How to choose a kick scooter for children
The wide variety of brands, styles, and features available for kick scooters might be overwhelming for individuals who are prepared to make the financial commitment. Which kick scooter, then, ought to you get for your kid? Here is a shopping guide and checklist.
Three wheels or two wheels?
Kick scooters generally come in two primary varieties: the two-wheeled scooter and the three-wheeled scooter for children. Compared to two-wheelers, most three-wheel kick scooters have two wheels up front and one wheel behind, giving them greater stability.
For younger riders who may lack the balance or motor abilities to operate a 2-wheel scooter, three-wheel scooters are advised. Young riders will find it simpler to pick up the skill of scooting when they use a 3-wheel kick scooter.
This may not always apply. Your youngster might be able to operate a two-wheel scooter if he has outstanding balance and great motor skills.
In such a case, start him off at a 3- to 5-year-old age on a 2-wheel scooter such as the Madd Gear Carve Alloy Kick. Selecting the appropriate size scooter is crucial, since a large scooter may be too cumbersome for a juvenile rider to handle and might discourage him from scootering. To find out if the scooter is the suitable size for your child, look for information on the maximum carry weight, height, and age range.
When it comes to two-wheelers, there are kids’ scooters and commuter kick scooters. These scooters usually include features like a kick stand, a height-adjustable bar, and foldability for transportation, to mention a few. However, freestyle scooters, sometimes referred to as trick scooters or stunt scooters, are utilised much differently.
Action sports like freestyle scootering require specialised scooters with high-quality parts to ensure the scooters can survive high-impact manoeuvres like leaping ramps and rails. In order to reduce the number of moving elements that might break quickly from severe impact, freestyle scooters are not height-adjustable or foldable.
How will the kick scooter be used by your child?
Is it only for speeding through the parks, playgrounds, and corridors? If so, the majority of kids’ kick scooters with three or two wheels would work. Will older children utilize the kick scooter to get to school or other locations that require a longer commute? If so, think about getting a kick scooter with bigger wheels and a more comfortable suspension setup. Your youngster needs a freestyle scooter if he likes to jump curbs, ramps, and bunny hop.
Big Wheels or Small Wheels?
Kick Scooter Wheels are available in a range of sizes, from 100mm to 230mm.The majority of scooter wheels are made of comparable materials, with similar designs. Basic scooters designed for mild use in parks and playgrounds often have wheels measuring between 100 and 110 millimetres. Typically, commuter scooters have bigger wheels (200–230 mm) so that riders can push their scooters farther between stops. Make sure the wheel size fits the rider and his intended usage by checking it.
A note regarding bearings:
ABEC 3, ABEC 5, or ABEC 7 may occasionally be included in descriptions of scooters. This essentially explains the wheels’ bearings’ accuracy and efficiency as well as their speed capabilities using the well recognized ABEC scale standard.
While commuter and freestyle scooters have bearings rated at ABEC 7 or above, basic children’s scooters have bearings rated at ABEC 3 or ABEC 5. A scooter with high-quality bearings will roll more quickly.
Is wheel steering or pivot steering used?
While wheel steering revolves 360 degrees like a bicycle, pivot steering incorporates a tilt-to-turn steering feature. Because pivot steering has a maximum radius that makes it simpler for riders to recover when they lean off centre, it is safer for novice riders. The majority of three-wheeled scooters, such as the Zycom Zing and Zinger folding scooters, include pivot steering to assist novice riders in keeping their balance when turning and steering.
Is it better to fold or not ?
If you have limited room in your home, consider scooters that fold up or have a bar that can be removed for convenient storage and transportation. If you want to take the kick scooter with you in the vehicle or on public transportation, foldable scooters are excellent for travel.
Handlebar with adjustable height:
Select a new scooter for your youngster that has an adjustable handle bar so that it may grow with them in the future if you wish to future-proof it. However, the height of a freestyle scooter cannot be adjusted. It might be important to note that freestyle scooters do not adhere to the standard comfortable space between the shoulder and the handlebar. Smaller scooters are preferred by some freestyle riders because they are simpler to handle for stunts like tail whipping and bar rotations.
How about the brakes ?
It is unquestionably safer to ride a scooter with brakes than one without one. While some commuter scooters have brakes at the handlebar, similar to a bicycle, the majority of children’s scooters have brakes at the back wheel. Whether you’re buying a scooter for your kids or yourself, be sure it has a brake.
In summary
We hope you find this information useful. Visit our assortment of kick scooters to get started on your shopping. Check out our selection of freestyle scooters here if you’re interested in trick scooters.
