When I came across these cool kids balance bikes, I knew I had to share them here! School is almost out, and now is the perfect time to make sure all the kids gear is ready for the long hot summer days ahead. As we’re getting ready for hot summer weather, we went on the hunt for the perfect toddler bike and came across the balance bike.
After a bit of research, I was convinced this was the coolest thing I’ve seen this season!
What is a balance bike?
Balance bikes are two-wheel cycles that look very much like a traditional bicycle with one exception-they don’t have pedals or training wheels. With balance bikes, toddlers can skip tricycles and training wheels and learn to balance on a two-wheeler. They’re great for young toddlers that want to learn to ride because they allow their little feet to reach the ground which enables them to control their own balance and coordination.
A balance bike is traditionally a toddler bike that is made for kids as young as 18 months up to five years old.
What’s wrong with training wheels?
Nothing! It’s how I learned, and how my older children learned to ride a bike. By all means, if you feel training wheels are the way to go, more power to you.
However, as my oldest daughter is now starting to train to ride her bike without her beloved training wheels, I can see how starting with a balance bike as a toddler would have been much more beneficial to her.
Basically, since she is use to relying on the training wheels to hold her up, it’s even more frustrating for her to have to start from scratch and figure it out. It almost feels like she’s going backwards instead of making progress. From being able to ride (with training wheels) to not even being able to keep her bike upright.
Sure, there have been loads of kids that have dealt with this frustration and overcome it, but imagine if they’d had a toddler bike from the beginning where they could have learned how to keep their balance from the beginning. That’s half the battle! Add pedals when it’s time and they’re off!
Again, these are just my observations with my oldest daughter (I hadn’t even heard of balance bikes when my older sons were learning to ride). By the time my younger 10 month old daughter is a toddler, I’m positive we’ll be starting her off with a balance bike.
Since I’m so intrigued, I want to share some of the best balance bikes I found, and hopefully you can snag a toddler bike or two for your little rider just in time for summer.
*affiliate links included
Wooden Balance Bikes
If you are looking for an environmentally friendly version of the balance bike, you might consider the wooden version of these toddler bikes. They have a classic look that may evoke reminiscent feelings of your childhood.
These wooden balance bikes each boast different types of strong, durable wood which makes them a high quality choice for toddlers.
1. Smart Gear Wooden Classic Smart Balance Kids Bike – Birch wood makes this bike a sturdy and renewable choice. Features adjustable seats and air tires. For ages 2 and up.
2. Kinderfeets Chalkboard Wooden Balance Bike – features a bamboo frame (stronger than steel!), foot pegs for easy foot rest, and adjustable seats. Tires are airless and biodegradable. Kids can create their own chalkboard design on the painted wood surface (chalk included). For ages 2 and up.
3. Radio Flyer Classic Glide & Go Balance Bike – For ages 2.5 and up, this bike features a premium wood frame with air tires and adjustable seats.
Metal and Steel Balance Bikes
Having a steel or aluminum frame means durability and the ability to pass along the balance bike from one sibling to the next. These featured bikes each have sleek designs and come in a variety of fun colors.
1. Cruzee UltraLite Balance Bike – Features of the Cruzee include super lightweight rust-free aluminum design. The wheels are puncture resistant foam rubber, and seats and handlebars are adjustable. Recommended for ages 1.5 to 5
2. Strider 12-Sport Balance Bike – The Strider boasts easy assembly, a lightweight steel frame design and flat-free rubber foam tires. This bike can be used as early as 18 months with its adjustable seat and handlebars.
3. KaZAM v2e No Pedal Balance Bike – Featured on Shark Tank, the Kazam balance bike is made for toddlers 2 1/2 up to 5 years. It’s unique step-in footrest design gives kids a surface to rest their feet when coasting along. The bike includes an adjustable seat and handlebars and foam rubber tires that can’t be punctured.
(P.S. Don’t forget to pin these bikes to your summer Pinterest board so you can reference them later.)
