There are 3 basic types of trikes.

• Upright trikes... think of old Schwinns from the 70's.
  Still solid trikes, just be careful with racing them around corners.
  Mostly single speed, although a few 3 speed ones are available. More?
• Delta Recumbents
  2 rear wheels, one front wheel. Often somewhat taller than the Tadpoles. Somewhat of a traditional mix.
• Tadpole Recumbents
  2 front wheels, 1 rear wheel. These tend to be the lowest and thus most stable of the trikes.

The biggest issue that people tend to have with the Tadpoles is that they are so low, they can be difficult to get in and out of. The Deltas may be a little easier with that, although you would have the center portion to contend with, while you just walk out of a tadpole.

There are a few trikes on the used market to check out. Perhaps you could also talk to the owners. It is hard to find a good tadpole for < $1000, although a few do show up.

Upright:Delta:Tadpole:Personally, I like the Delta and Tadpole recumbents, but it is your choice, and they tend to be the most expensive. Keep your eyes peeled for good deals.

I don't like "tire kicking" on Craigslist, but you could talk to the sellers and see what they're like.

Note, you can't easily carry a backpack on a recumbent, so a rear rack or trailer is useful for carrying stuff.