Jenni’s 15-month-old daughter loved riding in the infant mode, often pushed by her brother using the parent handle. 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. But all of these materials are fine as long as the trike is stable.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident schwinn bicycles buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Ough frame are better for riders who experience back pain.
That means this trike has more plastic features, but it also means it’s lightweight—a solid bonus for kids who want to take corners with speed. 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.
Pair all of that with a handlebar stem that you can raise nearly 4 inches, and you have an especially versatile bike that’s fun to ride and capable of growing with your child. The Guardian Balance Bike was a surprise hit during our 2023 testing round, as the preschoolers in the group fought over riding it. That gets kids one step closer to riding a pedal bike schwinn tricycle on their own because they can learn to stop without dragging their feet on the ground. The quality, air-filled tires also contribute to a smooth ride. And this model is easy to assemble, with clear instructional videos provided. If our top pick is sold out or if you have a taller child, the REI Co-op Cycles REV 12 Kids’ Balance Bike is an excellent choice.
The DoCred tricycle presents a sturdy and reliable three-wheel design, catering to a wide range of riders with its varying wheel sizes. This trike comes equipped with front V-brakes and rear band brakes, providing versatile stopping power for safe and controlled riding. The front V-brakes are easy to use and provide strong and reliable stopping power, while the rear band brakes add an extra layer of safety and control. The trike also has full coverage fenders which add a stylish touch while keeping riders dry and clean from any splashes or debris on the road. It also comes with wide upright adjustable handlebars and an extra-large comfort cruiser saddle, providing a comfortable and relaxed riding position for older riders or those with limited mobility.
If you want a balance bike, try one of our balance bike picks. 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.
Writer Jenni Gritters researched more than 20 tricycles, and she built and tested 10 of them in late 2023. 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.
As with our top pick, Jenni’s son appreciated the REV 12 for its mix of stability and agility—it could wind through cones, but it was also durable enough for him to ride off-road. The Guardian Balance Bike has a limited seat height range of 12.5 to 16 inches. For the first iteration of this guide, a panel of kids ranging from ages 2 to 8 tested 13 top balance bikes in a flat neighborhood over a period of a few weeks. In 2023, Jenni and her almost-4-year-old son, a balance bike enthusiast, spent two weeks testing this guide’s existing picks against five new contenders by riding them in their neighborhood.