What’s The Best Toddler Tricycle According To This Survey?

Tricycles are typically used by children between the ages of two and six. But when the time of buying comes, you suddenly discover that there are hundreds of options out there. Like any dad, I want only the best for my kid, so I set out to find the best toddler tricycle. Keep reading to find out the results of my quest.


Best Trikes According To DadProgress

Introduction To Toddler Tricycles

Tricycles or trikes have been around for over 200 years. They were popular already in the 19th century. If you happened to live in England in 1884, you could have chosen between over 120 models by 20 manufacturers.

There are many types available and tricycles for adults can have special purposes. For example, they may perfect for racing, transport or load carrying.

A woman rides a bike, the bike is attacvhed to a small trike and a grown man is sitting on it happily

Trikes For Children

Trikes for children are usually less advanced. Most toddler trikes don’t have brakes nor gears.

If you wish to learn more about children's ride on toys then check out the DadProgress Quick Guide

When To Buy Your Toddler A Tricycle?

As I’ve said, trikes are usually used by children between the ages of two and six. That said, some models have a push handle so they can grow with your child.

My kid got his first trike for his first birthday so he could start learning. He’s already trying to pedal, but most kids can ride a trike properly when they are about three years old.

The balance and muscle development is quite individual, but the sooner you start, the sooner he or she will learn it.

How To Teach Your Toddler To Use A Tricycle?

When it comes to toddler, you can really force them to learn anything. That said, little buddies are usually eager to learn about the world around them. So as soon as he or she gets interested in the tricycle, it’s the right time.

I’m surprised how quickly toddlers learn and riding a trike seems to come intuitively for most of them. 

Remember to buy him a proper helmet and let her start learning. 

If you have a trike with a push handle, then you can push her home if he gets bored or tired.

On the video below you can see how it goes for basically every toddler:)


What To Look For When Buying A Toddler Tricycle?


Materials: 

Metal is generally more durable but more expensive than plastic. Living in a building without an elevator? Then trikes made of steel may not be the best option as they are quite heavy

Drive: 

Some models may have a chain drive to a single rear wheel. You get a more stable trike, but your wallet is likely to get lighter too. Most children trikes are with a front-drive (pedals directly drive the front wheel) though. All three winners of this study have a front-drive. 

Tires: 

Pneumatic tires have good shock absorbing qualities and trikes a lighter. Solid rubber or plastic tires are easier to maintain though. You don’t have to check for tire pressure, and there’s no possibility of puncture. That said, repairing a tire isn’t a big thing if you have the essentials. 

Special features: 

Some trikes have unique characteristics that may become handy.  

  • When your toddler is learning to ride then a removable handle lets you control the tricycle. It’s also helpful if your toddler gets tired- you can push him home
  • Safety straps are vital if you want to introduce a trike to your one-year-old
  • Some models come with a canopy or have storage compartments

Design:

Include your toddler in decision making (unless you want to surprise her of course). There’s a bewildering number of models out there, and many come in different colors

Two Girls Riding Tricycles In Playground

Some tricycles have one big wheel in the front. Others have three smaller wheels. Pick three best toddler tricycles and let your child make the final decision.

What's The Best Toddler Tricycle?

Because we want only the best for our kids, I went all out...

A meta-analysis is a study method where I use the results of many surveys for a more precise answer.  My quest to find the best toddler tricycle started with heroically analyzing 15 „studies.“ 

First place: Schwinn Roadster Tricycle, second place: Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll N Trike, third place: Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle

47 different models were mentioned and...three of them were mentioned more than five times. You can see the names of the winner on the picture. 

An honorable mention is Radio Flyer. They have a lot of different models, and these were mentioned 31 times altogether.

So 28% of votes went to Radio Flyer, but these votes got diluted among different models.

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike was the only one to get over five votes.

Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle vs Radio Flyer 4-in-1: Joovy has a padded seat, a footrest for smaller children and the canopy is bigger.

The Best Radio Flyer Tricycles

So Radio Flyer 4-in-1 was the best Radio Flyer trike according to this study.

That said, many parents have found runner-ups better suited for their toddlers. Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual and Deluxe Steer got both 4 % of the votes.

So according to this study, they are the second best Radio Flyers. Red Dual is especially popular among parents.

Helen Parker (Chicago): „My toddler really loves the Red Dual!“


Top Toddler Tricycles For DadProgress Reviewed

Schwinn Roadster Tricycle (Check The Price On Amazon)

Weight: 26lb

This toddler trike was a clear winner of this study. It got 11% of the votes. It’s no surprise as Schwinn has been making bikes for over 120 years

PROS

CONS

  • It’s made of metal and is very stable
  • I consider pneumatic tires a positive feature. You have to check for tire pressure now and then, but they have superb absorbing qualities
  • It has an adjustable seat- seat moves forward and backward
  • Schwinn Roadster is with a front-drive
  • It arrives almost fully assembled
  • It has a bell
  • It’s quite heavy, and so your toddler may find it too slow
  • Alternate Arrow Down
    This trike rusts easily

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike (Check The Price On Amazon)

Weight: 15lb

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike got an honorable second place in this study. It got 7% of the votes

PROS

CONS

  • This toddler tricycle grows with your child — infant trike converts to a classic trike. Let me explain what this means. First of all this trike has an adjustable push handle so at first, you can push it like a stroller. This trike also comes with a 3-point harness and an adjustable high back seat. There’s also a footrest for younger children
  • It has many extra features: A removable safety tray with cup holder, a removable canopy, and a storage bin
  • It has an adjustable seat- seat moves forward and backward
  • This trike is with a front-drive
  • Rubber tires are good as you don’t have to worry about flat tires, but absorbing qualities aren’t excellent
  • It’s made of metal and plastic. Because a lot of plastic is used it probably isn’t going to last that long although it’s designed to grow with your child
  • Hard to assemble
  • The push handle may be too short for you if you’re a tall person

Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle (Check The Price On Amazon)

Weight: 14lb

The third place of this study went to Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle. This trike got 5% of the votes

PROS

CONS

  • This toddler tricycle is also designed to grow with your child. To make this happen this trike has similar features to the second placeholder Radio Flyer 4-in-1. This trike has an adjustable push handle, a 5-point harness, and an adjustable high back seat
  • It comes with a removable baby surround arms to assist and a removable canopy
  • This tricycle has a cup holder and a rear storage basket
  • It is with a front-drive
  • You have to assemble it
  • Because a lot of plastic is used it probably isn’t going to last that long although it’s designed to grow with your child
  • The push handle feels flimsy
  • The sturdy steel design makes this a durable tricycle for your toddler
  • This trike has an adjustable seat
  • A controlled turning radius should prevent tipping. This tricycle has rubber tires
  • It has a bell
  • It's with a front-drive
  • This trike is hard to put together
  • The sturdy steel design makes this a durable tricycle for your toddler
  • This trike has an adjustable seat and a removable parent steering handle
  • It has a bell
  • It's with a front-drive
  • This trike is hard to put together
  • Alternate Arrow Down
    There's no way to strap your child

The Final Verdict: The Best Toddler Tricycle Found?

So did my quest end with finding the best toddler tricycle?

I think all parent should pick a suitable trike for their needs.

Best Simple Trike

Schwinn Roadster Tricycle (check the price on Amazon) came out as the winner of my study. It’s a great pick if you want a simple tricycle for your kid. 

I carried out a study (not a very scientific one I must say) to find the best tricycle for a toddler. Radio Flyer got the second place. Click to see what was the first

The weight of this trike may be the biggest problem, but this also means it's very stable.

A great alternative is the Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual (check the price on Amazon). This trike got the fifth place but was voted as the second best Radio Flyer trike.

Best Trike With A Push Handle

If you want a trike that grows with your child, then the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike (check the latest price on Amazon) and the Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle (check the latest price on Amazon)  are both excellent choices. For an infant, the later is better as it comes with a baby seat. 

Moving is exceptionally important for children. Hopefully, my study helps you to pick the right one so your child can have more fun outside.

Last Updated on October 21, 2019