If there is one thing parents cannot rely on to be constant and stable are gas prices. Many have come to accept this fact and made their peace with it. But making peace with it does not exactly cut it. You need to get an alternative, a cheaper alternative of commuting to and from work. Cycling to work has proved to be that working alternative for many. Not only does it help you save on gas, it keeps you in great shape as well. But as with all things, it has a downside. Its carrying and storage space is limited. Why not get a bike trailer?
Click here to see our favorite bike trailer on Amazon
Now, before you go on ahead to cross off this option from your list, you should know that there is a solution to this problem – bike trailers. These are some of the latest gadgets the 21st-century technology has to offer. When they first made their entry into the market, their use was limited to carrying cargo, but with time, child trailers made their debut in the market. Their introduction to the market redefined the word fun for all parents and their kids who gave it a chance. A point to note, though, towing a trailer with your bike can at first be a challenge both from a technical and physical standpoint. But this is nothing a little time and practice cannot fix.
Bike trailers have carved out a niche for themselves and today, they are one of the most sought after bicycle complimentary equipment there is. Now, needless to say, with their increase in demand, their supply has also shot through the roof, which is a good thing, no scratch that, a great thing. Only that it makes making a choice, let alone the best choice a tad too difficult.
To make the right choice, there are some basic considerations that you have to make such as whether or not it appeals to you and whether you can use it on all terrain. These considerations, for the most part, are made on instinct. In this piece, we shall delve much deeper into how you can make the best choice. But first, let’s have a look at bike trailer types.
Bike trailer types
Now you probably are expecting a whole list of bike trailer types. But we shall save you the trouble and classify them into two broad categories. Any other types you find listed anywhere else will be a further breakdown of these two basic configurations – pedal trailers and standard trailers. In this review, however, we shall focus our sight mainly on the standard trailers which come with wheels and a compartment big enough for either one or two children. Pedal trailers only feature a single wheel, can only accommodate one child at a time of a given age and needless to say, come with pedals. As a matter of fact, the pedal trailers look like the bike itself only that instead of a front wheel it comes with an attachment point to the bike.
Factors to consider before buying a bike trailer
Safety for your child
Safety for any parent should be the number one consideration on the list. What is the point of having fun, or rather trying to have fun, while at the back of your mind you are worried that at any time your child could fall off and your journey would end up in the ER? You have to agree, great fun is safe fun. Even with extreme sports, those that get your adrenaline going, the one thing that its creators take time on is ensuring that you are safe while you partake in the sport.
For bike trailers, safety is measured by the quality of the restraint system, the type of cover material, the construction of the frame and the design of the hitch. All these work together cohesively to ensure that your child is safe as you cruise through the streets. There are some bike trailers manufacturers take their job all so seriously and surpass the recommended safety features. They make available helmets and designs which make it easier for you to keep your child safe.
Assembly, storage and ease of attachment
Second to the safety of the trailer is the ease of its use. Cycling all over the neighborhood with your child is a challenge by itself. You do not need the added hassle of putting the equipment together. For crying out loud it’s a recreation equipment. And as such, it should not negatively wear you down.
The trailer you get should be intuitive, easy to assemble, attach to a bike and at the end of the day, easy to put away for storage. The easier these processes are, the higher your chances are of using it every single day.
Ease of towing
Cycling on its own is a great and effective exercise. Now add to it the fact that you are trailing your child along and you have yourself the perfect exercise – one that does not need to be ruined by a difficulty in towing the trailer. If you can use the least energy while riding the better it is for you.
There are several factors that affect the ease of towing a trailer. These include the hitch mechanism, aerodynamics, the wheel size and suspension
For the hitch mechanism, you should appreciate that technology has made available different types. However, not all of these types are the best. There are those that will significantly affect the energy you spend in towing. Now we shall spare you all the technical details and lay it down for you in simple terms. The best hitch mechanism is that which does not have any lurching or clunking.
We have already established that towing a trailer is hard work by itself. It is even harder when you are working against the wind. The trailer you get should have a way of displacing the wind – it should have great aerodynamics. For this, you could get a trailer that is very low and close to the ground, and one that has got a cover that fits perfectly. A loose cover will trap the wind and will be the source of your suffering.
As for the wheel size and suspension, consider the terrain you will be cruising through. If it is a rough one, then consider getting wheels that are high enough to rise above the stones and rocks and a suspension system that will easily absorb all the shock created.
Versatility
When you are getting a bike trailer to use with your child, you should consider the time when your child outgrows it. What will happen then? Will you put it away until you have another child in the family to use it with? Well, you can, but it would be of more value to you if you could use it for something else such as carrying your pet dog or cargo. Versatility will keep the trailer relevant through the years.
Best Bike Trailers in the Market – Our Four Bike Trailer Reviews
InStep Take 2 Double Bicycle Trailer
This bike trailer has created a lot not traction in the recent past. Reviewers have got nothing but praise for this trailer. So much so that it all feels too good to be true. Amidst all the excitement, one has to wonder, does it really live up to the hype? Well, yes it does.
This Instep trailer is designed for use with two children, though it can also be safely used with one child. With its sturdy frame made from steel, it has the ability to support a whopping 80lbs and can be towed by just about any bike given the versatile nature of the attachment. The frame is designed to fold down with great ease while the wheels can pop off just as easily for storage.
Intriguing right? And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Many of its past users love it for the fact that it is light weight. Its manufacturers understood that while parents need to spend quality time with their cute little ones, they also need to do so without getting dead-bit tired. Pulling the trailer is easier even when you add your child’s weight.
The fact that it is light weight does nothing to interfere with the sturdy and safe nature of the trailer. As a matter of fact, these qualities are all the more reinforced. How you might ask? Well, to achieve its light weight nature, the engineers of the trailer opted to make use of steel. Now steel is one of the strongest metal there is and the lightest too. Adding to the safety, the trailer comes with harness seat belts to hold down the children when you are cruising in both smooth and rough terrain. The seat belts are important given the clumsy and playful nature of kids. These hold them in place and restrict their movement to some extent (though they still enjoy the ride). The pneumatic wheels measure 16 inches. They are high enough to navigate through rough terrain and still have the ride be smooth.
As for its canopy, it features a meshed screen designed to keep away bugs and pebbles as well as protect the child during the wet and windy season. But even with this feature, parents are advised to have their children wearing a helmet at all times.
It is easy to fold up and put away for storage. As a matter of fact, for lack of a better word, it is intuitive. Its foldable nature also makes it easy for you to transport it from one place to the next. Its folded size is perfect especially when you bear in mind that it is designed for use with two kids.
Attaching it, truth be told, will take a bit of time. You will have to get your hands dirty especially if you want it to be safe. But the great thing is that all the instructions you need are laid out for you in a manual in a clear and concise manner.
Click here to check out InStep Take 2 Double Bicycle Trailer on Amazon
Allen Sports Premium Aluminum 2 Child Bicycle Trailer and Stroller
This is one of the trailers that will fast and easily capture your interest and have you all intrigued. They are just like cute babies, you know the kind that everyone can’t help but smile at for no reason, those that bring out the baby in you.
Taken through a series of tests, the Allen Sports Premium Aluminum 2 Child Bike Trailer and Stroller easily outperform many other trailers that fetch higher prices in the market. It features a lightweight aluminum frame that is one of the best solutions in the market for trailer frames. How so? It does not affect the sturdiness of the trailer itself and the weight still, remains perfect giving it stability even on rough terrain. Speaking of rough terrain, it features inflated wheels which further smoothens the ride. The wheels also make maneuvering over the rocks and stones and taking sharp turns a breeze.
The trailer can support a weight of up to 100lbs in weight which means that it can comfortably support two kids with great ease. When you consider its dimensions, 30 inches wide and 35 inches high, this weight limit is perfect.
It comes with a nylon cover of great quality, thick and highly durable. The cover can be easily attached and detached using the Velcro strips sewn onto its sides. This enables the kids to work it without your help. The nylon cover in itself is perfect for those days when it is raining and windy. It also protects against bugs. Think of it like a large windshield, only lighter and malleable. Through it, the children will be safe and still able to enjoy the view fo the great outdoors without the feeling of being in a tight space.
For ventilation, the enclosure comes with a mesh at its back. Air flows in and out freely keeping the compartment from getting stuffy and uncomfortable. Also at its rear are reflective strips for a much safer cruise. These strips make you visible to motorists trailing you on the road.
As for the interior, Allen Sports simply outdid themselves. They have the seats sewed in place above the bottom of the trailer giving them more stability and comfort. The fact that they are sewed in place prevents the seat from sagging and the child from sinking below the wheel level and making contact with the ground. Safety straps are also available to keep the children in position. They are padded and wide enough for comfort even when they are firmly in place.
The bottom side of the trailer is lined with rubber, a material that has proven that it can withstand the test of time.
For those days you do not feel like cycling but still want to tag your child along, you can still make use of the trailer, but as a stroller. Yes, it is convertible into one. And what’s even impressive is the fact that it comes with all the features that make the best stroller.
Click here to check out the Allen Sports Premium Aluminum 2 Child Bicycle Trailer and Stroller on Amazon
Burley Kids’ Honey Bee Trailer
Lo and behold, yet another bike trailer that will exceed your expectations. Burley, as a company has been in the industry for a long time now. 30 years to be precise. Over this time, it has honed its trailer making skills and has learned to cater to all the needs of parents. They engineer and design one of the safest, durable and comfortable trailers available in the market. The Burley Honey Bee bike trailer is no exception. From the company, it has received a series of tests to meet safety standards like no other company does. With many products in the market, this particular trailer has many parents mesmerized like no other. Why? Let’s find out.
For starters, it has been designed for families who want a trailer but also need a stroller occasionally. It comes packed with features making it the best convertible stroller in the market. Its removable swivel wheel that comes attached to its trailer arm makes the conversion to and from a stroller a breeze needing no additional kits for the process.
Its interior is just perfect. It comes in just the right size perfect for comfort regardless of whether the sun is shining bright and hot or not. With an internal width of 21.8 inches, it is perfect for a 4-year-old toddler. The interior also features tinted windows, a sag-free and firm bench not to mention a helmet pocket. And since it is advisable that you have your child wearing a helmet at all times, this recession is divine for comfort.
As a bike trailer, the Honey Bee feels and even looks durable. When attached to a bike, you can’t help but feel satisfied. The ride is effortless and smooth even when you have a 50lbs toddler on board. As a matter of fact, many parents have often gone on record claiming that it is easy to forget that they have a trailer. When being used as a bike trailer, the stroller wheel remains attached to the trailer arm. This makes the transition easy and fast when the need arises. All you have to do is loosen the knob and flip it back down – a process that takes less than a minute.
When being used as a stroller, the swivel wheel will glide ad guide the trailer with great ease, though truth be told, it can be noisy though not enough to be a deal-breaker. Adjusting a lever on the side can have the handlebar at any height you need it.
Its fabric cover is made of polyester, 600D polyester fabric to be exact. It feels good to the touch and features elastic and Velcro bands for easier folding and access to its interior.
Click here to check out Burley Kids’ Honey Bee Trailer on Amazon
Schwinn Echo Double Bike Trailer
When you walk into a shop and find they have this as the only bike trailer option to purchase and take home with you, do yourself a favor and get it. Yes, it is that good. It will most definitely deliver as you need it to. As a matter of it probably might surpass your expectations. Your child will be looking forward to your next cruise around the neighborhood every time you get back home.
It has the perfect combination of safety and comfort. Its design is also one you will definitely love. And while many trailers are lacking in the design sector, you will find this to be a great advantage.
For comfort, the trailer features firm yes spongy seats. They feature helmet meshes and shoulder pads for your kid’s comfort. Now why are these such a big deal? You probably are wondering. Well, until you have your kid in the bike trailer seat with a helmet and notice how his head is awkwardly pushed forward, you might not appreciate the need for the helmet recession on its rear end.
Speaking of which, the mesh at the rear also doubles up as a protective cover for bugs and pebbles. It also has a reflective strip to keep you and your child safe while on the road.
On its sides, it comes with large windows providing the child with a great view of the trees, people and cars fly past. It is a sight to behold. On its front, it also has a protective cover that protects from the wind and rain when the weather changes.
As for its ease of attachment, you will have an easy time. The universal trailer coupler will see to this. You will not have any trouble attaching it to any bike since after all, it is universal.
Its air-filled tires feature spooked wheels that add to its great design and performance. In a time where first impressions count for everything, this is a golden feature. You will be the envy of many parents.
Click here to check out Schwinn Echo Double Bike Trailer on Amazon
Conclusion
Picking out the best bike trailer does not have to be a complicated and confusing process. Think of all the choices you have as litmus tests for the right bike trailer you need. And with the above information, you are more than sorted when you are making your pick.
Leave a Reply