The grippy footrests on the AIRO are well designed and thought out. Small enough to be unobtrusive, but large enough for a child to rest a portion of their foot, these footrests are highly effective. When cruising and gliding around the house, our 3-year-old thought they were pretty much the coolest thing ever. The saddle should also, ideally, be in a ‘scoop’ shape to deal with the amount of weight targeted towards the centre of the saddle and to aid positioning. When you take delivery of your AIRO getting it ready to ride is a doddle. Arriving almost fully assembled, all you need to do is tighten three bolts, adjust the seat height (if necessary) and make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. That’s it. And now, just in time for Christmas, Hornit is branching out to launch their very first lightweight balance bike – the Hornit AIRO. The longer wheel base and larger wheels also lead to a longer reach or your kiddo will have a more aggressive stance. This won’t be as noticeable on bigger toddlers as the bike will fit better.

Size: Cycling UK advises that your child should be able to sit comfortably on the balance bike, knees slightly bent and feet flat on the floor.In all cases, the best balance bikes featured are lightweight and very easy for young children to manoeuvre. They are well constructed to last the abuse that their riders will inflict, and come recommended by many different parents. 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. Consider how often your child is likely to use it, how long you'd want it to last and if it could be resold later or passed down to a younger sibling. Vitus Nippy weighs just under a Strider and is a third of the price. We had a heavy balance bike and made no progress, swapped it for a Vitus Nippy and my son was doing huge ramps in the skate park the same day, and road a bike with pedals without needing any practice once he'd outgrown the Nippy. He absolutely loved that thing, even more than his pedal bike tbh." (Recommended by Mumsnetter user33323) Our verdict The wide grab rail allows adults to easily hold on if they want to guide a toddler just getting to grips with balance bike life. It’s also a useful feature when you inevitably end up carrying the thing. Speaking of, it’s relatively lightweight so not too difficult to carry round the park but still incredibly sturdy which is reassuring for parents of fearless toddlers. There are no brakes on this balance bike but there is a stopper in the handlebars so the bike can’t be oversteered which is really useful for new riders.

The AIRO is suitable for children with an inside leg measurement of 30cm to 46cm (11.8" to 18.9"), which makes it the perfect size for most children aged 18 months up to around 5 years old. Including several seating positions to choose from, the adjustable saddle height lets you raise or lower the seat from 34cm to 44cm, meaning the AIRO is great for seeing them through their early years of riding. Why choose the AIRO? Easy assemblyIf you're looking to invest in a bike you can sell on, the Islabikes Rothan is hard to beat. How we choose our recommendations Parent testers This means you're getting three bikes for your initial outlay, which can be comforting at a time of uncertainty about future product availability, prices and income levels. Comfort: If your child feels uncomfortable on their bike they’ll be less likely to use it, so look for a padded seat that provides plenty of support. Some balance bikes have curved seats to help prevent your child from sliding forward. The Hornit nailed this one too. At just 2.95kg it's wonderfully light and easy to manoeuvre. It never once overloaded it's tester who is under average height and weight for her age. This means coming to a stand still and not toppling over. Another thing that can stall a burgeoning cycling career.