Hamax Traveller Bike Trailer Review

Popular in Europe for many years, the Hamax Traveller is making its American debut in 2021 as a more budget-friendly, mid-range trailer from Hamax. As Hamax’s most affordable kids bike trailer, the Traveller doesn’t offer all of the enticing extras of high-end trailers, instead offering high-quality basics to keep that price tag down.

So what does the lightweight Traveller deliver for its mid-range price point? In this review, we’ll compare the Traveller to several other mid-priced bike trailers to help you decide if a lower price tag still checks all your “must have” boxes. Read the full review below!

Hamax Traveller Overview

RATING: Recommended

MSRP: Double $549

BEST FOR: Families who want a lightweight double trailer stroller, but don’t need suspension or jogging and ski kits

SPECIFICATIONS

CAPACITY: Double only
COMES WITH: Tow arm, single stroller wheel
UPGRADES AVAILABLE: None
WEIGHT: 28.7 lbs.
UV WINDOWS: No
RECLINE: No
SUSPENSION: No
WHEEL SIZE: 20”
SEATED HEIGHT: 27″
SEATED WIDTH: 21.5″

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Hamax Traveller Bike Trailer vs. Other Mid-range Trailers

While there are plenty of cheap trailers on the market, and quite a few expensive bike trailers on the market, there aren’t many Goldilocks “solidly in the middle” bike trailers. A mid-range trailer offers high-end quality and design, but has fewer comfort and convenience features. And of course, a mid-range trailer has a mid-range price.

In the current US bike trailer market, there are really only three mid-range trailers to consider – the Burley Encore X ($599), Qeridoo Sportrex ($699), and now the Hamax Traveller ($549). Of these three, the Hamax is the most affordable, but is also the most basic.

In this review we’ll go into great detail about all of the Traveller’s features, but up front we wanted to point out four major differences between Hamax’s mid-range offering compared to Burley and Qeridoo. (We’ve also reviewed those trailers.)

(1) The Hamax Traveller does not have suspension

(2) The Traveller is not a true multi-sport trailer. While it comes with an excellent stroller wheel that can be used for light jogging, it is not compatible with Hamax’s larger jogger wheel and ski conversion kits.

(3) It doesn’t feature a true bench-style seat for maximum bum support

(4) The Traveller does not have a baby insert. As a result, your baby won’t fit in the Traveller (for stroller use) until they are at least 6 months old, but likely older.

Keep in mind that the Hamax is the most affordable of the three brands’ mid-range trailers, so it should be expected that you get less because you’re paying less. Many families will never truly need suspension. Even more families probably won’t ever need a jogging wheel or ski kit.

So for many families, the Hamax Traveller helps you save money by eliminating the “extras” you don’t actually need.

Hamax Traveller – Results of Our Test Rides

Hamax Traveller as a Bike Trailer

Coming in at 28.7 pounds, the Hamax Traveller is just a few pounds heavier than the Burley Encore X, but a significant 9 pounds lighter than the Qeridoo Sportrex (and 15 pounds lighter than the Hamax Outback).

A lighter-weight trailer is a huge bonus if you’ll be riding any sort of hills, even just in and out of your neighborhood. We certainly appreciated the lighter load of the Traveller compared to the high-end but much heavier Hamax Outback that we tested last summer.

The Traveller was a relatively smooth ride in trailer mode, although there was a small tug every now and then that I could feel jerk against my bike. With some trailers you can honestly forget you’re even pulling anything because the trailer performs so seamlessly with your bike. That was not the case here, but was certainly not so annoying that we wouldn’t recommend it.

With mesh seat backing behind our toddler’s head, there was plenty of room for the back of her helmet, even though she was wearing one of her “bulkier” helmets. This “helmet recess” prevents her head from being pushed uncomfortably forward.

Below, you can also see that the trailer puts her in a comfortable, slightly reclined position.

One note of concern that we quickly discovered can be seen in the image below. Based on the design of the front cover, a taller toddler can easily stick their feet out of the front of the trailer and potentially drag their foot on the bike’s rear tire when in motion. (Our toddler here is 3.5 years old and 42.5″ tall.)

To be fair, many trailers have this potential problem, unless the front cover is entirely sealed. We put our toddler in several other trailers to have her replicate the issue. She was able to reach her feet out of other trailers as well, but some designs prevented her from sticking her feet out so far. That said, because the front cover of the Traveller is very elastic, it was easier for our toddler to stick her feet out of it than other trailers.

No Suspension on the Hamax Traveller

Both the Burley Encore X and Qeridoo Sportrex mid-range trailers have suspension. The Hamax Traveller does not. But do you really need suspension?

The only negative of having a trailer with suspension is that it adds a little weight to your set up. That said, the Burley Encore X has suspension and still weighs less than the Traveller.

While your air tires will do a good job of cushioning the little bumps in the road, suspension helps smooth out the more jarring bumps. Think… cobblestones, small potholes, rocks, and roots on mild single track. During our test rides, I’d get an audible “Ouch!” when going over potholes or up the small (but harsh) lip of a driveway.

If you will only ever be riding on smooth sidewalks and paved paths, you will do perfectly fine without suspension (if your trailer has 20″ air tires like the Traveller). But if you think you may be adventuring off the beaten path pretty regularly, your child will thank you for the added cushioning suspension will provide.

If you’re thinking… “Well shoot! I don’t know???” Keep in mind that one of the most popular bike trailers on the market, the Burley Bee, does not have suspension. That very affordable trailer has been hugely popular for decades. Most families don’t need suspension, but you’d expect that extra bonus at this price level.

Hamax Traveller Stroller Performance

This lightweight stroller is pretty effortless to push. Additionally, its single swivel wheel in the front tucks under the chassis of the trailer for increased maneuverability up and over curbs and around tight turns. As far as trailer strollers go, the Hamax Traveller is easily one of the best experiences for the adult that’s doing the pushing.

Compared to the Burley Encore X: The Encore’s single stroller wheel is at the end of the tow arm, putting the wheel several feet in front of the trailer. While this set-up works just fine, if you’re going to be doing a lot of strolling with your trailer, the Traveller’s set-up is much better.

The Encore does have an optional two-wheel stroller upgrade with wheels that attach directly to the chassis of the trailer. However, this upgrade is an additional $100.

Compared to the Qeridoo Sportrex: As far as strolling is concerned, Qeridoo is king of all the trailer brands. The Sportrex’ single stroller wheel also tucks under the trailer, but it’s an air tire for better cushioning. That wheel can also be locked to track straight for running at faster speeds.

In this image, the Qeridoo Sportrex is on the left, and the Burley Encore X is next to it.

Stroller Viewing Window

The tinted viewing window at the top of the Hamax Traveller is such a great bonus! Most trailer strollers don’t have a viewing window at all, including the Qeridoo Sportrex. Others have viewing windows that are better than nothing, but not super easy to see your child through, including the Encore X.

The Traveller’s large viewing window makes it easy to keep an eye on your precious cargo while walking or running. However, we do wish it also had a shade for sunny days, like the high-end Hamax Outback. It also doesn’t have UPF protection for skin.

Stroller Handlebar

The Traveller’s stroller handlebar has a high and low position to accommodate parents of different heights. I’m 5’10 and the higher setting was perfect for me (on the right below). For the price, we wish that the handlebar had more height settings.

Compared to the Burley Encore X: The Encore X has a continuously adjustable handlebar, meaning it pivots up and down and can be locked at any height along the axis.

Compared to the Qeridoo Sportrex: The Sportrex has 5 different handlebar height positions, that more than cover the height differences of parents.

Stroller Foot Brake

The footbrake on the Hamax Traveller works well but is a little bit awkward to use. To engage the brake, you simply push down on the large gray lever with your foot. But to un-lock the brake, you’re supposed to push on the small black button on the end of the gray lever. To do this, you need to push it with your toe, which is not the easiest, especially if you have sandals on.

Hamax Traveller Interior Features

Interior Space

The Hamax Traveller only comes as a double capacity trailer. When just one child occupies the trailer, they should sit on the right side (seen below.) With two children, the heavier child should sit on the right (also seen below).

While the Traveller looks narrow, it was spacious enough for our 3.5-year-old (42.5″ tall) and 2-year-old rider (38.5″ tall). As you can see above, the sides of the trailer are slightly bowed out, creating several inches of shoulder space on either side.

While the bums are taking up most of the seat space (just 21.5″ wide vs. Burley Encore X’s 22.5″), if necessary, kids could lean to the side for a little additional shoulder room. The Burley Encore X does not have bowed out sides, so larger kids’ shoulders tend to touch the trailer’s sides.

With 27″ of seated height, the Traveller is one of the “taller” trailers on the market. As you can see below, our 42.5″ tall almost-4-year-old has plenty of room to grow taller and still fit in the trailer.

Trailer Seats

A bike trailer’s seats is one of the most important features of any trailer – they have a huge effect on a child’s comfort, and your frustration level.

There are two styles of seats – bench and hammock. Bench seats are found on all mid-range and high-end trailers. They provide exceptional support for little bums, which also makes it so much easier to load and buckle kids.

Bench vs. Hammock Seats

Hammock-style seats sag under a child’s weight. This is less comfortable for kids, especially when two kids are in the trailer and they sag together in the middle. It also makes buckling and unbuckling much more difficult for mom or dad.

The Hamax Traveller features a unique seat that is neither bench nor true hammock – it’s a bit of a hybrid between the two. While the seat provides much more support than a standard hammock seat, it doesn’t provide nearly the same support and convenience of a bench seat.

For a mid-range trailer, we would expect a true bench seat. Both the Burley Encore X and Qeridoo Sportrex have bench-style seats.

Strapping System

The 5-point harness is high-quality, and offers extra padding in the crotch and shoulder areas. The buckle is a little tricky to use because you have to attach the two sides of the buckle together and then hold them together as you insert them into the buckle receiver. Because your child’s weight is sagging on the seat, this makes it considerably more challenging to accomplish.

Like the Burley Encore X, the height of the shoulder straps is on the higher end, making the Traveller a better fit for older toddlers to 5 year olds.

As you can see below on the left, our 42.5″ tall almost-4-year old has the shoulder straps set just above her shoulder – about an inch above their minimum height in the Traveller. From about ages 12 months to 2.5, the shoulder straps would not have been low enough for a “best fit”.

3.5 Year old in Traveller vs. 18 Month Old in Burley

On the right, you can see her at about 18 months in the Burley, which has a similar set-up. The shoulder strap starts almost above the ear. While this is considered safe, neither trailer is a great fit for a child this young.

For additional context, our 2-year-old, 38.5″ tall rider (seen below) has the shoulder straps set to their lowest point and its a pretty perfect fit.

If you’re planning on using your trailer before a child is 2 years old, we highly recommend looking at a trailer with lower shoulder straps, like the Qeridoo Sportrex. As you can see here, our same 3.5 year old tester is almost maxed out on the shoulder strap height in the Qeridoo. The lowest setting is much lower, allowing for a more precise fit for much younger riders.

Qeridoo Sportrex Has Lower Shoulder Straps

Bottom of Trailer

The rubber floor mat on the bottom of the Traveller is an exceptional and uncommon feature. Most bike trailers have a reinforced fabric floor. The Traveller’s rubber floor is much thicker and very supportive of the weight of older kids getting in and out of the trailer on their own. It’s also easier to clean if you get a smashed granola bar or wet cracker mush on the bottom of the trailer. 🙂

The Hamax Outback also has a rubber bottom like this. The Burley D’Lite X has a similar removable rubber floor mat. We actually prefer a stationary mat. It doesn’t shift out of place over time, and you can’t get cracker mush underneath it!

Hamax Traveller Exterior Features

Wheels

The mild-tread tires on the Traveller’s 20″ metal rims are quite standard for high-quality bike trailers. This wheel and tire setup are essentially identical to most Burley and Thule trailers.

Beefier tires are available on the Hamax Outback and the Burley D’Lite X, but that upgrade isn’t necessary for the vast majority of families.

External Covers

The body of the trailer is made with a water-repellent vinyl. While certainly solid-quality, in a side-by-side test with other high-end trailers we have, the Traveller’s vinyl is more mid-tier.

With a 3-in-1 front cover, the Hamax Traveller has you covered for all weather and riding situations. The front mesh cover keeps debris out and sippy cups in. The rain cover is always at the ready should you find yourself in a sudden downpour.

The sunscreen or shade is one of the better designs on the market and has two different length settings that are secured in place by velcro.

All three covers are permanently attached at the top of the trailer. When not in use, any one of them (or all three) can be rolled up and stored neatly in a top pocket.

The mesh front door and the rain cover secure tightly in place at the bottom of the trailer with a hook and loop closure. This system is extremely easy to use and easily one of our favorites.

However, as convenient as the covers are to use, the mesh cover does have a drawback. If your child is taller, they can kick the cover out of place and then grab it with their hands as seen below. This is problematic as your child is then free to throw sippy cups, books, snacks, etc. out of the trailer.

The sides of the trailer have large tinted windows to provide your nugget with plenty of viewing pleasure, while also providing some measure of protection from the bright sun. The windows have UV protection to prevent the material from cracking or deteriorating, but does not offer UPF protection for skin.

Both the Burley Encore X and Qeridoo Sportrex’s side windows offer UPF 50+ protrection.

Compared to the Burley Encore X: The mesh cover buckles down and cannot be kicked out of place by taller riders. However, the Encore X has a very short sun shade that’s honestly not very helpful.

Compared to the Qeridoo Sportrex: The front mesh cover buckles down, and stays securely in place. Additionally, the Sportrex has a similar sun shade to the Traveller.

Rain Protection Could Use Improvement

The front rain cover certainly repels rain, as does the water-resistant vinyl cover. That said, the Traveller isn’t the best for keeping out rain entirely. If you live in a rainy area (PNW we see you!), or regularly like to stroll or run in the rain (like me), the Traveller shouldn’t be your top choice.

So what’s the issue? The Traveller’s great ventilation system allows not only air but water, into the trailer. On our maiden strolling voyage with the Traveller, we got caught in a sudden storm. While the rain cover kept my daughter’s body dry, her feet ended up wet.

The bottom of the front ventilation mesh is not covered by the rain cover, which allowed rain to easily enter the stroller and pool on the rubber floor mat.

Venting

Speaking of ventilation, if you’re not concerned about getting caught in the rain, the Hamax Traveller does offer better ventilation than most trailers.

In addition to the front mesh cover and the mesh seat backing, the rear storage compartment of the Traveller is also mesh, allowing for more air to flow through the trailer.

Compared to the Burley Encore X: The Encore X has a rear window, but it’s almost entirely covered by plastic. This greatly limits airflow through the back.

Compared to the Qeridoo Sportrex: The Sportrex does not excel with ventilation. If you’re worried about hot summers, the Traveller is a better option.

Storage Capacity

The rear storage area of the Traveller offers plenty of room for basically anything you’ll need to bring along. Bigger than the Sportrex’s storage area, but a tad smaller than the Burley, which is known for its huge cargo areas!

The one strange characteristic of the Traveller’s rear storage is that it doesn’t have any small pockets for a phone or keys. While a small detail, this is honestly an annoying oversight. Hopefully, you’ll be wearing a hydration pack or purse, because you won’t want your keys loose in the bottom of the trailer. There are actually small openings in the bottom that a small set of keys could potentially fall out of.

Conversion Kits

As you’ve realized by now, the Traveller comes with both a trailer tow arm and a single stroller wheel. When in stroller mode, the tow arm can be stored backwards, underneath the trailer.

The stroller wheel inserts from underneath the trailer in seconds, and is unlocked and removed by the simple push of a red button.

The tow arm is trickier to insert and remove than any other trailer tow arm we’ve used. It locks in place on the front of the trailer with a D clip safety pin. We found that this pin is difficult to lock, and extremely difficult to unlock.

While you could insert the pin from the front or the back, we found it easier (although still difficult) to unlock if the lock is on the front of the trailer. If you’re going to be frequently transitioning back and forth between stroller and trailer mode, this is something you need to consider.

Folding

Folding the Hamax Traveller is fast and easy, allowing for convenient storage or transportation to the trails. Pulling the two gray knobs inside the rear of the trailer’s storage area unlocks the frame and allows you to push down and collapse the trailer flat.

Hamax Traveller Bottom Line

The Hamax Traveller is a lightweight, high-quality trailer stroller. We love its padded 5-point harness, rubber floor bottom, great ventilation, ample rear storage, and super maneuverable stroller wheel. However, for its price, it falls short in a few key features – no suspension, no bench seats, front cover can be kicked out of place, and the stroller handlebar only has two height settings.

Whether or not those features matter to you is up to you. If you can find the Traveller on sale, it would be a great bang for your buck.

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.