A balance bike has many names: pedal-less bike, glider bike, run bikes, strider bikes, and runner bikes. They are similar to the normal bikes, only that the pedals and related parts are removed. So there is no pedaling with these designs. Even though some may have brakes installed on them, most glider bikes lack brakes. For easy steering, they have flat handlebars. These devices are designed to be small enough to allow your toddler to ‘walk’ the bike while sitting comfortably on the saddle with both feet on the ground. There are no differences between girls balance bikes and those for boys; they are unisex, and any gender can ride it. The purpose of it is to help your toddler learn balance and steering, and these skills will help them learn how to ride a normal bike much faster. Therefore, just like walking begins with crawling on all fours, learning to ride a bike begins with the balance. So you need to buy it for your toddler.
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Best Balance Bike for your Kid in 2022 – Top 10 Reviews & Guide
Balanced bike is a mobile two-wheeled vehicle, which can be operated even by a small child. These are small bikes for toddlers, which do not have pedals, and the kid drives it, pushing it off with the feet. Since the child constantly touches the floor with both feet, it is very easy to keep the balance. It's almost impossible to fall from it. Such children's transport moves with the speed of a leisurely walking adult. Parents can easily control the safety of walks, and the child, in turn, will enjoy the freedom of movement and have fun outdoors. Such an original form of transport has earned a lot of positive feedback due to its simplicity of design, financial accessibility, and high safety standards.
Today the best balance bike is considered one of the easiest, convenient, and inexpensive ways to introduce the child to wheeled vehicles. It has a lot of advantages: the formation of proper posture, strengthening, and development of the muscles of the back, legs and upper shoulder girdle. Parents can buy such models in order to develop a child's ability to balance and prepare the baby for more serious bike models. However, in order to feel all the advantages, it is necessary to choose the right model.
TOP 10 Best Balance Bikes Compared and Reviewed
Best Universal: Strider - 12 Sport Balance Bike Review
Strider 12 is not just the best balance bike, but it is a legend that conquered the world! Cycling the Strider balance bike is an adventure for kids, it's a kind of transport that develops them physically and emotionally! This balance vehicle is unique in its design and owns the features, which make it the most attractive. First of all, based on Strider balance bike review, it is technically excellent with low weight and high strength. It allows numerous adjustments of wheel and seat and, what is rather important, offers a fantastic choice of colors. Toddler Strider bike would be a perfect choice for kids of 18 months – 5 years old.
Why We Like It?
- Durable construction.
- Highly-adjustable.
- Attractiurable construction.
- Highly-adjustable.
- Attractive design.
- Numerous accessories for real fashion fans.
- Perfect frame geometry design.
Best Low-Step-Through Frame: Retrospec Cub Kids Balance Bike Review
Retrospec Cub is exactly what your child needs. This best balance bike will suit even the smallest children who have only learned to walk. You kid will quickly learn to balance on two wheels and begin to explore the world on a bicycle from an early age. Save him from boring training in 1 step. This fantastic vehicle is proud of its lightweight low-step-through aluminum alloy frame and is developed of environmentally friendly materials. It includes special rubber bumpers at the edges in terms of safety. This kids balance bike will fit children from 20 months to 5 years old.
Why We Like It?
- Cool design of the low step frame.
- Developed of eco-friendly materials.
- Is injury-safe.
- Nice set of colors.
- Is well adjustable.
Best Budget: Chicco Red Bullet Balance Bike Review
Chicco Red Bullet is a unique and reliable balance bike that will help your baby feeling confident. It will also promote the development of coordination and a sense of balance. Your child will instantly learn to accelerate and steer in the right direction. This is potentially the most favorite bicycle of your 3-year-old child. It is not only made of super-light metal, but also allows to regulate the steering wheel and the seat in height. Moreover, this best balance bike is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the similar products. It fully resembles the style of the legendary Ducati motorcycle!
Why We Like It?
- Well balanced bike.
- Made of super light metal.
- Convenient metal frame.
- Soft tires.
Best for Preschoolers: Schwinn 12 Balance Bike Review
This is another best balance bike for kids that is nice to have if you want to teach your children to ride a normal bike in the nearest future. It is fully reliable and safe for toddlers. This vehicle can be set up specially for kids from 2 to 4 years old. The seat height may be adjusted from 14 to 16.5 inches. Would serve as an excellent vehicle for preschoolers. Comes with air tires and not with foam ones. Schwinn balance bike is available in blue, green, pink, and red color. Serves as one of the best inexpensive no-pedal bikes. In addition, it may be the best boys balance bike.
Pros
- Very affordable price.
- Good design.
- Perfect adjustments.
- Air tires.
- Large footrest platform.
Cons
- Not good for small-framed toddlers.
Best Ultra Lightweight: TheCroco Balance Bike Review
- ULTRALIGHT BIKE: the lightest bike on the market only 4 lbs.! This makes it super easy for kids to handle the bike and learning to ride is a breeze. The perfect first bike for kids 2 to 4 years old with an inseam between 11 to 18 in.
- UNBEATABLE FEATURES: It’s the only balance bike with all the Premium features at an affordable price. It includes: Bell, Handlebar Pad, Ultra-soft hand grips, Padded seat, Gripped footrest and Safety-End Screws for extra protection.
- TOOL-FREE ADJUSTMENTS: Seat and Handlebar can be easily adjusted in seconds thanks to the Quick-Release clamp. This is super important, consider you’ll be adjusting the height during the whole learning-to-ride process, and as your child grows.
- NO-PUNCTURE ULTRALIGHT TIRES: We use foam tires that are 5 times lighter than regular rubber tires and last for years. A lightweight bike is the most relevant feature for a small kid, that is what makes them feel comfortable so they can start learning to balance. Take your child’s favorite bike everywhere without having to inflate tires anymore.
- LONG LASTING BEARINGS: we only use the highest quality wheel bearings that will allow your little one to glide longer distances, and ensuring your bike lasts for years. Most of the other bikes use cheap bearings that will only last a few months and will cause wobbly tires.
Best with a Ringing Bell: Radio Flyer All-Terrain Bike Review
This is a great balance bike developed by famous American brand Radio Flyer, with which your child will easily learn how to balance. Moreover, the kid will get a lot of impressions from the walk and in a couple of hours will learn to ride a bicycle. The best balance bike with a ringing bell is an ideal learning tool for children who want to learn how to ride a two-wheeled bike. Develops balance and coordination. Radio Flyer balance bike be an ideal solution for children who are 2.5 – 5 years old.
Pros
- Is equipped with a ringing bell.
- Is attractive for kids.
- Convenient frame.
- Adjustable seat and steering wheel.
- Affordable price.
Cons
- Available in red color only.
Best for Kids: Yvolution Y Velo Balance Bike Review
Yvolution Y Velo is the best balance bike for toddlers. It will easily help your baby to learn how to ride. It was designed specially for your small toddlers. Its' short size and smaller tires make it easier to handle for a baby. A perfect steel frame and lightweight add more confidence to the construction. Thanks to adjustable height of the seat, this product will serve for at least 1.5 years. It is the best balance bike for kids from 1.5 to 4 years old. The kid will definitely like its design and driving opportunities.
Pros
- Unique design.
- Stable tires.
- Fits 1.5-year-old babies.
- Lightweight.
- Affordable price.
- Nice bright colors.
Cons
- May be too wide for some narrow frames.
Best Convertible Balance Bike: Strider 14X Review
If you have pre-schoolers who have not yet mastered a balance bike but have overgrown the small balance bike, then Strider 14x is your best option. The Strider 14x is basically a balance bike with pedals, or a convertible balance bike if you like. The bike converts from a balance bike to a pedal bike. It is the best bike for 3-year-olds and older pre-schoolers. With this bike, your tall 3-year-old toddlers will enjoy striding as they get to learn how to cycle.
Pros
- Converts from balance bike to pedal bike
- A large frame that’s suitable for kids aged 3-5 Years
- Comfortable riding posture
- Cushioned saddle
Cons
- No handbrake
Best Footrest Platform: JOYSTAR 10''/12'' Kids Balance Bike Review
This amazing JOYSTAR 10''/12'' balance bike also deserve attention of the parents. It was designed specially for kids of 12 months – 5 years old. Is equipped with a fantastic large footrest platform. This vehicle is equipped with air tires that provide less traction. It is not lightweight, but the weight still remains comfortable. It often comes with an adjustable seat and wheel. The balance bike will be good enough for families who have a tight budget. But it doesn’t mean that this is not the best balance bike.
Pros
- Is easy to maintain.
- Allows to set up seat and handlebars.
- Comes with a large footrest platform.
- Good price on a best balance bike for 1 year old.
- Good color palette.
Cons
- Footrest platform may be too large for toddlers.
Best Low-Rise Option: Banana Bike GT Review
Banana Bike GT is another best balance bike for kids available at a good price. It is equipped with a larger wheelbase, that’s why it appears to be more stable than some other similar models. It’s a representative of bikes with a perfect design available in blue, pink and yellow colors. Pink balance bike is a great example of the model. Will definitely help you a lot to teach your toddler how to ride a real bike. The construction is absolutely safe and doesn’t require maintenance, which could be great for 2 – 5-year-old children.
Pros
- Good price.
- Reliable construction.
- Good design.
- Adjustable seat and handlebars.
- Long wheelbase.
Cons
- Is not durable enough.
Buyer’s Guide: All You Need to Know About the Best Balance Bikes
So, the best balance bike is a child’s vehicle that is a two-wheeled bicycle without pedals, capable of not only helping the child to feel all the joy of getting acquainted with the speed world. It also helps to learn how to ride a bike quickly and without problems. The question is how to choose the top-rated balance bike for your child? In order to simplify this choice for you, we managed to outline the top 10 balance bikes, analyzed characteristics, defined why they are the best and why you will love them too. Balance bike reviews of the most popular models are below.
Choosing the Best Balance Bike for Your Toddler - What to Look at?
Before you buy a balance bike for your child, it would be better to ask someone to try a ride in order to check whether the baby is interested in it. If it shows interest, you need to buy it taking into consideration the following factors:
Color and Model
The kid should like the model, the color and the transport should match his growth. The child should be able to stand with legs on the ground, slightly bending his legs in the knees.
Height of Seat
Almost all the models have seats, adjustable in height. Make sure that the lowest sitting position is suitable for your child’s growth. Also, pay attention to the possibility of raising the seat as the child grows, then the bicycle will serve you more than one season.
Weight
It is another important criterion. The lighter is the bike, the easier it will be for a child to move around on it without assistance, and carry it from place to place, and lift it up the stairs.
Frame Shape
The shape of the frame can be various, depending on your own preferences. High, medium, and low frames do not interfere with the movement of the child, since his feet are in constant contact with the ground, and the frame does not interfere with his movements.
Tires
There are two types of tires, and these are plastic/foam and pneumatic. The plastic/foam tires never go flat, because they do not use air. With this type of tires, you will not have to deal with a flat tire. The pneumatic tires, on the other hand, use air, and the advantage of this type is that they have more traction, especially when the toddler is riding on gravel, grass or dirt. Considering how quickly kids become adventurers, the best tires to work with are the pneumatic. The traction will provide an awesome riding experience for them.
Material
When you are going to buy a vehicle and go to a balance bike shop, it is necessary to care about the material from which this balance bike is made. The frames of runners can be made of wood, plastic, aluminum, steel. Wooden balance bikes are practical and environmentally friendly, look stylish, but can be quite heavy. Models with aluminum and plastic frames are distinguished by a high level of strength, low weight, and practicality. Steel models – the most reliable, but can be really heavy.
Price
Cheap is expensive. If you want value for your money, go for cycles that cost a minimum of $100. The cheaper ones will likely be inferior and of bad quality. If the quoted price is above your budget, you can consider buying a decent used bike. It is better to buy a used bike that is of a proper quality than spend less money on an inferior balanced bicycle that will not serve you well. There are many options available on Craigslist if you want a used bike. However, if the price is not an issue for you, find the ones that cost a minimum of $100, and you will not regret it. Still, make sure you keep an eye on every balance bike sale possible to find the best price!
Best Balance Bikes Types
The principle of operation for all models is the same, they differ only in design, dimensions, and material of the basic construction elements. There are best kids balance bikes developed of plastic or wood and vehicles made of steel or aluminum. In addition, they differ according to the height adjustments and depending on the child’s age.
Balance Bikes According to the Frame Material
The construction of such metal vehicles like Kazam balance bike is heavier than plastic, but has higher durability. Aluminum frames are light enough and sturdy, but such models are more expensive than steel analogs. The wheelbase of the balance bikes is represented in two variations: inflatable tires or cast products from PVC. For children under three years of age, there is no need to buy a treadmill with tires, since high-quality depreciation is designed for driving on a complex surface, and kids are usually limited to walking on an asphalt court in the company of their parents.
Balance Bikes Depending on the Height
Modern balance bike toddler models can have sufficiency a complex design with a large number of individually configurable elements:
- adjustment of the height of the rudder and the saddle;
- special mounts for the installation of pedals;
- models with full-scale damping and braking system.
The ability to adjust the dimensions and height of the landing are factors that prolong the life of the runaway: even when the child begins to grow actively, he will be able to use such a two-wheeled vehicle.
Balance Bikes Depending on the Child's Age
The classic balance bike is designed in such a way that when riding a baby all the time was in a sitting position and could not tip over. Therefore, the age limits for runners are minimal:
18 months
For this age, the child’s balance bike will need to be extremely lightweight and with the lowest seat height. Moreover, a balance bike for a 1-year-old does not need brakes. Additionally, foam tires would be ideal, considering that the kid will be riding around the house.
2 years old
The best bike for 2 year old has different features than that of an 18-month toddler. For instance, you will have a higher seat. Additionally, you may consider buying a bike that has brakes, because this age is on course to transitioning from the balance bike to the pedal normal ones.
3-5 years old
This category means that the toddler is a bit grown, thus require the maximum seat height. The best balance bike for 3 year old must have brakes and pneumatic tires. If you have been around 3 year old pre-schoolers, you may have noticed how aggressive they get with things. Therefore, the bicycle must have all these factors. The same goes for older children. The best balance bike for 5-year-old is no different from that of a 3-year-old.
When the child learns to keep a balance and accelerate, completely tearing his legs off the ground, you can move from the first category to the second. At the age of 5-6 years it is already advisable to purchase a full-fledged children’s bicycle or modify a balance bike. Thus, the term of its service can be extended for another couple of years.
The Best Balance Bike: Final Advice
If you look to purchase the best balance bike for your toddler, this article has furnished you with virtually everything needed to know. We hope that the balance bike reviews part really helped you so far!
While there are many products available for you to choose, experts from parenthoodroutine.com have highlighted 10 of the best balance bikes. Out of these, one stands out as the best product, and it is the one we recommend. The best balance bike to buy is the Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike that is ideal for toddlers between 18 months to 5 years. You can never go wrong with this model. It provides a smooth ride for kids; because it has a taller handlebar that supports a natural upright riding position.
Contents
- 1 TOP 10 Best Balance Bikes Compared and Reviewed
- 1.1 Best Universal: Strider - 12 Sport Balance Bike Review
- 1.2 Best Low-Step-Through Frame: Retrospec Cub Kids Balance Bike Review
- 1.3 Best Budget: Chicco Red Bullet Balance Bike Review
- 1.4 Best for Preschoolers: Schwinn 12 Balance Bike Review
- 1.5 Best Ultra Lightweight: TheCroco Balance Bike Review
- 1.6 Best with a Ringing Bell: Radio Flyer All-Terrain Bike Review
- 1.7 Best for Kids: Yvolution Y Velo Balance Bike Review
- 1.8 Best Convertible Balance Bike: Strider 14X Review
- 1.9 Best Footrest Platform: JOYSTAR 10''/12'' Kids Balance Bike Review
- 1.10 Best Low-Rise Option: Banana Bike GT Review
- 2 Buyer’s Guide: All You Need to Know About the Best Balance Bikes
- 3 The Best Balance Bike: Final Advice
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Expert riders claim that the most important skills needed are balance and steering. Pedaling is really not that important for the young ones, although they will have to learn how to pedal if they want to ride bikes from point A to B. Your toddler needs to learn how to balance and steer, and the pedal-less bike is the best tool. The best balance bikes have flat handlebars that make it easy to steer and control the unit. In addition, such bikes are small enough to allow the toddler to ‘walk’ the bike as they learn how to balance. Eventually, they will learn to balance on two wheels and will start riding with both feet off the ground. Therefore, glider bikes are an effective method of introducing your little ones to cycling.
Balance bikes vary in size. The smallest of them will fit toddlers, who are 18 months old. The large model of the best balance bike will be ideal for an adult. But, in general, you need to but a balance bike for kids aged from 18 months and up to 5 years old.
The whole process can be divided into several stages. First of all, you need to introduce the best balance bike to your child and let him feel the frame between the legs. Explain what is a steering wheel and how it works. Then you’ll need to set up the right height of the seat. After that you need to teach how to move walking. Learn how to lift legs and keep the balance from velo balance bike reviews. It would be great if you stay slightly behind the side and slightly hold your kid by the dress, jacket or shirt. In this case the child will feel safe. On the final stage you will have to teach how to move on the speed. Don’t forget that your baby needs a helmet.
The perfect seat height for should enable the child to sit comfortably on the saddle and with both feet flat on the ground. This height can be adjusted depending on the terrain and distance of the ride. If the kid is riding on the smooth surface, then the height of the saddle can be raised up slightly. For off-road riding, or on surfaces that have obstacles and tricks, the saddle should be lowered a bit to allow for a slight bend in the knee for stability. We’ll discuss more this in our balance bike reviews part.
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