Strider 12 Sport review

The Strider 12 Sport is the 12-inch balance bike with the longest runway: six inches of saddle travel at 6.7 lb, which covers roughly two years of growth. Below is Strider's published spec, the fit arithmetic that follows from it, and the two things worth checking in a shop.

The two numbers

Six inches of saddle travel is unusual in this category. The woom GO 1 offers 3.7 inches, the Prevelo Alpha Zero 3.1. In practical terms that means a Strider bought for a two-year-old is still fitting them at three and a half, where the alternatives may not be.

What you give up

No brake

There is no hand brake. At the speeds a toddler reaches on a balance bike, shoes are an effective brake, so this is not a safety gap — but it does mean brake-lever technique gets learned later, on the pedal bike, when there is more going on.

Foam tires

Strider fits flat-free foam. No punctures, no pump, less grip and less cushioning than air. On sidewalks and driveways you will not care. On wet grass and loose gravel you will.

Steel frame

Steel is why it is 6.7 lb rather than 6.4. It is also why it survives being left outside, dropped down steps and handed to a second child.

Who it fits

A child with a 12 inch inseam or longer — most two-year-olds, some tall 18-month-olds. Below 12 inches, look at the woom GO 1, whose 10.2 inch minimum saddle height is the lowest published figure we found.

What we would check in person

Grip diameter against your child's hand span, footrest position if your child likes to glide with their feet up, and how heavy it feels when they pick it up off the ground — which is the version of the weight spec that actually matters.