3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies offer excellent maneuverability with a stylish and slim frame. A lot of them come with seats made of fabric that have an incredibly comfortable lay flat bed and a perfect weight distribution, perfect from birth.
The wheels are bigger and, in many cases, come with suspension for agile smooth movement over a variety of terrains. The only downside to these wheels is that they tend to be more bulky and heavy to store and transport.
Stability
Three wheel buggies are very solid - they don't fall over as easily as pushchairs with four wheels when traveling in a straight line, and you'll notice that you can maneuver them more quickly and easily. If you stop or turn abruptly, they could lose stability and tip over. Some manufacturers add an extra wheel to their 3-wheel buggy designs to improve the stability of the chassis.
You can also conquer off-road terrain with the extra wheel. Choose models that have air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres), which can handle off-road routes, sand and dirt, as well as other surfaces such as rock and sand. These models also come with an adjustable wheel that locks in the front to improve stability over rough terrain.
With the correct design, engineering, and weight distribution, these buggies can turn on a dime and are easy to steer using just one hand; feature 360o front swivel wheels that allow mobility and agility to be easy and easy to handle. They'll also be able to pass the same rigorous stability standards and tests as the 4-wheel buggies.
If you're in search of a fabric 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 and provides a more comfortable ride and less kerb pop (you don't have to exert 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 lightweight pushchair and travel system to its range with the eye-catching Citylife. This 3-in-1 is perfect for urban life, and comes with a newborn car seat or carrycot. It has 4 wheels and uses an exclusive black pewter frame, which the brand claims is 'light and compact' - it's only 2cm wider than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a good choice of 3 wheel buggies that fold up to fit into smaller space. A lot of these buggies can be folded with one hand and are easy to clean. The smallest models will feature an easy height adjustment for the handlebar, whereas others could have an adjustable suspension or an extendable 50+ UV canopy. Certain models may come with large baskets and a brake lever that is quick-release.
The most efficient 3 wheel buggy for tackling rough terrain
A 3-wheeled buggy is usually better equipped to deal with off-road conditions as when compared to a four-wheeled model but both can get stuck on tight corners. A model with bigger rear and front wheels can aid. This will make it easier to push them over rough terrain, and can help you get up and down the steep slopes.
The new Roma Atlas has been praised by many for its remarkable agility despite its 3-wheeled design. MFM reviewer Kath has tested it with her infant and said that "it did really well on bumpy surfaces, cobbles and gravel tracks, dirt roads and some hills."
Stella, the new all-terrain 3-wheel buggy from Maxi-Cosi, is another option. It is suitable from birth when used with a carrycot. It's slightly bigger than the 4-wheelers that are lighter, but it has air-filled tires, three recline positions, and an easy fold with one hand.
Its primary selling point is its modularity - it's compatible with all of the car seats for infants from the brand and strollers. This means you can create your ideal travel system for day-to-day or longer walks using the chassis as a foundation.
Tyres
The tyres for 3 wheel buggies come in a variety of styles and types of materials. Each has its own pros and cons. For instance, air-filled tyres provide an easy ride and excellent manoeuvrability 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 intend to travel on roads that are not paved or on rough terrain frequently you may want to consider a three-wheeler with more robust tyres. You should also consider the type 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. Understanding how to understand tyre sizing is vital to ensure safety performance, durability, and performance. The combination of letters and numbers on the sidewalls of tyres can appear confusing until you get the hang of it, you can understand the tyre dimensions. For example, a tyre size of "185/70 R14' means that the tire is a 185/70 radial with 14 inches of rim diameter.
PU tires are lighter and more puncture-resistant than rubber tires. If you're unsure whether the tires of a pushchair are rubber or PU, simply slide the tires on an even surface. If they slide easily then the tires are made of PU. If they do not then the tires are composed of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three wheel buggy will make it more comfortable for your child as it will absorb any bumps or knocks from rough terrain. Large wheels that are air-filled, and are lockable to provide stability when jogging crucial to ensure that your buggy is capable of maneuvering off roads with ease.
Depending on the type of buggie you're looking for, there are options to suit all lifestyles and budgets. The Mountain Buggy, for example is the first all-terrain vehicle to be developed in three-wheel buggie. With an engineering and geometry that is perfect, their fabrics sling seat is tucked away inside the frame as opposed to on top like modular seats, offering a lower centre of gravity and sitting at the perfect height for the best weight distribution to easily tackle the kerb pops.
The Urban Glide 2 by Thule is another great option. It features a sleek design, a big wheel that is easy to maneuver and is paired with an impressive suspension. It also has a twist handbrake for ease of use. MFM reviewer Kath took this buggy to the test by taking it on a hike through rough terrain and she found that it handled the terrain really well. She said that it 'flies easily over grass, bumpy pavements, cobbles, dirt tracks and even makes a light work of getting up and down kerbs'.
The Roma Atlas, like the Urban Glide 2 is a popular off-road choice. It comes in a range of colors that will match your style. It also comes with a movable handlebar and a large basket. You can also choose from a variety of infant car seats to transform the buggy into a pram, such as the elegantly designed carrycot plus(tm) which is a cosy lie flat crib for babies and infants up to 12 months old.
Safety
Four wheels make the pushchair more stable and less likely to tip over, and more easy to maneuver. It can also be safer for your baby as their weight is distributed more evenly across the frame of the pushchair.
A four-wheeled buggy has a lower center of gravity, which makes it easier to get over curbs and walk up. The seats of the fabric sling are positioned inside the frame, not on top like modular seats. This results in a lower seating position and buggy that is easily pushed.
If three wheel pushchair looking to go for a run with your baby then a 4-wheeler might be better suited as it comes with a suspension system that allows the front wheel to move independently of the rear one which allows you to navigate bumpy roads and rough terrain Be aware that not all 4 wheel buggies are suitable for running (most are NOT like the Phil and Teds). The exception is Mountain Buggies which have a specially-designed suspension system that has been independently tested across all terrains.