The sturdy construction and dishwasher safe artwork mean I can treat this mug rough and ready and it still backs up day after day. We'd say that, roughly speaking, a child probably doesn't have the hand/eye co-ordination for using brakes until about 2. Choose between Iguana Green, Flamingo Pink, Magma Red, Orca White, Hammer Yellow, and Tuvalu Turquoise and then marvel at the magic of your little one going from tentative first steps to gnarly rider on their first bike. BEAUTIFULLY SLEEK DESIGN: the grip taped footrests are contoured into the frame for easy freewheeling, air-filled tyres for a smoother ride and a padded stem for extra protection.

Carrie's mission is to empower parents with information they can't get anywhere else - because at Two Wheeling Tots, WE PERSONALLY TEST EVERY PRODUCT WE RECOMMEND! The Hornit AIRO has been a massive hit with our youngest sprog and has been an ideal bike to get him out on two wheels. Despite it being so featherlight in weight, it’s incredibly durable – the magnesium alloy frame is seriously hard-wearing, so much so, AIRO offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and forks.

without stability wheels | Brakes: No | Wheels: 8in | Tyres: Solid rubber | Seat height: 35cm to 46.

One thing to be aware of, even though these balance bikes are small, kids can pick up quite a lot of speed when riding on them, so always make sure they are wearing a helmet. We did not come across this issue with our younger testers, but it was noticeable on our older tester. The woom 1 on the left has a 16″ wide handlebar while the Strider on the right has a 13 3/8″ handlebar. That means, you’ll have to have the correct hex wrench with you should you need to remove the wheel at any time. LIFETIME WARRANTY: we think the Hornit AIRO is the best kids balance bike on the market and to back this up we offer a free lifetime warranty on the frame and forks.AIRO claims this bike requires zero maintenance, which, given the lack of moving parts would seem reasonable. Once they've mastered the art of staying upright, older cyclists will benefit from front and rear V-brakes and pedals, which can be fitted onto the frame with the tools provided. The frame is a sleek, one-piece affair that features two footrests for little feet when they get confident. My son hadn’t been on a balance bike before but he took to it really easily as we could move the seat to suit him perfectly. Gabrielle Nathan has been a journalist for 20 years, writing lifestyle features for publications including Red, Women’s Health, Wildflower and Condé Nast Traveller.

The Micro Balance Bike 2in1 Chopper is a balance bike that will grow with your child, as the handlebars and the seat are adjustable. To be fair, the handlebar on the AIRO is 3/4″ wider than the Strider, but to prevent their narrower bar from becoming a problem, Strider actually sells a wider 16″ wide handlebar for older riders to help them better fit on their bike. Most other similarly-specced competition seems to be closer to 4kg and above, and that extra 1kg makes quite the difference for a toddler when it comes to handling the bike and slinging it around in the back garden.However many kids will use it, this is a really nice bike for introducing a child to the world of cycling; it looks the part and performs well. The tyres are slightly ridged, which works well on hard surfaces and grass, but less well on mud and gravel paths.

This isn't an exhaustive test of the product or how well it performs – look to our Best winners for extensive testing in real life situations – rather, our First Look features are informed previews, providing a basic overview and getting a feel for the products most exciting features.I suggest that you don’t have the seat at the absolute minimum, and keep it raised at least 1/2″ to give you almost 2″ of ground clearance. With adjustable handlebars and an adjustable seat suitable for a 100-110cm height range, this balance bike is such a great choice for taller kids or older children who are still working towards transitioning to a pedal bike.