Once my kids started walking, it felt like I was urged by neighbors and family to get them on a balance bike. When I was ready to give the balance bike a try, I quickly realized that there were too many different balance bikes to choose from and not all were created equal.
Here is our honest (and unsponsored) review of the three different balance bikes we tried on our own accord with our two children who ranged from the ages of 2-4 years: Specialized, woom 1, and Strider.
But first, let’s start with the basics:
What is a balance bike?
A balance bike or pedaless bike is a bicycle designed to be ridden without pedals.
A child sits on the bike with the seat set low enough for them to touch the ground and push the bike to move it forward with their feet—Flintstone style. Their feet propel the bike forward, and when they pick up enough speed the rider can raise their legs to practice balancing while the bike is in motion.
This method of learning how to ride a bike is considered by many bike enthusiasts to be the best way to teach your kids to ride quickly because they learn the balancing skills needed to ride a pedal bike first.
Why use a balance bike instead of training wheels?
Training wheels give your child a chance to learn how to pedal while the bike weight is supported by the wheels, allowing the rider to pedal forward without having to master balancing first. Ideally the rider will eventually learn to balance without depending on the training wheels, so when the training wheels are removed they will be ready to ride on two wheels. This is how most of my generation learned to ride a bike.
If you try a balance bike first, your child learns to balance on the bike before they start pedaling. Some believe that the balance part is the trickiest element of riding a bike, and if a young rider can master that component, adding pedals to the equation will be easier.
An easier ride = happier rider. We all want our kids to be able to learn this skill quickly and as painlessly as possible. So, if you buy a balance bike instead of something with pedals, probably big enough for them to “grow into” it, your kid might have a harder time learning to ride a bike.
Many bike companies, such as Guardian Bikes and woom Bikes advertise that a child can learn to ride a bike in a day using this method and their lightweight bicycles.
Read our review of both bikes here for more information and how I taught my kiddo to ride a bike in ten minutes.
What factors to consider when choosing a balance bike for your kid
There are so many balance bikes out there. Here are the factors I considered when I shopped around:
- Size – The size of the bike and seat height is important depending on the age of your kid. Get the right size!
- Weight – It is easier to ride a bike that weighs less because it is better for balance, especially for small children. Every ounce counts.
- Hand brakes – Some balance bikes offer one hand brake to begin practicing stopping instead of using just their feet. It is a good skill to practice.
- Price – Balance bikes ain’t cheap. It’s important to weigh how much you’d be willing to spend, along with the above factors. We got our bikes used to save on cost.
Read reviews and see what works best for your kiddo. Choosing the right color can also be super helpful in getting them onboard with their new bike. Oh, and don’t forget streamers!
Balance bikes we considered, at a glance
Specialized
Balance bike-
Ages 18 months to 4 years
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Aluminum frame = heavy 10lbs
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Footrest
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Aireless tires
woom 1
Balance bike-
Ages 18 months to 4 yrs
-
Lightweight - 6.6lbs
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Rear brake
-
Seat and handlebar height lower than other balance bikes
Strider
Balance bike-
Ages 18 months to 5 yrs
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Lightweight - 6lbs 11oz
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Adjustable seat and taller handlebar height
Full review of balance bike contenders
REVIEW: Specialized Balance Bike - Hotwalk (~$225)
I bought a used Specialized balance bike for my three-year-old because her dad is an avid rider and loves the Specialized adult bikes.
My kiddo tried riding the bike once, and never showed interest in it again. It could have been because the bike weighed 10lbs and was heavy for her size, or because the footrest was a distraction and got in the way.
If you’re willing to spend more money, the Hotwalk Carbon ($499.99) only weighs 4lbs!
REVIEW: woom 1 (~$249)
The lightweight frame made it easier for our two- to three-year-old to ride. The bright green brake on the handlebar is a great way for kids to practice braking at an early age. A three-year-old can even do it!
My kiddo enjoyed the balance bike at age two, but grew too tall for the seat and handlebar height at age 3. I did not like that the bike was not as adjustable as other balance bikes, and that we would need to purchase the woom 1 Plus ($299) for our taller balance biker.
REVIEW: Strider (~$130)
We borrowed the Strider balance bike and found it to be the easiest balance bike for our three-year-old. The frame was lightweight at 6 lbs., 11 oz. and the seat was adjustable with taller handlebars so it fit our child until she was ready to move to a pedal bike.
She started riding it immediately and found balancing to be easier and more fun on this bike than others. This was our favorite bike by far.
Our balance bike debate felt very much like the Goldilocks story: one bike was too heavy, one too light, and one was just right.
Take my word for it and get the Strider bike for your budding bike enthusiast.
In any case, be forewarned that you might find yourself with a toddler who would rather turn their bike upside down than ride it.
I recognize the cost of a balance bike could be cost-prohibitive for some families. Guardian Bikes have similar high ratings and are cheaper. I would also suggest saving the environment (and your wallet) by finding a secondhand bike on the woom website, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
Depending on your child’s size, age, or skill-level, you could even skip the balance bike all together. Just take the pedals off a regular bike and let your new-rider try balancing on the bike before they try pedaling. If you decide to go that route, make sure to check out our woom 3 review and tips on how to teach your kiddo to ride a bike.
Happy biking!
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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If you liked the Woom & Strider, you want to have a look at the Kokua models, they are awesome (my kids have jumpers and LtB16 Sram, they love them), and by doing some research, I realized that they are the inventor of the first balance bike for kids in the 90s. Definitely a strong player.
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I haven’t heard of the Kokua models but will take a look! We have one more kid learning to ride…