Which balance bike is best

Quick-release clamps adjust the seat post and handlebars, and no tools are required in assembly. Our tester wanted to ride it straight away, so it won that early battle - and being easy to get on with, it quickly became a cherished you. The Airo was easy to assemble, though adjustments do need an Allen key, and we did find that the paint scratched quite easily. Otherwise, it was perfect. The 24cm Tadpole Mini is ideal for those aged one to three, 32cm Tadpole suits riders from two to three and the 38cm Tadpole Blue for those three to four.

Of course, suitability will vary, but size guides are provided. The bikes weigh from 3. Co-op Cycles is the house bicycle brand of outdoor equipment retailer REI. The REV 12 kids' balance bike has a lightweight aluminium frame pneumatic inch tires and has a claimed weight of 9lbs. Available in pink and green colourways, it comes with a pack of stickers so your little rider can customise it. Known for its value for money, the Wiggle house brand Vitus now reaches to the youngest bike riders in the household.

Made from cast magnesium frameset incorporates integrated footrest for when the balance glide is cracked by the rider, as well as a useful handle for the adult.

The Smoothy comes in six colours, rolls on inch wheels and a claimed weight of just 7lbs, adjustable height handlebars and saddle make this a really great option. Having had a bit of a rethink, the original and rather pricey Earlyrider doesn't make the line up, but the Charger 12 does, and we think it's a much better option all round.

The brand still keeps its lightweight focus with the aluminium frame, fork, steerer, seat post and hubs as well as clincher tires. The total weight isn't listed, but it will certainly be one of the lighter options. The custom Ritchey riser bars are designed specifically to fit mini V short-reach brake levers, and the low slung frame with a minimum seat height of just 31cm allows even the littlest of legs the earliest starts to bike riding.

Cannondale's Trail lets kids keep up with their parents with a lightweight frame and single-sided fork that mimics Cannondale's own Lefty suspension forks. The ultra-short seat tube lets riders lower and possibly cut down the seat post to suit very young and very small riders.

An environmental and artistic option for young riders, Kiddimoto's Kurve balance bikes are made from Birch Plywood sourced from managed forests. The brand has used pneumatic tyres with inner tubes and grips with stoppers provide an ergonomic fit for little hands. Designed to suit toddlers from 3 to 5 years old, there's a wide range of colour and design options - from butterflies and dots to police cars and fire engines.

They tip the scales at 4. Maybe your child isn't quite ready to hit the sidewalk just yet. In that case, you can still help them feel like a big kid and start them on the right track with this setup. Regardless of wheel size, choosing a model with a wide range of seat adjustment is always a good idea for fast-growing children.

Moving up to a foam tire on a plastic mag wheel, as found on the segment-defining Strider Classic, offers a bit more traction at the expense of durability.

More and more balance bikes are using a traditional pneumatic tube and tire, which improves the riding experience but increases the likelihood of maintenance. The Woom 1 Plus has a three-brake system: front, rear, and rear coaster. Why bother? Many of the larger-wheeled models can reach worrisome speeds with a committed pilot. Parents looking for the easiest transition to traditional riding might want to consider one of the models with add-on pedal power. If you expect your child to be on a balance bike for the long haul you might consider choosing a model with adjustable or replaceable handlebars.

The balance bike is firmly established as the preferred way to join the cycling hobby, but It can also be a gateway to real competition: Both USABMX and BMX Canada offer balance-bike race classes at dozens of local tracks.

Ready to get started? To choose the best balance bikes, we relied on our experience as parents of young riders. Several of these bikes were tested directly; others are well-known products from established manufacturers.

The unique-looking frame makes it easy for the smallest riders to get a leg over. The seat is large and comfortable. The widely distributed Strider brand made balance biking an American pastime instead of a European import. Rugged and durable, these are the no-pedal equivalents of the no-frills Huffy department-store bikes on which many riders got their first taste of freedom.

The rest of the feature list is short: solid rubber tires, a simple aluminum frame, plenty of adjustability. Family-owned Banwood is all about the kids—it offers balance bikes and inch wheel bikes in all sorts of sweet colors and a couple of cool patterns in it Anthropolgie collection , plus a dozen helmets to match.

The inch wheel First Go! Every steel-frame Banwood bike comes with a matching bell and rattan front basket, faux leather grips and saddle, and color-matched rims. The First Go! The Woom 1, the first in the five-bike series, features a V-brake with a brake lever scaled for hands 18 months or older. Standover height is exceptionally low thanks to a curved monotube, and the seat is adjustable. The 1 Plus is designed for children age 3 and up, with inch pneumatic tires. It takes a kitchen-sink approach to equipment, featuring a hand brake, a coaster brake, and a high-rise, BMX-style handlebar.

The Banana Bike LT represents a minimum-viable-product approach to balance bikes. Like their scooter counterparts over at Razor, the balance-bike pros at Strider have been conservative when it comes to changing their core product—but just as Razor eventually gave in to the big-wheel crowd with the Lux, Strider has made the move to a pneumatic tire with the 14x.

This is considerably bigger than the traditional Strider 12, which will please BMX parents but may be a little daunting for riders age three or younger. Why not make a balance bike out of plastic? Speaking of brakes, this little balance bike has an easy-to-pull, easy-to-reach Tektro handbrake.

That, along with pneumatic air tires, quick-release seatpost, and optional custom-color grips, make the Prevelo a top-pick. If you want the prettiest balance bike on the market, the Yedoo TooToo is the winner.

The bike comes in an array of beautiful color schemes and has a pleasing aesthetic. The Yedoo TooToo also performs. It includes pneumatic air tires, a rear v-brake, and reflective dots on the tires.

Read Review: Yedoo TooToo. These include Kenda tires, a Cane Creek headset, and a rear Tektro v-brake. Both the seat height and handlebar height are adjustable, and the seatpost can be adjusted tool-free thanks to the quick-release seatpost collar.

If you have a seriously mini rider, consider the Frog Tadpole Mini which will fit the very smallest toddlers. It also has pneumatic air Kenda tires and a rear handbrake which quite frankly is a bit unnecessary considering your child will likely outgrow it before they are old enough to learn how to use a handbrake.

We only recommend this bike if you are super antsy to get your child riding since you will probably have to buy a larger balance bike before your kiddo is ready for a pedal bike. If your child is a bit bigger, opt for the regular Frog Tadpole instead—also a great bike.

So how do all these bikes stack up? Use this handy chart to compare price, weight, seat height, etc. These are balance bikes that are also worthy of your consideration. Last updated: at — More Info. The Strider Sport will last from 18 months to 5 years and comes with an extended seatpost and a quick-release to make seat adjustments easy.

It also gives you access to Strider races , which wins it a place on our list. Read Review: Strider. The Belsize 12 , while not a budget balance bike, offers a lot of bang for your buck. It is lightweight, has high quality components, and offers extras like a removable steering limiter.

We also like the pneumatic air tires and higher volume tires that offer get traction in all kinds of terrain. Because of the higher traditional top tube, and consequent higher stand over height this bike is a better fit for older or taller toddlers.

Buy at BelsizeBike. This makes for an enjoyable rider experience as well as making it easier for mom and dad to carry. The sleek design is made to minimize opportunity for injury to little riders, and the bike comes in a wide variety of bright beautiful colors. Read Our Review : Hornit Airo. My son was 14 months old when he got this bike for Christmas, and we recently handed it down to another little boy who was too small for a Strider.

Read Review: Haro PreWheelz Price: Price not available Last updated: at — More Info. First off, the bike is crazy lightweight 4. This makes it ideal for more petite riders. Second of all, we found that the tires were non-marking and had good traction on our hardwood floors, which made it the toy of choice during one particularly long winter at our house.

Read Review: Eastern Pusher. With the growing popularity of balance bikes, the market has been flooded with new brands in the last few years.

Even with all these new entrants, the FirstBike is the one balance bike that still stands out for its uniqueness. The composite frame is safe, soft, and durable. No balance bike list would be complete without an eco-friendly wooden frame. Made of marine-grade birch, the Early Rider Lite is just a beautiful as a nursery decoration as it is fun to ride. With high-quality parts and a pound weight limit, this bike is sure to last for years in your garage, not a landfill! If your family likes to ride off-road, the Early Rider Charger 12 is the bike you want.

We also love the brushed aluminum frame and faux leather saddle. This is one beautiful bike. This REI brand balance bike offers lots of bang for your buck. We like that it has a durable steel frame that will last thru plenty of kids. Unlike cheaper balance bikes, the MyKick also sports ball bearing hubs and headset, and quality steel spoked wheels.

Thanks to the beefy, knobby tires, quick-release seatpost collar, and Tektro rear v-brake this thing is ready to head off road.

Just make sure you can keep up! Like Spawn above, Norco makes some great mountain bikes for kids. It also has a hand brake and a low standover, which means it is a good bike to start on small and grow with. It also looks crazy snazzy and fast. A handle is also nice for carrying the bike when your toddler moves on to the next activity.

Like the Trek Kickster, above, the Specialized Hotwalk is a high-quality balance bike you can find at your local bike shop. While we usually prefer pneumatic air tires, these ones actually do a great job of providing plenty of traction and comfort without ever going flat. Aside from that, it has a nice low standover height and footrest for cruising.