Guardian Balance Bike Review
Guardian’s balance bike has a lot to offer for little riders ready to begin their adventures on two wheels. Combining quality components and colorful, kid-friendly frame designs, the Guardian balance bike is a solid choice for older toddlers in 2T pants or larger.
To get a true picture of how it compares to other balance bikes in its price range, we put it to the test with six riders of various skill levels and ages. From skate parks to living rooms (balance bikes are great indoors when it’s below freezing outside!), the Guardian quickly impressed our testers and their parents.
In this review, we’ll cover what size child it’s best for, how its SureStop brakes performed, and how it compares to our other favorite balance bikes.
Why trust us? We’ve tested over 100 balance bikes and know a good one when we see it. The Guardian is certainly a great balance bike, but we’ll dig in deeper to help you determine if it’s the best one for your little one.
Guardian Balance Bike
MSRP: $149
BEST FOR: Toddlers in 2T and 3T pants who will be riding mainly on pavement
SEAT HEIGHT: 12.5″ – 16″
WEIGHT: 8.5 lb
ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
BRAKES: SureStop brakes (one lever activates front and rear brakes)
TIRES: Air
FRAME: Aluminum Alloy
FOOTREST: No
TURNING LIMITER: Yes (removable)
Cons:
Guardian Balance Bike Review – Results of our Test Rides
What Size Child Fits on the Guardian Balance Bike?
The Guardian balance bike has a seat height ranging from 12.5″ to 16″, and our testing showed it to be the best fit for toddlers in size 2T and 3T pants.
Kids wearing 18mo or 24mo pants were too short for the bike, as their legs weren’t long enough to touch the ground flat-footed while seated. Toddlers in 2T and 3T were a great fit. Taller kids in 4T could ride the Guardian, but the seat post was maxed out with no room for further growth.
While pants sizes provide a useful estimate, knowing your child’s inseam is the most reliable way to ensure a proper fit. The Guardian balance bike is a best buy for kids with an inseam of 12.5″ to 14″. (Watch this video to see how to measure inseam for a bike.)
What is the relationship between seat height and a child’s inseam?
When riding a balance bike, the seat should be set 0.5″ to 1″ lower than the child’s inseam. This allows them to sit on the saddle with a slight knee bend when their feet are flat on the ground.
When first getting used to a balance bike, a child will walk and stand for a while. During this period, the seat can be set a little closer to inseam height, about 0″ to 0.5″ below.
How long will my child fit on the Guardian Balance Bike?
Kids typically fit on a balance bike for around 2 years, though growth rates vary. Guardian’s site suggests a height range of 33″ to 40″, but our 4T tester who was just over the maximum recommended height was still able to ride happily.
If your child is on the taller end, be aware that the 16″ maximum seat height limits room for growth. The Retrospec Cub Plus XL is a similarly priced alternative with a higher seat height range, making it a better fit for kids in 3T to 5T pants.
What comes after the Guardian Balance Bike?
Once your child outgrows their balance bike, they’re almost always ready for a pedal bike. Most kids go straight from a 12″ balance bike to a 14″ or 16″ pedal bike, and balance bike graduates typically pick up pedaling within a day or two without ever needing training wheels.
If you’ve loved the Guardian balance bike and want to stick with the brand, the Guardian 14 is a natural next step. The balance bike maxes out at a 16″ seat height and the Guardian 14 starts right at 16″, making for a seamless size transition. If your child has already outgrown their balance bike fit window, skip ahead to the Guardian 16, which starts at 18″ and offers much more room for growth.
Components Round-up
The Guardian balance bike is built with solid components designed to last through several kids. With a sturdy aluminum frame, air tires, and durable painted finishes (no graphics to peel or fade), the Guardian offers great performance and durability.
Guardian’s SureStop Braking System
Guardian bikes are known for their SureStop braking system, which activates both the front and rear brakes from a single hand lever. On pedal bikes, where kids ride faster and need more stopping power, SureStop is a genuinely useful feature.
On a balance bike, it’s a bit different. Balance bike riders don’t ride as fast, so the dual-brake advantage is not as useful. The SureStop brakes on the Guardian work well and the lever is easy for small hands to pull, but we wouldn’t list it as the main reason to choose this bike. Think of it as a nice bonus rather than a standout feature at this size.
One minor note: a few of our testers occasionally made contact with the rear brake cable or caliper arm while running. It wasn’t a significant issue for any of them, but it’s worth knowing.
Air Tires Provide Traction and Cushioning
Balance bikes come with either air or foam tires. Foam tires (like those on the Strider) are more common because they’re cheaper and maintenance-free, but air tires offer a noticeably better ride. The Guardian’s air tires provide cushioning and traction that foam simply can’t match. For the most comfortable balance bike experience, air tires are worth it. (Watch this video to see air vs. foam tires in action!)
Turning Limiter is Removable
The turning limiter on the Guardian restricts how far the handlebars can rotate, which offers two practical benefits.
First, it prevents a child from getting the handlebars twisted around and trying to ride with them backward, which happens more often than you’d think with young riders. It also prevents the brake cables from getting stretched. Second, limiting the steering range can help prevent jack-knifing for kids who are still learning to steer smoothly.
The Guardian’s limiter is designed to still allow the handlebars to lie completely flat in a crash, which is important since kids often fall on top of the bars. And if you’d rather let your child develop full steering range from the start, the limiter is easy to remove.
Saddle and Bolts
The soft, kid-sized saddle keeps little bums comfortable and prevents riders from having to splay their legs out to run. The quick-release seat collar makes raising the saddle easy as a child grows.
The axle bolts are flattened to prevent them from sticking out and catching on running legs.
Easy Assembly
Assembly for the Guardian is minimal, but a step-by-step assembly video is provided that walks you through every part of the process.
We highly recommend watching the video prior to assembling the bike. Be sure to watch all the way through Step 6 to understand why the front brake does not engage when you pull the brake lever.
Guardian Balance Bike Comparison
The Retrospec Cub Plus is the Guardian’s closest competitor in terms of price and features. Both are great bikes. The main differentiator is seat height: the Retrospec starts lower, allowing younger kids to fit sooner, while the Guardian’s higher maximum lets kids ride it a bit longer.
The Strider Sport is a proven classic and the lightest of the three, but it uses foam tires and has no hand brake. If your child will be riding mainly on smooth pavement and you’d rather not deal with the possibility of a flat tire, the Strider Sport is worth considering.
| Guardian | Retrospec Cub Plus | Strider Sport | |
| MSRP | $149 | $129 | $139 |
| Seat Height | 12.5″ – 16″ | 11.5” – 15” | 11” – 17” |
| Weight | 8.5 lb. | 8.7 lb. | 6.7 lb. |
| Tires | Air | Air | Foam |
| Brakes | SureStop | V-brake | None |
The woom GO 1 is also a popular balance bike, but it is smaller than the Guardian. Its minimum seat height is almost 10.5″ inches less than the Guardian, which makes it a better fit for the tiniest of riders.
Guardian Balance Bike – Bottom Line
From cruising down the hallway in winter to blasting down sidewalks in summer, the Guardian balance bike is a well-built, fun first bike for older toddlers in 2T to 4T pants. With air tires, a comfortable frame, and colorful designs that kids genuinely love, it delivers where it counts.
Just go in knowing that the seat height tops out at 16″, which is on the lower end for this category, so taller or fast-growing toddlers may outgrow it sooner than expected.
To see our list of favorite balance bikes for all ages, check out our 12 Best Balance Bikes list.
**NOTE: Guardian’s very first balance bike came with the brake caliper mounted below the chainstay. We found this placement to be problematic for young testers, as they hit the back of their ankles on the brake caliper. As a result, we did not recommend that first version. Guardian has since flipped the brake placement to above the chainstay which has eliminated the problem.
FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review, however, the reviewed product was supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC. All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.
