3 Wheel Buggies
3 wheel buggies offer excellent maneuverability, and are a stylish, streamlined frame. Many of them have a fabric sling seat with a cosy lie flat bed and perfect weight distribution, ideal from birth.
The wheels are bigger and often have suspensions for smooth movement over a variety of terrains. The only drawback to these wheels is that they tend to be bulkier and heavier to transport and store.
Stability
Three wheel buggies are remarkably solid - they don't fall over as easily as pushchairs that have four wheels when traveling in a straight line. Also, you'll notice that you can move them more quickly and efficiently. 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 in order to improve the stability of the chassis.
The additional wheel can also help you to tackle off-road terrain. Choose models with air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres) that can be used to handle off-road trails, sand, mud, and other surfaces like sand and rock. These models will also have wheels that lock on the front to increase the stability of the vehicle over rough terrain.
With the correct design, engineering and weight distribution these buggies can turn at a moment's notice and are easy to steer using just one hand; have 360o front swivel wheels that allow mobility and agility to be effortless and easy to handle. They'll also be able to pass the same rigorous global stability standards and tests as the 4-wheel buggies.
If you are in the market for a seat made of cloth that are breathable, they tend to be less upright in comparison to modular seats. This means that your baby's center of gravity will be closer to the ground - instantly ensuring an easier ride.
Maxi-Cosi is most well-known for its car seats, but it has recently expanded its product line with the Citylife, a lightweight travel system and pushchair. 3 wheel pushchair 3-in-1 model is designed for urban living and is suitable starting at birth with a newborn carrycot or infant car seat. It comes with four wheels and an unique pewter-black frame that the brand calls'slim' and compact. It's smaller at 2cm than the Babyzen Yoyo.
Folding
There's a good choice of 3 wheel buggies that fold compactly to fit into smaller space. Many can be folded with just one hand, and are simple to wash down. Some of the smaller models have a simple handlebar-height adjustment, while others have adjustable suspensions and an ultraviolet canopy of 50+ that can be extended. They may also feature large, spacious baskets and a brake lever that is quick-release.
The most efficient 3 wheeled buggy for taking on rough terrain
A 3-wheeler will typically be more adept at dealing with off-road conditions better than one with four wheels, however both models can get stuck in difficult spots. But, picking a model that has larger wheels on both sides can help. This will make it easier to push them over rough terrain, and can aid in getting up and down high curbs.
The brand new Roma Atlas has been praised by many for its astonishing agility despite its three-wheeled design. MFM reviewer Kath used it with her infant and 3-year-old son and reported that "it is very well-handled over bumpy pavements, cobbles gravel tracks and dirt roads and also on a few hills."
Another great alternative is the new 3-wheel buggy that is all-terrain from Maxi-Cosi's car seat brand named Stella. It is suitable for babies from birth when used with a carrycot. It's slightly bigger than the 4-wheelers that are lighter, but it features air-filled tires and three recline positions and a single-hand fold.
Its primary selling point is its modularity, though - it's compatible with all of the car seats for infants from the brand and strollers. This means that you can design your ideal travel system for day-to-day or longer walks using the chassis as a foundation.
Tyres
The tyres for 3 wheel buggies are available in many styles and materials. Each one has its own pros and cons. For instance, air-filled tyres offer a great ride and manoeuvrability, while foam-filled tyres last longer. The kind of tyre you pick will depend on your lifestyle and where you reside.
If you intend to travel on roads that are not paved or rough terrain often, you might want to consider a three-wheeler with more durable tyres. You should also consider the type of suspension you need. A sturdy suspension is helpful to handle bumps and humps, however it can be heavy and increase the overall weight of your pushchair.
Another crucial aspect to take into consideration is the tyre's size. Knowing how to read tyre sizing is crucial for ensuring safety as well as performance and durability. The combination of numbers and letters on the sidewalls of tyres can be confusing initially, but decoding it will allow you to comprehend the tyre's dimensions. A tyre that has an 185/70 size R14, for example is a radial tire in 185/70 with 14-inch rim diameter.
In addition to being more durable, PU tires are also less heavy and puncture resistant than rubber ones. If you are unsure if a pushchair's tires are rubber or PU, slide the tires on a smooth surface. If the tires move easily, they are made of PU. If not, then they are made of rubber.
Suspension
The suspension of a three wheel buggy will make 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 are lockable to provide stability when jogging also important as this will ensure your buggy is able to navigate off road surfaces easily.
There are many options for buggy designs to fit every budget and lifestyle. For example, the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility with its three-wheel buggies. With an engineering and geometry that is perfect their sling seat made of fabric rests comfortably inside the frame as opposed to being on top of modular seats, offering the lowest centre of gravity and sitting at the ideal height for the best weight distribution to easily tackle kerb pops.
The Urban Glide 2 by Thule is another excellent option. It features an elegant design, a large wheel that's easy to move and combines it with exemplary suspension. It also features the twist handbrake to facilitate ease of use. MFM reviewer Kath took this buggy to the test by taking it on an excursion through the rough terrain and she found that it handled the terrain really well, stating that it 'flies effortlessly over bumpy grass, cobbles, pavements, dirt tracks and even makes light work of going up and down kerbs'.
The Roma Atlas is another popular off-road model and, similar to the Urban Glide 2, comes in a variety of colors to suit your style. It also has an adjustable handlebar, a large basket, and a 50+ UV hood. You can also choose from a range of infant car seats to transform the buggy into a pram, including the stylishly designed carrycot plus(tm) that is a comfortable lie-flat baby bed suitable for infants and newborns up to 12 months old.
Safety
Having four wheels makes a buggy much more stable, less likely to tip and easier to maneuver. It can also be more secure for your child as their weight is distributed more evenly throughout the frame of the pushchair.
A four-wheeled buggy has a lower center of gravity, making it easier to pop over curbs and climb up. The seats made of fabric are built into the frame and not on top as modular seats. This creates a low seating position and buggy that is easily pushed.
If you want to run with your child, an all-wheeler is the best option. It comes with a suspension system which allows the front wheel to be independent from the rear. This will allow you to tackle rough terrains or bumpy roads. However it is not the case that all four-wheel buggies can be used for running. The exception is Mountain Buggies which have a specially designed suspension system that has been independently tested across all kinds of terrain.