Should I purchase a Metal or Wood Balance Bike?

This question has come up frequently from people that are interested in purchasing a balance bike for their son or daughter. It is a valid question, but it is more the buyers preference. If you are buying a wood or a metal bike you are basically accomplishing the same goal, trying to find a safe bike so that your son or daughter can learn to ride a bike. Knowing that let me tell you some of the pros and cons of purchasing each.

First lets start with a wood balance bike. Most people that purchase wood balance bikes are more environmentally concious. Wood bike are just what they protray. All wood bikes that can return back to the land once they are used and are found to have no more use. Wood will not hurt the environment not one bit. The only parts on the bike that you may have to deal with once finished is the wheels and the rubber handle bar grips. All the rest are screws and wood. This is the pro of buying a wood balance bike. The one con that I could find is the seat adjustments. To adjust the seat on any wood balance bike you will have to remove two screws, adjust the seat up or down and put the screws back. This could be a pain especially if you lose the tool needed to do the adjustment.

Now lets look at the metal balance bike. Hands done the metal balance bikes can take more punishment than a wood balance bike. They can take a child picking up the bike and dropping the bike or even if they decide to throw down the bike when finished. Also adjustments are just a little more easier with most metal bikes. Some come with quick change adjustments that involve just unbolting a clip doing the adjustment and pushing the clip back into place to tighten the grip once again. This is something that you will not see on the latest wooden balance bikes.

All and All it is still your preference as to if you want a wood or metal balance bike. They both get the job done in the end allowing you to have a happy and well rounded child.