Choosing The Best Balance Bike For Your Toddler On The Go
Once your child hits the age of 3, you will be looking forward to putting him on the two-wheeler bikes meant for grownups. But bikes with training wheels do not teach children to balance; they can, in fact, be a disincentive to a nervous child who may never wish to get the training wheels off.
Balance bikes help solve this issue by letting your kids learn to balance on a two-wheeler more safely and earlier in life. In this article, we will have a look at three of the top rated and top selling models on Amazon: Schwinn Balance Bike 12-Inch, Strider 12 Classic No-Pedal Balance Bike and Strider 12 Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike.
How To Buy The Best Balance Bike For Your Child?
There is a wide range of bikes available for various age groups of kids, with many safety and other features at various price ranges.
Size
You need to start by measuring your child’s inseam. Depending on that buy a bike which is an inch smaller. The most popular sizes are 12 inches and 16 inches based on the size of the tire. The best starting height is 12 inches, but the thing that matters is the seat height.
Weight
Recommended ratio is that the bike weighs less than 30% of your child’s weight.
How to buy a Balance Bike for your child
Material
- Wooden: environmentally friendly, less adjustable, and costlier for the longer lasting better quality wood bikes.
- Metal: Steel/Aluminium, steel is stronger, heavier and can rust. Aluminum is lighter and weaker.
- Composite: lightweight, strong, does not rust, but can be expensive.
Brakes
Most balance bikes need you to use your shoes to stop as most toddler hands cannot reach them, but a few come with handbrakes. Some of the older children will have the hand-eye coordination required to use these. This will also help them graduate to big bikes.
Foot Rest
For the bigger children, this gives them a choice to glide; it can get in the way of the younger children.
Tires
- Air or Pneumatic: this is the best as it gives both cushioning and traction. Use a tire sealant to avoid punctures.
- Rubber (solid and honeycombed): not very popular among the manufacturers. Most traction but low cushioning.
- EVA or foam filled: Cheaper and lighter. Also never puncture. However, provide no cushioning and low traction.
Handlebars
should be easy to grip and should have protection.
Let us compare 3 best balance bikes based on their features and specifications:
Top 3 Best Balance Bikes Comparison Table
Image | Model | Rating | Price |
 | Schwinn Balance Bike 12-Inch | 8.8 / 10 | Check Price |
 | Strider 12 Classic No-Pedal Balance Bike | 9.4 / 10 | Check Price |
 | Strider 12 Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike | 9.4 / 10 | Check Price |
For more details on the balance bikes discussed above, take a look at the discussion below:
Top 3 Best Balance Bike Reviews:
#1 – Schwinn Balance Bike 12-Inch Review
** Editor’s Choice – Best Balance Bike **
The Schwinn 12- inch Balance bike is from the famous Schwinn Company, whose bikes you might have ridden as a child. It is the best balance bike for your pre-schooler.
Features
- Schwinn’s foot to floor design.
- Air-filled rubber tires and tubes
- Flip-lock adjustable seat which adjusts for a seat height from 14 to 16.5 inches
- Solid Steel Frame.
- Weighs 10.5 pounds
- Check current price
Performance
This steel bike weighs 10.5 pounds and feels sturdier than other bikes. It might be a little heavy for a 2-year-old, but a three-year-old will be able to handle it with ease.
The Schwinn bike has tires that have been made with quality rubber and offer good traction. They are air-filled tires which are especially good for kids who like to explore their neighborhood with their older siblings; these tires hold well over uneven surfaces and are very comfortable to ride on
It is easy to assemble. The flip switch mechanism used to adjust the seat height is easy to operate; this is important as your child grows fast at this age.
Durability
The bike’s frame is made of steel which has been painted over. If the paint is scratched, the steel underneath tends to rust. The bike’s Air-filled rubber tires last longer and are also easier to maintain and repair. With proper care, this bike will last through for 2-3 of your kids.
Pros
- A well-made steel bike which is substantial and safe.
- Long lasting and comfortable air-filled rubber tires.
- There is wide tubing which prevents the kids from getting scratched by the bolts.
- Has standard bicycle seat which is comfortable and durable, unlike the cheap plastic ones you see on lower-priced bikes.
- The flip lock adjustment seat can be maneuvered easily.
- Easy to assemble.
Cons
- The steel frame can rust when the area where the steel underneath the paint is exposed to moisture.
- The footrest protrudes a bit, this is not a problem for larger kids, but for smaller children, this can hurt their calves.
- Handlebar cover is thin and insubstantial.
Availability and Affordability
It is available in four bright colors in most toy and kid stores. It is also available in some cycle shops which carry kid’s bikes. But for a great deal go online to sites like amazon.com.
It is a good bike which is very affordably priced.
#2 – Strider 12 Classic No-Pedal Balance Bike Review
This is the top selling and one of the top-rated balance bikes on amazon.com. Strider was the company which introduced balance bikes to the US. This is a great starter bike for kids aged 18 months to 5 years.
Features
- Lightweight (6.7 pounds) and lowest seat height (11 inches).
- Powder coated steel frame.
- The handlebar is low and flat.
- Tools are needed to adjust the seat and handlebar.
- Integrated footrest.
- EVA polymer tires & ultra-light engineered wheels
- Comes with a mini seat which is suitable for children from 18 months to 36 months. Longer seat needs to be purchased for larger kids.
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Check current price
Performance
This bike is extremely lightweight, and it has one of the lowest seat heights in this category of balance bikes. This makes it easy for even an 18-month-old child to handle this bike with ease. The handlebar is adjustable as your child grows.
You can adjust the seat from 11 inches to 16 inches manually with a wrench.
This bike has a 5 spoke, engineered, lightweight wheels which have been outfitted with premium bearings for a smoother ride.
Durability
The powder-coated steel frame is easy to scratch, and the steel underneath can rust if exposed to moisture.
The EVA polymer tires are puncture proof. However, they tend to wear down quickly on a rough surface and are expensive to replace.
Pros
- Lightweight and very easy for the kids to handle
- Closer to the ground as compared to other bikes in the market and hence ideal for younger and shorter toddlers.
- Low and flat handlebar allows for more control
- Tires are engineered not to go flat.
- Extremely quick to put together (some claims about being able to assemble in about 5 minutes).
Cons
- The mini saddle seats are extremely hard and uncomfortable. Even the longer ones are not comfortable and wear down rather fast.
- Tires are soft and tend to wear down after a short period of time. Replacing them will be expensive. They also are not comfortable to ride on, on uneven surfaces and do not provide good traction.
Availability and Affordability
This bike is available in 4 colors in toy stores, kid’s stores, bike stores which sell kid’s cycles. For great deals go online to amazon.com
This bike is an affordable offering from Strider.
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#3 – Strider 12 Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike Review
Strider – 12 Sport Balance Bike, Ages 18 Months to 5 Years
Strider 12 Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike is the upgraded version of the above mention classic bike from Strider. This is a great starter bike for kids of 18 months to 5 years.
This balance bike is our top pick
Features
It is very similar to the balance bike discussed above with some minor changes
- Lightweight (6.7 pounds) and lowest seat height (11 inches).
- Powder-coated welded steel frame.
- The handlebar is low and flat.
- Quick release mechanism to adjust the seat and handlebar.
- Integrated footrest.
- EVA polymer tires & ultra-light engineered wheels
- Comes with a mini seat and a padded longer saddle seat. It also comes with an extra long seat post.
- Has a foot operated rear brake mount.
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Check current price
Performance
Like the classic, this bike is also extremely lightweight, and it has one of the lowest seat heights. This makes it easy for even an 18-month-old child to handle this bike with ease. The bike comes with an additional longer seat and post which can be used to extend the bike once your child grows.
The handlebar is equipped with mini grips which are smaller than regular handlebars to give better grip and control to smaller hands.
The difference with the classic model is also that it has a quick release mechanism which can adjust the seat from 11 inches to 16 inches without any tools.
This bike has 5 spoke, engineered, lightweight wheels which have been outfitted with premium bearings for a smoother ride.
This model also has a rear brake mount to add foot operated brakes once your kid starts to glide with ease.
Durability
The powder-coated steel frame will rust if it is scratched and exposed to moisture.
The EVA polymer tire wears down quickly on a rough surface and can be expensive to replace.
Pros
- Lightweight and quite convenient for the kids to handle
- Closer to the ground as compared to other bikes in the market and hence ideal for younger and shorter toddlers.
- Low and flat handlebar equipped with mini grips for more control
- Extremely quick to put together
Cons
- The steel frame rusts if exposed to moisture
- Tires are uncomfortable in rough terrain and wear down fast.
- The quick release seat clamp becomes loose after 3-4 adjustments.
Availability and Affordability
This bike is available in 7 colors in toy stores, kid’s stores, bike stores which sell kid’s cycles. For great deals go online to amazon.com
This bike is a more expensive offering from Strider.
Conclusion
Your toddler is the most precious person in your life. If you are looking for a good bike which will help them learn to balance, you cannot go wrong with choosing the Schwinn 12-Inch Balance Bike. It is the cheapest in the best balance bike list that we have reviewed. However thanks to the air tires and a standard seat it is the most comfortable and also safer as its tires have more traction. The only downside is its heavier weight and higher seat for an 18-month-old. But on the flip side, it is perfect from 36 months onwards.
At the end of the day, your choice of the bike also falls to your budget. Your kid will grow out of this bike pretty quickly in 2-3 years’ time. So think hard and decide what is it that you are willing to spend. Just because a bike is cheap does not mean it is unsafe, some of them just do not have high-end features which neither you nor your child needs or appreciates.
Resources
[1] evanscycles.com : A Guide to Kids Bikes [2] bikeexchange.com.au : The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Balance Bike [3] guides.wiggle.co.uk : Kids bike buying guide [4] twowheelingtots.com : Balance Bikes: What to Look For [5] road.cc : Balance bikes buyers’ guide & six of the best [6] kettler.co.uk : Balance bikes buyers’ guide & six of the best[7] choice.com.au : Kids’ bikes –The best fun a kid can have on two wheels!
