A TRICYCLE is one of the easiest ways to introduce your child to the wonderful world of cycling.
The best trikes will build up your toddler’s coordination and muscle strength and fine-tune their balance and gross motor skills until they’re one day confident enough for a bike.
The right three-wheeler is also a great way to have some fun with your child, get outside and exercise.
There are many different models of trike on the market for all ages and stages of development. Some will grow with you – adapting from a push-along trike for babies to an independent tricycle for toddlers, while others made for older kids are retro throwbacks designed for speed.
Here's our edit of some of the best trikes available to buy now.
1. Scuttlebug Beetle
- (AD) Scuttlebug Beetle, £19.99 from Amazon – buy here
We’re not sure if it's the cute bug face and bright colour range or its super intuitive feet-to-floor driving and front-wheel steering, but the Scuttlebug is a never-ending winner with kids.
A lightweight yet sturdy piece of kit, it can drive outside and in (although it’s best on hard surfaces), and each leg folds up to make it a compact unit you can transport around easily, so it’s perfect for throwing into the bottom of your buggy and heading to the park.
There’s no assembly required, which is always a bonus, and it’s an excellent starter trike for kids aged one and above to help them master their balance and strength.
Coming in at under £20, it’s excellent value too.
2. Little Tikes 4-in-1 Deluxe Edition Trike
- (AD) Little Tikes 4-in-1 Deluxe Edition Trike, £89.99 from Amazon – buy here
Take one look at this elaborate Little Tikes trike and you know it means business.
This trike has the lowest starting age in our edit, suitable from nine months to three and above. The clever design adapts to your growing child, with four different configurations that coincide with their development.
Babies can be strapped in and safely pushed by their parents using the removable handle, putting their feet on the footrests. As they learn to pedal and turn the steering wheel, the bike changes and you can remove the handle and waist bar, until the bike can be used independently.
Clever additions like the drinks holder, removable bag, sun shade and storage bucket make this a well thought-out product that has garnered constant parental praise since its launch over seven years ago.
3. Smoby Baby Balade 3-in-1 Trike
- Smoby Baby Balade 3-in-1 Trike, £95 from Argos – buy here
Another fantastic long-lasting trike that grows with your child, the Smoby Baby Balade is suitable from 10 months upwards.
Weighing in at 6.6kg it’s not the lightest ride-on in our round-up, but it’s built solidly and it feels like a quality product.
There are a lot of elements at play on this trike, including a removable bag and handle, and a storage bucket, but it looks less fussy than other models of this type – a retractable footrest and its muted, pastel colour palette give it a cleaner vibe.
It’s easy to steer, both as a parent with the handle, and for children driving independently, as soft, wide wheels make for a smooth ride.
We also loved its parking brake, a useful extra safety feature not seen on similar trikes.
4. Top Bright Wooden Trike
- (AD) Top Bright Wooden Trike, £33.99 from Amazon – buy here
Taking a traditional wooden tricycle and elevating it with cool flames and a solid four-wheeled frame, this fun ride-on is a delight.
It has a classic, sturdy wooden design and it’s easy to build in around 15 minutes.
Suitable from 10 months to around two years, it’s one of the smallest trikes in our edit, so not great for older kids, but with a durable form that’s built to last, we can easily see this being passed down between siblings over the years.
The steering is pretty fluid and the curved seat is comfy for little bums, plus it’s priced at just over £30, making it a solid, well-priced option.
5. SmarTrikes Breeze 3-in-1 trike
- SmarTrikes Breeze 3-in-1 trike, £40 from Argos – buy here
If good value and longevity are on your trike wish-list, this best-selling SmarTrikes model takes some beating.
For ages 15 months to three years, like others, it begins as a trike that parents can steer themselves and eventually becomes a trike that can be whizzed around alone by your child.
It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other flashier, more expensive designs, like a storage bag and drinks holder, but at around half the price, it’s easy to forgo these details in the name of value-for-money.
Plus it does the job as a trike really well – it rides and steers brilliantly and weighing 5.3kg it’s also one of the most lightweight multi-use trikes in our roundup.
6. Micro XL Trike
- Micro XL Trike, £89.95 from micro – buy here
Made by the creators of the universally-popular micro scooter, this streamlined micro trike is designed with the sort of usability every parent needs.
Created specifically to be used from 18 months, when little ones are transitioning from a buggy but still prone to get tired, the trike is steered by parents using the telescopic handle while toddlers can rest weary legs on the adjustable footrests.
It weighs a feather-light 2.2kg and it folds flat, so it’s portable and can be stored away in tight spots.
Great for the school run or a longer-than-average walk to the park, this trike looks slightly gangly and odd compared to similar products, yet its super comfy seat and grippy handlebars have proved a big hit with kids, while parents adore it for its compact folding and light frame.
7. Trybike Steel 2-in-1 Trike
- Trybike Steel 2-in-1 Trike, £140 from Kidly – buy here
For a trike that will really go the distance, this Trybike Steel 2-in-1 Trike works from 12 months right up to age six.
Toddlers can master their riding skills on the trike and once they’re confident enough, it can then be converted into a balance bike using the provided kit.
The seat is adjustable and leaves plenty of room for your child to grow.
The quality of the Trybike is undeniable – it has a luxe, high-end finish that’s sleeker than most trikes on the market. And while this is reflected in the price tag, the sheer number of years it’ll be used for, the fact it’s both a trike and a bike, and the tough build make it an absolute steal.
8. Bammax Baby trike
- (AD) Bammax Baby trike, £46.99 from Amazon – buy here
With its clean lines, shiny frame and unfussy design, there’s something effortless and slightly futuristic about this Bammax Baby Trike that we really dig.
Its carbon steel structure, anti-slip handlebar and chunky wheels provide a strong, safe ride for your child’s first trike and its 135° steering limit means it’s harder for your toddler to fall off when driving.
Made for ages 10 months to two, its feet-to-floor design helps to build up your little one’s balance and strength, making it easier to progress onto a balance bike later.
Consisting of only three main parts it’s also very quick to build and its low height means toddlers can easily jump off and on with no problems. Weighing only 1.8kg, it’s also light enough to carry with you anywhere.
9. Schwinn Roadster Trike
- (AD) Schwinn Roadster Trike, £79.99 from Amazon – buy here
Picture the coolest kids trike you can imagine and, chances are, it won’t look too different from this Schwinn Roadster Trike.
In a high-shine red, complete with chrome fenders, cruiser handlebars and a classic bike bell, this retro American-style trike has tons of attitude.
It has an adjustable five-position seat, air-filled tyres and a low, sloped frame, and it’s best for ages three to five.
It’s extremely fun to ride and can weave around obstacles well, although it’s slightly heavy for smaller children to manoeuvre.
We love the wood standing desk at the back, complete with burned-in Schwinn logo. Add some streamers to the handles and your kid is guaranteed to have the coolest ride at the park.
We’re all about helping you find the best products at the best prices, so follow the link if you want to check out more of Sun Selects’ recommendations.
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