Which pushchair with wheels should I choose?
Expecting the first child turns parents’ lives upside down. Not only does the anticipation rise, but the list of tasks to complete before going into the maternity ward grows longer. At the top of the list is buying baby equipment. A pram is an absolute must have. It’s something a family needs almost immediately after the baby is born. Parents are not only demanding in terms of design, but also in terms of manoeuvrability, suspension and tyres. However, many parents-to-be are often unaware of the differences in wheels, the needs and the impact of choice in meeting these demands.
Choosing the right pushchair for your baby should be based first on aspects such as where you live, your daily activities and your lifestyle. Your preferred terrain will influence which tyres and wheels you should buy. But what are the differences between tyres? And which ones suit your needs?
EVA wheel
EVA sounds complicated at first, but it’s easy to explain: an EVA is a wheel whose outer part is made up of a rubber-like durable layer and filled with an amortizable foam. It has the advantage that the tyre does not need to be inflated and is puncture resistant under normal use. The EVA wheel is much lighter than a solid airless or classic plastic wheel and makes your trolley lighter. It’s ideal if you travel frequently by bus or train. EVA wheels are mainly used on urban strollers such as the ABC Design Avus or Ping stroller. Thanks to the very light wheels, it is easy to manoeuvre the trolley through the city.
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Like a bicycle frame, pneumatic tyres consist of an outer tyre and an inner tube. The air in the tyre provides extra support to the suspension, so your child enjoys a smooth ride. The sensory difference between an EVA and a pneumatic wheel is particularly noticeable on off-road terrain, where vibrations from small twigs or stones can become disturbing. With a proper airwheel and good quality suspension, trails through woods or fields will not be an obstacle. You can find air wheels, for example, on the strollers Salsa Air, Salsa Run, Avus Air or the stroller Tour from the German market leader ABC Design. A word of advice: it’s best not to inflate the tyres too much, otherwise the traction of the wheels will be limited.
Wheel with air chamber
An air chamber wheel is a mixture of an air wheel and a solid wheel, with a large air chamber inside the wheel. This gives the wheel good suspension and increases the riding comfort compared to an EVA wheel. Unlike air wheels, they are completely puncture resistant and maintenance free. Even sharp nails and glass splinters won’t stop you in your tracks. The combination of suspension, ride comfort and puncture resistance allows you to conquer almost any terrain. It’s the perfect choice if you live in the city but also go for walks in the countryside. For example, the air chamber wheels on the ABC Design Samba stroller.
Big wheel or small wheel?
A pushchair with larger wheels is more likely to be able to support you better than a pushchair with small wheels on slopes and bumpy terrain. However, a larger wheel adds weight to the trolley and makes transport more cumbersome. Urban trolleys often have smaller, lighter wheels that are better suited to smooth surfaces. If you are using a trolley on light traffic or in shopping centres, a lighter and smaller wheel can surprisingly be even easier to push and make manoeuvring smoother. Again, it’s worth basing your choice on the terrain you’ll be on most of the time and how much you’ll need to transport the trolley by hand or by car. If you’re looking for a trolley that will be used mainly in the city, go for a model with a small wheel, such as the ABC Ping: as a bonus, the trolley is very space-saving when folded thanks to its small wheels. If you live in the countryside or you are used to long walks on uneven roads, you need a stroller with big wheels, like a ABC Design Salsa or Salsa Run.
Trolley and wheel depreciation
When it comes to tyre depreciation, the undisputed winner is the pneumatic tyre, but the overall traction of a trolley still depends largely on the frame construction and the mechanical suspension used. ABC Design Salsa models have a frame shock absorber on both sides, which allows the load to be swung (not many trolleys are built this way) and makes the trolley a real off-road friend. In our climate, the Salsa is one of the best trolleys on the market, and is a perfect fit for the average Estonian – easy to fold for its size, with air wheels and frame mounts. The four-wheeled model also comes with a trolley basket. The Salsa trolley can cope with all weathers and terrains in Estonia. Since last year, a three-wheeled version with disc brakes, the Salsa Run, is also available, which is suitable for parents who like to go running with their children.
When to use rotary locks or lockable front wheels?
For all ABC Design trolleys have locking front wheels. This is great for walking through gravel or sand, as the back and forth rotation of the wheels can make pushing or manoeuvring the trolley more difficult. To avoid this, we strongly recommend locking the wheels when navigating on difficult terrain such as hiking trails, dirt roads or uneven paths. Locked front wheels keep the trolley stable, safe and easier to manoeuvre. On the other hand, when the locks are unlocked, the wheels are free to follow the road and swerve around isolated bumps, ultimately leading to a smoother ride. Unlocked or locked – the best setting depends on your specific walking needs.
