First Pedal Bikes
Best woom bikes
The woom GO 3 is the one to buy for most families: 13 lb on 16-inch wheels with a published 19.1–25.2 inch inseam range, the longest fit window in the line. Every woom here is aluminum, hand-brake only, and sized by inseam rather than age.
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woom runs two lines. GO is the road-and-path range, from the GO 1 balance bike up to the geared GO 4; EXPLORE is the same frames with hydraulic disc brakes and trail tyres, from 20 inch to 26. Pick the number from the inseam, then pick GO or EXPLORE from where the child rides.
| Model | Wheel | Weight | Published fit | Gears / brakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| woom GO 1 | 12" | 6.4 lb | Inseam 10.0–14.4" | Balance bike, one hand brake |
| woom GO 2 | 14" | 12.2 lb | Inseam 16.0–19.1" | Single speed, two V-brakes |
| woom GO 3 | 16" | 13 lb | Inseam 19.1–25.2" | Single speed, two V-brakes |
| woom GO 4 | 20" | 17.2 lb | Inseam 22.1–27.9" | 7 speed, two V-brakes |
| woom EXPLORE 4 | 20" | 18 lb | Rider height 45–51" | 7 speed, hydraulic disc |
| woom EXPLORE 5 | 24" | 20.75 lb | Inseam 26.4–32.3" | 8 speed, hydraulic disc |
| woom EXPLORE 6 | 26" | 22.2 lb | Rider height 55–65" | 8 speed, hydraulic disc |
All figures from woom's own product pages and sizing guide. woom publishes inseam ranges for the GO line and rider height for the EXPLORE 4 and 6.
Which woom number fits
woom names its bikes by position in the range, not by wheel size, which trips up every first-time buyer. The translation is simple: GO 1 is 12 inch, GO 2 is 14, GO 3 is 16, GO 4 and EXPLORE 4 are 20, EXPLORE 5 is 24 and EXPLORE 6 is 26.
The useful part of woom's spec sheet is that it publishes an inseam range for most models rather than an age. Measure the inseam and the choice largely makes itself — and note the overlaps: a 19.1 inch inseam is the top of the GO 2 and the bottom of the GO 3 at the same time. When a child lands in an overlap, take the larger wheel only if they are already a confident rider.
Why the weights matter here
woom's whole argument is weight, and the numbers back it: 13 lb at 16 inch against 21.14 lb for a Schwinn Elm 16, and 20.75 lb at 24 inch against 28.25 lb for a Retrospec Dart 24.
33%
GO 3, 13 lb, age 5
34%
GO 4, 17.2 lb, age 7
33%
EXPLORE 5, 20.75 lb, age 9
Those three percentages are the reason the line is priced the way it is. Whether that is worth the money is a separate question, and we answer it honestly on are expensive kids bikes worth it.
GO or EXPLORE?
At 20 inch you have a genuine choice. The GO 4 is 17.2 lb with rim brakes and a seven-speed twist shifter with a gear indicator — the lighter, simpler, cheaper bike, and the right one for pavement, school runs and bike paths.
The EXPLORE 4 is 18 lb with hydraulic disc brakes and trail tyres. Eight tenths of a pound buys brakes that work in the wet and on long descents. If your child rides gravel, hills or anything resembling a trail, the EXPLORE is the one. Above 20 inch the choice disappears: EXPLORE 5 and 6 are the only options at 24 and 26 inch.
What woom gets wrong
Two things. First, the fit windows are narrow at the small end — the GO 2 covers just 16 to 19.1 inches of inseam, where a Prevelo Alpha One starts at 14 and a Guardian 14 publishes 15 to 24. A fast-growing four-year-old can outgrow a GO 2 inside a year.
Second, there is no coaster brake anywhere in the line and no training wheel mount. That is a design decision we agree with, but it means a child who has not learned to balance first will struggle. Do the balance work before the pedal bike arrives — how to teach a child to ride a bike is the method we use.
What we would actually buy
For most families: the woom GO 3. The longest published fit window in the line at 19.1–25.2 inches of inseam, which means two or three years of use rather than one.
For a first pedal bike straight off a balance bike: the woom GO 2, if the inseam clears 16 inches. If it does not, wait — do not buy the GO 3 to grow into.
For a child moving onto gears: the GO 4 for pavement, the EXPLORE 4 for trails. For a 24-inch rider with a 26.4 inch inseam, the EXPLORE 5.
The picks
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published spec, linked to the page we read it from, so you can check the one number your decision turns on — here is how we choose.
Quick picks — sorted by weight
| # | Product | Best for | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Top pickwoom GO 3 13 lb with a 19–25.1 in saddle range — the widest useful fit window of any 16-inch in this registry, on the lightest frame. | The longest fit window | 13 lb | |
| 2 |  woom GO 2 12.2 lb on a 14-inch wheel is the number that matters here — it is the lightest first pedal bike in this registry, and a first pedal bike is mostly a weight problem. | The lightest 14-inch | 12.2 lb | |
| 3 |  woom GO 4 Seven gears with a numbered indicator and 17.2 lb on the scale — the point where a kid's bike stops being a toy and starts being transport. | First gears done right | 17.2 lb | |
| 4 |  woom GO 1 The lowest published saddle height here, which is the whole argument for it: it fits a 10-inch inseam, and almost nothing else does. | The smallest riders | 6.4 lb | |
| 5 |  woom EXPLORE 5 The lightest 24-inch in this registry by almost five pounds, with hydraulic discs and eight gears — and the narrowest fit window, because it needs a 26.4 in inseam before it fits at all. | The lightest 24-inch | 20.75 lb | |
| 6 |  woom EXPLORE 4 woom's trail-ready 20-inch: 18 lb with hydraulic discs and seven gears, and a rigid fork rather than the cheap suspension a bike this size cannot carry. | The lightest 20-inch trail bike | 18 lb | |
| 7 |  woom EXPLORE 6 22 lb 3 oz on a 26-inch wheel with hydraulic discs and eight gears — the lightest bike at this size we have found, and the one a 12-year-old will actually ride to school. | The lightest 26-inch | 22.2 lb |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. Every other number here comes straight off their spec page.
Top pick — The longest fit window
woom GO 3
13 lb with a 19–25.1 in saddle range — the widest useful fit window of any 16-inch in this registry, on the lightest frame.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 13 lb |
| Fits inseam | 19.1–25.2 in |
| Saddle height | 19–25.1 in |
| Brakes | Two independently operated mini V-brakes |
| Gearing | Single speed, 18t front / 10t rear |
| Frame | 6061 aluminum |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 4–6 years, rider height 41–47 in |
What works
- 13 lb — about 29% of the median six-year-old's body weight
- 6.1 in of saddle adjustment, so it lasts two seasons for most kids
- Two proper hand brakes with a color-coded rear lever
What doesn't
- 19 in minimum saddle is too high for a small five-year-old
- No gears, which starts to matter on hills around age six
- Costs three times what a big-box 16-inch costs
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — GO 3 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#2 — The lightest 14-inch
woom GO 2
12.2 lb on a 14-inch wheel is the number that matters here — it is the lightest first pedal bike in this registry, and a first pedal bike is mostly a weight problem.
| Wheel | 14" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 12.2 lb |
| Fits inseam | 16–19.1 in |
| Saddle height | 15.5–19.3 in |
| Brakes | Two independently operated mini V-brakes; ships with a rear coaster brake as a CPSC requirement |
| Gearing | Single speed, 18t front / 10t rear |
| Frame | 6061 aluminum |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 3–4.5 years, rider height 37–43 in |
What works
- 12.2 lb — roughly 34% of the median four-year-old's body weight
- Two real hand brakes with short-reach levers
- 15.5 in minimum saddle height suits a genuinely small first-pedaler
- Coaster brake can be removed by a shop if you want a pure freewheel
What doesn't
- 19.3 in maximum saddle height — a tall four-year-old will move up fast
- Coaster brake ships fitted whether you want it or not
- Costs three times what a big-box 14-inch costs
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — GO 2 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#3 — First gears done right
woom GO 4
Seven gears with a numbered indicator and 17.2 lb on the scale — the point where a kid's bike stops being a toy and starts being transport.
| Wheel | 20" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 17.2 lb |
| Fits inseam | 22.1–27.9 in |
| Saddle height | 22.4–28.7 in |
| Brakes | Two independently operated mini V-brakes |
| Gearing | 7 speed with a child-friendly gear indicator |
| Frame | Butted 6061 aluminum |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 6–8 years, rider height 45–51 in |
What works
- 17.2 lb with gears fitted — about 34% of the median seven-year-old
- Gear indicator makes shifting teachable
- 6.3 in of saddle adjustment
What doesn't
- 22.4 in minimum saddle rules out shorter six-year-olds
- Rim brakes rather than discs
- Costs three times what a big-box 20-inch costs
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — GO 4 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#4 — The smallest riders
woom GO 1
The lowest published saddle height here, which is the whole argument for it: it fits a 10-inch inseam, and almost nothing else does.
| Wheel | 12" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.4 lb |
| Fits inseam | 10–14.4 in |
| Saddle height | 10.2–13.9 in |
| Brakes | Child-friendly mini V-brake with a hand lever |
| Gearing | None (balance bike) |
| Frame | 6061 aluminum |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 1.5–3.5 years |
What works
- 10.2 in minimum saddle height fits genuinely small toddlers
- 6.4 lb aluminum frame — the lightest in this registry
- Has a real hand brake, so braking is learned before the pedal bike
- Air tires
What doesn't
- 13.9 in maximum saddle height means a fast-growing kid outgrows it early
- Costs multiples of a big-box balance bike
- Costs multiples of a Strider 12 Sport for a narrower fit range
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — GO 1 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#5 — The lightest 24-inch
woom EXPLORE 5
The lightest 24-inch in this registry by almost five pounds, with hydraulic discs and eight gears — and the narrowest fit window, because it needs a 26.4 in inseam before it fits at all.
| Wheel | 24" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 20.75 lb |
| Fits inseam | 26.4–32.3 in |
| Saddle height | 27.2–33.1 in |
| Brakes | Promax hydraulic flat-mount disc brakes, front and rear |
| Gearing | 8 speed, microSHIFT Acolyte trigger shifter |
| Frame | Butted AA 6061 aluminum |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 7–11 years, rider height 49–57 in |
What works
- Published at 20 lb 12 oz — about 33% of the median nine-year-old
- Eight gears with a trigger shifter rather than a twist grip
- Promax hydraulic discs front and rear: one-finger braking, unchanged in the wet
- 5.9 in of saddle travel, 27.2–33.1 in
What doesn't
- 26.4 in minimum inseam is the highest fit floor of any 24-inch here — plenty of seven-year-olds will not fit it yet
- Hydraulic brakes eventually need a shop for a bleed
- Costs several times what a mass-market 24-inch costs
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — EXPLORE 5 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#6 — The lightest 20-inch trail bike
woom EXPLORE 4
woom's trail-ready 20-inch: 18 lb with hydraulic discs and seven gears, and a rigid fork rather than the cheap suspension a bike this size cannot carry.
| Wheel | 20" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 18 lb |
| Saddle height | 22.4–28.5 in |
| Brakes | Promax hydraulic flat-mount disc brakes, 140 mm rotors front and rear |
| Gearing | 7 speed, Shimano Revoshift twist shifter, 28T chainring with an 11–28 cassette |
| Frame | Butted AA 6061 aluminum, with a lightweight aluminum unicrown fork |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 6–8 years, rider height 45–51 in, 135 lb system limit |
What works
- 18 lb published weight, the lightest 20-inch in this registry
- 22.4–28.5 in published saddle range, so the fit can be checked before you buy
- Promax hydraulic flat-mount discs, 140 mm rotors, levers sized for a child's hand
- Seven gears with a Shimano derailleur and an 11–28 cassette
What doesn't
- Rigid fork: on a rocky descent the rider feels every hit through the bars
- woom publishes a 135 lb limit for bike, rider and cargo combined
- A twist shifter rather than a trigger, which small hands can roll by accident
- Costs several times what a mass-market 20-inch costs
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — EXPLORE 4 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
#7 — The lightest 26-inch
woom EXPLORE 6
22 lb 3 oz on a 26-inch wheel with hydraulic discs and eight gears — the lightest bike at this size we have found, and the one a 12-year-old will actually ride to school.
| Wheel | 26" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 22.2 lb |
| Saddle height | 29.9–38 in |
| Brakes | Promax hydraulic flat-mount disc brakes, 160 mm front and 140 mm rear |
| Gearing | 8 speed, microSHIFT Acolyte trigger shifter |
| Frame | Butted AA 6061 aluminum, child-specific geometry |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 10–14 years, rider height 55–65 in |
What works
- 22 lb 3 oz (woom publishes 22 lbs 3 oz) — over four pounds lighter than the Guardian 26
- 29.9–38 in saddle range, so it carries a rider from about 4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 5 in
- Hydraulic flat-mount discs front and rear, with a trigger shifter rather than a twist grip
- 8 gears, which is enough for a hilly commute without a front derailleur to maintain
What doesn't
- woom's page carried a low-stock warning when we checked on 2026-09-29
- woom publishes rider height but no inseam range for this model
- Low stock moves fast — colorways sell out and reappear
- Costs more than twice what the Guardian 26 does
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · woom — EXPLORE 6 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of October 10, 2026
Questions parents actually ask
01Which woom bike size should I buy?
Match the inseam, not the age. woom publishes 10.0–14.4 inches for the GO 1, 16.0–19.1 for the GO 2, 19.1–25.2 for the GO 3, 22.1–27.9 for the GO 4 and 26.4–32.3 for the EXPLORE 5.
02What is the difference between a woom GO and a woom EXPLORE?
The GO line is for pavement and paths with rim brakes; the EXPLORE line adds hydraulic disc brakes and trail tyres and starts at 20 inch. At 20 inch the GO 4 is 17.2 lb and the EXPLORE 4 is 18 lb.
03Are woom bikes worth the money?
They are the lightest bikes we can verify at most wheel sizes — 13 lb at 16 inch against about 21 lb for a steel equivalent. If the child is a learner or rides hills, that difference is what gets the bike ridden.
04What wheel size is a woom 3?
16 inch. woom numbers its bikes by position in the range: GO 1 is 12 inch, GO 2 is 14, GO 3 is 16, GO 4 and EXPLORE 4 are 20, EXPLORE 5 is 24 and EXPLORE 6 is 26.
Sources
Read next
- First Pedal Bikeswoom vs GuardianThe two most-recommended brands, on weight and brakes.
- Big Kid Bikeswoom GO 4 vs Prevelo Alpha ThreeGears and discs, head to head at 20 inches.
- Balance BikesStrider 12 Sport vs woom GO 1The two best-known balance bikes, on the numbers.
- First Pedal BikesBest lightweight kids bikesSix bikes from 11.3 lb to 17.2 lb, on published weights.