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.
Read the quick start guide below and your Schwinn bicycle owner’s manual. The Doona Liki Trike S5 has some great features, such as the ability to fold down for travel (it’s designed to fit in overhead bins on airplanes). We enjoyed its three-second fold, padded straps, and sleek look.
An open basket at the back can be used for carrying snacks, water bottles, and rocks (if you know, you know). The high handlebars and step-through frame are better for riders who experience back pain. Sitting in an upright position puts less stress schwinn bicycles on the lower back. The rider has less risk of strain when getting on and off the Meridian. The 26- model can take up to a 300 lbs rider with 50 lbs for the cargo basket. The high handlebars allow the rider to remain upright while riding.
It accommodates kids up to 70 pounds and 8 years old, and we’ve known older children who did, in fact, love it. But this trike is the most fun when it’s used to barrel down steep hillsides; even older, stronger pedalers will find it difficult to use for sidewalk travel. Plus, for what it is, this bike is really expensive. Overall, if you’re seeking a truly fun ride for older kids, we think the Razor RipRider 360 is the better choice.
Best suited for easy-going rides around the neighborhood, just give the reliable 3-speed shifter a twist to smoothly shift gears and make pedaling easy on gentle hills. The deep solid mesh basket includes a removable fabric liner, and has plenty of room to hold cargo securely as you ride. Just keep it to cargo only back there though – the basket is not suitable for children, pets, or other passengers.
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.