The Schwinn is built to withstand regular use and last for years. The aluminum frame is lightweight yet sturdy, making it suitable for riders up to 300 pounds. The front forks also add stability to the bike by evenly distributing weight across all three wheels.
Compared with trikes that were 100% plastic, trikes with at least some steel tended to age better and more consistently stood up to a beating. Plus, the heavy-duty double-wall alloy rims and wide tires also contribute to the trike’s durability, as they can handle different terrains and provide stability while riding. Agile, simple to assemble, and sized right for the smallest kids, this is the balance bike for bike-enthusiast parents who want their child to have a pro-level tyke bike.
Storage spaces for stuff kids might need—like a cupholder for a sippy cup or a trunk or basket for toys—may also be appealing to kids. The seat should ideally include some back support to help brace a child’s trunk, especially if they’re under age 3, said Rebecca Talmud, DPT, a pediatric physical therapist in Washington, DC. “This support will be important to ensure more effective forward motion and help a child build momentum when pedaling.” She also pointed out that a kid shouldn’t have to strain to reach the pedals. “Trikes are really the first tool that give kids the sense of moving forward,” said Judy Wang, DPT, a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy who practices in Los Angeles. They also help develop a child’s visual processing abilities while in motion. At age 1 to 2, kids can sit securely on a trike, and at around age 2½ to 3 (on average), they are able to start pedaling on their own.
At 21 pounds, the MyRider Midi is one of the heavier trikes we tested. Yet despite its heft, it provides a very smooth ride and is easy for kids to start pedaling. The spokeless wheels move smoothly, and the rubber tires, though narrow, seem to glide easily. The wheels require no adjustments; no parts stick out, and nothing can get caught in them. This trike is the hardest to tip of any we tried, due to its weight and welded steel frame design. But we also found the MyRider Midi harder to stop when going fast downhill.
Plus, the handlebar can rise by nearly 4 inches and tilt upward and forward nearly 4 inches. You can raise the handlebar by about 2 inches (the Guardian bike’s handlebars can’t change in height), and you can adjust the handlebar angle with an Allen wrench, same as on the Guardian model. The REV 12’s handlebars ranked among the widest of the balance bikes we tested, which made them ideal for taller preschoolers. Compared with our top pick, this balance bike can accommodate a slightly taller kid, which means it might get more use over time. It can also accommodate a heavier kid (up to 60 pounds, versus the Guardian model’s limit of 50). In our tests, however, smaller kids found the REV 12 to be too tall and too heavy for their liking.
On top of that, whereas many companies offer bikes in just a couple of colors, Guardian currently gives you six options, ranging from black to hot pink. The trikes were then turned over to their kids, so they could test their durability, ease of use, speed, and inherent fun-ness. Kids took the trikes on neighborhood strolls, and they tested them on grass, pavement, broken concrete, and dirt. We paid attention to how the wheels performed and how long it took to get the trikes moving, as well as their stability.
We considered more than 50 of today’s most popular tricycles. And along with several dozen kids (between the ages of 1 and 7), we test-drove 21 models. In the end, we think families with toddlers should get the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike. This lower-cost, convertible tricycle is loaded with extras, and it offers significantly more versatility than its competitors.
It has an aluminum frame which makes it lightweight yet durable, making it easy to navigate through different terrains. Jenni Gritters spent 20 hours researching balance bikes, as well as assembling and testing nine of them, for the late-2023 update to this guide. She also hosted a “bike party” with 10 kid testers, ages 2 to 6. Kids as young as 18 months may be able to ride a balance bike, and many bikes can keep kids happily gliding along until they’re kindergarten age or older. Kids can ride them outdoors or indoors (if your home has the room) and can use them on family jaunts through the neighborhood. Quality balance bikes also have good resale value, and you can search for a lightly used one if you’re shopping on a budget.
Writer Jenni Gritters researched more than 20 tricycles, and she built and tested 10 of them in late 2023. She has a decade of experience reporting on parenting, purchasing, and psychology, and she was previously an editor for Wirecutter’s outdoors section. She’s the author of our guides to the best jogging strollers and the best kids hiking backpacks, and she’s a mom to two children. As Jenni was writing the current version of this guide, her kids were 15 months and 3½ years old—perfect trike-testing age.
Kate timed her 3-year-old as he rode a block on a concrete sidewalk and took a corner at full speed. This demonstrated how easy it was to start and turn each trike, and it provided evidence of wheels lifting up or a trike seat being unstable. The INFANS Kids Tricycle is similar to our top pick, but it offers added durability and has a higher price tag. This trike schwinn bicycles is a solid option if you can’t find the Radio Flyer, or if you want a trike with sturdier hardware. The INFANS trike weighs 20 pounds, whereas the Radio Flyer is 16, so it’s a bit harder for little kids to ride the INFANS trike by themselves. We also liked the pedal covers of the Radio Flyer’s stroller configuration better than the foot pegs on the INFANS trike.