Buyer’s guide to balance bikes – and 11 to choose from

By Oscar Huckle

Published: Friday, 17 June 2022 at 12:00 am

There’s a wide range of options for children starting out riding and a balance bike represents the ideal entry point for many kids into the world of cycling.

Cycling is a life skill and teaching your child to ride a balance bike will give them a head-start at a young age before progressing to a pedal bike.

In this guide, we will take you through what exactly constitutes a balance bike, the pros and cons compared to a conventional pedal bike, and 11 of the best balance bikes to choose from.

We also have guides to the best kids’ bikes and best cheap kids’ bikes, as well as an introduction to cycling with children.

You may also want to check out our list of the best children’s bike helmets.

What is a balance bike?

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Balance bikes are great for learning how to ride.
Freewheel

A balance bike foregoes the pedals and crankset of a conventional bike, allowing kids to put their feet flat on the floor and scoot around.

It teaches them how to balance and control the bike without factoring pedalling into the equation.

Balance bikes sometimes forego brakes, especially when they are designed for indoor use or for very young children who may prefer to brake with their feet, but some options will come equipped with a brake (usually at the rear).

What age ranges are balance bikes for?

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Kids’ bikes range widely in wheel size. Getting the right one matters.
Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Age ranges aren’t particularly relevant for children’s bicycle sizing. Instead, a child’s height and inseam measurement are more critical to ensure a proper fit. Balance bikes are typically suited for children under 110cm, although this varies across models.

Don’t be tempted to buy a larger bike that is too big for your child because it will make it hard for them to manoeuvre and will likely be uncomfortable, ultimately hampering the learning experience.

Balance bikes typically use a 12-inch wheel size, but you can find options with 10-inch wheels for smaller children, and 14-inch wheels for taller children.

Is a balance bike better than a conventional children’s bike?

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A balance bike will teach a child how to balance and lean – valuable skills when it comes to riding a pedal-powered bike.
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

A balance bike typically represents an easier first step into teaching your child to cycle for toddlers. As their motor skills and coordination develop, the child can learn how to balance and steer on the bike, without the distraction of learning how to pedal.As they typically feature a smaller wheel size, it is also easier to get a tot onto a bike at a younger age.

With time, a balance bike will give a child the confidence to step up to a pedal-powered bike – and by now, they’ll understand how to balance, manoeuvre and control the bike, with pedalling the final piece in the puzzle.

While one alternative is to buy a conventional 12- or 14-inch kids’ bike and remove the pedals, a balance bike will typically be lighter in weight, given there are fewer components, and some may have specific features such as a footrest.

Another alternative to a balance bike is to teach your child how to pedal straightaway. That way, there is one learning curve to cycling rather than two, but we’d recommend a balance bike as the entry point for young children.

Balance bike vs stabilisers

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Striding will lead to gliding.
Immediate Media

We’d recommend starting a young child on a balance bike, rather than using stabilisers (also known as ‘training wheels’).

As balance bikes teach young children to balance, it often makes for a simpler transition to a kids’ bike without the need for stabilisers when they are older.

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We’d recommend starting on a balance bike, rather than using stabilisers.
Peter Cade / Getty Images

On a balance bike, children learn the art of cornering, how to steer and sometimes correct braking techniques (provided the bike has been specced with a rear brake).

Stabilisers effectively turn a kid’s bike into a tricycle, offering very different characteristics when cornering, which can complicate matters when stepping up to riding solely on two wheels, and having to learn how to balance on a bike from scratch.

What to look for in a balance bike

Frame material

A balance bike frame will typically be made from metal, in many cases steel or, with lighter options, aluminium. There’s also a fairly broad spectrum of alloys that may be used. 

The material plays a significant role in determining the weight of a balance bike. Some frames are made of wood, which is lightweight and suitable for riding indoors, but it may not stand up to long-term abuse outside.  

Brakes

Some balance bikes feature a rear brake. This is particularly useful when riding outside, so the child can stop without using their feet. Balance bikes with a brake also represent a gateway in developing a child’s braking technique when it comes to stepping up to a pedal-powered bike. 

Wheels

As you spend more, the quality of the wheels and tyres improves. Cheaper balance bikes will use plastic rims that can easily go out of true (roundness), whereas more premium options will use aluminium rims and sealed-bearing hubs, laced with spokes that can be adjusted should the wheel go out of true. 

Tyres

Cheaper balance bikes use foam tyres, which won’t puncture but don’t offer a particularly exciting or grippy ride outside. More expensive balance bikes will feature dedicated tyres designed for tarmac or paths, with improved grip and durability. 

Contact points 

Good-quality balance bikes will feature seatposts or handlebars that allow height adjustment. Some may offer a quick-release clamp for easier adjustment. Either way, adjustable contact points will allow you to fine-tune the fit, and adjust the bike as a child grows.

Eleven of the best balance bikes to consider

Here are 11 of the best balance bikes to consider.

Strider 12 Classic

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Strider is a very popular make of kids’ bike.
Strider
  • £109.99 / €131.08

The Strider 12 Classic comes with no-flat tyres and is made from steel. It is said to fit an inseam from 30 to 43cm and comes in at a claimed 2.9kg, as well as being available in four colours.