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.

Mesh enable add in for inventor 2018