Balance bikes are considered the best toys as far as teaching toddlers to balance on two wheels. Balance bikes can even be used by children who are only 1 or 2 years old. These are considered a great way for your child to step into the world of outdoor sports, and children simply love these bikes. This is because of their curiosity in everything new at a young age. And hence, it is recommended for every parent to get a balance bike for their children.
Moreover, when it comes to markets, they are flooded with numerous balance bike options, and you can get one easily that matches your needs. The most interesting balance bikes are the ones made out of wood, but most people don’t know how to buy one. In this article, we’ll go through some tips that are important to know if you are buying a wooden balance bike.
Size of Wooden Balance bike
Size is one extremely important factor to consider while buying a wooden balance bike for your young ones. Talking about a wooden balance bike, the smallest size that is available is 10 inches wheel bike. This size is quite nice for a kick start, but most children outgrow, after which they need a bigger bike.
So, if you are looking for a wooden balance bike that your kid would use for at least the upcoming 2 years, you should go with 12 or 14 inches one. Moreover, if your kid is taller than his age, you can go for a bike with 16 inches tires.
Bike Tires
The tire is the part of a bike that determines the overall quality of the ride. There are numerous options when it comes to the tire of a wooden balance bike. The most widely used options are air, foam, rubber, and plastic. Moreover, even from these tires, the ones you’ll get to see are the foam and rubber ones.
- Foam: You can see foam tires easily being used in a kid’s balance bike. They are comparatively very cheap and don’t get punctured, but the problem lies with the traction part. Due to the material and build, the friction they can provide is not that great, and also you can use them on a rough surface.
- Rubber: Rubber is the most widely used one, and this is due to the features it provides to the user. Also, rubber tires, if considered, are durable enough to last even on rough surfaces, and they provide great friction. These can be the best choice if you want something that is long-lasting.
- Plastic: Plastic tires are also cheap, but we don’t recommend these if you want your kid’s bike to last at least for 2-3 years.
To know about more factors that can help you in precise buying refer to our “Buying Guide”
Enlisted are 7 best wooden balance bike recommendations for your kid:
Best Wooden Balance Bikes
| Wooden Balance Bike | Assembly | Suitable for | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike | Unassembled but easy to assemble | 1 to 3-year-old kids | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Kinderfeet Tinytot wooden balance tricycle | Minimal set up needed | 18months to 4-year-old kids | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Wishbone Design Studio Original 3-in-1 Bike | Easily assembled | 12 to 3years | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| WishBone Design Studio Bike | Set up is very easy | 12months to 5-year-old kids | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Kinderfeet Balance bike | Easily assembled | from 2years old | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Cuzton Balance Bike | --- | 2-5-year-old kids | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Zum CX Wooden Balance Bike | Easy to set up | 3 to 6-year-old baby | CHECK ON AMAZON |
7 Best Wooden Balance Bikes Reviews
1. Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike
It is the perfect first push wooden balance bike that promotes learning balance and helps your child to exercise as they use their feet to move. Composed of wood, this well-made bike has large rubber wheels and a sturdy seating platform. Also, it promotes the growth of muscle strength in kids.
What sets this wooden bike apart from other wooden balances is that it comes with four wheels. Moreover, it is perfect for young beginners to test their mobility and develop active motor skills.
Features:
- Rubber-rimmed wheels do not leave any marks on the floor
- It is made from non-toxic, child-safe material, paint, and finish
- Good for kids that are of 1 to 3 year old in age
- Weighs 5.6 pounds
Pros:
- Lightweight and durable
- Ideal for indoor use as wheels leave no marks on the floor
- Kids can drag this bike easily and take it anywhere
Cons:
- Seat height is fixed; it is not adjustable.
- Choking hazards due to the presence of small parts
2. Kinderfeet Tinytot wooden balance tricycle
Kinderfeet Tinytot wooden balance bicycle is an innovative bicycle that can easily convert into a tricycle. This makes it easy for kids to transition from the tricycle to bicycle. The versatile bike is hand made from fast growing birch trees and uses non-toxic and eco-friendly paint. The bike has 9 inch wide tires that are suitable for anyone within the age group of 18 months to 4 years.
The EVA airless tyres do not need to be inflated and are safe in all terrains. They are also completely made up of sustainable and eco friendly material. The seats of the bike are adjustable in height and can be raised from 10 to 13 inches in height to make it best suited for your child.
Features:
- Can handle weight up to 55 pounds
- Safety tested for American and European standards
- Has an extra wide base for balance and support
Pros:
- Sustainable and eco-friendly
- Can be used as a bicycle and a tricycle
Cons:
- No major cons
3. Lil’Rider 2-in-1 balance bike
Lil rider 2-in-1 wooden balance bike can be used as a bicycle or a tricycle that helps your child learn how to balance using the tricycle first before starting on the bicycle. The adjustable seat helps you customise the bike according to your child’s growing height.
The bike weighs 2.2 pounds and has a dimension of 26X16.5X14 inches which is perfect for kids between the age group of 12 months to 3 years.
Features:
- Soft seat and handle grip
- Adjustable seat
- Sturdy birchwood frame
Pros:
- Great choice for first bike
- Sustainable and eco-friendly
- Lightweight and easy to use for kids
Cons:
- No major cons
4. WishBone Design Studio Bike
Wishbone design studio bike is a 12 inches wheel size bike that can be converted from a tricycle to a bicycle. It is made up from sustainably harvested birch and eucalyptus woods.
The adjustable seat can be raised to customise it to your child’s growing height. This makes it suitable for anyone within the age group of 12 months up to the age of 5 years old.
Features:
- Meets European, Australian and American safety standards
- Sustainable and eco-friendly design
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to learn to balance
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- No major cons
5. Kinderfeet Balance bike
Kinderfeet balance bike is made up of natural bamboo wood that makes it sturdy and durable. The adjustable seat can be raised from 33 cm to 41 cm to make it suitable for kids between the age group of 2 to 5 years old. It has puncture proof tires that do not need to be inflated and can smoothly handle all terrains.
Features:
- The bike is completely made up of bamboo wood
- Suitable for kids above the height of 85cm
- Adjustable seat height
- Puncture proof tires
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight and easy to ride for kids
Cons:
- Not suitable for younger kids as this does not convert into a tricycle
- Does not have adjustable handlebars
6. Cuzton Balance Bike
Cuzton childrens balance bike is a colorful 12 inches wooden bike. It has EVA foam tires that are puncture proof and can handle many different terrains with ease. It has an adjustable seat that can be raised from 14.2 inches to 15.7 inches in height to accommodate the increasing height of the growing child.
The spacious seat and easy to grip handle make it easy and convenient to use. The bike has dimensions of 32.5X22.4X13.5 inches and weighs 5 pounds which makes it perfect for kids in the age group of 2 to 5 years old. It can handle weight up to 66 pounds.
Features:
- Linear pull brakes
- Dual suspension
- The steering wheels can be moved at 40-degrees angle
- Smooth non-toxic paint
- Can handle upto 66 pounds of weight
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Minimum maintenance
- Colorful and attractive design
Cons:
- Does not come with a footrest
- Requires initial assembly and adjustments
7. Zum CX Wooden Balance Bike
Zum CX wooden kids balance bike is made up of durable handmade wood frame that can handle up to 50 pounds of weight. The wood is sustainably harvested which makes this an eco-friendly bike. The bike has an adjustable seat that is designed for kids between the age 2 to 6 years to learn how to balance and learn to ride a bicycle.
The bike has dimensions of 22.3X13.4X6.4 inches and can handle up to 50 pounds of weight.
Features:
- FSC certified
- Sustainable and eco-friendly material
- It weighs around 9 pounds
- Adjustable seat
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Spacious and soft seat
- Easy grip handle
Cons:
- Does not have footrest
- The tires need to be inflated and maintained
6 Buying Tips you must know before Purchasing Wooden Balance Bikes
1. Brakes
You need to sit and decide about whether you want your kid’s balance bike to have brakes or not. This depends totally on the age of your kid if only one and a half-year-old, there is no point in having brakes. Most young kids lack proper coordination that is required to use the mechanism of breaks.
However, if you are thinking about future-proofing, you can buy a wooden bike with removable brakes. You can also remove the brakes from a bike and install them whenever your kid needs them in the future.
2. Weight
Most people don’t take this factor seriously, but the weight of the bike is one crucial factor when the safety of the kid is considered. The weight of the bike depends primarily on the material that is used to build the bike. In most cases, the material used for making is steel and aluminum, but here we are talking about wood.
Wood is a nice material as far as the factor of weight is considered. Also, wood is reasonably strong according to its weight. So, weight should not be a problem if you are buying a decent wooden bike.
3. Turning limiters
People have different opinions about having turning limiters on balance bikes. Some people say that these are good and prevent the user from taking and sharp turns. While some people say that these prevent the child from learning proper steering techniques.
Turning limiters have their own pros and cons, and it depends on you and the way you look at them. Moreover, our advice is neutral about using these on balance bikes, and it completely depends on buyers’ choice or requirement.
4. Footrests
Footrests are important from the comfort point of view of riding. A young kid is supposed to spend hours playing, and if it is with his balance bike, the whole experience should be comfortable. Also, footrests provide proper space for your kid to rest his feet. Having wider footrests is a nice thing to have. Go with the balance bike that has proper footrests on it, because you can’t compromise with the comfort of your kid.
5. Seat
The seat of the bike has to be good enough. If hours of the day of your kid are going to be spent on a balance bike, the bike seat should be comfortable enough. The seat of a kid’s balance bike should be made out of a nice cushioned material. The preferred material is foam. But make sure it is high-quality foam or else it will smell foul with time. Also, this will assure that your kid won’t have any problems regarding sitting.
6. Handgrips and protective bumpers
Safety is always a concern for parents whenever there is something about their child. Handgrips protect your kid’s hand from getting scraped, and the bumpers protect the kid and also the bike from any potential damage. So, before buying a balance bike, make sure that it has protective bumpers along with the handgrip.
Conclusion
Balance bikes, in general, are considered safer than bicycles or tricycles, especially when it comes to children who are just starting to ride. So, you must choose a balance bike for your young kid that comes with a safe and smooth ride and good quality material, so they don’t get hurt by any means. Moreover, a relevant seat height as per your kids’ age and size, non-toxic handgrips, footrests, etc. make the choice easier.
If you still feel unsure, here are 2 products that we suggest for a child that is up to 5 years old. The first one is the “Hape Scoot around Ride-on Wood Bike,” which we highly suggest for its safe ride, construction material, and overall built-quality. It further makes certain that kids are able to develop their skills.
The next one that we suggest is the Kinderfeets Tiny Tot Wooden Bike and Tricycle by This is because of its footpegs provision and airless tires that make it safe for kids. Also, this is convertible to be used as a 2 wheel bike that adds up the fun fact for a child.
Are you still not convinced enough to decide one from the above for your kid? Well, let us know what bother you in the comments so we can help you further.
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