Darth Lefty 

I was thinking of baby stuff prices today.

We just bought a reversible car seat to accommodate our growing baby, he has outgrown the rear-facing travel system seat we had for his infancy. It was nigh $300, and like most car seats looks like it was engineered by the legal department and then sent to the crap-accessories-that-attract-moms-but-don't-actually-work department. God I hate car seats, what a profiteering racket.

We also bought an Osprey Poco Plus frame pack papoose. This had an astonishing price tag, but it's a quality piece of equipment. This was also near $300 at REI. It was an impulse purchase but I didn't mind paying it. It's been great. I could easily see it standing up to everyday use for a decade by a growing young family. There's only one feature I don't like, and that's when you undo the buckles for the sunshade, they spring up past baby's eyeballs.

There are some balance bikes that are in this realm of price ($200 or even more). They are generally made in Yurp by small companies (or at least small brands) that either have a whole line of premium kiddie bikes or express a philosophy about how things should be. There's even a $300 bike on the market with rear suspension! However below that there are also a ton of quality bikes in the sub $150 range, and perhaps from brands you might recognize better, including Haro, GT, Strider, Burley, Specialized. It does seem as though anything decent is going to come in north of $100.

How much is too much for you? I think I'm pretty ok with $150.

bovine

I'm out of the market because my youngest is ~4, but I'd drop $200 to (maybe) 300 on a balance bike no problem at the outset of my three stairstep kiddos no problem. I'd probably only go as high as $150 for one, and it would have to be something like the Yuba Flip Flop that would have the potential of growing with the kid.

delcrossv

90 bucks at Performance on sale. looked decent. As long as it rolls easy and doesn't weigh a ton, I don't see much difference in what you get /what you pay.

corrado33

All kids bikes/striders weigh a ton. Seriously, go pick one up. They're almost as heavy as my road bike...

There is no way in hell I'd pay $300 for a strider that they're just going to grow out of in a year or so. Heck, I'd go to the local bike co-op and buy a used one for 20 bucks and donate it back when I was done with it... in a year.

Darth Lefty 

There is, up to a point. They have different saddle height and weight. A smaller and more toy-like one with foam tires like a Strider might be better for a toddler, a more bike-like one with air tires like the Performance might be better for a preschooler. Some have hand brakes, some have guards on the grips, the Performance one has neither. And in the $50 range some of them just seem to be terrible designs. I'm hoping to find one I can put him on as early as possible (like 18mo) and have it last until he's ready for pedaling, and then last through two more hypothetical kids.

Darth Lefty 

Striders specifically weigh about 7 lb but there are some balance bikes that are 15. That's a big deal if you weigh 25. But Strider deliberately chose foam rather than air tires to keep it light, so when the kid gets heavy and proficient, it's terrible.

Darth Lefty 

And then there's this:
Exclusive Carbon Fibre Running Bikes by MORES-DESIGN » Petitpierre Black

superdex

a couple options:
0) We have a Strider that was a donation. Best value ever.

1) craig's list.

2) remove drivetrain from a bike the kid already has -- or in our case, the bike my parents gave him when he turned 4. He went from training wheels to no drivetrain/no training wheels to riding. This option is especially enticing if your child is too big for a Strider/run bike...

3) ~$100 is what I would pay new, if I was in the market

superdex

win.

I I was in the market I'd look at this one seriously. Fantastic design to grow with the kid(s).

Darth Lefty 

I'm not so sure. With foam tires and no brake, and I can't see a QR on the seat, it doesn't seem superior to the midlevel Strider for less. The LittleBig seems like a much better execution of this idea. Its steering gets faster when you flip it and then you can add pedals. I considered getting it but it's just too big for toddlers before maybe 2.5 yrs

superdex

So are you stroking discussion, or in the market to buy one? Because I'm starting to think you're WAY overanalyzing it. They all work...

C Law

Specialized hotwalk I have is 9 pounds with air tires. I didn't think it was too bad.

Darth Lefty 

Oh, both, of course! It's a BF tradition

mel2012

While I've been happy with our used Strider, the Yeedoo Too Too looks like a pretty good option at just slightly over $150. It has a wide range of adjustability in the seat height, air tires, and a rear brake.


The Glide Ezee also seems like a good option as well for significantly less,
Glide Ezee Glider Kid's Balance Bike - Air Tires

mel2012

Costco has the EVA version of the Ezee Glider for $69.99 including S&H:

https://www.costco.com/Glide-Bikes-12...100034479.html

jfowler85

Skuut.

https://www.amazon.com/Diggin-Active-...keywords=skuut

I want my son to be happy, and he shall be plenty happy on a ~$50 balance bike...he'll outgrow it within a year anyways.

Darth Lefty 

Just spotted a Kent Glyder at Wally World for $25. Had 8" stroller wheels and injection molded frame - looked dreadful!

jgadamski

2) remove drivetrain from a bike the kid already has --

Did this for a friends kid. In two weeks he had it down and demanded i put the pedals back on. Riding solo from them on. Age 3yrs,4 months.

mhifoe

I have an Islabikes Rothan, which is one of the more expensive ones you are talking about. When I bought it it they cost about $200, but they are nearer $300 these days.

It weighs about 7lbs and is very nicely made. All my kids have used it from 2-4 years of age.

If I was to buy one again I would probably go for a specialized hotwalk, especially if I lived in the US. My brother has one and it is very nice.

snow_echo_NY

we had a strider and it was awesome. they are bomb proof if your little is an aggressive rider. (ours would go really fast and crash on purpose b/c it was fun).

so... don't forget the helmet!

and best of luck finding something.

you can check out striders here:
Strider Sport Balance Bike Review

Darth Lefty 

I've been over-reading that site for a month... here is another review of a Strider from a different author on the same site, with some counterpoints.
Strider ST-3 | Two Wheeling Tots

As an aside, we had a disappointing helmet experience today. We tried on a Giro Rascal last month at a LBS called Bike Closet, but the only one they had was pink. We ordered one in the California bear graphic; they suddenly couldn't get Giro stuff any more and refunded us today. It seems like all the helmets we find locally in baby's size and that we like the features of are in girl's colors. The Specialized toddler helmet is well reviewed and comes in a lot of cool prints, but Bicycles Plus, the local Spec dealership, did not have any toddler helmets in stock whatsoever much less a selection of graphics. I guess they're making enough money selling cinder-colored $10000 road bikes. We found another pink Rascal today at REI in Roseville.

REI had a Li'l Nutty (also pink) that would go on his head but it's so heavy and not vented. I have an adult model and it does what I want but I wouldn't pretend it's more comfortable than a real bike helmet. But I wish all helmets had the Nutcase magnetic latch. I pinched him trying on the Giro helmet and I could see it to be a recurring problem.

mel2012

If you want light weight with a magnetic clip, check out the Lazer P'Nut. We've had the Nut'z one for our son for almost three years (got when he was two because we pinched him once and after that every time we went to put his helmet on he cringed and cried . I know the Bicycle Business sells them locally.

For Nutcase helmets, you might want to look at the Baby Nutty, rather than the Little Nutty, as I think it's considerably lighter, though it probably wouldn't last as long. The Bicycle Business also sells them, so they're a good place to comparison shop.

For the Giro, if you decide to go that route, in my experience the Me2 seemed to be a better fitting helmet for babies/toddlers than the Rascal.

Darth Lefty 

I'll give those a look. For what it's worth, The Bicycle Business is a solid 23 miles from my home, I would go to Folsom or Roseville shops first... Or I haven't looked at Patriot yet

GravelMN

Kids outgrow these pretty quickly. Post a wanted to buy ad on Craigs list or anywhere a lot of parents will see it. Chances are you can get a slightly used one for 1/2 or less of what a new one would cost. IMHO, there is no reason to be putting $300 into a strider bike. Get a $100 model or a used one and take the money left to start a college fund.

mulliganvi

Our 2.5 year old has been on one of these for the last year:

Islabikes Rothan ? 2 wheel balance bikes for kids age 2+

Favorite thing he has. He's sooo good at it and it's instilled so much confidence. The lighter weight is a huge help for maneuvering,learning and even for him taking it up and down the patio stairs to go on rides. We originally went with this one as at 18 months because it had the lowest clearance that we tested so we were able to get him on it during the summer months. He couldn't get his foot 100% flat on the ground while seated on some of the other options.

As far as kid recommendation stuff, a nice balance bike is at the top of my recommendation list for parents.