3 wheel stroller with car seat Wheel Compact Stroller Review

Whether you're a fitness enthusiast in search of an jogging stroller, or simply seeking a stroller that is all-purpose to use for everyday use there's a compact three-wheel stroller for you. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Writer and Managing Editor of Sentry tested these models to the test on roads and off-road surfaces. They also evaluated the comfort of the seats for children.

Stroller Features

The top strollers come with features that allow you to travel with your little one more comfortable. Find features that make life easier including a big storage bin, parent tray with cups holders, adjustable canopy, and so on when looking for the latest stroller. The key is determining what features are essential to you and your family, and which ones you could live without.

BOB Gear Wayfinder is our top-rated stroller for running. It has many practical features that keep parents comfortable and happy. The handlebar adjusts to three different positions to accommodate caregivers of different heights and the wrist strap is designed to ensure that the stroller doesn't roll away when you're jogging. The Wayfinder has the largest sunshade of the strollers we tested and a clear opening at the top that allows children to see out when they are resting. And Jenni's 3-year-old found the seat to be comfortably cushioned, so bumps on the road won't cause him to shake.

The stroller is equipped with a hand brake that helps you maintain control on slick surfaces. It folds down to an extremely compact and slim size that occupies a small space in the trunk of your vehicle, and it can be converted into a travel system using certain infant car seats from brands like Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex with the purchase of an adapter. It also works with the Uppababy Mesa V2 Bassinet.

Solid tires are a must for strollers that will be used on rough terrains. While they don't offer the same degree of comfort as air-filled or foam-filled tires, they're perfect for navigating potholes and bumps with ease.

This stroller is a jogging model and comes with a fold that takes just two steps. It locks into place when folded, and is small enough to fit into the majority of elevators. It's not as easy than our other four-wheel strollers to maneuver and the locking mechanism is somewhat complicated. It involves clicking an icon on the front of the stroller, closing a flap near the foot area, and lifting the handle. We'd prefer a simpler method that just clicks in place or opens by pulling.

Stroller Weight

The weight of the overall stroller is a crucial aspect to take into consideration. A heavier stroller is likely to be more stable than one that is lighter and may offer superior performance in rough terrain. However, a lot of parents find that strollers with lighter weights are easier to maneuver and is more suitable for daily use.

The size and type of the wheels is an important aspect. Some strollers have larger wheels, such as those for jogging that can make the ride more comfortable for your baby. Larger wheels can add weight to the stroller and make it more difficult to fold and transport, as well as store.

Some models in our selection have air-filled wheels that offer a safe, comfortable ride to your child even on rough terrain. Air-filled tires are susceptible to flattening, and you must replace them. If you are planning to travel a lot with your stroller, we recommend a model with solid tires that can withstand regular contact with different surfaces and last longer.

Strollers with swivel wheels at the front are great for safely navigating escalators as well as stairs. Falls on escalators or stairs are the most frequent accidents involving strollers, and can be particularly dangerous for infants. If you are unable to avoid using the stairs or escalator in your stroller, we advise using it only when your child is securely strapped into the seat. Keep them close to you as you walk up or down.

Some strollers are sold as complete travel systems where the car seat and stroller are sold together as a unit. Although these strollers often have attractive prices and offer convenience in terms of the time spent shopping, they are generally more expensive than their standalone counterparts and might not perform as well in the long haul. In addition, many parents later regret purchasing a bundle because it might not have all the features they want or could turn out to not be compatible with their vehicle or child seat. If you plan to upgrade in the near future we suggest that you buy a stroller separate from a capsule or car seat.

Stroller Folding

The best compact rear facing 3 wheel stroller wheel strollers fold easily and store. Some even lock into the position automatically after you open them. This feature is especially useful for families that frequently take public transport or drive to walk.

Three-wheeled strollers can be maneuvered easily in tight spaces, such as grocery store aisles or other crowded areas. They are often equipped with suspension systems to provide a smoother ride, which is particularly useful on bumpy sidewalks.

The Guava Roam is a Compact 3 wheel stroller stroller that can be used for jogging. The stroller is elegant and can be used as a part of a travel set-up with adapters for car seats to fit Nuna MaxiCosi, Cybex, and Nuna infant carseats as well as the Uppababy Bassinet. (Car seats and stroller boards are sold separately). The stroller comes with simple two-step fold, and can be locked once it is it is opened.

The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another stylish 3 wheeled buggy-wheeled jogging stroller that looks nice. It's a bit pricier than some of our top choices, but it's worth the cost if you love to travel or live in a city. The lightweight 3 wheel buggy stroller folds down to a compact size (20.5 x 17.3 wheeled pushchair x 7.1) and has an adjustable, padded 5-point harness that is no-rethread and a large basket. It can also be used as a pram for infants or young toddlers (with an infant car seat adapter).

While the Babyzen offers some great features, including a roomy recline and extra storage, certain parents have been dissatisfied with its performance. The seat isn't completely flat when reclined, and there aren't any cups or a tray to serve snacks to kids. The brakes are also a bit difficult to engage and the handlebar's height is too high for a lot of mothers who are short.

The Graco Fastaction stroller is designed to be as lightweight as is possible, yet not the comfort or convenience. It's equipped with a lengthy list of features that are impressive, such as a large basket and a one-handed fold. The only downside to this stroller is that the brakes are difficult to activate, and they're not locking when the stroller is folded.

Stroller Safety

The safety features of a stroller should help to keep your child secure during use. The top-scoring strollers we've reviewed have a five-point safety harness that has adjustable, padding straps for the crotch. This allows for a custom fit. Some strollers have a padded cushion that shields your child's head if they roll off or fall out of their seat. Some strollers have a safety lock that locks both wheels. This is crucial for those who run, since they are less likely to fall over while going up or down stairs and escalators.

In our tests the maneuverability of strollers was assessed in three different ways. We rated it on the basis of a stroller's ability to bounce and turn when bumps or dips are encountered, its ease of use with a child loaded and its capacity to travel over rough terrain. We also assessed how easy it was to open and close the safety harness, fold and unfold the stroller, adjust its backrest and handlebar height and brakes and attach and take off car seats (if applicable).

We found that 3-wheel strollers were easier to maneuver however, the advantages diminished as baby weight increased. That's why we recommend choosing a model that has a hand brake, which helps you slow down and stop without as much exertion as relying on body power alone. Many of the top-scoring swivel-wheel strollers don't have this feature. Only one of our top-rated fixed wheel strollers comes with it.

It is important to consider how often you will require to take your stroller on the stairs or an escalator and whether or not it will be safe to do it with the stroller still in the same place. Stairs and elevators are more hazardous because they have moving mechanical components which make it difficult to control your stroller. We recommend looking for alternatives to these obstacles, like an elevator, if possible, or having another adult take the stroller up and down with you. Some of the top-scoring strollers can be taken up or down a set of stairs with their safety brake engaged. However, it's better to be safe than regretting.