Its steel construction is durable, and it has air-filled tires. 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 schwinn bicycles ’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.
The SmarTrike 3-in-1 Breeze S Toddler Tricycle 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. But our top pick and runner-up pick simply schwinn bicycles felt safer and more durable, and they were easier to build. This tricycle comes with a canopy, a wide push handle for parents (it’s reasonably adjustable for caregivers 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.
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.
All items can be inspected in-person (and you are encouraged to do so) prior to bidding. If you can’t inspect, you can enjoy return protection by either using Buyers Assurance or becoming a Premium Buyers Club member. Bids can be placed via web browser or iOS/Android app. Every item starts at just $1, with no reserve price.
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. A tricycle should help your child learn to pedal and steer. Those 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.
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.
This reduces stress on your wrists and keeps the handlebars from bearing too much weight. The Schwinn Meridian is made of a quality aluminum frame. It can handle more weight than the average bicycle because of its broad and sturdy frame. That’s the bit that lets you coast along without pedalling, and the rear chain will keep moving with the rear wheels.
She has a decade of experience reporting on parenting, purchasing, and psychology, and she was previously an editor for Wirecutter’s outdoors section. She’s the author of our guides to the best jogging strollers and the best kids hiking backpacks, and she’s a mom to two children. As Jenni was writing the current version of this guide, her kids were 15 months and 3½ years old—perfect trike-testing age. The low standover aluminum frame makes it easy to get on and off, while the extra-large seat and ergonomic grips offer superior comfort on every ride.