well saying that it 'navigates easily over grass, bumpy cobbles, pavements dirt tracks, and makes light work of getting up and down the kerbs'.
The Roma Atlas, like the Urban Glide 2 is a popular off-road option. It is available in a variety of colors that will match your style. It also has 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 pram. This includes the stylishly designed Carrycot Plus(tm), which is a comfortable, flat mattress for babies and infants from 12 months old.
Safety
Four wheels make a buggy much more stable, less likely to tip and easier to handle. It also makes it safer for your child because the weight of their body is evenly distributed across the frame.
A four-wheeler is also likely to have a lower centre of gravity, making it more easy to roll over curbs and up the stairs. The sling seat is affixed within the frame, not sitting on top like modular seats do, which creates a low seating position, and a lighter buggy that can be easily manoeuvred.
However, if you'd like to go out for an exercise with your child then a 4-wheeler might be more suitable as it has a suspension system that allows the front wheel to move independently of the back wheel so you can tackle bumpy roads and rough terrain - just bear in mind not all buggies with 4 wheels are suitable for running (most are NOT like the Phil and Teds). Mountain Buggies are the exception since they feature a suspension system specifically designed for them that's been independently tested across all kinds of terrain.