Editor’s Note – This list of the best 3-wheel scooters was updated on March 3, 2023, to add newly listed products and improve content relevance and usefulness.
If you think a pushbike or a 3-wheel scooter would be the ideal gift for the active child in your life, you’re right! The selection available will put a smile on any child’s face. With the wide range of colors, styles, and age levels, choosing the best 3-wheel scooters for your little one to enjoy shouldn’t be challenging.
LaScoota 2-in-1 Kick Scooter
LaScoota put a lot of thought into this three-wheel scooter design in terms of durability, safety, comfort, and style. They’ve done it all.
Our Top Picks
Kidsgearguide may earn a small commission should you purchase a product through one of our affiliate links.
Our Selection of the Best 3 Wheel Scooters
While deciding which scooters were the best, we looked at multiple factors. The first thing we looked at was the position of the wheels. Having two wheels in the front of the scooter offers more stability and support to your child while they lean-to-steer.
Because this is an updated list, we have our database to look at when considering which products to keep, remove, or add. We kept all the products that you, our readers, bought often. For the products that were not selling, we looked at whether the product was outdated and the customer response in Amazon’s review section. This led us to consider removing and replacing these products with three-wheel scooters that customers raved about in the Amazon reviews.
1. LaScoota 3 Wheel Scooter
Rec. Age:
3 – 12 Years
Brake Style:
Rear Braking
Height Adjustable:
4 Height Adjustments
Foldability:
No
LaScoota put a lot of thought into this three-wheel scooter design in terms of durability, safety, comfort, and style. They’ve done it all. They made the body from aluminum to ensure it’s durable to withstand heavy and frequent use. They incorporated a rear-wheel foot brake system perfect for any child still learning to balance. The brake system will slow the scooter down from the back, preventing the scooter from falling forward.
The scooter has a lean-to-steer self-balancing design, allowing your child to lean in the direction they wish to go without falling over. This feature prevents sharp turning and jackknifing. The handlebars and foot deck are designed to be non-slip, preventing slippery accidents when the scooter gets wet. LaScoota created a sit-or-stand design with this scooter, meaning the scooter comes with a completely removable seat that you can clip onto the T-bar, and your child can ride sitting down as if the scooter was a little bike. The seat is adjustable to be able to provide comfort to all sizes.
Aside from speeding down your street, the scooter wheels are where the fun is. Multiple LED lights inside the wheels light up when the scooter is ridden. Some parents do caution that if replacement parts are needed, they sometimes can take a while to arrive from the manufacturer and can’t be purchased from another seller. Kids and parents love the adjustable handlebar and light-up wheels that make riding fun. Parents also love that the LaScoota 2 in 1 scooter comes almost fully assembled. Slot the handlebars in, and away you go.
Pros
Cons
2. Beleev A2 3-Wheel Scooter
Recommended Age:
3 – 14 Years
Brake Style:
Rear Braking
Height Adjustable:
26″ – 33″
Foldability:
No
The BELEEV 3 Wheel Scooter manufacturers have included enough fun features to make the toy desirable while remaining affordable. Two big LED wheels are in the front, and a smaller LED wheel is at the back. These lights are motion-activated, so no batteries are required. When the scooter is in motion, the lights give the scooter a space-age glow which would be a fascinating feature to activate on a dark Christmas morning.
The color palette is candy-sweet pinks and blues, and the model has an adjustable handlebar with four adjustment levels from 26 to 33 inches. The BELEEV will grow alongside your kid and become a favorite family toy. The scooter deck is expansive for better stability and balance, allowing plenty of room for your child’s foot to kick. The deck is low to the ground, so there’s no wobbling or hesitance to hop on and off.
The sturdy build can withstand 110 lbs, and BELEEV is fabricated with ABEC-7 skateboard standard bearings. The scooter’s lean-to-steer capabilities accompany the bearings. These features allow the scooter to glide smoothly, quietly, and flexibly across the surface.
There are a few reports of the brake pad wearing down and eventually breaking after six months to a year of use. Still, parents appreciate the manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee to replace any parts. Some parents were disappointed the lights were not as vibrant as they had hoped, but others were happy with the design. The smooth ride and steering mechanism were big winners for the Beleev 3-wheel scooter.
Pros
Cons
3. Micro Mini Deluxe Scooter
Recommended Age:
2 – 5 Years
Brake Style:
Rear Braking
Height Adjustable:
19.29″ – 27″
Foldability:
No
Micro is one of the top brands of scooters for children, and their Deluxe is a great addition to their line. It’s got Micro’s signature easy-to-use Lean to Steer design and offers toddlers and kids a smooth and stable ride. An extra-wide, grippy foot deck has plenty of room for little feet to fit side by side.
This design is an updated version of the Micro Mini Original, and the manufacturers have taken an award-winning design and made it even better. The Micro Mini Deluxe features an adjustable T-bar handlebar that can expand from 49 cm to 68 cm, accommodating older children who prefer a three-wheeled scooter. A hex wrench is included to assist parents in adjusting the handlebar to the desired height and tightening it before riding. Its sturdy design can also hold up to 110 lbs.
This scooter comes with a two-year warranty from the manufacturer and offers replacement parts, which means the Deluxe can survive heavy use from multiple children. Assembly is straightforward – insert the handlebar into the deck, and you’re ready to go! It weighs around 4 pounds; this scooter is lightweight enough for toddlers to carry themselves or easy transportation up and downstairs for apartment-dwelling urban families.
Pros
Cons
4. Razor Jr Lil’ Kick Scooter
Recommended Age:
3 – 12 Years
Brake Style:
Rear Braking
Height Adjustable:
25″ – 34″
Foldability:
Yes
The Razor Jr Lil’ Kick scooter stands apart from others on our list because its three-wheel design is the opposite. Instead of two wheels in front and one in the back, this scooter has two wheels in the back and one in the front. The extra-wide rear wheelbase adds stability, and with just a single wheel in the front, the steering is simple – turn the handlebars, and the wheel turns. There’s no tricky rear wheel brake to master, either. Drag a foot on the ground to stop the forward motion.
This scooter is best for young kids under 6, as it has a weight limit of 45 pounds. The handlebar is not adjustable, so be aware if you have children in the upper height percentile. The Razor Jr Lil’ Kick Scooter has a welded steel frame that can handle whatever your little one can dish out and has a wide slip-resistant scooter deck. The deck has a low profile for scooting ease, and the smooth-rolling wheels will give you a comfortable ride.
I like how durable and easy to assemble Razor Jr Lil’ Kick Scooter is. It’s best for small children, though, as it has a lower weight limit than other options on our list, and the handlebar is not adjustable. Although the foot deck is wide, it’s not as long as other options, so kids can’t place one foot behind the other, but less-coordinated toddlers can place their feet side by side on the foot deck. As this scooter has two wheels in the rear, some kids ran into trouble accidentally kicking one of the rear wheels when trying to push with their foot, so this scooter is best for young kids with a smaller stride.
Pros
Cons
A 3-Wheel Scooter Buyer’s Guide
While your kid can have much fun riding on a scooter, it is much easier if the toy is ride-ready. Not many children enjoy receiving a gift that they have to grow into or don’t have the skills to learn for a while; this means you have to choose the most appropriate scooter for your child at the start.
The Brake Design
Some scooters have brakes, and other models encourage the child to learn how to use their foot to slow the scooter down. You usually see three braking systems with scooters: Rear-wheel braking, front-handlebar braking, or manual braking.
Rear-wheel braking systems are the metal pedals above and over the rear wheel. When you need to brake, you press down with your push-off leg and slow the scooter down. Rear braking systems tend to be safer with less experienced and skilled children because it slows the scooter from behind.
Stopping a scooter from the front places a force against the scooter’s and the child’s momentum. And because the wheels are so small and low to the ground, the scooter’s momentum will slow down, but the child’s momentum will not. This often results in the child falling forward, over, or on the scooter.
Ease of Assembly?
When purchasing a three-wheel scooter, you must consider whether an assembly is required, how much assembly is required, whether specific tools are needed, etc. Some scooters need minimal assembly, such as clicking the T-Bar in place.
Look at the review section to determine how complicated the assembly process was and if you need more than one person. Review a few reviews and determine if there are frustrated parents and how many. These reviews should give you an idea of assembly difficulty.
The Types of Wheels
Different wheels are suitable for different terrains. Different wheel sizes and placements provide different levels of stability. Some scooter wheels have LED lights that can light up when the scooter is ridden.
First, look at the wheel material. Polyutherane is the standard wheel material for scooters, the same material used for skateboard wheels. Polyurethane will provide a smooth ride on multiple terrains.
Next, consider wheel sizes. The rule of thumb is that the bigger the wheel, the greater the stability. But don’t buy the largest wheel size available because wheels too big for your child will make it difficult for them to kick off and push the scooter.
What about wheel placements? There are two ways the three wheels can be placed – one wheel in the front and two at the back, or two in the front and one at the back. The most common and preferred way is with two wheels in the front. It increases the child’s stability on the scooter and helps them remain balanced during turning.
Is It Foldable Or Collapsible?
If you are a traveling family and your kids like bringing their toys, consider purchasing a scooter that can fold. During our research, we noticed that a few of the three-wheel scooters could not fold for storing or transport, but the T-Bar can be easily removed. We recommend you consider how important the folding aspect is to you and your family or if removing the T-Bar is sufficient for your storing and traveling needs.
Steering Design
There are two steering options to consider, regular steering and lean-to-steer.
Regular steering is similar to steering a bicycle; the handlebar can twist almost completely around. In the case of the scooter, it can do a 360-degree twist. Most manufacturers recommend this steering for older kids who have experience with scooters and can maintain their balance.
Lean-to-steer is when the handlebar is not twisted to turn the scooter; instead, the child learns in the direction they wish to go. This provides more control and stability over the scooter. Manufacturers recommend this steering type for younger kids still developing their balancing skills.
Recommended Age and Weight Range?
For safety reasons, always ensure your child is within the recommended age or weight category for the product. These parameters are set to protect your child and ensure the product is built for their age category. The age category determines the height at which the scooter handle is built, the size of the foot deck, etc.
Brand Names
If you prefer buying toys, your children will cherish them and pass them on to their kids; you will look at the top kids’ toys’ name brands. They offer the highest quality toys with timeless features and durability. The prestige of owning a classic kids’ brand toy means the price tag will always be higher. If you pass the toy on to your other child, this will be a good investment.
The brand is a personal choice for parents; your child will unlikely prefer one brand over another. They are likelier to like the scooter’s decoration: Barbie, Disney, or the latest superhero.
What Is Your Budget?
As a parent, you must factor in how long you want your kids’ scooter to last, whether you want it to become a valued family toy passed down to other relatives, what features it needs to have, and what price fits your budget.
Prices for kids’ toys vary quite a bit. There are 3-wheel scooters under the $100 price tag that are decent and good value, and there are the high-end, recognizable name-brand models that will push prices well over $200. When you get into electrically powered scooters, your price range will be upwards of $500 for a high-quality brand name.
Kick vs. Electric Scooters
Many electric scooters have a motor and battery instead of moving the toy by kicking it off the ground. Because of the additional mechanics, these rides are heavier and in a more expensive price bracket. The target market is the older child, pre-teen, and teenage market.
Some of the speeds these rides can reach are enough to blow a real wind in your face, although the speed is linked to the motor power and age group for which the scooter is aimed. These are not the ideal starter scooter for your child, as they should learn the lean-to-steer mechanics of scooter steering before graduating to a mechanized version.
Plus, if buying a three-wheel scooter for your kid is to get them outside more to do some healthy exercise, the last thing you need is to be standing and riding instead of pushing the scooter to move it along. Push and kick scooters are lighter, easy to handle and carry, and best for first-time learners.
How Easy is it to Replace Parts?
If you’ve paid for an upscale, name-brand scooter to last the family many years, you’ll want to know if there’s any part of the toy that can wear out over time. If this happens, you must choose established scooter brands with spare parts and warranties to fix or replace the part.
What Are the Benefits of Riding a 3-Wheel Scooter?
Three-wheel scooters for kids have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Here are some benefits of using a 3-wheel scooter for kids.
- Stability: Three-wheel scooters offer more stability than traditional two-wheel scooters. The additional wheel provides more balance, making it easier for young children to ride and reducing the likelihood of accidents.
- Easy to Learn: Kids can learn to ride a 3-wheel scooter quickly and easily. Unlike a traditional two-wheel scooter, which can take time to master, 3-wheel scooters are intuitive and easy to use. This makes them great for younger children who are just learning to ride.
- Safety: With a lower center of gravity and a wider base, 3-wheel scooters are safer for kids than traditional two-wheel scooters. They are less likely to tip over, and children are less likely to injure themselves if they fall.
- Exercise: Riding a 3-wheel scooter is a great exercise for kids. It helps develop their balance, coordination, and motor skills and provides a fun way to stay active.
- Confidence Building: Mastering a new skill, like riding a scooter, can be a great confidence booster for kids. Riding a 3-wheel scooter can help build their self-esteem and give them a sense of accomplishment.
- Outdoor Fun: Riding a 3-wheel scooter is a fun outdoor activity that kids can enjoy alone or with friends. It encourages them to get outside, explore their surroundings, and enjoy the fresh air.
Overall, 3-wheel scooters offer a fun, safe, and healthy way for children to stay active and develop important skills.
What Are the Safety Precautions for Kids Riding 3-Wheel Scooters?
- Wear a helmet: Always wear a properly fitting helmet when riding a scooter. A helmet can protect the head and prevent serious injury in a fall.
- Wear protective gear: In addition to a helmet, children should wear knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards to protect themselves from scrapes, cuts, and other injuries.
- Use the scooter in a safe environment: Children should ride on smooth, flat surfaces away from traffic, pedestrians, and obstacles.
- Check the scooter before each use: Inspect the scooter for loose parts, frayed cables, or other signs of damage. Make sure the brakes work properly, and the wheels are secure.
- Follow traffic rules: Teach children to follow traffic rules when riding their scooters, such as stopping at stop signs, using hand signals to indicate turns, and staying on the right side of the road.
- Supervise young children: Children under eight should be supervised by an adult when riding a scooter.
- Ride safely: Encourage children to ride at a safe speed and avoid riding downhill or on steep inclines.
- Avoid distractions: Children should avoid distractions like using a phone or listening to music while riding their scooters.
- Teach children how to stop: Make sure they know how to use the brakes to stop their scooters safely.
- Don’t ride in bad weather: Children should not ride their scooters in the rain, snow, or other bad weather conditions, as it can make the surface slippery and dangerous.
Kick scooter vs. 3-Wheel Scooter – Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between the two is really up to your child and their capabilities. Each scooter design meets different needs and skill levels. 3-Wheel scooters are often recommended for younger kids like toddlers or beginners, while kick scooters are recommended for older kids, like five and older, or kids that can balance reasonably well. A couple of critical things to consider when deciding between a kick scooter and a three-wheel scooter.
Do You Have a Toddler?
If you’re buying for a toddler (2 – 4 years), please consider the following features.
Any scooter made for a toddler should have two wheels in the front for stability and balance. The model you choose should have fairly stiff handlebars, as this will prohibit sharp and sudden turns. When a scooter is being kicked forward, it can wobble; a stiff handlebar allows a toddler to lean to steer, ensuring a smoother and safer ride.
The scooter deck must be low to the ground and built to withstand repeated contact with pavement bumps and small steps. The toy must be lightweight and durable enough to survive drops, falls, and extensive use. An adjustable handlebar height is a critical feature for toddlers to look for in a scooter. It allows you to loosen the bolt that keeps the handlebar at a set level and raise or lower it according to the child’s size.
A few benefits for your toddlers are:
A Word of Safety
Protective safety gear is an excellent way to introduce your kids to scooter safety in general. You can show them where every piece goes and which part of the body to protect. Safety is the number one concern of parents and manufacturers of kids’ toys worldwide. Technology and testing are very advanced to ensure every item is secure and safe.
Strict manufacturing guidelines are in place to ensure every child’s toy adheres to these rules – such as the ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard. Never allow your toddler or child to learn to ride on a scooter without a protective helmet. They might feel slightly safer initially, wearing pads on their knees and elbows.
When adjusting the scooter’s height, always check that the T-Bar is not set at the same level as the child’s mouth. The handlebars of a scooter should always be comfortably under the face and slightly lower than shoulder height.
Scooter Types
There are seven basic styles of scooters; they range from the most basic kick-and-ride two and 3-wheel decks to electric motorized vehicles that you see teens and adults riding along the promenades and sidewalks. If your kid can’t wait to put a scooter on their Christmas wish list, or if you want to surprise them, ensure you get one completely age-appropriate.
2-Wheel Scooters (4 – 12 years):
A two-wheel scooter has a more narrow deck, requiring one foot to be placed behind the other, requiring more coordination in young kids. These scooters are typically recommended for ages six and up in addition to the balance needed to keep moving on only two wheels. Most two-wheel kick scooters have rear foot brakes, but some models occasionally have a hand brake.
It is capable of faster speeds. The deck of a two-wheel scooter can also hold heavier weights as they are made out of metal materials and not plastic, making them more durable and immune to rough treatment.
3 Wheel Scooters (2 – 5 years):
These scooters typically have two wheels in the front and one in the rear, although occasionally, you will find scooters with the reverse. They will also usually have wider decks so that two feet can fit side by side instead of one behind the other. These two features mean that three-wheel scooters are great for toddlers and young kids just figuring out how to use one.
Even some adults feel more secure when their motorized scooter has three wheels. That extra wheel makes balancing so much easier, so the three-wheel scooter is the go-to choice for learners, toddlers, and young children. The most recognizable three-wheel scooter model is the one with two wheels in the front of the deck and one at the back. This triangulation of wheel spacing provides the ideal stability and speed, and the design accelerates your child’s learning to balance.
Caster Scooters (4 – 10 years):
A caster scooter is the same as three wheel scooter, only with the wheel triangulation the other way around: the two wheels are at the back with only one wheel in the front, the same wheel position as a tricycle. Caster scooters have rear wheels that are further apart in spacing, allowing the deck above them to be used as a footplate.
A caster scooter is operated differently from the kick-and-ride style used for two and three-wheel scooters. The caster is shifted from side to side by the rider moving the scooter forward, similar to the motion used to slalom ski. The caster is not a trick scooter, nor is it for scooter newbies and beginners; it’s a design that spans the weaving motion used for slalom and lean-to-steer practices used for scooters.
Pro Scooters (5 years – Teen):
This model is used for tricks and stunts by experienced and older scooter riders. It includes features such as extra-wide handlebars and high-quality deck materials. These scooters are built with a lightweight, extra-tough aluminum frame with a fixed T-bar and handlebar design to offer support during trick performances. Because of the fixed design, you cannot adjust the height or fold the scooter.
Off-Road Scooters (5 years – Teen):
These models are often motorized and are like regular electric scooters except designed for rough terrains. These models have a close resemblance to proper bikes. They have chunky tires to handle rough terrain and a sturdy build.
Electric Scooters (7 years – Adult):
This type of scooter is powered by your feet, like a kick scooter, and by a battery-operated motor. Please give it a few pushes with your foot to get the scooter motor and engage the motor, then put both feet on the deck and enjoy the ride! Electric scooters can move up to 15 miles per hour and be subjected to laws regarding where to ride them (bike paths, sidewalks, etc.), so check your local regulations. Electric scooters can come in a variety of sizes. Youth-sized electric scooters are typically meant for ages eight and up, and this type of scooter is also popular in adult sizes for urban commuting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which 3-Wheel Scooter is Best for Your Child?
For any child under five, a three-wheel scooter is a must-have item. When they master the skill of this fun activity, they can progress onto a scooter with more advanced features, such as those powered by electricity or a motor. Because appropriate age-level scooters for toddlers and young kids have three wheels and not two, it offers better stability.
That extra wheel, usually on the front of the scooter, is additionally stable by the back wheel’s extra width. Another feature 3-wheel scooters for kids can offer is a broader deck and easy-grip handles, making the “lean to steer” aspect of scooter riding easier for a child to learn quickly.
What is Lean-to-Steer?
What’s the difference between leaning to steer and twisting the handles? When faced with their first scooter, a person’s instinct is to try and steer the deck by turning the handles from left to right. Fortunately, a child picks up the correct way to steer a scooter by leaning in the direction they want the toy to go, changing the straight path of the scooter to a gentle curve. When the rider emerges from the lean, the scooter goes straight again.
Does the Scooter Fold for Storage?
This will depend on the individual scooter you are considering. While most three-wheel scooters on our list do not fold for storage, some do. Although some scooters might not fold, the handle is often easily detachable for storage or transportation.
What Age is a Three-Wheel Scooter for?
Three-wheeled scooters are typically best for kids between 2 and 5. The three-wheeled design is more stable for beginning riders who have not figured out how to balance yet, and they typically have decks wide enough for two tiny feet to stand side by side instead of the one foot behind the other stance required on more narrow two-wheel scooters. Three-wheeled scooters may also have shorter handlebars and rear foot brakes, which are easier for young children to operate. That said, if the scooter has an adjustable handlebar that you can raise higher, it can be used by older children who may struggle with the coordination required for a two-wheel scooter as long as they are under the weight limit.
Do I Need Adjustable Handlebars?
Adjustable handlebars are not necessary depending on your child’s age, size, and abilities, but they can be nice. If your child is an average-sized toddler likely to use the scooter for no more than 2-3 years, then handlebars aren’t a must-have. If your child is tall for their age or might need a few extra years on a three-wheel scooter before switching to a two-wheel scooter, an adjustable handlebar that can grow with your child is a feature you should look for.
