One thing to note is that there aren’t any brakes on the Hornit AIRO. There are two schools of thought about whether you should put brakes on a balance bike. Some brands do add in one or two brakes to give children the opportunity to learn to use them before transitioning to a pedal bike. They certainly aren’t essential and younger children won’t be able to use them. This is because the way to stop when riding a balance bike is to use your feet – very simple! The Strider has 2.25″, which still isn’t a lot, but much better. Other balance bikes with shorter seat posts have considerably more ground clearance, like the Banana Bike GT which has 3.25″. One extra the AIRO does offer, though, is a lifetime warranty on the frame and fork – definitely a big plus point if you're planning on more little cyclists, or you're considering passing the bike onto a family member or friend afterwards. Overall But as kids get older and their frames get wider, the narrow bars can become problematic. For example, take a look at the difference in the arm position of another three-year-old tester on two different balance bikes below. The woom 1 on the left has a 16″ wide handlebar while the Strider on the right has a 13 3/8″ handlebar. You may snigger that we're talking about weight on a children's product, but when it comes to bikes for little ones, the number that the scales record is incredibly important. Heavier models might come in at around 11lbs/5kg, whilst those designed with an eye on the scales sit closer to 6.8lbs/3kg. Though that might not sound like a huge difference to an adult, it’s a huge percentage of a child’s weight.

We found the AIRO to be an amazing little bike for kids for young riders in 18 months to 3T pants. With a minimum seat height of 11.25″, the AIRO is one of the few balance bikes on the market that easily accommodates younger testers in 18-months pants. Safety is at the heart of everything that Hornit do (after all they make helmets and horns) so they’ve also added in a padded protector for the stem, so if your child happens to have an incident where they come off their bike, then they get some cushioning. Once your little ones have grown up and no longer need their AIRO, we have created a dedicated Facebook group where you can ask questions, post your photos and sell on your AIRO. Why not take a look! Age range: 18 months (with an inside leg of 30.5cm) to five years (with an inside leg of 50.8cm) | Weight: 2.9kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: EVA polymer What we love If you've enjoyed reading this article, please do sign up for our newsletter- we'll keep up updated when we have new articles which may be of interest. Thanks!

3. Best balance bike for a 2-year-old: Puky LR M 500

The narrow bar is great for petite toddlers as their frames are still small enough to allow the young riders to have a wide stance on the handlebars with their hands extending several inches past their shoulders. A balance bike doesn’t have to have a brake – little feet will suffice. However, having one (usually at the rear) can add confidence. Not only that, it also gives your child one more skill which they can apply when they start to pedal. A quality balance bike will have a brake lever that’s easy for a small hand to operate. They've also managed to come up with a really cool looking bike by using magnesium alloy, a lightweight material that is a more environmentally friendly, fully recyclable alternative to aluminium.

Weighing just 2.95kg starting your little one out on their cycling journey is easier for them than ever before! Thanks to the AIRO’s incredibly lightweight, ultra-hard-wearing magnesium alloy frame they can effortlessly propel themselves along. Lighter on the wallet than any comparable balance bike, the AIRO is superior on every meaningful measure. Islabikes are the original manufacturers of quality kids' bikes, with over a decade of experience in designing and manufacturing lightweight frames fitted.The lighter the bike, the easier it will be for your learning toddler to get it moving, and to handle it around the twists and turns in the park – especially if there’s the odd little incline. While one alternative is to buy a conventional 12- or 14-inch kids’ bike and remove the pedals, a balance bike will typically be lighter in weight, given there are fewer components, and some may have specific features such as a footrest. We had a Rothan and thought it was great. I sold it for a good price afterwards too.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BreakingUpWithMyPhone) Our verdict This was followed by their Mini Hornit helmets, which come in such a fun range of designs that they’ll prove popular with even the most reluctant of helmet wearers. Our reviewers loved them too. To prevent a potential issue, Hornit offers a shorter seat post free of charge to AIRO customers. In future models, the AIRO will likely come with a shorter seat post, but for now, you will need to reach out and request one.