So you’re just getting into bike trailers for your kids, and you’re interested in the fact that some bike trailers can convert to a stroller.
Good news—bike trailers make excellent strollers! In fact, they can be even more comfortable, convenient, and safe than regular strollers. They can even completely replace your stroller.
I’ve been using our double-seat bike trailer as our family’s primary stroller for more than 6 years, and there are numerous benefits to using a bike trailer as a stroller that regular strollers typically don’t offer.
This article covers everything you need to know about using a bike trailer as your primary stroller.
At the bottom, I’ve also outlined the best bike trailer strollers on the market.
A bike trailer is suitable to replace a regular stroller for kids. Bike trailer strollers offer the benefits of having large wheels, comfortable seats, and seamless bike trailer conversion. The main drawback of using a bike trailer as a stroller is that it can be heavier and wider than regular strollers.
Benefits of using a bike trailer stroller
If you’re wondering how using a bike trailer as a primary stroller might be beneficial to you, then you’ve come to the right place.
I have been using bike trailers as our family’s go-to stroller for all of our outings, including visits to the trailers, museums, parks, library, and especially vacations.
Apart from the obvious benefit of being a bike trailer that you can seamlessly tow with any bike, there are three main benefits to using a bike trailer as a stroller:
1. Bike trailers have large wheels
The large wheels found on bike trailers make an excellent stroller. They are large enough to easily ride over rough terrain, sidewalk curbs, rocks, mud, and rain puddles.
Pro tip: Bike trailer wheels either come in 16 inches or 20 inches. It is preferable to get a bike trailer with 20-inch wheels, as they offer more comfort to the child when using as a stroller or a bike trailer.
2. Bike trailers are comfortable for kids
In addition to the larger wheels, bike trailers also have comfortable seats that are specifically designed to keep children comfortable for extended periods of time.
Pro tip: Find a bike trailer that has a “bench” style seat, as opposed to a “hammock” style seat. Bench-style seats are sturdier and offer more comfort to the child, especially if there are two children sitting together. Hammock-style seats do not offer bench support and can be uncomfortable for kids.
3. Bike trailers are designed for safety first
You can’t go wrong with a bike trailer’s safety features! They are designed to withstand high-impact incidents while riding a bike, so they offer excellent protective features in the event of an incident while strolling (or biking).
The safety features include a five-point harness, protective cage, and sturdy metal or steel frame materials.
Disadvantages of using a bike trailer stroller
There are a few disadvantages to using a bike trailer as a primary stroller that should be considered. My recommendation is to have a lightweight, regular stroller available in case you need it as a back-up.
Here are three main disadvantages of bike trailer strollers.
1. Bike trailers can be wide
Double-seat bike trailers have a hard time fitting through narrow doors. Generally, I don’t have any issues getting through doors with my super-wide Schwinn Joyrider, but sometimes I’ll come across an extra-narrow door at the museum or library that the double-seater just can’t fit through. In those cases, I’ll have to either lift it sideways through the door or just fold it up.
The solution? Just get the stroller bike trailer you like. It really doesn’t happen very often that I can’t fit our double-seater through a door. In the end, most of the time you’ll be using a stroller is outdoors and at places that usually have wide doors (for handicapped accessibility).
2. Bike trailers can be heavy
Bike trailers weigh between 20 lbs (9 kg) on the low side to 40 lbs (18 kg) on the high end. Double-seat trailers weigh more than single-seat trailers, obviously.
Regular strollers, on the other hand, only weigh around 16 lbs (7.2 kg) on average.
The reason bike trailers can weigh significantly more than regular strollers is because of all the added features on bike trailers, such as the protective cage, larger wheels, double-seat capacity, and frame materials.
If the weight of the stroller is an important consideration for you, then you might want to get a lightweight bike trailer. I wrote a handy guide to pick a lightweight bike trailer, which you can check out here.
3. Some bike trailers do not collapse easily
Collapsing a bike trailer is essential for some people who travel often, either by car or by plane.
Only a few stroller bike trailers on the market collapse like regular strollers do. Therefore, unless you get a trailer that collapses like my favorite Schwinn Joyrider, then you’re going to have to fold up the frame every time you want to store it for travel.
The good news is that bike trailers have detachable wheels, so they are able to collapse compactly to store away when traveling.
In order to fit the our bike trailer stroller into the trunk of our Prius, we just have to remove the wheels and it fits perfectly. If you have an SUV or minivan, then you probably won’t have to remove the wheels.
Top 5 best stroller bike trailers for kids
My recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider (available on Amazon here), which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.
Keep reading to find the right bike trailer for you!
These five recommended stroller bike trailers are based on years of personal experience, customer reviews, and affordability. They all come with stroller conversion out of the box, meaning you do not need to purchase any additional conversion kits.
My assumption is that you want the best bike trailer for your money, and these are truly the best bang-for-buck stroller bike trailers on the market. All of them have high-end features that would normally cost much more than their current price tag.
If you need help figuring out if your bike is compatible with these trailers, check out my full guide here.
| BIKE TRAILER | PRICE | SEATS | STROLLER | PROS | CONS |
1. Schwinn Joyrider | $480 (check on Amazon) | Double | Yes | – Affordable – Protective cage – Stroller conversion | – Wide – Heavy (40 lbs) |
2. Thule Chariot Lite | $1,000 for Double (check on Amazon), $900 for Single (check on Amazon) | Single or Double | Yes | – Highest-quality materials – Suspension – Double front wheels – Lots of storage | – Cost – Complicated to assemble |
3. Aosom Elite | $180 (check on Amazon) | Double | Yes | – Handbrake for safer strolling – Bench-style seats – Large 20-inch wheels – Double-seat capacity – Stroller conversion | – Frame is wider than other trailers |
4. Burley D’Lite X | $750 for Single (check on Amazon), $850 for Double (check on Amazon) | Single or Double | Yes | – Stroller conversion – Comfortable seats – Suspension | – Pricey – Folding up is not easy – Seats do not recline much |
5. Clevr Deluxe | $220 (check on Amazon) | Double | Yes | – Stroller conversion for an affordable price – Sturdy wide seat for kids – Large 20-inch wheels | – Folding up is not easy |
1. Schwinn Joyrider
Best overall stroller bike trailer (my pick)
Price: Around $480 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
The Schwinn Joyrider is a steal of a deal at only around $480 for a double-seated trailer that converts seamlessly to an excellent stroller. It has high-end features, such as stroller conversion out of the box, a solid protective cage, large 20-inch wheels for extra smoothness, and large interior space. You get all of that without breaking the bank at just around $480!
I personally have been using the Joyrider the longest out of all the trailers we have, and I still stand by it as the best bang-for-buck bike trailer on the market!
Note: The Amazon description page mistakenly labels this trailer as a “1 Seat” trailer, but that is incorrect. It is in fact a “2 Seat” trailer.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
- Protective cage—Added peace of mind
- Stroller conversion—Converts seamlessly to a comfortable stroller
Cons
- Wide—The frame is slightly wider than average double-seat trailers
- Heavy—On the heavier side of trailers weights (40 lbs)
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Joyrider, which you can check out here.
2. Thule Chariot Lite
Best rough-terrain stroller bike trailer
Price: Around $1,000 for double (check on Amazon) and $900 for single (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
Best for active families who want the most out of their bike trailer, the Thule Chariot Lite is a top-of-the-line quality trailer that is worth every penny. Its large wheels and suspension feature make it a great option for gravel riding or mountain riding.
Although on the higher end of the price spectrum, the Chariot Lite is actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than its older brother, the Thule Chariot Cross. For that reason, the Chariot Lite makes the list of exceptional trailers and I would recommend it to someone looking for a trailer that can take a beating.
But why would anyone swing for such a pricey bike trailer?
The Chariot Lite comes with suspension, which adds extra comfort to your child on rough terrain. If you plan on any gravel or mountain rides, then this trailer is ideal for your type of riding.
But if you’re just planning on recreational riding, then the Schwinn Joyrider does many of the same things for more than half the price.
Pros
- Highest-quality materials—Truly the best components on the market
- Suspension—Added comfort on rough terrain
- Double front wheels—Makes for an excellent stroller
- Lots of storage—It even comes with a pannier bag attached to the back
Cons
- Cost—It’s a top-of-the-line bike trailer and has suspension
- Complicated to assemble—It comes with a lot of attachments that are hard to understand at first
I wrote a full review of using the Thule Chariot Cross, which you can check out here.
3. Aosom Elite
Best budget stroller bike trailer
Price: $180 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 88 lbs (40 kg)
If you’re on a budget of under $200, then the Aosom Elite is truly an awesome budget stroller bike trailer option.
However, I would recommend the Schwinn Joyrider over this one if you have the budget, simply because of the quality, comfort, and protective cage.
It has many features that you would actually expect on a more expensive mid-range bike trailer, like large 20-inch wheels, stroller conversion, and double seats.
You’ll notice that the frame of the trailer wraps around the wheels. The reason for this is to help prevent the wheels from hitting against objects on the riding or strolling.
It also has a bench-style seat! A bench-style seat is a much more comfortable riding experience for kids, as opposed to a hammock-style seat found on Instep trailers.
Handbrake
This trailer is unique in that it comes with a handbrake when using it as a stroller! This feature might come in handy when strolling downhill or jogging. It’s a nice feature to have, but I wouldn’t make a decision solely on that.
Pros
- Handbrake for safer strolling—a unique feature
- Bench-style seats—unexpected on a budget trailer
- Large 20-inch wheels—unexpected on a budget trailer
- Double-seat capacity—wide seats for added comfort
- Stroller conversion—a great feature for an affordable price
Cons
- Frame is wider than other trailers—it sticks out a bit more on the sides around the wheels
4. Burley D’Lite X
Best single or double stroller bike trailer
Price: Around $750 for Single (check on Amazon), $850 for Double (check on Amazon)
Seats: Single or Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
If you’re looking for a single-seat stroller option, then the D’Lite X is a solid choice.
The Burley D’Lite X is a high-end bike trailer designed for all types of riding. From gravel riding to mountain riding to strolling, this trailer can do it all.
You can tell that Burley put a lot of thought into the comfort of this bike trailer, from the incredibly comfortable seat to the rare suspension for added comfort.
Comfortable seat
Both the single and double versions of the D’Lite X come with a sturdy bench-style seat that has an excellent five-point harness and headrest. It is rather rare to find a seat of this quality and comfort.
The D’Lite X seats also recline, which is a notable feature not found on cheaper trailers. However, the seats do not recline very far, so it’s a bit unfortunate.
Suspension for added comfort
Not many bike trailers come equipped with suspension. If you plan to do any type of gravel or mountain riding with your bike trailer, then a trailer with suspension is highly recommended. The suspension is located under the wheels to add comfort when riding over rough terrains.
Pros
- Stroller conversion—an excellent stroller with large wheels
- Comfortable seats—for added comfort
- Suspension—for an extra smooth ride
Cons
- Pricey—a high-end trailer
- Folding up is not easy—expected on a non-stroller trailer
- Seats do not recline much—a nice feature to have, but the seats do not go very far back
5. Clevr Deluxe
Best budget 3-in-1 jogger, stroller, and bike trailer
Price: Around $220 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 88 lbs (40 kg)
The Clevr Deluxe is an affordable entry-level bike trailer suited for two children converts into a functioning stroller.
There are a few notably impressive features on this trailer for such an affordable price point.
Handbrake
Not many bike trailers come equipped with a handbrake. The brake might come in handy when using the bike trailer as a stroller.
Large front and back wheels
The front swiveling wheel is 12 inches, which is on the larger side of stroller convertibles. A larger front wheel is actually much more preferable when pushing over bumps or through the mud.
The Clevr Deluxe is a rare deal for the extra features, such as the handbrake and larger wheels. You can check the current price and availability on Amazon here.
Pros
- Stroller conversion—a great feature for an affordable price
- Sturdy wide seat for kids—for added comfort
- Large 20-inch wheels—20 inches is the gold standard
Cons
- Folding up is not easy—expected on a non-stroller trailer
Conclusion
I can’t tell you how many people have stopped me on the street to ask where I got our stroller. To which I respond, “It’s a bike trailer”.
The reality is that bike trailers make excellent strollers, and any of the stroller-convertibles on this list would be an excellent choice. If you can swing for a top-of-the-line Thule Chariot Lite, then go for it! But if you have a smaller budget, then I would strongly recommend the Schwinn Joyrider. I mean, just look at that massive protective cage and huge wheels!
Need help finding the right bike trailer?
If you need help finding the right bike trailer for you, my recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider, which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer for more help with choosing a trailer. I also have compiled a list of the top bike trailers for every common situation, which you can check out here.
Ride on!
