Strider - 12 Sport Balance Bike, Ages 18 Months to 5 Years, Yellow

Product Information

Brake: A handbrake is an optional choice on a balance bike as a child will instinctively use their feet to stop, at least at first. The additional weight is worth considering if you're intending to carry it on a regular basis (say home from nursery or pre-school), but our reviewer found the Pinto to be very easy and fun to ride in balance bike mode. Materials. The frame is made of magnesium alloy, which is light and durable, and additionally perfectly dampens vibrations. The seat is made of soft material and the 12 inch air-filled tyres are made of rubber, perfect for forest paths and city walkways. The handlebar has non-slip rubber grips. Age range: Suitable from two years old with a minimum inside leg of 30cm and approximate height of 88cm | Weight: 3.2kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love

Since 2003, the Puky balance bike have evolved into a range aimed at different ages and sizes of children. This means you're getting three bikes for your initial outlay, which can be comforting at a time of uncertainty about future product availability, prices and income levels. Finally for younger riders, the Toddlebike/Lena Bike is a great option for those aged 18 months plus who aren't quite ready to progress to a full balance bike.While some people would argue that it’s better to dive straight into a standard bike with stabilizers, we think that balance bikes are absolutely worth it and a great place to start learning bike riding skills. We've recently reviewed the brand new Hornit AIRO balance bike, and it was so lightweight I actually thought they'd forgotten to put it in the box!

Our Puky bike has been brilliant, both dc have ridden it since just after 2 years old." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Her0utdoors) Our verdict# It's been brilliant off-road in the woods and on pavement and he zooms around on it very happily. Another plus is that as the Strider doesn't have air tyres there is less maintenance and no risk of a puncture while out." - Louise With an affordable price combined with great quality, not to mention super lightweight, we think the Vitus Nippy is the best balance bike to buy in 2023. Mumsnetters warn against spending lots on a balance bike as they're used for a relatively short time, and the Nippy hits the sweet spot between performance, quality and price. The Rothan is their balance bike offering - it's suitable for children with an inside leg of 30cm. The attention to detail is superb on every Islabikes product, and you'll smile every time you see the paintwork or lift up the frame (3.2kg).Some raved about its lightweight and the fact that unlike some other balance bikes it comes with a brake. Specialized bikes. Quite pricy but v light weight and good quality."(Recommended by Mumsnetter CaraDuneRedux) Our verdict Once she was out of nappies though the seat was too uncomfortable (and still too short for the softer bigger saddle) but fortunately someone gave us an Islabikes Rothan (see below) which was much more comfy and having the brake did help with getting ready for a Frog pedal bike." - Heather Vitus Nippy weighs just under a Strider and is a third of the price. We had a heavy balance bike and made no progress, swapped it for a Vitus Nippy and my son was doing huge ramps in the skate park the same day, and road a bike with pedals without needing any practice once he'd outgrown the Nippy. He absolutely loved that thing, even more than his pedal bike tbh." (Recommended by Mumsnetter user33323) Our verdict

The Puky LR M comes with soft foam tyres that are lightweight and flexible, and won't suffer from punctures. These bikes have a unique "growing frame" that extends as your child grows. They start in balance bike mode, and come equipped with everything you need to transform the balance bike into a pedal bike when the time is right.

While it may be a bit heavy for a child who has just turned two, the Frog Tadpole comes into its own from around age three. Like the Islabikes Rothan, it’s purposefully designed to suit a specific age range and performs well on all surfaces. The comfy padding on the handles and seat makes the bike great for longer rides and the brake handle is easy for little hands to reach to slow down and stop with confidence. The Tadpole is on the pricey side but it is the closest you can get to a ‘proper’ bike as a balance bike and the resale value is really good. The Hoy Napier is the stuff of a toddler’s Olympics dreams with its sleek, minimalist BMX design, chunky wheels and small aluminium frame. Available in red, blue, and yellow this is a great looking balance bike that will see most children through from the age of two to four. In the middle the Kidvelo Rookieand the Hornit AIROfit in between these two groups in terms of price and functionality, as they're both really simple and lightweight, but with the benefit of pneumatic tyres. Neither have a brake (but both look great - you're personal preference will be between the frame styles on these two!) At Bobbin, we ensure our bicycles are complete with both style and exceptional quality. Unlike cheaper balance bikes sold by competitors, Bobbin bikes UK offers high-quality at a low price, and our lightweight balance bike is no exception! So get your mini-me into balance bike mode today and top it off with a funky kids helmet! Highly recommend Frog bikes. Nice and light which is what they need. We’ve had quite a few now as the children have grown. My son had a fantastic lightweight plastic balance bike first of all but I can’t remember the brand. Then we discovered Frog bikes and have had those ever since." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Jerble) Our verdict

Balance bikes are small bicycles without pedals. They allow children as young as 18 months to learn to balance and steer by propelling the bike forward and lifting their feet up to glide when ready. Whether you’re looking for a garden toy, a nursery-run solution or something hard-wearing for off-road family trails, the choosing the best balance bike for your toddler will hugely impact their first experience of cycling.The saddle should also, ideally, be in a ‘scoop’ shape to deal with the amount of weight targeted towards the centre of the saddle and to aid positioning. Kidvelo are a recent entry into the market, but build on decades of balance biking experience - the team of four who run Kidvelo have been major players in the balance bike industry and joined forces to design and build their own bikes. Age range: Two to four years old (85 to 110cm tall with an inside leg of 40cm minimum) | Weight: 3.8kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love