Parents have big responsibilities raising the kids, from making them learn how to use spoons to teaching them life lessons, every stage of parenting comes with new challenges. The tough part of teaching your kids basic life skills is hard especially when they are becoming toddlers from infants. One of the things that you might struggle to teach them would be riding a bicycle.
While teaching your kids how to ride a bicycle is crucial, a lot of parents might struggle with this. It is a little scary and toddlers take their time to learn how to ride a bike as well. One thing that can help the whole process would be a good balancing bike!
The balancing bike is the most crucial part of learning how to ride for little kids and that is why most parents make sure they get a good balancing bike. All the parents would want the best balancing bike for their kids and they don’t want to compromise anything.
A balance bike would help the kids to make a better balance while riding the bike. These bikes don’t come with pedals as the bikes are run by a child’s running legs. These bikes are ideal for 2-year-olds as the toddlers learn how to make a balance and a parent can easily guide them too. These balance bikes are also called strider bikes, glider bikes, running bikes, or toddler push bikes.
Finding a good balance bike is a bit of a challenge, especially for the new parents who may or may not know everything about these bikes. There are plenty of options to explore in the market but there are only a few that are going to make an excellent balance bike for your kid.
To help you out with your best balance bike hunt, we have enlisted some of the best balance bikes here. Go ahead and see which one you like the most for your kid.
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Also check – Best bike brands / Bike repair stands
Best Balance Bikes
1. Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike
Strider is one of the biggest brands when it comes to bikes and they have also managed to make the best balance bikes for toddlers as well. So when it came to finding the best balance bikes, we couldn’t find anything better than Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike. This balance bike features a simple yet amusing design which is to make sure the kids have the best experience with their first balance bike.
This balanced bike has all the good things that make it one of the most popular bikes in the market right now. Parents across the world have given it higher ratings and so many reviews which makes it even more appealing to new customers.
The frame is made from steel which makes it ultra-lightweight and easy to handle for kids. The frame is also easier to maintain and will last for a long time. We also liked that this bike offers a wide range of seat adjustability which is around 9 inches. The standover height is easier for toddlers to ride this bike.
The handlebars are also perfectly sized and feature a great grip for kids to hold on to. The plastic wheels are pretty cool too, and it also features foam tires that feature a great grip and will never get flat. The bike also features a footrest so that kids can keep their feet on it when feeling tiring.
It comes brake free, but you can use the add-on brake for hilly terrain to ensure safety level. The assembly is quite easy and you won’t need to spend hours on it.
Overall, this bike comes at a reasonable price given the brand value and amazing built quality, so this would make the best-balanced bike for your kid.
2. Banana Bike LT V2
If you are looking for the best-balanced bike under budget that comes with all the best features and great quality, then Banana Bike LT V2 should be your first choice.
This one is also a popular choice on Amazon and it is one of the best-selling balance bikes on the site with the highest ratings and positive reviews.
The bike is made from a steel frame which makes it lightweight and easy to handle while being resistant to environmental factors. The low and standover height is something that customers like the most as it made it easier for kids to get used to the bike.
The overall construction of the bike is well engineered and the adjustability is up to 3 inches. It features foam tires specially manufactured by the brand that ensures stability and safety, and these tires are also compatible with various floor surfaces as well (pavements, carpenter surfaces, etc).
The bike has been highly recommended by both parents and experts, as it comes with everything you can look for without having to break your bank.
3. Strider 14x Sport Balance Bike
We have another one of the Strider bikes for our list of top balance bikes and this one is as good as the first bike we reviewed, if not more. There are plenty of things that caught our attention and the most important one was that the bike can be converted into a pedal bike.
Yes, you heard it right. Parents love this bike as it acts as a balance bike for toddlers who are learning coordination and balance, and once they have mastered that, parents can add the pedals and make it a nice pedal bike that your kids would certainly enjoy.
This bike offers a wider range of adjustability that makes it ideal for a wide age group of kids ( from the age of three to age seven). The bike features 14 inches wheels and a low steep height of 10 inches, the seat height is from 15 to 22 inches, and a long, stable 28½-inch wheelbase. The handlebar can also be raised to 4 inches.
Overall, this bike has it all from great construction to easy assembly. Parents who want to do a one-time investment for their kid’s bike would certainly love this one.
4. Swagtron K3
Swagtron is also a well-known brand and you may have come across their hover shoes or hoverboards, and they have done a brilliant job with their balance bikes for toddlers as well. The Swagtron K3 bike is the best choice for older toddlers who are keen to learn balancing skills and riding bikes.
This balanced bike features an aluminum frame which is mostly found in premium bikes. The aluminum frame makes it ultra-lightweight and easier for kids to handle. It features an intelligent design that is well suitable for older toddlers.
It also comes with adjustable seats that give some room for kids to grow. The true headset helps to keep the handlebars from twisting after falls. It comes with air tires which are great for stability and provides a good grip, and also absorb shock. Although the tires may get flat.
Overall, this is a great balance bike that comes at an affordable price, so it should be the best value balance bike that you can find so far.
5. HORNIT AIRO BALANCE BIKE
Hornet Airo is another one of the best balance bikes that you should know about. This one too is one of the best-selling balance bikes on Amazon that has been appreciated by parents across the world. This is a lightweight bike that is pretty easy to assemble and maintain.
The balance bike features fat tires that make it easier for kids to learn balancing and have a smooth ride. The light steering motion is also something parents praise. Overall, this is a top-rated balance bike to invest in and you would most certainly like it for your kid.
6. Vitus Smoothy Balance Bikes
Last but not least, the balance bike from Vitus has also made it to our list and we have liked this one a lot too. This one is made from a magnesium alloy frame which is lightweight and easier to maintain.
This balance bike is quite popular among parents as it features a guide handle which makes it easier for parents to guide their kids. It also features a footrest which would help kids to rest their kids while riding it. You will find a 12-inch wheel that makes it easier to balance and stay stable. It also comes in six color choices.
Overall, the bike is well constructed and features high-quality material, so you would be getting a great deal with this one.
Things to Consider While Buying Balance Bikes:
Buying any product would be a long and tiresome process as you go through several options and figure out which one would be the best choice. When you are buying anything for your kid, buying a product becomes a lot harder as you need to look at every aspect to find out which one would be the best choice.
Here are some of the features that you need to consider while buying a balance bike for your child.
1. Weight
Weight is a crucial factor that makes a balanced bike bearable for kids who have just started to learn how to ride a bike. The bike should be lightweight so that they don’t have to put more effort into riding the bike.
Kids tend to get easily frustrated or bored with the things they can’t handle while learning, so the bike must be of ideal weight for the kids so that they don’t have to put in more effort while pushing it.
The general thumb rule says that a bike should not weigh more than the 30% weight of the child (if your kid weighs 30 pounds, a bike should only weigh about 9 pounds).
2. Geometry
As we have said earlier the geometry of balance bikes is a bit different than the bike we know of. So it becomes an important aspect to look for.
The best balance bikes are built for kids that put a child in an upright position which is like a slightly forward-leaning position. The fixed elements of this bike are like the mini version of adult bikes that feature some specific angles to make it easier for kids to ride it. One of the things that are quite different from the adult bikes would be the big wheels and low seat height.
3. Adjustable Height
It is also an important factor to look for while choosing the top balance bike for your kid. The thing is, toddlers, grow very fast so after a while they are going to become too big for the bike to ride. This is why you need to find a balance bike that gives your room to grow.
An ideal balance bike for toddlers would come with an adjustable seat so that you can change the seat position and height making it ideal for the kid to ride it. This feature is also beneficial if more than two kids are riding the bike.
4. Material
The material from which the bike has been manufactured is also something you need to consider while buying. The material determines a lot of things but the most factors that it affects would be the weight and durability. You would want to buy a lightweight yet durable balance bike that won’t easily break or get affected by environmental factors.
Aluminum might be a good choice for balanced bike frame material as it is lightweight and long-lasting. Although it might be expensive that is why a steel frame also makes an excellent choice as it is also lightweight and sturdy.
When choosing the balance bike, do look at the maintenance of the balance bike and the material, and see if the material would be easier to maintain.
5. Tires and Wheels
As we have stated earlier, the wheels are a crucial part of the balance bikes because they are what provide balance to the bike. The size of the wheel will be bigger for younger toddlers so that they can make a good balance without falling. The ideal size of the wheel for the aged between 2 and 6 would be 12 inches. You can go for a bigger wheel if this is the first balance bike for your kid or you are too scared for them. There are all sizes of wheels available.
There are different kinds of tires also used in balance bikes. The most common would be the air-filled rubber tires as they give better grip and dampen bumps ensuring a smoother ride, but these tires can get flat.
Another one of the popular tire used in balance bikes is foam tires as these don’t require pumping and feature good traction.
There are also plastic tires that are hard and often found in cheaper balance bikes, but these don’t have any shock absorption ability. This makes it a not-so-popular choice among parents.
6. Brakes
When it comes to kids’ safety, you don’t want to compromise with anything, and one of the safety features of a bike is good brakes.
Although the balance bikes would be stopped with just kid’s feet but having brakes adds a little more safety to the bike. The V brakes or the linear-pull brakes are the most common kind of brakes in toddlers’ bikes. These brakes engage by squeezing the rims that are found in higher-end balance bikes. Handle brakes, like in adult bikes, are uncommon for balance bikes because kids lack that kind of coordination.
7. Steering Limiter
The steering limiter prevents kids from over-rotating their bars and crashing which makes it another ideal safety feature in the balance bikes for kids.
This feature depends on your kids’ ability and skill level when it comes to riding a bike. So you can even skip this if your kid already knows how to ride a bike. There are some removable steering limiters that you can find, this would help you to remove or use them as necessary.
8. Assembly
If you are buying the balance bikes online then the chances are that the bike would come in pieces which you would have to assemble. This step is easier for some parents while others might find it a bit harder.
So while buying a balance bike, you might want to consider how much time and effort the bike is going to take to fully assemble and be ready to use. Most of the time the assembly is quite easy and it might come up with an instruction manual for assembly. You can look if the tools you are going to need to assemble the bike have been included or not.
9. Price and Ratings
The price is something you can’t ignore while shopping. This is why how much you can spend is always going to be a criterion to look for.
You should look at the overall construction, built quality, and extra features (like bells, whistles, basket, etc) of the balance bike and then see if the bike would be worth your money or not.
To know more about the best value product you should also check the ratings and reviews of the balance bike.
Conclusion
So these are some of the best balance bikes that you can find. We have picked these bikes because of their amazing features and high quality. These balance bikes are not just our favorite but parents across the planet have also given their positive reviews to these bikes.
That would be all for now and we hope you liked this article and found everything you have been looking for.
