twin 3 wheel stroller Wheel Compact Stroller Review

Whether you're a fitness enthusiast seeking an jogging stroller, or simply need a stroller for everyday use, there's a three-wheel compact stroller that is suitable for you. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Writer and Managing Editor at Sentry, put these models to the test on road surfaces and off-road ones. They also evaluated the seating comfort for children.

Stroller Features

The best lightweight 3 wheel Stroller strollers come with features that make traveling with your child a lot easier. If you're shopping for a new 3 wheel stroller set-wheel or a 4-wheel stroller, look for features that are convenient, such as an ample storage basket, parent tray with cup holders, adjustable canopy, and more. The trick is determining which features are non-negotiable for you and your family and which ones you could do without.

BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for running. It comes with a variety of convenient features that will keep parents happy and comfortable. The handlebar adjusts to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of all heights, and the wrist strap helps ensure that the stroller won't roll away when you're jogging. The Wayfinder features the biggest sunshade of all the strollers we tested and a clear window on the top lets children to look out while they rest. Jenni's 3 wheel stroller with infant car seat-year-old son found the seat to have comfortable padding, so bumps on the road didn't bother him.

This jogging stroller also has a hand brake to help you maintain control on slick surfaces. It folds down to an extremely compact and slim size that takes up a tiny space in the trunk of your car, and it can convert into a travel set-up with select infant car seats from brands such as Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex by purchasing an adapter. It is also compatible with the Uppababy Mesa V2 bassinet.

If you're planning to tackle rough terrain, tires are essential for strollers of any kind. Solid tires are not as comfortable as air-filled or spongy-filled tires, but they're perfect for navigating potholes and bumps.

This jogging stroller comes with a fold that only requires two steps. It locks when folded, and it's small enough to fit into most elevators. It's not as easy as our other four-wheel strollers to maneuver, and the locking mechanism is a little confusing. It's as simple as pressing an arrow near the foot area on the front of the stroller, and then lifting the handle. We'd like to see a more simple system that clicks into the position or opens when pulled.

Stroller Weight

The weight of the entire unit is a crucial aspect to consider. A heavier stroller tends to be more stable than a stroller that is lighter and may offer more performance on rough terrain. Many parents find that a stroller with a lighter weight is easier to maneuver, and more suitable for day-to-day use.

Another important aspect of a stroller is its wheel size and type. Some strollers have larger wheels, such as those for jogging which can make the ride more comfortable for your baby. The larger wheels can add weight to the stroller, making it harder to fold and store, transport and fold.

Some models in our selection come with air-filled wheels, which provide an enjoyable, stable ride for your child on rough terrain. However, air-filled tires can easily get flat which will need to be changed out. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we suggest the use of tires that can withstand frequent contact with different surfaces and last for a longer time.

Strollers with swivel wheels on the front are perfect for safely navigating escalators as well as stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most frequent injuries to strollers. They can be especially hazardous for infants. If you cannot avoid using the escalator and stairs with your stroller, we recommend that you only use it when your child is secured in the seat. Also keep them close to you when you go up or down.

Some strollers are available as a complete travel system where the car seat and stroller are sold as a unit. Although these strollers often have attractive price tags and offer convenience in terms of the time spent shopping but they are usually more expensive than their stand-alone counterparts and may not function as well in the long haul. Additionally, many parents later regret purchasing a bundle because it may not come with all the features they desire or could turn out to be incompatible with their vehicle or child's seat. If you are planning to upgrade in the future we suggest that you purchase a stroller that is separate from car seats or capsules.

Stroller Folding

The top 3 wheel compact strollers fold up quickly and easily to make storage and transportation a breeze. Some of them lock automatically when you open them. This feature is particularly beneficial for families who regularly use public transportation or drive to walk.

Three-wheel strollers are designed to move through tight spaces such as grocery store aisles and other areas that are crowded with ease. Many also come equipped with suspension systems that give an easier stroll for your child, which can be especially helpful on slippery sidewalks.

The Guava Roam is a compact jogging stroller. The stroller is an elegant stroller that can be used as part of a travel set-up with adapters for car seats to fit Nuna, MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats, and the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards sold separately). The stroller comes with simple two-step fold, and can be locked once it is opened.

Another stylish 3 wheel all terrain buggy-wheel jogging stroller is the Babyzen Yoyo 2. The stroller is more expensive than our top picks but is worth it if you travel often or live in a city. The stroller is lightweight and can fold down to a smaller size (20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1) and features padding, a detachable 5-point harness that is no-rethread and a large basket. It can even be used as a pram for infants or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).

Although the Babyzen comes with some nice features, including a roomy recline and extra storage space, some parents are dissatisfied with its performance. The seat isn't fully flat when reclined, and there's no cup holders or a tray to serve snacks to children. The brakes are also difficult to engage, and the handlebar height is too high for many mothers who are short.

The Graco Fastaction is another stroller that's designed to be as light as possible without skimping on comfort or ease of use. It's equipped with a lengthy list of amazing features like a huge basket and a one-handed fold. The only downside to this stroller is that the brakes are a little difficult to engage, and they're not locking when the stroller is folded.

Stroller Safety

The safety features of a stroller must ensure your child's safety while using it. Some of the top-scoring strollers in our test have a five-point harness with padded, adjustable crotch straps that allow for a custom fit. Some strollers have a padded cushion that shields your child's head if they fall or roll out of their seat. Some strollers are equipped with a safety lock that locks both wheels. This is particularly important for those who run, since it stops them from falling over while going up or down stairs and escalators.

In our tests, the maneuverability of strollers was evaluated in three distinct ways. We scored it on the basis of a stroller's ability to bounce and turn when bumps and dips occur, its ease of use with a child in it, and its ability to navigate over rough terrain. We also evaluated the ease of opening and closing the safety harness folding and unfolding the stroller, changing the backrest and height of the handlebar, operating the brakes, as being able to attach and remove car seats (if appropriate).

We found that some 3-wheel strollers are easier to maneuver than 4-wheel options however this benefit diminishes as your baby grows heavier. We suggest choosing the model that has hand brakes. It will help you slow down or stop without exerting the same effort as your body by itself. However, a lot of the top-scoring swivel wheel strollers do not come with this feature and only one of our top-rated fixed-wheel models has it.

It is also important to consider the frequency you'll have to use your stroller for going up and down escalators or stairs and if it is safe to do this. Stairs and elevators are more risky because they contain moving mechanical parts that make it difficult for you to control your stroller. We suggest finding a solution to these obstacles, such as an elevator, if you have one, or having another adult take the stroller up and down with you. Some of the best-scoring strollers can be carried up a set of stairs or an escalator, with their safety brakes engaged and locked, but it's always safer to be to be sorry.