Choosing the Right Tricycle: A Complete Guide for Your Child

01 Sep.,2025

 

Choosing the Right Tricycle: A Complete Guide for Your Child

Tricycles are generally the first bicycle toddlers learn to ride. For years to come, this might change how they feel about working out and playing outside.

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So, how to select a Tricycle, consider your child's wants, needs, and growth. It improves your child's health, self-esteem, and biking skills. A poorly fitted bike might lead to an upset child, an accident, and a lack of physical activity.

Biking benefits kids in numerous ways. It improves mobility, muscle strength, speed, and balance. Kids feel free and in charge when they ride tricycles because they can go places they have never been before. Little ones can make new friends while riding tricycles. This helps them learn how to get along with others and work as a team.

Age and Size Considerations

A. Age-Appropriate Tricycle Recommendations

For choosing the right tricycle, consider your child's age and growth. Most kids are ready for a bike by 2–5 years old. A tricycle with a push handle is appropriate for kids under 2 to 3 years old so parents can steer and manage them. This feature helps parents supervise their children until they are strong and coordinated enough to pedal alone.

Tricycles for this age range should have wide wheels and a low centre of gravity for stability. This will prevent falls and offer a safe journey. These characteristics help kids balance and ride safely.

When kids are older and more confident, they can ride pedal tricycles. Look for tricycles with adjustable seats and wheels for this age group. These modifications help your child grow and develop, making the fit easy and healthy. The handlebar and seat height adjustments may allow the tricycle to fit your child correctly, making riding pleasurable and encouraging use.

B. Measuring Your Child for the Perfect Fit

Measure your child's inseam to ensure a good bike fit. The inseam—from the crotch to the floor—is crucial to seat height. Compare this measurement to the bike seat height to ensure your child can reach the pedals.

Sitting up straight should be easy for your youngster with their feet flat on the pedals at the lowest setting. You may adjust various tricycle seats and handlebars as your child develops for optimal performance. Adjustability keeps the tricycle safe and easy to ride over time.

Good bike fit enhances safety and comfort, making riding pleasurable and motivating your youngster to do it often. Get your child a comfortable tricycle to boost their self-esteem and riding skills.

Types of Tricycles

A. Traditional Tricycles

1. Features and Benefits

Best tricycle for kids with three wheels, a seat, and grips is familiar to most people. A front basket for small objects, a sturdy frame, and comfortable grips are standard features of these tricycles. They are for young children learning to pedal and turn. They make bike riding safe and easy for kids.

2. Ideal for Beginners

Traditional bikes are stable and easy to ride for beginners. They are also safer for kids because of their low centre of gravity and broad base. Making riding safe and supportive helps kids enjoy it, encouraging repeated use and practice.

B. Push/Pedal Tricycles

1. Transitioning from Push to Pedal

Push or pedal-driven tricycles are appropriate for children of all ages. Parents may steer and turn these safe tricycles for toddlers with the push handle. Due to strength or competence, children under five may not be able to pedal independently. As they grow and improve their bodies, kids can pedal without being pulled, feeling accomplished and independent.

2. Promoting Independence and Skill Development

A push/pedal bike is a beautiful method for kids to learn and become independent. These tricycles help kids become more robust, balanced, and confident by steadily transitioning from assisted riding to self-riding. This step-by-step method teaches bike basics and prepares them for advanced riding.

C. Tricycles with Safety Features

1. Handbrakes and Seatbelts

Safety should be your top bike purchase consideration. Handbrake and strap models keep your child secure and in charge while driving. Handbrakes teach kids to stop correctly and control their speed, which is helpful when riding bikes again.

2. Tailored for Peace of Mind

This is done so parents don't have to think about their kids’ riding tricycles. The strike has strong frames that keep it stable and ensure the seats are comfy. Padded seats and non-slip pedals offer comfort. These features are fantastic for parents who want to keep their kids safe because they make riding safer and reduce accident risk.

If parents look at these different types and what makes them unique, they can pick the best tricycle for their child based on their needs for safety and growth. This will keep the child safe and allow them to have fun while going.

D. Specialty Tricycles

1. Encouraging Exploration and Adventure

Off-road and cargo tricycles are built for unique needs and wants, encouraging adventure and discovery. Thick tyres and a more robust chassis make off-road tricycles easy to ride over challenging terrain. With this option, riders can explore nature walks and rugged terrain off paved roads. Off-road tricycles are more stable and durable, giving riders the confidence to explore and adventure in challenging environments.

Similarly, cargo tricycles feature extra storage space for riders, especially kids, to carry toys, snacks, and other items. This excellent feature makes the bike more functional and helps young riders grow autonomous and resourceful. The tricycle lets children carry their belongings, giving kids a sense of duty and independence.

2. Catering to Specific Needs or Interests

Riders can play in many ways using tricycles. These tricycles have unique features that suit many games and activities. Kids can ride them on nature walks or ride in parks. Each kid has a tricycle that suits their hobbies and aspirations, whether they play outside or in their homes.

Tricycles are fantastic for learning by doing and expressing oneself creatively, as well as transportation. Certain tricycles encourage youngsters to explore and play pretend, helping them develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally. They foster resilience, independence, and curiosity for lifetime learning and discovery.

Materials and Construction

A. Durability and Safety Standards

Material quality and construction are crucial when buying a bike. Choose metal frames and suitable strong plastics that can handle regular use and rough play. Metal frames are strong, and suitable plastics are light and easy for little kids to handle.

Make sure the bike always meets safety standards and needs no more work by following them. These credentials prove this bike has passed rigorous safety tests so your child can ride it.

B. Eco-friendly and Sustainable Options

There are recyclable or non-toxic, long-lasting tricycles for eco-conscious folks. These tricycles protect the environment and keep kids away from harmful chemicals.

Additional Tricycle Features for Children

A. Storage and Portability

Folding frames and removable sections make tricycles easier to store and transfer. They're perfect for small or mobile households because they're easy to disassemble and fold. Because of their design, they can fit in a car trunk or room. This function lets you store the trike neatly when not in use. This organises and maximises space.

B. Customization and Accessories

Many tricycles come with baskets, bells, and ribbons to customise. These upgrades make the bike appear better and make riding more exciting for your child.

Kids can personalise their bikes by painting or drawing on them. You can carry snacks and toys in bags and accessories. Bells and streamers make things more fun and exciting.

C. Easy Assembly and Maintenance

Pick trikes that are easy to put together and ride. Setting up the bike is more accessible with clear guidelines and a few steps, so your child can start riding faster.

Because their parts are easy to change and their upkeep is simple, tricycles are solid and last long. The bike stays in good shape with simple care, like tightening bolts and cleaning parts. This way, it can be used safely and all the time.

Encouraging Safe Riding Habits

A. Proper Helmet and Safety Gear

Ensure your child bikes with a helmet, knee, and elbow pads. Safety helmets should fit tightly on children to prevent falls. Teaching your child because safety gear is vital early on can help them remember it.

Tell them safety gear is essential and they must wear it when riding. This prevents injuries. Making safety gear a priority teaches your youngster healthy bike habits for the future.

B. Supervision and Guidance

Your child needs supervision and direction when learning to bike. Stay with your youngster while they ride, encouraging them as required. Your youngster learns to ride a bike safely and with confidence and encouragement with you.

Give your child riding pointers on balance, turning, and stopping. As your child gains confidence and skill, you should gradually stop observing them directly but remain available to help and lead them.

C. Teaching Road Safety Rules

Teaching your child basic road safety regulations is crucial for bike safety and preparation. Your youngster should know how to stop at red lights, cross the street safely, and be aware.

These fundamental lessons will help your child be safe on the roads and paths by teaching them responsibility and awareness.

In controlled settings, youngsters learn and use road safety regulations better, preparing them for increasingly difficult bike circumstances. By teaching your child road safety early on, you empower them to make safe decisions and enjoy riding.

Also Read: Top 7 Tricycles For Your 2 Year Old Kid

Key Takeaways

Consider your child's age, size, and growth when selecting a tricycle. Safety features, materials, and standards are the factors to consider when buying a Tricycle. These recommendations will ensure your child's bike is safe, comfortable, and fun.

Before buying a tricycle, consider its safety and performance. A sturdy tricycle keeps your child safe and active while making riding more fun. Prepare to help your youngster choose the ideal bike.

The 4 Best Tricycles of | Reviews by Wirecutter

A good tricycle should meet the following criteria:

It should be made of quality materials. We looked for trikes that can be passed down from child to child. We tested tricycles made from steel, aluminum, and plastic, in varying combinations. 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.

It should be safe and easy to ride. A tricycle should help your child learn to pedal and steer. Models with a wide wheelbase will provide stability and grip the roadway, and we found that lightweight trikes are, in general, easier for younger kids to use. Tires made from rubber or foam are softer, and that can help cushion the ride; hard plastic tires can ride a little rougher and be slippery on pavement. But all of these materials are fine as long as the trike is stable.

It should have a supportive seat. 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.

It should be fun. We wanted a trike that kids would find appealing and want to play with, ideally for many years. For some, the fun is all in the speed. For others, extra pizzazz like a bell, a basket, bright colors, and/or tassels may mean a lot. 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.

It should be able to grow with a child. Many people are looking for a versatile trike that can be used with the same child over a number of developmental stages. We sought a trike with a parent push bar, to propel a toddler who is still learning to pedal, as well as one with the ability to convert to an independent trike for older kids.

Both Kate and Jenni timed their tricycle assembly, noting any particular difficulties or frustrations and whether extra tools were needed. For the combo grow-with-you models, they assessed how difficult and time-consuming it was to convert a trike from mode to mode. And they checked how the tricycles fit their older and younger kids, to assess which models would work best over many years.

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. 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.

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Both writers also threw “bike parties” with a dozen kids, ages 1 to 7, along with the parents, and they noted which options everyone gravitated toward and which they ignored. (When toddler fights ensued, it was a good sign that a trike was well-loved.) After Jenni’s party, the parents reported back on which trikes they preferred, which they hated, and which one they were likely to buy for their child.

Top pick

This versatile trike will grow with your child, converting from a stroller alternative to a big-kid trike they can steer on their own. It comes packed with accessories and has an easy-to-use harness.

The Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike is far more versatile than the shiny-red metal trike or the ground-hugging plastic Big Wheel you may have had as a kid (modern replicas of which we also tested). This tricycle has four modes, for kids of different ages, and ample accessories, and it rides well on many different surfaces. This trike is an updated version of the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike we tested for a previous iteration of this guide.

It’s versatile and can be used for years. Jenni’s 15-month-old loved the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike as much as her 3½-year-old did, due to all of its different modes. Choose from an infant trike, with a harness; a steering-only trike, with a parent handle; a learn-to-pedal trike; and a classic, bigger-kid trike. As your child grows, you simply remove parts: first the tray; then the pedal covers and harness; and, finally, the parent handle, which extends to 36 inches tall. Eventually, your kid can pedal along on their own. Radio Flyer puts an age range of 1 to 5 years on this trike, and it puts a weight limit of 49 pounds, which we found to be accurate.

It includes many accessories. This tricycle comes with a canopy, a wide push handle for caregivers (it’s reasonably adjustable for adults of different heights), a wraparound tray and cupholder, and a storage bucket. It also has a three-point harness, and this one was easier to use than the harness on any other model we tried—it actually pulled tight, too. The 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike has a steel frame but is mostly made of plastic (wheels included). So it’s not the most durable option we tested, but it still stood up to several months of heavy use without injury. One of our long-term testers did note that the color of the plastic faded over time after being left in the sun.

It’s sturdy, yet kids found it fun and easy to ride. Jenni’s son loved riding this trike across pavement, dirt, and even rough concrete. Despite its rigid plastic wheels, the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike could handle all of these surfaces; it moved especially well on sidewalks, where it stayed stable during turns. Compared with other convertible trikes we tested, like the SmarTrike and the Joovy, this one had a more-effective handlebar and sturdier wheels. It was much harder to tip this trike over, due to those sturdy wheels and steel frame, and the harness was the easiest to tighten. Jenni’s 15-month-old daughter loved riding in the infant mode, often pushed by her brother using the parent handle.

Radio Flyer offers a two-year warranty on all of its tricycles when you register it; otherwise, it’s a one-year warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It takes a while to build. It took 40 minutes to build the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike; that was longer than it took to build many of the trikes we tested. The long build time is due to the fact that this trike has so many parts; this makes it versatile, but it’s also a pain. The tools needed—a Phillips head screwdriver, a hammer, and a wrench—are not included. This trike held up well during testing, but it’s less durable than some of the other models we tried, including our upgrade pick.

The parent-push handle can be finicky. One of our long-term testers said that while he appreciates and uses the parent-push mode, he finds the handle a bit wiggly, which can make it hard to steer.

Runner-up

This trike is slightly sturdier than our top pick, and it’s a bit easier to steer. It has the same four configurations as our top pick, but the harness isn’t as simple to use.

The INFANS Kids Tricycle is similar to our top pick, with more-durable steel features and a slightly easier-to-use steering mechanism. But this model usually costs about $50 more. And our kid testers found it less easy to use, likely because the IFANS trike is about 4 pounds heavier than the Radio Flyer tricycle (20 pounds versus the Radio Flyer’s 16).

It has four modes and grows with a kid. Like our top pick, the INFANS trike should last a kid from about 10 months to 5 years (or up to 50 pounds), due to its four modes: stroller, push trike, training trike, and independent trike. As your kid grows up, you can adjust the features. First you pull the foot pegs up. Then you remove the safety bar, and either lock the pedals or allow your child to pedal while you can still help with steering. Finally, you remove the parent handle, and your child is fully on their own. We liked the Radio Flyer’s stroller setting better, since it has a cover over the pedals for kids to rest their feet on, instead of foot pegs. (Jenni’s daughter didn’t use the foot pegs on the INFANS trike and instead tended to kick the tires, creating a bumpy ride.)

It has an easier-to-use push handle. During testing, parents praised the IFANS trike’s adjustable push handle, which extends to 37 inches (just slightly taller, by an inch, than the one on our top pick). This push handle is also thinner than our top pick’s, and it’s easier to use one-handed. The INFANS push handle allows an adult to steer the front wheel, which gives them more control over the trike. By comparison, the parent handle on our top pick is connected to both the front wheel and handlebar, so if the child moves the handlebar, the parent handle moves as well. (With both trikes, the parent could wrestle with the child for control, but the INFANS trike gives the adult a greater advantage.)

And it offers solid add-ons. The IFANS trike’s canopy is made with thicker material than the Radio Flyer trike’s canopy. That means this one can protect your child for longer during a rainstorm or provide a bit better shade coverage. An open basket at the back can be used for carrying snacks, water bottles, and rocks (if you know, you know).

It even has brakes. The INFANS trike also has rear brakes; the Radio Flyer trike does not, and we didn’t find them on many other models. Similar to brakes on a regular stroller, these rear brakes (one against each wheel) can be operated by parents. They can also be activated by children when they’re riding on their own (they pedal backward), which can be good practice for learning to ride a pedal bike.

Parents didn’t love the harness, and kids preferred our top pick. The INFANS trike is about 4 pounds heavier than the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike; we think the added weight is why our kid testers found it harder to ride independently. Like the Radio Flyer trike, this one also has plastic wheels, but they didn’t work as well on dirt pathways. We appreciated that the infant harness was padded across the chest, but it didn’t tighten as well as our top pick’s harness.

It’s faster and easier to build. It took only 20 minutes to build the INFANS Kids Tricycle. Like the Radio Flyer tricycle, this one has a lot of parts, but the instructions are a bit clearer, and the required tools are included.

It has a three-month warranty, much shorter than the Radio Flyer’s two-year warranty.

Best for...

This stylish low-rider trike is best for older kids. By age 3, they can tear up the road on this more-stable modern take on the Big Wheel.

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For bigger kids, the Schwinn Roadster Tricycle 12-Inch is a shiny, gorgeous tricycle that’s fast and fun to ride. It’s low to the ground, with more of a Big Wheel style than you typically see in a metal trike. Because it doesn’t have a push-bar option, it’s not as versatile as our top or runner-up picks. But if you’re buying a tricycle for an older kid, they may prefer the style of this more-sophisticated-looking trike.

This is a good tricycle for kids who are 3 to 6. The Schwinn Roadster can carry 60 pounds of kid (10 pounds more than our runner-up pick and 11 pounds more than our top pick can carry). The molded plastic seat slides back on a track to adjust for taller children. But while we were testing it with kids around age 7, we found that their knees hit the handlebars, even when the seat was pushed back all the way. (If you want a low rider for older kids, check out the Razor RipRider 360.)

Air-filled tires and a low center of gravity make this trike easy to ride. The tires are air-filled, like a bicycle’s, so this three-wheeled baby can tear up some ground. It weighs 17½ pounds, and it has a low center of gravity, which prevents tips and allows the trike to take corners. (Our upgrade pick, the Angeles MyRider Midi, was a bit more stable than even the Schwinn Roadster.) Because this trike is easier to pedal and steer, it handles better than other low-rider options we tried, such as the Big Wheel.

It’s impressively flashy—but big. The Schwinn Roadster comes in seven shiny colors, including red, black, blue, and pink. Other features include black handlebar tassels, a bell, and a wooden deck in back—where a friend can hitch a ride. This trike also has one of the largest footprints of any model we tested. Kate found it was a challenge to navigate her narrow walkways with this trike.

It took about 24 minutes to assemble the Schwinn Roadster Tricycle, and it required a screwdriver. It has a limited warranty.

Upgrade pick

Angeles tricycles are common at many daycares, schools, children’s museums, and community centers. These simple, industrial-strength trikes are built to last—not just through two or three kids in a family, but through two or three hundred kids over many years. The Angeles MyRider Midi Tricycle—intended for kids ages 3 to 6 and rated to hold up to a whopping 70 pounds—is the midsize option in the company’s MyRider trike line. The MyRider Midi is easy and fun to ride, close to maintenance-free, and absolutely durable.

The quality is top-notch. User reviews and years of seeing these tricycles in action at schools tell us the MyRider Midi is by far the most durable trike out there. “Quality and safety come before everything else,” David Curry, VP of merchandising and product development at Angeles Corporation, told us. “If you were to buy one of these trikes, your grandkids would still be riding that same trike.”

The MyRider Midi is fun and safe. 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.

The MyRider Midi has no extras, but it accommodates older kids. The banana-shaped bike seat doesn’t adjust, but because of its ample length, kids can comfortably push back and stretch their legs as they grow. We found that bigger kids could more comfortably ride the MyRider Midi than our other picks, and that could help justify the much higher price tag. The MyRider Midi doesn’t have storage or come with a bell or tassels.

The Angeles MyRider Midi Tricycle arrives fully assembled. It comes only in bright yellow and is also available in smaller and larger sizes. You can choose from 11-inch, 14½-, and 16-inch sizes.

Angeles tricycles have an unusually long, five-year warranty.

If you’re looking for a fun option for older kids: The Razor RipRider 360 is an appealing novelty. It’s not a typical tricycle because it likely won’t work for kids under age 6, due to the height required to reach the pedals. But it’s not a pedal bike, either. Instead, it’s a low rider with one large, rubber front wheel and two scooter-esque back wheels, which drift from side to side as a child pedals. The back wheels swivel on their own, allowing the RipRider 360 to lean into turns; this trike is much more maneuverable than any model in this guide, and the drifting is a blast. It takes about 25 minutes to build the RipRider 360, due to its complex design. But despite its non-traditional build, this trike was one of the favorites in the lineup during our testing party. Kids and adults alike loved climbing into the RipRider 360 and racing up and down the street. (It can carry a recommended maximum weight of 160 pounds.)

If you like our top pick but your kid doesn’t need a full harness: The Amazon Exclusive Radio Flyer Pedal & Push 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike is quite similar to our top pick, with a few key differences. Our top pick’s parent handle has a foam grip. Also, our top pick offers a headrest for tiny kids, and it has a shoulder harness, whereas the Pedal & Push offers a waist belt only. If you plan to start riding with a child when they’re around age 1, you’ll want our top pick’s additions—the headrest and shoulder straps matter for safety! If you plan to use a trike with a kid who’s older (around 2½ years old), you can use either one and likely won’t notice the differences.

If your kid is older, and you don’t need the restraint features at all: The Radio Flyer Deluxe Steer & Stroll, our former runner-up pick, is still a great choice for kids ages 2 to 5. It doesn’t have a harness or a sunshade, but it does include a parent push handle, which can later be removed. One unusual advantage: The pedals don’t move if the child isn’t pushing them. The seat is adjustable, and the trike comes with a storage basket and a bell.

The Joovy Tricycoo 4.1 Kids Tricycle (our previous pick in this guide) was loved by our kid testers, and it has a short, five-minute build time. It’s also adjustable, and it can be used by smaller kids (with the fabric harness) and older kids (just remove the insertable secure seat, which keeps little kids from crawling or sliding out of the chair). The materials are mostly plastic, which got dinged up after just a few weeks of testing. Many parents complain in reviews about losing pieces of the Joovy over time; the screws, the plastic basket, all tend to fall off. It’s also now significantly more expensive than our current top pick, and it’s not as stable; when Jenni’s kids played with the Joovy, it tipped over a number of times, causing small injuries. It also got stuck on any surface that wasn’t pavement.

The Doona Liki Trike S5 has some great features, such as the ability to fold down for travel (it’s designed to fit in overhead bins on airplanes). We enjoyed its three-second fold, padded straps, and sleek look. Like our top pick, this one converts to multiple stages. The sunshade is similar to that of our top pick, too. But this trike is more than triple the cost of our top pick. And the push bar is also more loosely attached than that of our runner-up pick; this made it difficult for an adult to push the Liki in a straight path, especially one-handed.

The shiny, steel Radio Flyer Classic Red Tricycle is a well-made trike for kids from 2½ years to about 4 or a small 5. The design replicates that of tricycles from decades ago, so this sturdy, metal tricycle has serious nostalgia appeal. We found that the controlled turning radius made it harder to tip than some of the other trikes. But it lacks a back support and adjusts only a bit to accommodate taller riders. In our tests, the Classic Red was harder to ride than any of our picks.

The Radio Flyer Deluxe Big Flyer is a decent version of the Big Wheel–style trike, and it’s intended for kids who are 3 to 7 years old. It has more heft and seems sturdier than today’s Big Wheel brand. Older kids will likely enjoy the speed and easy turns of a lightweight, low-slung trike, but Kate’s 3-year-old son had some trouble getting the 16-inch front wheel to move. When it comes to a low-rider-style trike, overall we think the Schwinn Roadster provides a better ride. For bigger kids, the Razor RipRider 360 is more fun and easier to use.

The SmarTrike 3-in-1 Breeze S Toddler Tricycle (now unavailable) felt flimsy, with plastic wheels and screws that are tough to tighten. And the harness didn’t tighten well; Jenni’s 15-month-old daughter kept nearly falling out. When an adult pushes this convertible trike, the handle (rather than the kid steering) directs the front wheel, which is ideal for younger kids. And it adapts well to older children. But our top pick and runner-up pick simply felt safer and more durable, and they were easier to build.

The XJD 5-in-1 Kids Tricycle is a trike that turns into a balance bike. It takes 10 minutes to build, and it’s easy to adapt from trike to bike by adjusting the two back wheels into one (they slide together) and removing the pedals. It’s sturdier than many of the trikes we tried, with hard rubber wheels instead of plastic. But it doesn’t have a warranty, and the kids in our test group avoided this bike like the plague, probably because the stand-over height for the balance bike configuration wasn’t low enough. This trike also doesn’t work for kids under age 2. If you want a balance bike, try one of our balance bike picks.

Nearly identical to the XJD trike, the Besrey 5-in-1 is a trike turned balance bike that takes 10 minutes to build. It’s also easy to adjust into a balance bike (by sliding the back wheels together and removing the pedals), and it has a two-year warranty. But as with the XJD trike, kids didn’t like the Besrey in trike or bike form during testing, because it was uncomfortable to ride. In trying to be a trike and a bike, it succeeds at neither. It also doesn’t work for kids under age 2, despite the ages listed on the product page.

The Bentley 6-in-1 Stroller Trike is heavy and large, requiring about 15 minutes of build time and a lot of tools. It transitions from a stroller to a tricycle, and it has a comfortable seat and harness (it should, considering it costs more than $500!). The ride is much smoother than with many of the trikes we tested because the wheels are made with rubber instead of plastic. The Bentley is also fairly easy to push and convert from stroller to trike, and your child can apparently start riding in it at 6 months old. But it’s missing key touches, for something with such a high price point: The storage bucket is small, with a Velcro lid that barely stays on, and the cupholder is made of cheap plastic. The harness is also hard to secure, and the canopy feels similar to that of our top pick, which is around one-fifth the price.

The Fisher-Price Harley-Davidson Tough Trike was a surprising amount of fun. Even though it’s small and low to the ground, Kate’s son enjoyed the trike’s big pedals, fat wheels, and super-large underseat storage container. However, we found that the plastic wheels provided a really rough ride, especially on hard surfaces and bumps. The trike also doesn’t adjust in any way, so it’s usable for only around a year or two before a child outgrows it. Fisher-Price makes a few versions of this trike, including one that’s “Barbie Tough.”

Many of today’s parents (and grandparents!) may have fond memories of rolling down the driveway—and perhaps over homemade jumps, definitely helmet-free—on an Original Big Wheel. The actual Original Big Wheel was manufactured in Pennsylvania by a company called Marx, which went out of business in the s. Today’s Big Wheel (the name was sold) is lightweight, and the wheels slip a ton. It was difficult for Kate’s young son to get started on the trike, and he soon lost interest. Kate lost interest even sooner, when it took a whopping 54 minutes to assemble, mostly due to the number of decals. Jenni’s 3-year-old son also screamed in frustration while using the Big Wheel and found it didn’t move well across pavement or dirt. Like its namesake, the Big Wheel is better for bigger kids. It accommodates kids up to 70 pounds and 7 years old, and we’ve known older children who did, in fact, love it. But this trike is the most fun when it’s used to barrel down steep hillsides; even older, stronger pedalers will find it difficult to use for sidewalk travel. Plus, for what it is, this bike is really expensive. Overall, if you’re seeking a truly fun ride for older kids, we think the Razor RipRider 360 is the better choice.

This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

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