The Banana’s foam tires work fine on paved and carpeted surfaces, but were quite slippy on kitchen linoleum and hardwood floors (unlike our top pick and runner-up). But, the frame is well-engineered, and the range of height adjustability for the handlebars is substantial and adequate for the seat (about 3 inches). While the steel-framed Banana Bike LT V2 offers what we consider two of the most important features for beginning kids-low stand-over height and light weight-at a very affordable price, it took longer than 45 minutes to get it truly dialed out of the box.
Our experts agreed: Spend less than $110 on a balance bike, and you’ll have to make some trade-offs. The clean welds, flawless paint job, and precisely fitted componentry create a bike as high in quality as REI’s famous customer support. The REV 12 also gets high marks for a really easy assembly. The slightly spendier Co-op lacks some size adjustability compared with the Strider 12 Sport, particularly at the handlebars, but some of our testers preferred the stability of slightly wider handlebars and the speed they could generate with its fat, rubber tires. While its air tires, alloy wheels, and standard ball-bearing headset make it, at 9 pounds, heavier than the Strider Sport, the REV 12 also features thoughtful kid-specific design elements like a low top tube (same as the Strider 12 Sport at 8 inches) and a seat height that is adjustable by 5 inches, which while still good is 4 inches fewer than the Strider. If our top pick is sold out, or if you want the cushioning and traction of rubber tires, particularly for indoor riding, REI’s Co-op Cycles REV 12 Kids’ Balance Bike is an excellent choice. The 12 Sport comes brake-free, but Strider offers an add-on foot brake for hilly terrain. We also liked the full-length handlebar pad, for when bunny hops go awry. Its simple design includes an ultra-light, maintenance-free nylon bushing headset (the pivot point that lets the handlebar turn), very lightweight plastic wheels, pleasantly grippy foam rubber tires that never need inflating, and footrests, which is a nice feature when a kid starts to try tricks like bunny hops, or just want to rest their feet on a gradual downhill. Its seat post has the widest height adjustability range of any bike we tested (9 inches!). Of all of the bikes here, its design feels the most, well, mini-me-friendly with kid-narrow handlebars and toddler-size grips. It is the most popular balance bike on the market, and we understand why: easy assembly, a wide range of size adjustability, light weight (6.7 pounds), and a low, 8-inch stand-over height for easier balance. The Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike hides prodigious design beneath a veneer of simplicity.
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