Teach Your Kid How to Ride—Sans Training Wheels—With the Best Balance Bikes

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Training wheels aren’t recommended for everyone. Generally speaking, they can teach novice riders bad habits, like steering via handlebars instead of balancing, and can hinder progression. Rolf Mertens and his LikeaBike showed Europe a better way over 25 years ago, but it took about a decade for pedal-less, two-wheel balance bikes to become ubiquitous this side of the Atlantic.

Today, you can find the best balance bikes with functioning brakes, high-quality wheels and tires, and even lightweight carbon-fiber frames—all the better for the no-pedal kids’ races you can find at BMX tracks nowadays.

If you’re looking to get your kid a balance bike, check out the best picks below. And don’t forget a helmet.

The Best Balance Bikes

• Best Overall: Strider 12 Pro

• Best Bargain: Banana Bike LT Balance Bike

• Most Classic: Strider 12 Classic

• Best for Off-Roading: Specialized Hotwalk

• Best Upgrade: Specialized Hotwalk Carbon

What to Consider

All balance bikes work similarly: The rider sits low, with knees bent, and uses both feet to push their bike along and hold the machine upright. As speed and familiarity increase, the rider goes feet-up to experience a few thrilling moments of balanced flight on two wheels.

Size

The original Striders, which were one of the first balance bikes in the U.S., had 12-inch wheels. Today, most manufacturers make balance bikes with 14-inch wheels for older riders—for smaller or younger riders, go for 10-inch wheels.

Regardless of wheel size, choosing a model with a wide range of seat adjustments is always a good idea for fast-growing children.

Wheels

Direct and reliable feedback from the bike’s steering can help a child feel immediately comfortable, so low-grip tires can make the learning process a little frightening. The most affordable balance bikes have hard plastic wheels and rims (more or less as you remember from the “Big Wheel” trikes of the 70s, with all the attendant drawbacks).

Moving up to a foam tire on a plastic mag wheel offers more traction at the expense of durability. Many balance bikes use a traditional pneumatic tube and tire, improving the riding experience but increasing the likelihood of maintenance.

Brakes

The first balance bikes didn’t have brakes, but many newer and more sophisticated entrants to the segment have at least one.

It’s just as important to learn stopping as it is starting. Many of the larger-wheeled models can reach worrisome speeds with a committed pilot. Plus, a brake saves wear on shoes since kids don’t have to use their soles to stop, Fred Flinstone-style.

Moving to Pedals and Other Upgrades

Parents looking for the most effortless transition to traditional riding might want to consider one of the models with add-on pedal power. It’s not cheap and requires some mechanical aptitude, but the convertible pedalers offer even more confidence to young riders.

Seat adjustment is a critical part of balance biking, and it’s best to get the model with the largest range of possibilities. If you expect your child to be on a balance bike for the long haul, you might consider choosing a model with adjustable or replaceable handlebars.

Some parents are understandably reluctant to spend $200 or more on what is essentially a training tool, but if your child uses the balance bike to accompany you on even short rides away from the house, upgrades might be worth the cost.

How We Evaluated

To choose the best balance bikes, we relied on our experience as parents of young riders and critic and user reviews. We also attended several balance-bike races held at USABMX tracks and talked to parents of competitors about what works and what doesn’t. Several of these bikes were tested directly; others are well-known products from established manufacturers.

The widely distributed Strider brand made balance biking an American pastime instead of a European import. Rugged and durable, these are the no-pedal equivalents of the no-frills Huffy department-store bikes on which many riders got their first taste of freedom. The Classic version of this bike has been widely proven in practice, but the Pro uses aluminum construction to drop the weight to 5.6 pounds, then throws in extra touches like an adjustable seat and a sporty number plate.

The Banana Bike LT represents a minimum-viable-product approach to balance bikes. For just under $60, you get an adjustable seat and a ball-bearing headset. Another $10 upgrades you to the GT model, which has pneumatic tires and is available in three colors of sparkly paint. Parents on a budget will appreciate the free shipping and relatively fuss-free assembly, and they’ll feel particularly satisfied with their choice the first time they see their child dragging it down the sidewalk.

The original Strider 12 is one of the most trusted balance bikes for new riders and toddlers, and has been for decades. This basic model comes with punctureless EVA foam tires that don't require maintenance and can handle some mud and muck of off-roading. It also claims to have the lowest seat height of any balance bike on the market, accommodating inseams of 11 to 16 inches. Its steel frame is surprisingly lightweight, and its seatpost is weather-resistant for withstanding rain, sleet, and snow.

While its price may not be the cheapest, it's the most budget-friendly that doesn't compromise components. Some customers say their children had trouble turning the Strider 12's handlebars, so if your child needs extra swivel, consider the higher-end Pro model instead.

Designed for kids aged 18 months to 4 years old, the Hotwalk is a striking balance bike. Its low-step frame makes it easy for kids to mount, while its smaller handlebars and lack of brakes help children better control their ride. Several critic reviews say that the Hotwalk’s airless, puncture-resistant tires are grippy and excellent when off-roading, with its rubber helping kids understand traction while balancing. Although it's aluminum, several critics and users say it can stand some abuse, so if you’re looking for a balance bike that’ll last your child through his learning, this is a solid pick.

Maybe you'd like to spoil your soon-to-be independent rider, or maybe you're looking to splurge on a bike you're curious about. If that's the case, Specialized makes a carbon version of its Hotwalk bike that weighs less than five pounds. Shockingly sophisticated and sleek, the Hotwalk Carbon perfects its predecessor and sports a hefty price to match. Grab this if you're looking for a balance bike you can hopefully pass on for generations.

Of all the bikes in this roundup, this is the one that looks most like a traditional bicycle, thanks to Burley’s heavy reliance on chrome and vintage detailing. The seat is quick-adjust and the simple bar/stem combination can be adjusted with a single wrench. The seat is large and comfortable. The bike is on the heavy side—but it’s a Burley, so it’s likely to last a long time.

It’s all about the fork with this balance bike; the “Lefty” single-sided variant fitted to this Cannondale balance bike is a neat nod of the head to the company’s avant-garde mountain bikes of the Nineties, which helps flex the bike's structure for suspension. The rest of the feature list is short: solid rubber tires, a simple aluminum frame, and plenty of adjustability. If you have a Super V or “Beast of the East” in your garage, you’ll want this next to it.

The team at Woom has produced some innovative children’s bikes in the past few years, numbered 1 through 5 for the order in which they should be purchased and ridden. The Woom 1, the first in the five-bike series, features a V-brake with a brake lever scaled for hands 18 months or older. Standover height is exceptionally low thanks to a curved monotube, and the seat is adjustable. The 1 Plus is designed for children age 3 and up, with 14-inch pneumatic tires. It takes a kitchen-sink approach to equipment, featuring a hand brake, a coaster brake, and a high-rise, BMX-style handlebar. Both models have a rubber steering limiter to prevent accidents caused by a quick “folding over” of the steering at speed.

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