While essentially any wheel can help a toddler develop their sense of balance, difference between gravel bike vs hybrid the riding experience varies significantly due to differences in the size, quality, and features of the wheel.In the following, we will show you the most important aspects that you should consider when buying an impeller.
Balance bike test: Which is the best?
When choosing the right balance bike for your little one, it is helpful to consult the practical test of large consumer magazines such as Stiftung Warentest, ÖkoTest, etc. We first show the wheel test winners of Stiftung Warentest and then present the practical tests in detail.
As balance bikes become an increasingly popular children’s vehicle, all four major consumer magazines have actually conducted a balance bike test so far. In the following, we would like to introduce you to the test reports from Stiftung Warentest and ÖkoTest in more detail:
Balance bike test by Stiftung Warentest
In 2018, Stiftung Warentest took a close look at a total of 15 different wheels. Among them were also models from the renowned suppliers Early Rider, Hudora, Kokua and Puky. In particular, the following test criteria were included in the evaluation:
Driving: 55 %
Safety and durability: 25%
Handling: 15 %
Pollutants: 5 %
In the balance bike test of stiftung Warentest, three wheels scored “good”, one with “satisfactory” and eleven with the grade “poor”. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to name the test winner and the grade of the individual models for legal reasons. For this you have to buy the article of the Stiftung Warentest.
Impeller test
The consumer magazine also carried out a wheel test in 2018. A total of ten balance bikes for children were scrutinized and tested according to the following criteria: purchasing, practical testing, ingredients, other defects. From the result of the tests in these criteria, an overall evaluation for each individual impeller was determined.
ÖkoTest has tested these 10 wheels:
B’Twin Run Ride 100
Hudora Balance Bike Toddler
Jako-O Impeller Wood
Kettler Balance Bike Run 8″ Girl
Kiddimoto Mountain Bike MT1
Kokua Like a Bike Jumper
Pinolino Impeller Lino
Puky Impeller LR M Plus
S’Cool Pedex 1
Smoby impeller
Kettler wheel Speedy 2.0
The height-adjustable speed dial Speedy 2.0 is a stable balance bike in an eye-catching design, behind which the renowned brand Kettler stands.
Kettler balance bike Speedy 2.0 – the adjustable balance bike – children’s balance bike with tire size: 10 inches – stable & safe balance bike from 2 years – red & yellow
Handlebar impact leads to easier driving
height-adjustable saddle (33cm to 43cm)
Design colors red and yellow.
resilient tyres with tread
Safety grips and handlebar pads
Pinolino Balance Bike Jojo
The popular Pinolino Jojo wheel with soft plastic tyres is far ahead in the race. With the reflector and the butterfly and flame stickers, every child can customize his bike and make it a real eye-catcher.
Pinolino balance bike Jojo, made of wood, unplatable tires, convertible from chopper to balance bike, for children from 2 – 5 years, red
made of solid birch wood
for children from two to five years
Butterfly and flame stickers for individual design
special, soft plastic tires
eight-fold height-adjustable saddle
Bikestar wooden balance bike
The Bikestar wheel made of wood is a particularly lightweight wheel for beginners from one year of age made of certified material, which can be ridden with two or three wheels as required.
BIKESTAR Mini Children’s Balance Bike Wooden Balance Bike with THREE wheels for boys and girls from 1 – 1.5 years | 2 in 1 children’s balance bike | Little Princess | Risk-free testing
certified wood without harmful substances
high-quality, resistant EVA tyres
with two or three wheels
comfortable, height-adjustable saddle
with practical steering angle limitation
Small Puky balance bike Wutsch
This extra small baby bike from Puky offers riding fun even for the little ones. Safety steering grips, an eye-catching colour and an ergonomic seat ensure safety and comfort when driving.
Puky 4023 – Wutsch My First Puky
weighs only 2.8kg
Carrying handle on the seat
Color scheme red / yellow
ergonomically shaped seat
Safety grips on the handlebars
Bandits & Angels Balance Bike
The Bandits & Angels is a balance bike made of high quality wood with three wheels for very young children.
Bandits & Angels balance bike / wooden balance bike 4-in-1 Smartbike from 1 year (mint)
Plastic tyres made of foam
Conversion to a chopper possible
height-adjustable saddle (maximum 30cm).
for infants from the age of one
optional with wicker basket
Use and advantages of an impeller
A balance bike is a small bicycle without bottom brackets, cranks or pedals. A small child can walk while sitting on a balance bike.
A balance bike teaches your child to keep their balance. This can have a significant impact on your child’s confidence when it comes to cycling without support. Furthermore, a balance bike teaches your child to control the movement of the bike with his body weight and steering.
While a child learning to ride a bike with training wheels may suddenly find the transition to balancing, steering, and pedaling a bit overwhelming, a child who has previously practiced on a balance bike will later expand their existing skills on the bike mainly by pedaling.
Impeller: When is it suitable?
Children can start riding balance bikes when they are between 12 months and two years old. After a short learning phase, they learn, without the support of their parents, to ride the lau bike, to jump, to take momentum and to let themselves be rolled in idle.
Wheels are a replacement for tricycles and training wheels because they are designed for use in times when a child usually rides a tricycle or uses training wheels. Children usually ride on balance bikes for two to three years, depending on how old they are. The younger they start, the longer they ride their wheel. Children up to the age of about five also have fun on a balance bike.
In most cases, children around the age of four switch to a bicycle with pedals. It is important to remember that wheels must be the right size for their rider. Wheels are available in many sizes. The smallest wheels are suitable for toddlers aged 18 months, while the largest wheels are even intended for adults. Of course, children between the ages of two and five grow rapidly. Ideally, you should therefore choose an impeller that is height-adjustable.
What makes a good wheel – the most important purchase criteria
Material
Impeller frames are made of aluminum, steel, wood or composite material, with metal frames being the most commonly used.
Metal wheels are made of steel or aluminum alloys, which contribute to the overall weight and load capacity of the bike. Aluminum is lightweight, strong, rust-resistant and used in high-end bikes.
Steel frames are common on less expensive models, but they create a heavier bike and are prone to rust.
Composite frames are made of a glass fiber reinforced nylon composite. They offer a lightweight frame with high load capacity, without the disadvantages of rust or flaking paint.
However, composite frames can bend or give way when used by an older or larger driver. However, most children switch to a pedal bike before the flexibility of the material becomes a problem.
Balance bikes for very young children are often made of wood. The first choice is solid birch wood, as it is a renewable and environmentally friendly raw material. A wooden wheel is usually more resilient than a metal wheel, but is also slightly heavier in weight.
Number and material of tyres
The tires play a key role in the performance and comfort of a bike.
Although there are also wheels with three tires on the market, it is recommended to choose a two-wheeled wheel. Only a balance bike with two tires serves the important educational purpose of teaching your child to keep their balance on a wheel.
Balance bikes with three wheels are usually preferred for very young children.
You should also pay attention to the material of the tires when buying. There are two main types of tires on wheels: foam tires and pneumatic tires.
Foam tires are very common on wheels because they are cheap to make and lightweight, and made of solid foam that can never be flattened.
For the average driver in the neighborhood who wants to stay predominantly on the sidewalk, foam tires are sufficient, but real pneumatic tires are essential for adventurous kids.
Tyre size
12-inch wheels are by far the most common tire size for wheels.
14-inch tires can be found on larger wheels for older or older preschoolers.
There are some 16- and 20-inch wheels designed for elementary school children who don’t yet have the confidence or ability to ride an ordinary bike. These large balance bikes are also often used by children and adolescents with special needs who are disadvantaged in development.
Brake
Children primarily use their feet to stop a balance bike. Handbrakes are therefore optional, but can help to avoid injuries, protect children’s shoes and better prepare a child for cycling on the ordinary bike with pedals.
By the ages of two and a half to three and a half years, most preschoolers usually have sufficient hand-eye coordination to use a handbrake.
Height adjustability
The right size is by far the most important factor when choosing an impeller. While balance bikes are often marketed as standard wheels, the same bike is actually not suitable for a one-year-old and a preschooler.
Tire size and seat height based on stride length should be taken into account when choosing the right balance bike for your toddler or child.
Height-adjustable wheels have the advantage that they can be adjusted in height as your child grows. As a result, the impeller can be driven longer overall and does not have to be replaced by a larger model after one year.
for more information: https://besthybridbikeguide.net/
