3 Wheel Buggies

Three-wheel buggies are stylish and sleek, with great maneuverability. A lot of them have an sling made of fabric with a cosy lay flat bed that is perfect for weight distribution and are suitable from birth.

The wheels are larger and usually come with suspensions to allow for smooth, swift mobility on various terrains. The only drawback to these wheels is that they can be bulkier and heavier to transport and store.

Stability

Three wheel buggies are remarkably stable - they don't tip over as easily as pushchairs that have four wheels when traveling in a straight line and you'll notice that you can manoeuvre them much more quickly and easily. If you turn or stop abruptly, they can lose stability and tip over. To avoid this, certain manufacturers add an additional wheel to their three wheel buggy designs to improve the stability of the chassis.

The additional wheel also allows you navigate off-road terrain. Find models with air-filled tires (also known as pneumatic tyres), which can handle off-road trails, sand, dirt, as well as other surfaces, such as sand and rock. They'll also have an adjustable front wheel that locks to give stability over rough ground.

With the right design, engineering, and weight distribution these buggies can be turned on a dime - easy to steer with just one hand; have 360o front swivel wheels that allow mobility and agility to be easy and light to handle. They also meet the same global stability standards and tests as buggies with four wheels.

If you are looking for a seat made of fabric, these tend to be less upright in comparison to modular seats. This means that your baby's centre of gravity will be closer to the ground - instantly ensuring the smoothest ride.

Maxi-Cosi is most well-known for its car seat range However, it has recently expanded its product line with the Citylife compact travel system and pushchair. This 3 wheel compact stroller-in-1 model is designed for urban living and can be used from birth with a newborn carrycot or infant car seat. It comes with 4 wheels and an exclusive pewter black aluminium frame that the manufacturer claims is 'light and compact'. It's only 2cm wider than the Babyzen Yoyo.

Folding

There are a variety of three wheel buggies that can be folded down to fit into smaller spaces. Many of them can be folded using a single hand and are simple to wash down. The smallest models will feature a simple height adjustment for the handlebar, whereas others may have an adjustable suspension and an extendable 50+ UV canopy. Some models could have a large basket and a brake lever that is quick-release.

The most efficient 3 wheeler for rough terrain

A 3-wheeled vehicle is generally better equipped to handle off-road conditions in comparison to a model with four wheels but both may get stuck in tight corners. A model with larger rear and front wheels can aid. This will make it easier to push them across rough terrain and can help you get up and down high curbs.

One option is the new Roma Atlas, which has been praised for its responsive handling despite its three-wheel design. MFM reviewer Kath tried it with her baby and her 3 wheeled strollers-year-old, and said "it does really well on bumpy pavements, cobbles dirt roads and gravel tracks and also on some hills."

Another alternative is the newest all-terrain 3 wheel buggy from car seat brand Maxi-Cosi, called Stella. It's suitable for babies when used with the carrycot. It's a smaller than the light 4wheelers (with a surprisingly slim 54cm wide frame) but has big, air-filled tyres, 3 recline positions and a fast one-hand fold.

Its most appealing feature is its modularity. It's compatible with all the brands' car seats and strollers for infants. This means that you can design your ideal travel system for your day-to-day or longer walks, using just the chassis as a base.

Tyres

The tyres for 3 wheel buggies are offered in a variety of styles and types of materials. Each one 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 depend on your lifestyle and where you live.

If you plan to travel on unpaved roads or rough terrain often you may want to consider a three-wheeler with more robust tyres. Think about the kind of suspension you need. A sturdy suspension is helpful for handling bumps and humps, but 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 the tyre's size is essential for safety, performance and longevity. The combination of letters and numbers on a tyre sidewall may be confusing until you get the hang of it, you can understand the dimensions of the tyre. A tyre having a size of 185/70 R14, for example is a radial tire with a diameter of 185/70 with 14-inch rim size.

In addition to being more durable, PU tires are also lighter and more puncture-resistant than rubber ones. If you're unsure if the pushchair you are using has rubber or PU tires, try sliding the tires across a smooth and tied surface. If they slide easily then the tires are made from PU. If they do not then the tires are made of rubber.

Suspension

The suspension of a three-wheel buggy makes it more comfortable for your child as it will absorb any bumps or knocks caused by rough terrain. Large wheels that are filled with air, and are able to be locked to provide stability while jogging 3 wheel stroller are essential. This will enable your buggy to maneuver over off-road surfaces with ease.

There are a variety of buggy designs to fit every lifestyle and budget. For example the Mountain Buggy pioneered all terrain agility in a three-wheel buggie. With perfect geometry and engineering their sling seat made of fabric rests comfortably inside the frame, in contrast to being on top of modular seats, resulting in the lowest centre of gravity and sitting at the right height for optimal weight distribution to easily tackle kerb pops.

Another option that is worth considering is the Urban Glide 2 from Thule which boasts a sleek design with a large, highly maneuverable front wheel, excellent suspension and an easy-to-use twist handbrake. MFM reviewer Kath put the buggy through its paces by going for a ride on rough terrain. She found that it performed admirably and said that it "navigates over grass, bumpy cobbles, sidewalks, and dirt tracks, and even allows you to easily go up and down kerbs".

The Roma Atlas is another popular off road option and like the Urban Glide 2, comes with a variety of colours to complement your style. It also comes with a movable handlebar and a spacious basket. You can also choose from a range of infant car seats that transform the buggy into pram. This includes the stylishly designed Carrycot Plus(tm), which is a comfy lie-flat baby bed suitable for infants and newborns from 12 months old.

Safety

Having four wheels makes the pushchair 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-wheeled buggy has a lower center of gravity, making it easier to pop over curbs and walk up. The fabric sling seats are placed inside the frame and not on top as modular seats. This results in a low seat position and double buggy 3 wheels that is easily maneuvered.

However, if you want to go out for a run with your baby then a 4-wheeler may be better suited as it has suspension that allows the front wheel to move independently of the back one to allow you to tackle rough terrains and bumpy roads - just bear in mind 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 tested independently on all terrains.