15 of the best balance bikes

There's a huge variety of balance bikes to choose from: some cheap and cheerful; others much more pricey and made to super-high specs. And some balance bikes also come with pedal attachments, so that you can turn it into a pedal bike later. We've tested loads of them – and come up with a top 15 list of really great balance bikes at a range of price points.

While price is, obviously, a key factor, do bear in mind that if you have several children, a more expensive balance bike may end up being great value for money if it can be passed down from sibling to sibling. And it's also definitely worth considering some key technical details before you buy – see What to consider when choosing a balance bike for your child, and How to get the right size balance bike for your child, below.

Best balance bikes at a glance

• Best balance bike for 3+ years: Kinderkraft GOSWIFT, £79.00
• Best balance bike for 2+ years: Q Play SPARK, £49.99
• Best balance bike for a lightweight smooth ride: Hornit AIRO, £139.00
• Best balance bike for easy height adjustment: Strider 14x Sport, £229.99
• Best balance bike for longevity: Black Mountain PINTO 14, £399.00
• Easiest to carry balance bike: Vitus Smoothy, £89.99
• Best toddler balance bike with rear brake: Frog Tadpole, £260
• Best balance bike for design and stability: Islabikes Rothan 12, £199.99
• Best balance bike for sturdiness and saddle shape: PUKY Learner LR M, £71.95
• Best balance bike for gently learning to balance: Micro 2-in-1 Chopper, £99.95
• Best value toddler-to-preschooler balance bike: Kidvelo Rookie 12, £120.00
• Best lightweight 2+ balance bike with rear brake: Squish 12, £179.99
• Best balance-to-pedal bike for older children: LittleBig Bike, £225 (with pedal kit)
• Best balance bike for taller toddlers: Raleigh Balance Banana Bike: £99.00
• Best vintage-looking balance bike with a basket: Bobbin Gingersnap, £119.00

What to consider when choosing a balance bike for your child

• Solid or air-filled tyres? Air-filled or pneumatic tyres make for a comfier, smoother ride but can puncture. Solid tyres – either plastic or rubber, often filled with foam – are a bit bumpier but cheaper and don’t puncture.
• Brakes or no brakes? The higher-spec balance bikes tend to have brakes, scaled down to child size, either on both wheels or just on the rear wheel. Budget bikes tend not to have them. Opinion is divided on what's best: balance bikes can be stopped perfectly well with feet but some argue that it's good to learn about braking before you venture on to a bike with pedals – and better for your shoe leather. We'd say that, roughly speaking, a child probably doesn't have the hand/eye coordination for using brakes until about 2.5 to 3.5 years.
• How heavy is it? Most balance bikes are pretty lightweight, which is handy for a toddler trying to pick it up and a grown-up having to lug it home. But some are definitely lighter than others. And balance bikes that do other things, like turn into pedal bikes, tend to be on the heavier side.
• How adjustable is it? Good adjustability means the balance bike's likely to fit your child better and last longer, as they grow. Do check out our tips on How to get the right size balance bike for your child, below. Find out if the handlebars adjust as well as the seat – and how much they adjust by.

How to get the right-size balance bike for your child

There are no standard sizes for balance bikes, so pretty much every make and model is different – even if they have the exactly same size wheels. And, to make things even more complicated, manufacturers often detail different measurements in their technical specifications (as you'll see from our list of the 15 best, below).

So, how do you reliably find the right-size balance bike for your child? You need to know your child's inside leg (or inseam) measurement and you need to know the seat height of the balance bike. What you're looking for is a seat height that's 1.5cm to 2.5cm less than your child's inside leg measurement and will, preferably, adjust higher as your child grows.

How do you measure your child's inside leg? Stand them against the wall (shoes on) with their legs hip-width apart and place a hardback book, spine up, between their legs. Gently raise the book till the spine touches their crotch. Measure from the floor to the spine of the book – and that's the inside leg measurement.

Here is our pick of the best balance bikes for toddlers and preschoolers

1. Kinderkraft GOSWIFT, £79.00

– Best for 3 years+

Age: 3 to 6 | Weight: 3.8kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 33cm to 42cm | Max child weight: 35kg

A midweight 100% recyclable magnesium alloy balance bike with height-adjustable eco-leather saddle, handlebars with grips, large air-filled rubber tyres and spokeless wheels with ball bearings, the GOSWIFT is a wallet-friendly option for taller or older toddlers. Available in Yellow, Pink or Black, every bike includes a turn-to-sound loud bell.

It’s relatively light and stylish and can be assembled in 10 minutes, with no tools. We like the super-comfy seat and the handlebar limiter that guards against over-enthusiastic steering and we – and our child testers – absolutely love the bell. Our child tester Finley, 3 (pictured above) declared it "super-awesome," and his mum Lauren said it’s "absolutely worth the money; the perfect size for littler legs and has a very comfortable seat. It’s a massive hit."

Pros: Inexpensive, bell included, comfy saddle
Cons: Unsuitable for shorter or younger toddlers, wheels small for children at upper end of age range

Available at: Kinderkraft, Baby Planet and Kiddies Kingdom

2. Q Play SPARK, £49.99

– Best for 2 years+

Age: 2 to 4 | Weight: 3.9kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Rubber/foam (EVA polymer) | Seat height: 32cm to 37.5cm | Max child weight: 30kg

The SPARK is a midweight balance bike with a height-adjustable sponge saddle, height-adjustable handlebars with grips, steering limiter and large solid rubber tyres, plus LED lights on the wheels that flash as you pedal. Some light self-assembly required.

This stylish balance bike has a low saddle starting position, making it a good choice for 2 year olds and smaller 3 year olds, especially as it has a steering limiter, too. But it's the light-up wheels that make it stand out from the crowd – and, as one of our child testers, Arthur, 2, said, make it feel "very cool" to ride. Jayne, mum of Zara, another of our child testers, who's just turned 3, said: "Zara struggles with the other balance bike we have but she was successful with this one – it was very easy for her to use and she was super proud of herself. I was genuinely shocked this was £49.99, as it looks and feels comparable to the much more expensive brands." As for Zara (pictured above) "I love it! My magic wheels shine when I go super fast.”

Pros: Great value, light up wheels, low saddle height starting position
Cons: Saddle height range limited, wheels small for children at upper end of age range. foam tyres not as bouncy as air-filled ones

Available at: Smyths Toys and Amazon

3. Hornit AIRO, £139.00

– Best for a lightweight smooth ride

Age: 18 months to 5 years | Weight: 2.95kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 29cm to 44cm | Max child weight: 30kg

Award: Silver, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

A very lightweight magnesium-alloy toddler balance bike with a height-adjustable saddle that spans 15cm, grip-taped footrests, handlebar grips, padded stem cover, thick air-filled tyres and wheels with sealed bearings, the AIRO comes with a lifetime warranty (on frame and forks) in Hammer Yellow, Orca White, Magma Red, Flamingo Pink, Mavericks Blue and Tuvalu Turquoise.

It’s incredibly light, very well made and looks superb. Its thick, pneumatic tyres make for a nice, smooth, bump-absorbing ride. We like the moulded footrests and the padded seat and stem. And it’s great that it comes almost fully assembled – all you’ll need to do is tighten the screws (Allen key provided) and top up the air in the tyres. Emma, mum of our child tester aged 19 months, described the AIRO as "sleek, smart and beautiful quality," and was particularly impressed by how well it fitted her young son. "The seat goes very low, making it suitable for 18 months+ riders as they can comfortably put their feet on the ground. Plus the padded seat and easy-to-grip handlebars show the bike is absolutely built with smoothness and comfort in mind."

Pros: Very lightweight, available in a great range of colours, suitable for large range of heights and ages
Cons: Wheels small for children at upper end of age range, pricey

Available from: Amazon and Hornit

4. Strider 14x Sport, £229.99

– Best for easy height adjustment

Age: 3 to 6 | Weight: 5.7kg without pedals; 6.9kg with pedals | Brakes: Yes - in pedal bike mode | Wheels: 14in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 38cm to 55cm | Max child weight: 36kg

This steel-frame balance bike has an easy-to-move height-adjustable padded seat and handlebars, plus safety grips, footrests with grip tape and big, bouncy air-filled tyres. It's standout feature is an additional pedal kit (sold separately) that transforms the Strider 14x Sport from balance to first pedal bike. Suitable for riders with a minimum inside leg measurement of 40cm, the bike is ideally suited to taller 3 year olds and 4 to 5 year olds who want to get to grips with balancing and steering before moving onto pedalling on the same cycle. It comes in Blue, Green, Tangerine and Pink. It's also available in a 12 Sport version (£129.99) which isn't convertible but it's a bit cheaper and suitable for 18 months to 5 years.

It’s a well-balanced bike with a seat that can be adjusted by almost 20cm, and thin, child-friendly handlebar. We also like the footrests and the quick-release clamps for tool-free handlebar and seat adjustment. Our child tester, Jenson, 4 (pictured above), found it fun to ride, and his dad, Andrew, said "It's easy and comfortable to ride, especially in balance bike mode, and fitting the pedal kit was straightforward. For the money, the bike has plenty of play value with the added flexibility of adding pedals when your child is ready."

Pros: Converts from balance to pedal bike, easy to adjust height of saddle and handlebars, suitable for large range of heights
Cons: Wheels large for children at lower end of age/height range, very pricey

Read the full MFM Strider 12 Sport review

Available from: Strider, Skate Hut and John Lewis

5. Black Mountain PINTO, £399

– Best for longevity

Age: 3+ | Weight: 5.7kg | Brakes: Yes, front and rear | Wheels: 14in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 42cm to 54cm | Max child weight: 35kg

This innovative aluminium-frame toddler balance bike converts to a small pedal bike and then a larger pedal bike. It features a ‘growing’ frame and gear system, rubber belt drive, front and rear brakes with easy-pull brake levers, and height-adjustable seat. Comes with pedals that can be added once your child gets the hang of balancing. Available in Neon Green, Sky Blue, Orange and Purple.

It’s very expensive but super high-quality and you are effectively getting a balance bike and 2 sizes of pedal bike in 1. The saddle sits nicely low on the frame and the large wheels are tough and roll well, but (because of its conversion potential) it is a bit heavier than other balance bikes. It arrives all set up as a balance bike; changing from balance bike to pedal bike and, particularly, from the small-size pedal bike to the bigger size is not difficult (the instructions are clear and tools are included) but does take time, a certain amount of jiggling and some bike-tinkering confidence.

Pros: Frame extends to accommodate growing rider, converts to pedal bike, includes gears and front and rear brakes
Cons: Heavy for children at lower end of age range, very pricey

Available from: Black Mountain

6. Vitus Smoothy, £89.99

– Easiest to carry

Age: 3+ | Weight: 3.2kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 32cm to 44cm | | Max child weight: 30kg

The Smoothy is a lightweight magnesium-cast balance bike, with height-adjustable scoop saddle, height-adjustable handlebars (with grips), wide air tyres and footrests. It's standout feature is a carrying handle set in the frame – very useful when your little rider decides to dismount before you've reached your destination. The bike comes in White, Grey, Blue, Mint, Red, Silver and Yellow.

It’s light and nippy-looking with nice wide handlebars, and we love the really well-designed carry handle. The seat is cleverly styled and has a good range of height adjustment for the price, and we were impressed with the pneumatic tyres – at this price point, you usually get solid plastic or foam ones.

Pros: Carry handle built into the frame, good range of saddle heights, great price for pneumatic tyres
Cons: Wheels small for children at upper end of age range

Available from: Wiggle and Chain Reaction

7. Frog Tadpole, £260

– Best toddler option with rear brake

Age: 2 to 3 | Weight: 4.17kg | Brakes: Yes, rear only | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Max child weight: 120kg

An aluminium-frame toddler balance bike with height-adjustable saddle, Tektro rear brake, pneumatic tyres and locking headset, the Tadpole comes with a bell and is available in Electric Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, and Spotty White, as well as Yellow as part of Frog's Tour de France™ collection. It's also available in other sizes: Mini for 18 months+ and Plus for 3 to 4 years.

It’s nicely put together and a really quite zippy, well-cushioned ride. It’s not built to span a big age range – it fits a child with an inside leg measurement of 31cm to 41cm – which might limit its appeal if you’re looking for longevity, but does mean it 'fits' a 2-year-old rider very well. This midweight bike also has brakes, which you might see as a real plus. We like the quick-release seat post and the long wheelbase – and, icing on the toddler cake, the little bell. It also uses adult spec components so has an incredibly high maximum user weight of 120kg.

Pros: Excellent 'fit' for younger children, bell included, rear brake included
Cons: Expensive for a bike designed to fit a narrow age/height range

Available from: Frog Bikes and The Little Bike Company

8. Islabikes Rothan, £199.99

– Best for design and stability

Age: 2+ | Weight: 3.1kg | Brakes: Yes (rear only) | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Child height: from 88cm | Max child weight: 20kg

The Rothan 12 is a toddler-to-preschooler aluminium-frame balance bike, designed for children with an inside leg measurement of 30cm to 42cm. It features a height-adjustable saddle with scooped seat, micro-reach brake lever, narrow handlebars with super-thin grips, steering limiter and grippy, puncture-resistant air tyres. This lightweight bike comes in Orange Gloss, Pink Satin and Teal Satin and is also available in a larger version suitable for 3+ years.

It’s so well built and gives a remarkably stable ride while still being light. The stepover is nice and low, the light-action brake levers are small enough for little hands to wrap round easily, and the comfy, scooped saddle definitely helps keep a small bottom centred. It's pretty much ready to go out of the box – you’ll just need to twist the handlebars and fix them in place (tools included).

Pros: Well built, stable yet light, easy-to-use rear brake included
Cons: No bell included, wheels small for older/taller riders, pricey

Available from: Islabikes

9. Puky LR M, £79.99

– Best for sturdiness and saddle shape

Age: 2+ | Weight: 3.5kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 8.4in | Tyre type: Rubber/foam (EVA polymer) | Child height: 85cm to 110cm | Max child weight: 25kg

This toddler balance bike has a step-through, scratch-resistant frame, foot platform, adjustable, ergonomically shaped saddle, adjustable handlebars with safety grips and crash pads, ball-bearing wheels and steering, and soft foam tyres. It comes in Red and Pink.

It’s super-sturdy with a low, step-through frame and soft, grippy tyres. We like the large foot platform and the banana shape of the saddle that stops your child sliding forward as they ride. Made by a German firm with a great reputation for quality kids’ balance bikes (they do bigger balance bikes, too), this is a great choice if you’re looking for a robust, modestly-priced balance bike for a child under 3, with an inside leg measurement of 30cm to 43cm.

Pros: Ergonomic saddle stops rider sliding forward, sturdy, low step-through height
Cons: No bell included, very small foam-filled tyres, heavy for very young riders

Available from: Hardloop and Amazon

10. Micro 2 in 1 Chopper, £99.95

– Best for gently learning to balance

Age: 2 to 5 | Weight: 2.45kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 8in | Tyres: Solid rubber | Seat height: 35cm to 46.5cm | Max child weight: 20kg

This is a very lightweight, aluminium-frame toddler to preschooler (from 93cm in height) balance bike with front suspension, front mud guard, puncture-free wheels, height-adjustable seat, height-adjustable chopper handlebars. Comes with a stability wheel attachment, so your child can start off on 3 wheels, rather than 2. You can also buy a trailer attachment. Choose from Aqua or Pink.

It's very easy to adjust and has a lovely retro look. And we really like the training-wheels attachment. It’s great that the seat adjusts with clamps (no tools needed) but be warned that in its very lowest position the black knob at the end of the seat post is very close to the ground. This, plus the small wheels with their smooth solid tyres, makes riding over rough ground pretty tricky. A lovely ride but for city pavements only.

"I really like this bike – I can go up and down hills on it, it's easy to turn and I can go really fast," said our child tester Max, 3. His mum Rachael was just as keen and said, "The stability fitting is a great addition and standout feature as it allows less steady riders to use the bike, the lightweight frame makes the bike simple to manoeuvre and the adjustable seat post and handlebars are easy to move to the correct height to ensure the bike is easy and comfortable to ride."

Pros: Stability wheels included, very lightweight, retro look
Cons: Very small foam-filled wheels, low clearance from ground

Available from: Micro and Amazon

11. Kidvelo Rookie 12, £120.00

– Best value toddler-to-preschooler balance bike

Age: 18 months to 4.5 | Weight: 2.89kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 30cm to 48cm | Maximum child weight: 30kg

Award: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

With a sturdy frame, bouncy air-filled tyres, bell and angled footrest, this well-built bike will last for years. Thanks to a seat post that can be adjusted with a lever and handlebars that can be rotated with an Allen key (included) to alter the reach, it can be perfectly adjusted to fit a growing rider. The saddle drops low enough for a child with an inside leg measurement of 30cm, making it suitable for first riders, while the upper weight limit of 30kg means a child could ride it for years and at least until they're old enough to transition to a pedal bike. Comes in Green, Blue, Red and Pink.

Kellie, mum of our child tester, Chester, 3 (pictured above), found the Rookie's impressively low weight and adjustable reach made the bike easy and enjoyable to ride and said, "Chester is able to hold his bike up on his own and pick it up to tackle curbs, meaning he can be more independent and have more fun. He also love ringing the bell to let everyone know he's coming."

Pros: Bell included, great range of seat heights, high upper weight limit
Cons: Wheels small for older/taller riders, pricey

Available from: Kidvelo and Lesters Nursery World

12. Squish 12, £179.99

– Best lightweight 2+ option with rear brake

Age: 18+ months | Weight: 3.86kg | Brakes: Yes, rear | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 33cm to 42cm | Max child weight: 35kg

Award: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

With a comfy padded saddle that can be height adjusted to find the best fit and a lightweight aluminium frame that makes steering a breeze, the Squish 12 is best suited to riders aged 2 years and up as they'll need a minimum inside leg measurement of 30cm. It's worth noting the very high upper weight limit means this bike can handle heavier riders. The rear V-brake is a great way to encourage safe stopping in little riders, while the anti-jackknife headset lock prevents the handlebars turning too far to the side, for safer turning. Comes in Blue and Orange.

Chester, 2, our child tester (pictured above), loved whizzing around on the Squish 12 and his mum, Brogan, was impressed by how perfectly the bike fitted him. She said, "As soon as I opened the box, he hopped straight on and took off. The fun yet simple design and lightweight frame of the bike make taking it out easy, which in turn makes playing super accessible wherever we go.”

Pros: Very high upper weight limit, rear V-brake included
Cons: Wheels small for older/taller riders, pricey

Available from: Tandem Group Cycles (TGC), Little Riders and North Bikes

13. LittleBig with pedal kit, £225

– Best balance-to-pedal bike for older children

Age: 3 to 6 years | Weight: 4.9kg to 6.6kg | Brakes: Yes, front and rear | Wheels: 14in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 37cm to 55cm | Max child weight: 40kg

Award: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

For a child starting their cycling journey a little later, this convertible balance-to-pedal bike is ideal it converts in 2 ways, both from a smaller balance bike suitable for riders with a minimum inside leg measurement of 37cm (around 3-4 years old) to a larger balance bike suitable for riders with an inside leg measurement up to 55cm (around 6 years old) and to a first pedal bike for riders from about the age of 4. Once they've mastered the art of staying upright while gliding along, older cyclists will benefit from front and rear V-brakes and pedals, which can be fitted onto the frame with the tools provided.

The bike has large, fast-rolling bouncy tyres that offer a stable and smooth ride, even over bumps, and is available in Flame Red, Apple Green, Electric Blue, Sparkle Pink and Brushed Edition.

Our child tester Brooke, 4, could see herself transitioning from balancing to pedalling on the LittleBig and said, "I can't wait to go to the forest to ride my bike and when I am older, I can use the pedals like the big kids do." Meanwhile Gino, dad of child tester Eliza (pictured above), 3, was impressed with the bike's versatility and durability. He said, "This well-made bike is fairly priced as it can transition from small to large and from balance to pedal, so you are essentially getting 3 bikes for the price of 1. The bike feels robust and I have no doubt it could be passed on once my daughter outgrows it."

Pros: Front and rear V-brakes included, large tyres give a stable and smooth ride, optional pedals
Cons: Heavy for children at the lower end of the height range, larger tyres make bike fast for smaller/younger children, pricey

Read the full MFM LittleBig balance bike review

Available from: Little Big Bikes

14. Raleigh Balance Banana Bike, £99

– Best balance bike for taller toddlers

Age: 2.5 to 4 | Weight: 5kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 33cm to 41cm | Max child weight: 30kg

Designed to look like the iconic Raleigh Team Banana road bike, this mini balance bike version boasts a striking black and yellow glossy paint job on its sturdy aluminium frame, as well as air-filled tyres that roll smoothly over small bumps and ridges. The seat post goes low enough to accommodate a rider with a 33cm inside leg measurement, which is average for 2 to 3 year old, but the 5kg frame and long reach make this a bike ideal for taller (up to 98cm) and stronger children.

The price is really decent for a well-built bike from a reputable British brand, as Gemma, mum to child tester Myles, 2 (pictured above), explained. "I know with Raleigh I'm putting my son in safe hands as it's a trusted heritage brand - and the high quality is obvious straight away. I can tell we're going to be going on a lot of bike rides in the coming months!"

Pros: Decent height range for riders, distinctive design and finish
Cons: Heavy for children at the lower end of the height range, no bell, only available in 1 colour

Available from: Raleigh and The Bike Factory

15. Bobbin Gingersnap, £119

– Best vintage-looking balance bike with a basket

Age: 2 to 4 | Weight: 5kg | Brakes: No | Wheels: 12in | Tyres: Pneumatic | Seat height: 41cm to 50cm | Maximum child weight: 35kg

This beautiful hand-made bike will be the envy of the playground thanks to its solid cream tyres, sturdy steel frame in a classic shape, real wicker basket and vegan leather sprung saddle. The alloy seat post is adjustable and goes down to 41cm, allowing children with an inside leg measurement of 30cm to enjoy the ride. Available in the chicest of colour palettes, including Blossom Pink, Duck Egg Blue, Cerise, Yellow and Green.

Our child tester Lizzie, 3, was very taken with the basket and silver ding-dong bell. She said, "I like the colour of the bike and putting Bunny in the basket then ringing the bell." Her mum Nicola thought it the best-looking balance bike she's seen and was impressed by the hard-wearing paint. She said, "The bike is aesthetically pleasing, the colours and components make it look high value and, despite being thrown to the floor a couple of times, the bikes hasn't scuffed badly at all, which is great."

Pros: Bell included, distinctive design and finish, premium features including hand-made wicker basket
Cons: Heavy for children at the lower end of the height range, narrow seat height range, pricey

Available from: Bobbin Bikes and Smallable

Pictures: Product websites

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