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We tested bike trailers from Burley, Thule, Schwinn, and more to find the best options on the market
At just 20 pounds, the Burley Bee was the lightest trailer in our test group. That low weight and its aerodynamic design made this the easiest trailer to tow.
Over 9 years, we've bought and tested a dozen different bike trailers on the market side-by-side. This review compares the top 9. Our bike-commuting, toddler-toting test team pulled these trailers over 500 miles. We all but forgot about our minivans, tackling playground missions, pool parties, and park outings with bike helmets on our heads. After we finished the field tests and our kids settled on their favorite rides, we headed into the lab. Using an accelerometer and an obstacle course, we objectively tested how each trailer handles speedbumps, curbs, or unexpected potholes. Armed with the results, we rated each trailer on its safety and versatility, factoring in the all-important kid vote. Keep reading to find the right ride for your family. We've also reviewed bike cargo trailers if you only want to haul cargo with your bike.
Passenger comfort, totally weather-proof, easy to use
Ample storage space, best hitch connection, most versatile
Lightweight, best hitch design, water-resistant, excellent value
Comfortable seats, large passenger space, adjustable interior, great safety features
Inexpensive, lightweight, great ventilation, low profile
Inexpensive, easy to tow, well ventilated
Lightweight, water-resistant, large wheels
Inexpensive, large interior space, well-ventilated
Cons
Expensive, not adjustable, little storage
Lack of storage space, expensive
Not waterproof, awkward suspension adjustment, minor component durability
No passenger padding, no bottom reinforcement, lacks versatility
Extremely heavy, large and bulky to store, not water-tight
Small wheels, not weather resistant, poor hitch mechanism
Small passenger space, saggy fabric, difficult to use, not weather-resistant
Uncomfortable for passengers, difficult to set up and break down, noisy
Small plastic wheels, saggy fabric, not weather-resistant
Bottom Line
This model is a pared down version of the Chariot Cross; it has great safety features and is one of the easiest trailers to set up and tow
Great for athletes, this model is impressively durable and designed to keep passengers comfortable during long rides in tough conditions
This is an all-around excellent trailer with standout safety features and unmatched versatility, making it a clear pick for our Editors' Choice award
This nimble trailer is durable and the easiest to tow at less than half the price of many high-end trailers
This contender offers a smooth, roomy ride for passengers, but bikers will struggle to pull this heavy trailer uphill
For parents seeking an inexpensive and low-profile trailer for short trips around town, the Allen Sports Steel is a great place to start
This inexpensive trailer will get you and your kids on the road, but it's annoying to set up and it's not built to last
The Cadence is light and does well in wet weather, but its basic passenger area and awkward frame design make us question its mid-range price
One of the least expensive trailers we tested, the Take 2 is a functional entry point for those who want to try out bike towing but aren’t ready to make a big investment
The Burley D'Lite X is at or near the top of the pack in every metric we tested. The only situation where it doesn't truly excel is a sustained downpour. Its safety features impressed us, which included a comprehensive roll cage, substantial ventilation, UV-resistant windows, and a top-notch harness system with plenty of padding. Burley's hitch setup is the best we tested because it makes it easy to hook up the trailer and the bike while providing a stable, lurch-free towing experience. Our passenger testers were “d'lited” with the D'Lite X's comfort, reclining seats, and smooth ride quality. It is also extremely versatile. Not only do the seats fold flat to accommodate dogs, camping gear, oversized cargo, or anything else you can think of, but multisport families can purchase optional walking/hiking, jogging, and cross-country ski kits as aftermarket add-ons (not included).
Though they aren't immediately apparent, the D'Lite X does have some shortcomings. It's not entirely watertight, so if rain doesn't spoil your biking plans or you live in a climate with lots of cold, wet weather, you may want to consider an option offering total rain protection. The adjustable suspension system is also challenging to adjust mid-ride and has a few connecting loops that aren't as durable as we'd like. Still, the Burley D'Lite X is our top pick for folks looking for a trailer that does everything well and most things best. If you think you might get caught out in the rain, the weatherproof Thule Chariot Cross may be a better option. Not only does it sport a rain shield, but it's also removable for those days you don't need it.
With the seats removed, the D’Lite X swallows a pop-up tent, foldable chair, foldable table, sand toys, a hammock, a large cooler, PFDs for the whole family, and towels. Everything you need for a trip to the beach!
The Burley Bee is our top recommendation for folks seeking a high-quality trailer that's light on the legs and the wallet. It is less than half the price of our top award winner, the Burley D'Lite X, but comes standard with many of the same great features we expect in a top-of-the-line Burley trailer. The Bee is just as simple to set up, attach, and tow as the D'lite X and just as easy to use, even if it doesn't sport all the extra features. One of the Bee's best features is that it is the lightest model in our lineup, yet it also has one of the largest cargo spaces, so it's an excellent option for commutes or running errands around town.
The passenger experience of the Bee isn't as cushy as the high-end bike trailers. Most notably, the seats are unpadded, and there isn't any suspension. Additionally, this model is a single-function trailer without the option for additional strolling or multisport conversion kits. We should also note a few design features are susceptible to everyday wear and tear, such as a fabric bottom that tends to rip if stepped on when it's resting on the ground. That said, if you're shopping for a fun, nimble, easy-to-use, and relatively inexpensive solution for biking with kids, the Burley Bee is a truly outstanding buy, so long as you don't need a trailer that can serve double-duty as a jogger or a stroller. Should you need a more versatile option that's comfy and equipped with great suspension, opt for the Burley D'Lite X. It offers a smoother, more comfortable ride, and you can choose add-ons (sold separately) to suit your adventure, such as jogging or walking.
The Thule Chariot Cross didn't quite beat out its closest rival, the Burley D'Lite X, but it's still a great bike trailer. The Cross comes with a range of abilities and a depth of thoughtful design that will leave most families very satisfied. Its fantastic suspension takes the jolt out of potholes and curbs better than any competitor. Meanwhile, its rain cover keeps passengers completely dry even in miserable conditions. Its seats are comfortable, its harness straps are easy to adjust and stay in place well, and it's surprisingly easy to set up when it's time to ride.
Unless your parenting is as ultralight as your backpacking, you may struggle to fit all your gear in this trailer because the Chariot Cross only offers a tiny cargo bag to store extra items. It's also not light on your wallet, so those who aren't committed to biking regularly with the kids (or who have kids who will soon outgrow a trailer) would be wise to look elsewhere. That said, this trailer supplies stellar quality and a full range of multisport options. For more storage, check out the Burley D'Lite X. It has a lot to offer and at a much less expensive price.
The larger size sunshade keeps kids plenty protected from the sun but may upset those who don't want to lose sight of their parent.
By excelling in every aspect of the passenger experience category, the Hamax Outback impressed us enough to become our top choice for a comfy ride. Those riding in the Outback are in for a real treat: they'll enjoy wide, comfortable seats, large windows to take in the view, a secure footwell design that makes climbing in and out a cinch, and an adjustable suspension system that lets you dial in a smooth ride. Like the Burley D'Lite X, the Hamax has seats that can unclip to lie flat, which allows you to tow just about anything you can think of in its roomy interior. Our friends over at BabyGearLab also really like the Outback in its jogger guise.
The Outback has some great features, but we have to literally weigh the negatives. This trailer is flat-out heavy. It weighs more than any other model we reviewed and twice as much as the lightest contenders. Whoever is spinning the pedals is in for a challenging workout on all but the flattest rides. We believe its weight is enough to limit its versatility because carrying large loads simply isn't feasible with such a heavy baseline weight. Other aspects of the design are also a challenge. From its unwieldy size when folded to a crucial zipper that's missing a stop, this trailer just doesn't exhibit the same design quality as some other contenders. Everything considered, we feel the Hamax Outback may be the right choice for those not concerned about weight or a slick design and those who just want the plushest possible ride for their little ones. For a more compact and lightweight alternative, we like the more affordable Burley Bee, which weighs in at 20 pounds.
Since the seats fold flat, canine tester Banner could stretch out for his ride to the park.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
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Field testing the Schwinn Echo with passenger on board
Credit: Joanna Trieger
How We Test Bike Trailers
This review began with copious amounts of market research to uncover which products are worth testing. We always choose models at various price points and then focus on the best products available in each bracket (pricier doesn't always mean better, plus we understand that budgets vary widely). We scoured user reviews, manufacturers' websites, and gear forums to distill a large array of 40 initial bike trailers down to the best we could find. Once settling on a selection, we purchased them all at retail prices so we could get down to the business of testing. Our carefully crafted test plan is designed to judge each trailer's performance across several key metrics that will resonate with families in the market for bike trailers. A custom testing protocol was developed for each metric, such as a protection test using an accelerometer fixed to a water bladder while towing the trailers across rough terrain to compare the ride smoothness. We can provide comprehensive information that should help your family make a well-informed choice, even if that means you decide a new bike trailer isn't right for you. To learn more about our testing process, take a look at our in-depth testing article.
Our bike trailer testing was divided across five rating metrics:
Protection (30% of total score weighting)
Passenger Experience (20% weighting)
Biker Experience (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (20% weighting)
Versatility (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
OutdoorGearLab Review Editors Joanna Trieger and Chris Binder spearheard this review. Joanna uses her Reno, Nevada, home as a base of operations for various Sierra Nevada excursions, including trail runs, skiing, and mountain biking. A safe streets advocate, you can find her bike commuting every workday, which she has done without exception for the past three years. Even off the clock, she is often still on the bike, towing her niece around town. A dedicated, cycle-centric lifestyle gives Joanna a keen eye and the experience to understand a bike trailer's functionality.
Chris has been putting his outdoor gear through the wringer for fun and profit worldwide for nearly two decades. He has thru-hiked big-name trails in his adventures, lived and adventured on four continents, and biked across America (twice). He enjoys life in Lake Tahoe, where he taxis his daughter and dog around the mountains, always exploring new challenges.
Our passenger tester is certainly happy to go for a ride in the InStep Take 2, but she'll be feeling every bump in the road due to the trailer's small wheels and unpadded seating area.
This a favorite for passengers and towers alike.
How to Choose the Best Bike Trailer
Before deciding on a bike trailer there are some key factors to consider. Below we've provided some of the most important buying considerations to help inform your decision.
What Size Trailer Do You Need?
One of the first steps to narrowing down trailer options is to consider if a single or double trailer is right for you. If you are considering another child in the future or want the flexibility to take multiple kids out, a double trailer will be necessary. A single child can still use a double trailer as long as the extra tow weight isn't a concern for the parent. On the other hand, if you only have one child, a single trailer will be easier to pull, and its narrower width will help fit on tighter trails. Also, consider the weight capacity of each trailer, as differences in weight can have a large effect on the capabilities and potential for kids to grow into a trailer.
When choosing the right size trailer, it's worth considering the present and the future.
Credit: Chris Binder
What Type of Terrain?
Planning on taking your trailer through forest service roads, gravel roads, or uneven terrain? If so, a trailer equipped with suspension is essential not only for the comfort of your child, but for the longevity and durability of your trailer. Also, consider trailer options with larger 20" wheels that will help accommodate rougher terrain and provide better towing performance. But if you mostly plan on using bike paths and smooth streets, suspension-less options will work well and are typically cheaper.
What's Your Climate?
Different trailers vary drastically in their ability to block out the elements. Notably, if you plan on spending time in wetter climates and expect rain, trailer options with adequate rain cover are a must. Also, consider any areas prone to leaks or seepage through the bottom or sides of the trailer. On the other side of the spectrum, for those in hot climates, proper sunshades and ventilation are key components to protect against the sun. Keeping your kids protected and comfortable is critical to ensuring a good bike trailer experience, so it's worth spending a bit of time looking into material and protection components.
Features such as the Sunshade on the D'Lite can provide much-needed protection from the sun.
Credit: Chris Binder
Ensuring Bike Compatibility
Typically, most bikes will accommodate trailer hitches, but that's not always the case. First, identify your bike's axle type, such as quick-release or thru-axle, as quick-release skewers tend to fit out of the box best. Also, consider the type of dropout (the notch where your rear hub rests) on your bike, as hooded dropouts usually need an adapter to accommodate a trailer hitch. If you know your bike has a protruding dropout hood, adaptors such as the one from Burley can be found easily. If you're still unsure, you can reach out to the manufacturer and they can tell you if your bike is compatible out of the box or not.
Figuring out the right attachment for your trailer will save time and confusion.
Credit: Curtis Smith
Analysis and Test Results
We chose a diverse set of the most popular bike trailers for kids on the market and rode them for hundreds of miles in a series of side-by-side tests. These trailers were hauled along city streets, on urban bike paths, over rough forest roads, and through grassy parks. We towed everything we could think of, from beach gear, dogs, and camping equipment to groceries, gardening supplies, and — of course — kids. After months of rigorous testing, we're confident in our analysis of how these trailers stack up.
Trailer testing is a rough job, but somebody has to do it. Here, our passenger tester is stoked to go for a ride in the Burley Bee.
Credit: Morgan Trieger
Each testing metric has been weighted according to its contribution to the overall experience of using a trailer. Then we used our weighted ratings to calculate the overall score for each bike trailer. The right trailer for your family isn't necessarily the one at the top of the chart, especially if you value one or more of our metrics more than we do. It's worth your time to pause, consider which metrics matter the most to you and your family, and plan how much you're willing to spend. Below, we analyze how the competition performed in each metric and discuss some standout models.
What's the Best Value?
Let's face it: price matters. We think you'll get the most value by springing for a trailer with suspension so you can enjoy the full range of riding options. This is also smart if you're considering reselling a trailer after the kids have moved on to their own bikes. All the models we tested with suspensions are near the high end of the bike trailer price spectrum. If you can afford to shell out more money upfront, the more pleasant experience of the suspension models will encourage you to use it more often and lower the cost per ride over time. For its stellar performance at a price point toward the low-end top-performing products, the Burley D'Lite X is our top recommendation.
By far, the best value award goes to the Burley Bee. Purchasing the Bee gets you the quality design, ease of use, and durability that usually comes from the Burley brand but at less than half the price of the D'Lite X. Sure, the Bee isn't as fancy or plush for passengers as the D'Lite X, but it's still an incredibly simple trailer to set up and tow, and the kids aren't likely to complain about it. It's also fitted with solid safety features and is light enough to remain useful as an around-town grocery hauler and cargo trailer long after your kids have outgrown it.
The Schwinn Echo is another trailer that shouldn't be ignored in the value department, snagging our top choice for an ultra-low budget option. This is the definition of a basic trailer, but it's easier to tow and has slightly better components than other options in its price range, like the Allen Sports Steel and the InStep Take 2. The Echo is less than half the price of the Burley Bee. The Bee is much more stylish, user-friendly, and durable than the Echo, so we still think the Bee is a better value. Still, the Echo is a solid choice if you don't want to spend a penny more than necessary to get rolling with your kids.
The Thule Chariot Cross and its pared-down sibling, the Thule Chariot Lite, are some of the priciest options we tested. If you decide that it's worth it to splurge, we suggest going for the Chariot Cross. It has strategically padded seats that recline individually, a rain-proof cargo pouch, an adjustable suspension system, and a flair that can't be beaten. Since both these Thule trailers are a serious investment, you might as well spend a little extra to get the best. We suggest buying a lock to protect your investment.
Even in a super-secure trailer like the Thule Chariot Cross, children being towed should be at least one year old and should always be wearing a helmet.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Protection
Keeping kids safe is a top priority, so we considered passenger protection our most important rating metric. All of the trailers we tested meet the minimum requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), but some treat those standards as a baseline and layer on additional safety features. As we evaluated each product in this category, we considered factors like construction quality, roll cage coverage, rain and sun protection, harness effectiveness, ventilation, and suspension.
Important
Towing children under 12 months in a bike trailer is not recommended and is illegal in some states. According to our friends at BabyGearLab and pediatrician Dr. Juliet Spurrier, children younger than one year simply do not have the neck strength to take part in running or biking activities. Their brain development is too fragile to handle the jostling and bouncing from being towed in a bike trailer. At 12 months and older, children should always wear a properly fitted helmet while riding in a trailer, and the trailer should meet the standards set by the ASTM at a minimum (as do all the products we tested). Remember, most bike trailers are not recommended for children five and older, and most 5-year-olds will be too big to enjoy a ride in a trailer comfortably.
Our testing took place with appropriately aged passenger testers. The input from children near the high end of the age spectrum for bike trailers was essential in determining which models supplied the smoothest ride. However, we still do not recommend the safest trailer with the smoothest ride for children younger than one year, and we never recommend towing any child not wearing a well-fitted helmet.
A note about helmets and head position
Even though the Thule Chariot Lite doesn't have pleats behind the passenger's head, she still maintains a comfortable head and neck position.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
All bike trailer manufacturers recommend that passengers wear a helmet while riding in their products. We couldn't agree more, and all of our kid testers wore helmets for every ride, even if we weren't on pavement or were just going around the block to induce a quick nap. In the past, we were disappointed that trailers didn't easily accommodate helmets. Some seat backs tended to be relatively straight, so a bulky helmet would push a kid's head forward, resulting in an uncomfortable neck position. Recently, manufacturers seem to have taken note of this problem. In most of the models we tested, our passengers were able to maintain a comfortable head and neck position with a helmet (indeed, some seemed like they would have been uncomfortable without a helmet). Some seatbacks have expandable pleats behind the passenger's head, like those in the D'Lite X and Bee Burley models, which leave space specifically designed to accommodate a helmet. Other trailers, like the Thule Chariot models, have a more reclined overall seat position, so a helmet doesn't push the head forward. The Hamax Outback has a removable pad behind the passenger's head that can be removed if helmet bulk seems to be a problem. Two of the lowest-price trailers on the market, the Schwinn Echo and the InStep Take 2, have pleats behind the passenger's head, but the way the pleats are sewn means that they can't expand very well to accommodate the helmet. This makes them ineffective when it comes to helmets (though it does help with ventilation). We found that there simply isn't sufficient helmet room in the lower-end trailers with some of our taller passengers.
Suspension
Some trailers in our review are better than others at providing a smooth ride over rough terrain. We found the adjustable suspension systems of the Burley D'Lite X, Hamax Outback, and Thule Chariot Cross were exceptional at absorbing many bumps in the trail, making them a passenger favorite on gravel and dirt roads. None of the other models we tested featured suspensions, resulting in very slow, cautious riding to avoid bouncing our passengers around in the non-suspended trailers. Investing in a bike trailer with a suspension system is a good idea if you're considering riding off paved roads and/or bike paths, and it will keep your passengers much more comfortable and happy.
We simulated riding with a 6-to 9-month-old child to test the trailers' suspensions. That's the absolute minimum manufacturer-recommended age for bike trailer passengers (again, our BabyGearLab friends don't recommend towing children under one year). For this test, we loaded a 20-pound bump-test dummy into each trailer and pulled it with a hardtail mountain bike to test each model under virtually identical conditions.
20" wheels and an adjustable suspension system make the D'Lite easy to tow and comfortable for passengers.
Credit: Chris Binder
Two tests were performed. The first was a visual assessment of shock absorption, and the second was a quantitative measurement of acceleration over a series of bumps on a surface of broken pavement. We mounted a rear-facing camera to the seat post for the visual test and towed the trailers over a series of bumps at controlled speeds while filming the test dummy. As expected, the amount of jostling was much lower in trailers with suspension systems than those without.
We mounted an iPhone with an accelerometer app to the test dummy to measure suspension performance, then towed the trailers over several prominent bumps at identical speeds. The primary purpose of this trial was to obtain numerical results to complement our visual test. The test also demonstrates how jostling in a bike trailer has the potential to affect 6-to 9-month-old children who may not have the strength to resist what most bikers would consider unimpressive bumps. Again, we do not recommend towing a child younger than 12 months in a trailer.
This chart highlights the performance of each contender in our peak acceleration tests, which we conducted using an iPhone and accelerometer app. These results are an indication of how jostled our dummy baby was during testing; lower numbers are better.
Credit: Steven Tata
The test answered a few of our key questions about trailer suspension systems. Here is a summary of our findings:
You get what you pay for — Yes, there is a substantial price jump (two to three times) when you purchase a suspension trailer. However, those products provide clear benefits in shock absorption and ride smoothness. The peak acceleration on our test dummy was typically more than two times greater in trailers that did not have suspensions.
Some suspension designs are better than others — The Thule Chariot Cross has a much more effective suspension system than the Burley D'Lite X and the Thule Chariot Lite. The Hamax Outback also offers a superior ride. The difference is noticeable but not off the charts. Any one of these three trailers offers a far better ride than a trailer with no suspension. The Thule Chariot Cross and Burley D'Lite X have adjustable suspensions, enabling users to adjust spring stiffness based on passenger weight. However, the practicality of adjusting that setting in real life is questionable (see our in-depth reviews for more detail).
Is it worth spending more to get a better suspension? — Yes, we believe it is worth paying more to stack the deck toward both safety and comfort in the event of an unexpected pothole or bump in the road, especially if you plan on hauling passengers on the younger end of the recommended age range.
Planning on riding in cold, wet weather? We’ve tested for that.
Credit: Chris Binder
Weather
We soaked each trailer with a sprinkler and/or hose to test their rainy-day chops for water resistance. We carefully placed the water source to mimic a heavy downpour and imitate road slick spraying off the bike's back tire. In our experience, bikes without rear fenders tend to throw up water and nasty road sludge that can make their way under a trailer's front cover. The Thule Chariots were the clear winners in the rain tests, with their identical rain shields that fit very snugly and cover the trailer's entire front and top. Fasteners also direct runoff to the trailer's exterior, similar to the effect you get when you layer rain pants over the top of rain boots. By contrast, none of the other models have rain covers that stretch tautly over their tops, so saturation in prolonged heavy rain is inevitable. Overall, we believe you'll be thanking yourself for strongly considering one of the Chariot models if you're not daunted by riding in a consistently wet climate.
The Burley Bee stood up great in our 5-minute sprinkler challenge, but it's not quite as bomber as the Thule Chariot models.
Credit: Morgan Trieger
Throughout our rain tests, the Burley Bee, Thule Cadence, and Burley D'Lite X remained relatively dry inside. These models are certainly suitable for longer rides in drizzly conditions. However, we wouldn't expect them to stay completely dry for more than 15 minutes in a downpour. Of the high-end options, the Hamax Outback performed notably poorly when doused. After five minutes under the sprinkler, the Outback's footwell was soaked through from underneath, thanks to a small canvas patch at the front of the trailer. There was enough seepage through the top of the trailer to partially soak the seats (and any passengers sitting in them). The Outback could probably keep kids and cargo dry through a drizzle, but not a downpour. At the bottom of the pack are the Schwinn Echo and the InStep Take 2. Their rain shields fit loosely, and their fabric covers are barely water-resistant, so their interiors were soaked after five minutes under the sprinkler. Although they might stand up to a bike ride on a foggy day, these models are best for dry conditions only.
Another atmospheric concern is the sun. Some trailers go above and beyond to protect children from sun exposure. The Burley D'Lite X has an adjustable sunshade, UPF 30 windows, and an excellent ventilation system that includes a mesh-covered window in the back of the cargo compartment to encourage airflow. The Thule Chariot models also performed well in this aspect, with an even larger adjustable sunshade, mesh backing behind the passengers' heads, and adjustable ventilation panels in the footwells. The Hamax Outback's sunshade is not adjustable, but the trailer features excellent ventilation and UPF 30 windows. Keep in mind, sunshades are only valuable if they're practical. They block the sun but can also block a passenger's view of the bike rider (and the rider's view of the passenger). Younger children or those who get anxious when out of sight of their parents may not tolerate the sunshade.
The Burley D'Lite X took the top spot in the protection category. The D'Lite X features a full aluminum roll cage, including extra framing to protect against side impacts, with a handlebar that folds down during rides to provide even more top-side protection. It has UPF 30 windows and an adjustable sunshade, and it's well-ventilated for rides on hot days. Its suspension smooths out the ride for kids, and its rain performance is acceptable, though not bomb-proof. The Hamax Outback and the Thule Chariot models are also quite protective, but they scored slightly lower than the D'Lite X because their frames don't include side-impact protection. The Weehoo weeGo and the Burley Bee are both positive safety standouts with well-developed roll cages combined with secure harnesses.
The basic safety features in the lower cost models like the Thule Cadence could work for you if you'll mostly take short rides on mellow bike paths.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Safety and kid protection are essential considerations in every trailer purchase. Even though features like a full roll cage and better shock-absorbing suspension cost more, we encourage you to consider a bike trailer that will be used to tow young kids to be an investment in both your children's enjoyment and their safety.
The Hamax Outback has super plush seat pads, a flat, rubberized foot well, and a roomy interior. Result? Our passenger is stoked.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Passenger Experience
If your children aren't happy in the trailer, you'll probably get less use out of it. Because of this, we carefully assessed passenger experience. We evaluated how easy it is for kids to get in and out of the trailer, how comfortable the seat and harness are, and how much space passengers have to spread out and stow their belongings. The Hamax Outback is a top performer in this category. In fact, it's so good that we dubbed it our top choice for a comfy ride. The Thule Chariot Cross is also outstanding, with our editors' favorite, the Burley D'Lite X, in lockstep.
All the trailers we tested are stable enough when attached to a bike with a kickstand or leaning against a solid object that kids can climb in and out on their own. However, each takes a slightly different approach to the design of the entryway and footwell. The Hamax Outback is the king of this category. It's low to the ground and has a firm, flat, rubberized footwell that makes it super easy and stable for even smaller tykes to climb in and out by themselves. The lower front panels of the Burley D'Lite X, Burley Bee, and Allen Sports Steel unclip so that little legs can quickly step up into the trailer. However, the Burley models' sharply slanting floors make it harder for kids to find their footing, and the elastic straps that secure the lower front panels are potential breakage points. The Thule Chariots and the Cadence are relatively low to the ground, so while their front panels are fixed, they're still easy for kiddos to navigate. Like the Outback, the Weehoo weeGo provides a flat, rubber-reinforced footwell. The weeGo is a little tippy and unstable for kids to get into, but they can find firm footing once inside. The Schwinn Echo and the InStep Take 2 don't offer a great passenger experience. Both have ill-fitting, saggy fabric floors that don't supply stable footing for little feet. Older kids are generally alright with this, but some of our younger passengers, who are just getting a feel for being upright, were freaked out by the wobbliness of the saggy footwells.
Our passenger testers appreciated being able to step easily in and out of this model.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Comfort is key once passengers are in the trailer and can also pay off for parents. With strategically padded seats and harnesses to prevent little bodies from getting sore or chafed, the Hamax Outback, the Thule Chariot Cross, and the Burley D'Lite X all shine in this area. We found the seat and harness pads in the Outback to be the plushest, and each of the pads is removable and machine washable, so inevitable dirt and spills won't become permanent. Most other trailers, including the Burley Bee and the Thule Cadence, have unpadded bench-style seats and unpadded harnesses. Our favorite for an ultra-low budget, the Schwinn Echo , has a bench-style seat with a thinly padded harness. A well-adjusted harness — one that holds the child in place but doesn't crush them — is essential for a comfortable ride, and we found the five-point systems in the Hamax Outback and the Thule Chariot models to be the easiest to adjust and the best at staying in place during long rides.
We only tested double-passenger trailers in this review to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison. (Note that most trailers also have a single-passenger version available.) Although all the trailers are marketed for two passengers, we found that each model's interior space varied significantly when we measured the seats' total width. At a generous 24", the Outback has the widest interior of the trailers we tested, giving little ones plenty of room to relax. The Schwinn Echo has the narrowest seating area at just 21". Unless they're tiny toddlers, fitting two passengers into the Echo could be a squeeze. The Echo can reconfigure the harnesses to secure a single passenger in the middle of its seats, so even though this trailer is cramped, solo passengers don't have to be squished.
Between reclinable seating and independent adjustments for each seat, the Chariot is especially great for longer rides.
Credit: Chris Binder
One reason the Thule Chariot Cross and Burley D'Lite X score so highly in the passenger experience category is that both feature an impressive adjustable seat recline feature. Both seats in the Cross and D'Lite X can lean back independently of each other, so if one of your passengers is ready for a nap and the other one wants to sit up and see the world, you don't have to compromise (though you may have to stop to adjust). The seatbacks in the Hamax Outback and the standard Burley D'Lite X are adjustable, but only as full units, so if one kid relaxes, the other one does too (note the Burley D'Lite X features independently reclining seats like the Cross). The individually adjustable seats of the Cross and D'Lite X are probably most useful for users who plan on doing long rides with multiple children.
At just 20 pounds, the nimble Bee is the lightest trailer we tested.
Credit: Morgan Trieger
Biker Experience
All the contenders we tested demand more energy than riding a bicycle without anything in tow. However, we also noticed noteworthy differences in how each model feels to pull. Weight is one of the most significant factors in this category, as is feedback from the trailer to the bike. We also paid close attention to which trailers tend to need mid-ride adjustments, how easy they are to tow off-road or on uneven terrain, and how well we can maneuver the bike-and-trailer rig while walking through and around obstacles. The Burley Bee is a clear favorite in the biker experience category, followed closely by the Burley D'Lite X. Our top choice for an ultra-low budget, the Schwinn Echo, also punches above its weight here. We explain why below.
All else being equal, a lighter trailer will offer less towing resistance, which means your legs won't become jelly before you reach your destination. The Burley Bee is the lightest product we tested, at a mere 20 pounds — a big part of why it cleaned up in this category. We could tow the Bee without shifting into our granny gears, even while going uphill with passengers or cargo. By contrast, riders will quickly see their legs sculpted to exquisite marble when they tow uphill with the hefty Thule Chariot Cross, which is part of the reason we named it our top choice for athletes. The Hamax Outback is an outlier in this category with a weight of 44 pounds. This makes it a pretty challenging trailer to tow uphill, even when there's nothing in it. When we added kids, bags, and equipment, the Outback's heavy weight had us struggling on even the mellowest inclines.
Also, consider how much weight you'll be putting in the trailer. Most of our test group can carry up to 100 pounds. The exceptions are the InStep Take 2 and the Schwinn Echo (both 80 pounds) and the Hamax Outback (88 pounds). The trailers are generally suitable for children between 1 and 5 years of age, after which many kids start to want their own wheels, and towing multiple kids can get too heavy. Keep in mind that trailers with larger cargo areas, such as the Burley D'Lite X, might be lighter on their own but tend to get filled up with heavy gear fast since the space is available, often negating the benefit of a more lightweight trailer.
Weehoo iGo Pro
Credit: Weehoo
Trailer Alternatives — The Best in Biker and Passenger Experience
As a rider, if you value your own experience on the bike and your children are old enough, a two-pedal trailer might be the best option. They give the biker a faster and more maneuverable platform while opening up trails that would be too narrow for a typical trailer. They also engage the child passenger, who can choose whether or not to pedal. The downside to this option is there is no protective cage, and many options do not fold down as easily as standard enclosed bike trailers. We reviewed two models: the WeeRide Co-Pilot is a budget option with no restraint system. The Weehoo iGo Turbo is a top-of-the-line model with a restraint system, storage, and many accessories, including a sunshade.
The ball and socket design on the Thule hitches allows for some play, resulting in feeling somewhat unsteady during riding.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
We paid close attention to any feedback from the trailer to the bike, like lurching, shuddering/vibrating, or lateral pulling, since these movements can make the cyclist feel unstable and can tire legs out quickly, especially while climbing. Transferring virtually no movement to the bike, the Burley D'Lite X and the Burley Bee are outstanding in this area. This is mostly due to the superior Burley hitch design, which attaches the tow arm to the hitch adapter with a single super-secure connection point that allows for no back-and-forth play. Another high scorer in this area is the Schwinn Echo with its secure hitch and tow arm. The only time we noticed slight lurching was when standing up on the pedals to tow a heavy load uphill. The Thule trailers, the Chariot Cross, Chariot Lite, and Cadence use a ball-and-socket hitch connection. We noticed some lurching while testing each of these models since the ball has a little bit of wiggle room in the socket, and it can move both horizontally and vertically. The other trailers we tested all have springs in their tow arms, and this design transfers significant motion to the bike.
Some trailers are better at rougher roads than other. The Hamax's weight made it challenging to venture to far afield.
Credit: Morgan Trieger
We found some trailers to be easy to tow off-road, while others were not well-suited for this purpose. Due to their adjustable suspension systems, the Thule Chariot Cross and the Burley D'Lite X are top performers in this category, absorbing many trail riding lumps and bumps. The Hamax Outback also has a great suspension system, but its high weight makes it challenging to tow over trails that aren't super smooth. None of the other trailers we tested have suspensions, and we found that the lighter trailers, like the Burley Bee and the Thule Cadence, tend to feel pretty jumpy on trails, even when towing passengers. The Schwinn Echo performed surprisingly well here. It's relatively light but compact and solid. We found it easy to tow off-road with very little feedback transferred to the bike (note that since this trailer doesn't have suspension, we don't recommend towing kids off-road in it — but that shouldn't stop you from hitting the local fire road on your way to the preschool pickup). Most of the trailers we tested have 20" wheels with pneumatic tires, and those big wheels roll over gravel and dirt trails with relative ease, which helps to smooth out the ride. Exceptions are the InStep Take 2 and the Allen Sports Steel, which both have 16" tires. Towing these trailers over uneven terrain requires more effort and makes for a bumpier ride.
The 20" wheel of the Burley Bee (left) and the 16" wheels of the Allen Sports Steel (center) and InStep Take 2 (right). Towing 16"-wheeled trailers over rough roads was tough on bikers and passengers.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Although most of the time spent with bike trailers is, well, biking, a bike-and-trailer rig needs to be maneuverable when walking along a sidewalk or navigating to a bike rack. We evaluated the trailers' walkability by weaving them through tricky-yet-typical urban infrastructure. The Thule Chariots are standouts in this area — their hitches allow for maximal rotation, and their tow arms are sharply bent, which keeps the front of the trailer close to the bike and allows for quick turns. The Hamax Outback has a similar tow arm with a sharp bend that makes it nimble to maneuver, though it features a less flexible hitch. The worst performer here is the Weehoo weeGo, which has a very long and relatively straight tow arm that makes it very difficult to navigate in tight spaces.
Assembling and setting up the Burley D'Lite requires squeezing the two halves of the frame together. While this required some muscle at first, by the end of the testing period we could do it with one hand.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Ease of Use
Biking with your kids can be great fun for the whole family, so hopefully, you'll be pulling your trailer out and using it often. Most people lack the garage space to keep their trailer permanently set up and attached to a bike, so a good trailer should be easy to assemble, attach to a bike, break down, and store. We considered each of these steps for all of the trailers we tested and performed timed trials to score each product on its overall ease of use.
Most of the trailers took about 20-30 minutes to go from boxed up to fully assembled, attached, and ready to ride. The quickest trailer, the Burley Bee, took just 12 minutes, while the slowest, the Thule Chariot Cross, took 40 minutes. Since full assembly is usually a one-time event, we didn't put too much weight behind this test. However, we generally found that the more “deluxe” model trailers took longer to assemble than the basic ones. Some models required a screwdriver for assembly, like the Hamax Outback, but none of the trailers we tested were any more complicated than that.
We defined the setup process based on what most parents will do every time they prepare to tow their kids — starting with the trailer in its folded state with wheels on and ending with the trailer attached to the bike, ready to ride. Since most users will go through this process every time they use the trailer, this is a significant focus of our testing in this category. Parents and caretakers of trailer-aged children will find that a product that comes together quickly and smoothly and attaches without drama is worth its weight in gold, especially when little ones are raring to go (or are approaching meltdown status).
The simplicity of the Thule Chariots made them the easiest to set up and break down out of the group. Setup is achieved with two snaps, and breakdown only requires the push of a button.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
With average setup times of just 28 seconds for the Cross and 29 seconds for the Lite, the Thule Chariots have the most user-friendly frame designs and are outstanding performers in this category. For comparison, the Burley D'Lite X took 52 seconds to set up, and the Burley Bee took 48 seconds. Although the Chariots were speedy to set up, we occasionally had to pull hard enough on one of the hitch components during attachment that we knocked the bike over, startling our young passengers. This was rare, but it never happened with the Burley models, which feature our favorite hassle-free hitch. This is one area where we noticed a big difference between the well-designed models, like the Burleys and the Thules, and the budget models, like the InStep Take 2 and the Schwinn Echo. The Take 2 and the Echo both have maddening cover attachment systems that require parents to secure long strips of Velcro across the entire front and back of the trailer, and if this Velcro isn't aligned well, the trailer won't snap shut. Try doing this with a squirming kid making a game out of ripping open the Velcro, and you've got a hellish morning routine. We can't stress enough: if you're going to use your trailer for routine transit, spring for a thoughtfully designed model, such as the Burley Bee.
Since it's only secured by Velcro, a squirmy passenger can easily poke hands and feet through the front flap of the Schwinn Echo.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Some trailers are low-profile and easy to stow when not in use, while others are bulky and take up a significant amount of space. In general, the less expensive (and less tricked-out) models, like the Schwinn Echo, the Allen Sports Steel, and the InStep Take 2 are slimmer and more comfortable to slip into an unused space in the garage. The higher-end models, most notably our favorite for a comfy ride, the Hamax Outback, are heavier, bulkier, and harder to stow. The Thule Chariot models are the only trailers with a clip mechanism to keep them securely folded when stored upright. We love this feature and wish every manufacturer in our test group would include it.
Canine tester Banner could stretch out in the Hamax Outback because its seat backs unclip from the trailer frame to lie flat, opening up a range of cargo hauling possibilities. Unfortunately, this trailer was so heavy that towing Banner to the park was a struggle.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Versatility
The primary focus of this review is analyzing how each product works for towing kids, but we know many users will go for at least a few spins with something else back there. Some parents discover that purchasing a bike trailer allows them to ditch their second car, so we evaluated each product for its ability to haul pets, groceries, and bulky items. The top-tier models can also convert into a stroller, a jogger, a ski sled, or all three. We only analyzed bike towing capabilities but noted where conversion kits for other sports and activities are available. The Burley D'Lite X checked all the boxes and earned the highest score in this metric. We'll explain why below.
Since this review's focus is kid towing, we weighted this category relatively lightly at just 10% of each product's final score. If you're looking for a trailer exclusively devoted to cargo, check out our cargo trailer review.
The D'Lite X scored exceptionally well in this category for several reasons. Not only does it allow full use of its ample interior space (its seats can unclip from the top frame of the trailer to lie flat), but it also has plenty of cargo space in the rear, even with children sitting in the main compartment. The Hamax Outback also offers this feature, which opens up the possibilities for what you can haul. Have a huge package that needs to be lugged to the post office? A large dog who wants to go for a ride? An elaborate replica of Mission San Rafael built out of sugar cubes that needs to get to your kid's classroom? The D'Lite X and the Outback's ability to break down the barrier between their cargo and passenger spaces means they're more likely to accommodate those needs than any other trailers we tested. (The InStep Take 2 also used to have lie-flat seats, but it appears that they've removed this feature from their newest models. Bummer.) It's worth noting that while we love the Hamax Outback's convertible interior space, its weight limits how much you can haul. Towing a 60-pound dog with the D'Lite X is doable; with the heavy Outback, it's a struggle.
The open-topped pocket at the back of the Thule Chariot Lite is a good option for keeping things separated from the trailer's interior, or for keeping them handy. However, it has no flat bottom, so hauling groceries or bulky items with this trailer was not ideal.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Except for the Thule Chariots, most of the models in our test fleet consist of one ample interior space separated by the seat-back into passenger and cargo areas. For instance, the Chariot Cross has a back pouch with interior pockets about the size of an average messenger bag. It's suspended behind the trailer and can be clipped up to the top frame bar when not in use. The Chariot Lite has one big open-topped pocket made of fabric and mesh that spans the back of the trailer. We found these alternatives to be a mixed bag. They're smaller than the other trailers' cargo spaces, and they're an awkward fit for paper grocery bags or other items that want to sit on a flat surface. And yet, they're a great option for things that need to be kept separate, like dirty gym clothes, or kept handy, such as a purse.
Having adequate cargo space increases the versatility and utility of a trailer, even with passengers present. The humble Schwinn Echo is a surprise winner in this category with a 23"x12" cargo area footprint. The Burley Bee is close behind at 23"x11.5", and the Burley D'Lite X and InStep Take 2 also impressed us with generous cargo footprints.
The D'Lite's cargo space is large and easily accessible, so it easily accommodates groceries and potables for mom and dad.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
The Thule Chariots and the Weehoo weeGo come with stroller conversion kits included, and the latest model of the Burley D'Lite X has an integrated front stroller wheel that stows when not in use. Although we weren't evaluating strolling capabilities, testers did find it useful to have the option to convert a trailer to a stroller once they reached their destination, especially those with younger kids. The Thule Chariot Cross, the Burley D'Lite X, and the Hamax Outback also have optional jogging and cross-country skiing kits available for purchase. Again, we didn't evaluate these kits, but we rated these contenders higher in the versatility category because they give parents the option to purchase one outdoor kid mobile instead of potentially four.
Our top choice for athletes, the Thule Chariot Cross.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Conclusion
With the surplus of bike trailers in today's market, finding the right one for you and your family can feel overwhelming. We hope our comprehensive research and detailed review helps narrow down the options and leads you to the ideal trailer for adventuring about with your family.
