woom 1 Plus Review

Our favorite balance bike made bigger, the woom 1 Plus has all the benefits (and more!) of the popular woom 1, but for kids ages 3 to 5. Read the review below for all the details.

woom 1 Plus Overview

RATING: Exceptional

MSRP: $299

BEST FOR: The perfect mid-sized balance bike for kids aged 3 to 5. Big enough to provide plenty of room for growth, yet small enough to provide a comfortable riding experience for the most timid riders.

SEAT HEIGHT: 14.8″ – 18.5″

WEIGHT: 9.5 lb

ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
BRAKES: Dual Hand
TIRES: Air with all-terrain tread
TIRE SIZE: 14″
FRAME: Aluminum Alloy
FOOTREST: Yes
SEALED BEARINGS: Yes
BOLTS: Rounded

View on woom

woom 1 Plus Video Review

Want to see the woom 1 Plus in action? Check out our eager toddler as she dominates the neighborhood in our video review.

woom 1 Plus Review – Results of our Test Rides

One of the best balance bikes made bigger, the woom 1 Plus has all the benefits of the popular woom 1, but for kids ages 3 to 5.  The big brother to the woom 1 (which is ideal for ages 1.5 to 3), the Plus is the perfect bike for kids starting off their balance bike journey as preschoolers versus toddlers.

With large 14″ air tires, a removable “surfboard” footrest and turning limiter, DUAL hand brakes (a rare find in balance bikes), and a maximum seat height over 3″ above the woom 1, the woom 1 Plus is the ultimate full-featured, larger-scale balance bike. Just like all woom bikes, the woom 1 Plus is exquisitely crafted to make learning to ride easy.

Size and Weight

Larger than the woom 1, the Plus was added to the woom line for preschoolers or tall toddlers new to balance bikes, as well as for those young riders who have outgrown their woom 1 and aren’t quite ready to transition to a pedal bike.  With a seat height ranging from 14.8″ to 18.5″, the Plus is a great fit for kids in size 3T to 5 clothes.  The 3-year-old shown below just moved into size 4T pants and has a 16″ inseam.

Compared to other larger balance bikes with 14″ and 16″ tires, the Plus’ 14.8″ minimum and 18.5″ maximum seat height is a bit lower. The Scoot XL and the Strider 14x have maximum seat heights that are over 20″.  

The lower seat height (and lower weight!) of the Plus makes it more of a “medium-sized” balance bike, best suited for kids who are a bit big for a smaller 12 inch bike, but aren’t quite big enough for a full-size large balance bike.

Our very tall 2.5-year-old tester below can still fit on her 12 inch woom 1, but is about to max out on that bike. At this point, the woom 1 Plus would be a much better purchase for her.

What is the largest size child that can fit on the woom 1 Plus? Our six-year-old tester in size 5 clothes (almost size 6), who normally rides a 16″ woom 3, was slightly too tall for the Plus, but still thoroughly enjoyed riding it. 

With an inseam of 21″ and the maximum seat height set at 18.5″, the Plus offers no room for growth for him, which is why we max out our age recommendation for the Plus at 5 years (or kids with a 19.5″ inseam).

Six-year-old in Size 5 Clothes on woom 1 Plus and woom 3

Performance

Straight out of the gate, the woom 1 Plus was a hit.  “Mom, this bike is really speedy,” our 5-year-old declared!

With the slightest push, the Plus begins to roll and effortlessly keeps on rolling as its precision build and sealed bearings go to work. Brilliantly engineered, the Plus was easily maneuvered down ramps, hills, and around the neighborhood. 

Most larger balance bikes can feel harder to control and balance with an increased weight and a taller center-of-gravity, but the woom 1 Plus is light and nimble and was easily controlled by even our 2.5-year-old tester.

After outgrowing the smaller woom 1, our tall 2.5-year-old happily advanced to the woom 1 plus and continued to dominate the neighborhood, the skatepark, and dirt trails.

With much higher handlebars than other balance bikes in this category, the woom 1 plus is not the best option for aggressive riders who will be frequenting pump tracks. Our confident and adventurous rider actually preferred using her “too-small” woom 1 at the pump track because its lower handlebars allowed her to lean in low to power up hills.

Features

The woom 1 Plus’ true beauty is in its fine-tuned, detail-oriented components.

14″ Air Tires

Larger and taller than the 12″ tires found on the woom 1 and on most balance bikes, the Plus’ 14″ tires provide more room for a child to grow without being too big for preschoolers to handle. 14″ tires also have slightly less rolling resistance than 12″ tires and can more easily tackle curbs and bumps.

The 14 x 1.4″ Schwalbe Little Joes have a perfect tread for little ones who want to tread off the beaten path. While the multi-terrain tread does fabulously on pavement, it offers the flexibility to tackle dirt trails with ease. (The woom 1’s tires have a much smoother thread that doesn’t do as well on dirt.)

Dual hand brakes with color-coded brake levers

A fast bike requires fast stopping.  The woom 1 Plus comes with dual hand brakes that provide powerful stopping power. In fact, it’s almost too much stopping power if not used correctly!  To help train kids to brake correctly, the Plus has a green brake lever on the right-hand side.

When starting off on the bike, parents should teach kids to brake with just the green brake.  The green brake lever is attached to the rear brake with a matching green brake pad.  When stopping only with the rear brake, the bike will stop quickly, without the risk of the back tire coming up off the ground.

If a child were to stop with just the front brake (on any bike, not just the Plus), the back tire could come up, potentially causing the bike to buck the child off.  In order for this to happen, however, the child must be going really fast!  We’ve never actually seen a child get bucked off by a balance bike due to braking, but the concern is always there.

It’s also best to train kids to brake safely from the get-go!  Once a child is riding quickly and is old enough to understand left from right, you can teach them to brake with both brakes, but braking with just the left hand should never an option for young kids.

For new riders, also be sure to instruct them NOT to use the brake when walking the bike.  Our 3-year-old tester kept complaining that the bike was slow as she was trying to walk the bike while squeezing the brake levers :).

Removable Turning Limiter

A turning limiter limits how tightly a child can turn the handlebars of a bike.  When the Plus’ limiter is on, the child will begin to feel tension on the handlebar when they are turning too sharply.  Most turning limiters abruptly stop the rotation of the handlebars while woom’s elastic-based limiter gently corrects with tension.

As kids get older and no longer need correction, the limiter can be removed.  The 2021 update to the woom 1 Plus features a re-designed turning limiter that is less likely to accidentally slip off.

Removable “Surfboard” Footrest

For kids who love to glide long distances, the “surfboard” footrest on the Plus is easy and fun to use.  The wide, wood platform is easily accessible while on the go and covered in grip tape to keep feet firmly in place.  Based on our experience, older riders love the additional challenge and opportunities to do “tricks” provided by a footrest.  From standing on the platform to gliding across curbs, the “surfboard” brought out our six-year-old tester’s adventurous spirit.

woom 1 Plus Footrest in Use

For our newly three-year-old tester, the footrest was slightly too big.  While the smooth edge of the footrest didn’t scratch or bother her legs, her legs did make contact with the footrest as she walked.  Thinking through every possibility, woom made the footrest removable for just such kids. 

NOTE: The 2021 footrest was optimized to sit farther back on the bike. We assume this may have fixed the issue for our small rider, but have not had a chance to test it for ourselves.

What age child will use the footrest?  We’ve seen kids as young as 2 use footrests, but we’ve found that kids don’t typically begin to stand up and do tricks on the footrest until they’re closer to age 4.

Comparison

With only a handful of 14″ balance bikes on the market, the woom 1 Plus is our favorite 14″ balance bike for timid riders, but with its removable limiter and footrest, it can really shine with any type of rider.  Much smaller than the Scoot XL, the Plus does not provide as much room for growth but also doesn’t overpower beginning riders with a bike that’s too big.

With more upright geometry than the similarly priced Scoot XL, the Plus puts the rider in an upright position, which is better suited for timid and hesitant riders.  More athletic preschoolers who aren’t afraid of adventure but are getting a later start on riding a balance bike, are likely better off on the more aggressive Scoot XL.

woom 1 Plus vs. Scoot XL

Another benefit of the woom 1 Plus is woom’s Upcycle paid membership program (a one-time $59 fee). This program allows you to trade in any woom for 40% off your original purchase price applied towards a new larger size when your child outgrows it. 

Bottom Line on the woom 1 Plus

Not too big and not too small, the woom 1 Plus is the perfect bike for timid preschoolers just starting off on their balance bike adventures.  Tall enough to provide room for growth, yet small and nimble enough for any 3 to 5-year-old to handle, the Plus is sure to help young riders get up and rolling on two wheels.

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.