Part Ride-On, Part Stroller, Bike Strollers Are a Toddler's BFF

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Kids love to move, and it's good for them. But they only love to do it until, well, they're done. Bike strollers, also known as tricycle strollers are a good middle ground that allows kids to pedal themselves and to be pushed. The best bike strollers are sturdy, easy to pedal, easy to push, and easy to store. It's likely not going to be your primary stroller, so it needs to be put away easily. Also, because it's not a traditional stroller, things like storage and cupholders aren't a consideration like they would be in another lightweight or even a stroller wagon.

Why Bike Strollers?

Bike strollers are great for a lot of reasons, both practical and developmental. Practically, they're a great way to get kids active and honestly...to wear them out. Because some of them are suitable for pretty young toddlers — from about 6-10 months old — it can make a big difference in a parent's and kid's day. The parents with these bike strollers told me that they're almost like magic. A few trips around the block just before bath and bed? And they're pooped. Plus, toddlers are on the move, and this means that sometimes, they don't want to sit in a stroller anymore. They resist even getting near it. Bike strollers can keep their interest and keep them contained.

Developmentally, they're a real boon for babies and toddlers. Professor Doris Bergen wrote in her book, The Handbook of Developmentally Appropriate Toys, that riding toys like tricycles "afford learning opportunities for gaining dynamic and static balance, muscle endurance, hand-eye coordination, and hand-foot coordination." She says that it can also be an opportunity for peer interaction, because at the park, when they're wheelin' free and easy with kids, they learn how to interact.

What to Consider

There are a few major considerations when buying a bike stroller as I mentioned above. Those are: How it pushes, how it pedals, how it stores, age range, and if it converts into an independent bike or trike. Despite what you may think, the wheels are not the biggest deal with these, as they're all very very similar with the exception of the Bentley, which has an air-filled front tire, which parents did love.

• How it pushes: Is it easy to ambulate with the stroller? Some of the bike strollers I tested don't push all that easily, and they did not make the list. That being said, there are strollers that can be parent-facing, like the Joovy Tricycoo, and they appear on this list.

• How it pedals: Bike strollers designed for younger kids pedal much easier than those made for older toddlers. If your child likes a less-challenging pedal experience, go for one of these like the Bentley Trike.

• How it stores: I kid you not, there are some bike strollers, like the Doona Liki Trike that fold up small enough that they fit in the overhead compartments of an airplane. Some are slightly bulkier, and you'll want to consider how much space you're willing to use on a bike stroller.

• Convertibility: Does the bike stroller turn into an independent tricycle or bicycle like the Baby Joy does? Both? This can vastly increase the amount of time your child can use it.

How We Chose

Every one of these bike strollers was tested by a trusted parent who uses them where they get the most use. They were tested for a minimum of 40 hours, but some have been in-use for years. There were quite a few bike strollers that simply didn't make the cut. For example, we tested the Radio Flyer, and our tester couldn't get it to turn easily when pushing it, and her son had a really hard time pedaling the tricycle. And the SmarTrike was affordable, but at the cost of longevity of use, falling apart after 6 months. The four that are below are truly the best of the best bike strollers.

Doona™ Liki Trike S5

The Doona is easily the best bike stroller on the market. It's no wonder that the maker of the incredibly convenient stroller and car seat combo would make such a useful bike stroller.

This bike stroller has so much to offer. It's good from 10 months to about 3 years of age, so there's a long life to this. It's also sturdy enough that you could easily hand it down to your next child, or gift it to a relative.

When they're really little, they are pretty much just learning how the pedals work, so parents in full control thanks to the "freewheel" mode that renders the pedals inert. It puts the parent in control, but kids feel a level of autonomy. The 5-point harness keeps them safely in their seat, and the UPF 50+ rated canopy keeps the sun off of their sensitive skin.

When they're a little older, it's a parent-assisted tricycle. Same concept, but the kids have the ability to take over. As kids get a bit older still, it converts into a bike/trike that's fully under kid power with no adult push bar.

Folding it is easier than some of the simple strollers I test, and it folds so compact that it can fit in an overhead bin. It comes with a carrying bag, a premium storage bag that rivals traditional strollers in size, and an adorable, washable cup holder for your kid. Because they're going to eventually learn to drive while having a coffee, so why not start the training now?

Our tester has nothing but glowing remarks for this stroller. She lives in a big city, and often goes out with only this bike stroller, and nothing else, not even her purse. It's durable convenience that she says feels like nothing to push, even when she's fully in-control. Her 15-month-old pedals it pretty easily, though he's still learning. And since he's hidden it from his new baby sister, I am fairly certain that it's one of his favorite things.

7 in 1 Folding Toddler Bike w/Removable Push Handle

On the opposite end of the price spectrum is the Baby Joy. At under $200, you won't find a better value. It has everything you want in a bike stroller, but with slightly less-fine finishes. But honestly, that makes very little difference.

It has multiple pushing modes including parent facing, child outwards, parent control with freewheel, parent assisted, and fully independent. The Baby Joy also has extra storage, a reclining seat, and a little place up front for your kid to store their goodies.

Our parent loved how easy this was to fold and just shove in her front closet. She also loved that it's lightweight, but still feels sturdy. Where she said it lacked was the maneuverability. This one is a little harder to steer, and it can't cover as many terrains as other bike strollers. It is super easy to clean, and the brakes are easy to engage, which stroller brakes are not known for.

Tricycoo LX Kid's Tricycle

The Tricycoo (I know, I'm not sure of how to pronounce it either, and I've been told), is the most adaptable of the bike strollers. It has two modes of pushing for the parent — parent-facing and kid-facing out, it had a reclining seat, and it becomes an independent tricycle. It also has the freewheel mode that gives parents 100% control over the tricycle. The seat is generously-sized and comes with a 3-point harness.

It's suitable for babies from 6 months, and it's totally usable until they're about 3 years old. Our tester's son is almost 3 and doesn't plan on giving it up anytime soon. Like the owner of the Doona, he's also not keen on sharing it with his younger sibling, or passing it down. So much so in fact that a few months ago, they had to buy a second Tricycoo.

The canopy on this one is enormous, and yes, UPF 50+ rated. It's so big it has to have a peekaboo insert so you can look at your baby. Our tester is obviously a huge fan, and loves how much independence it gives her son, but she cautions that while it is wonderful, and easy to push and pedal, it does not fold, and it's pretty heavy, so it's not good for city dwellers who will have to schlep it up stairs or store in a small area.

Bentley Trike - All Terrain Toddler Bike 6-in-1

Honestly, I almost didn't consider this bike stroller because of the price. Asking parents to buy a secondary stroller for $500 felt like a lot to me. However, once it was tested, our parent loved it so much that it had to go on the list. Why did they love it so much? The seat.

The seat rotates to be parent facing or child facing out, but it also wipes clean easier than any other on this list. The cushioning is superior, and the 3-point harness doesn't get gummed up. It's Bentley-licensed (Yes, like the car), and the finishes live up to that level of quality.

It has all the basic features of your standard bike stroller, including the freewheel front tire, but this model is the most dynamic and agile to push of all of the bike strollers we tested. Our tester plowed it through the snows of Northern California, the dust of a ball field, and the streets of San Francisco, and it performed wonderfully on all terrains. It does convert from parent controlled to child controlled to independent trike as well.

The canopy isn't overly large, but it is UPF 50+ rated, and easy to clean. The bad news, however, apart from the price tag, is that it doesn't fold, and it's pushing 40 pounds. That weight, however, gives it its easy balance and agility.

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