The official name for this tricycle is the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Stroll ‘N Trike. This is the tricycle that we bought our daughter at 17 months old. Here is my very honest Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike review.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Learning how to ride a tricycle is a rite of passage for any child. I was a little surprised to learn that parents are now buying trikes for infants as young as 9 months old!
Most infants don’t walk at 9 months, let alone ride tricycles, right? Well, I was wrong because almost every tricycle manufacturer has introduced some variation of a 4 in 1 trike.
Radio Flyer is no exception.
4 in 1 trike, generally
I was born in the ’80s and my vision of a tricycle is the classic red trike with a steel frame. No bells and whistles, not even an adjustable frame.
The concept of a 4 in 1 trike is definitely new for my generation. When I started looking for a tricycle for my 16-month-old toddler, I planned to purchase it when she turned two.
With the introduction of the 4 in 1 trike, I could make the purchase immediately and start using it for our walks!
So, the four ways to ride are infant trike (9-18 months), steering trike (18-24 months), learn-to-ride trike (2-3 years), and the classic trike (3-5 years).
Each stage requires adjustments to the tricycle as your child grows and increases in independence.
Specifications of Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Stroll ‘N Trike
- Suggested age: 9 months to 5 years
- Weight: 15.87 pounds
- Bicycle frame material: Steel
- Tire material: Plastic
- Pedal material: Plastic
- Holds up to: 49 pounds
Features of Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Stroll ‘N Trike
- 4 ways to ride
- Removable wrap around tray with cup holder
- High back seat
- Adjustable UV blocking canopy
- 3-point harness for safety
- Removable footrest
- Rear storage bucket
- Parent steering push handle with foam grip
Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike review – what I liked
Overall, we like the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Stroll ‘N Trike, and our toddler seems to love it. There are some design flaws and issues but that is bound to happen with a product that has many moving parts.
In my initial search for a 4 in 1 trike, I read many reviews for a few tricycles that were in our price range. It was a very close call between the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Stroll ‘N Trike and the Joovy Tricycoo 4.1 Kids Tricycle.
I read a lot of good and bad reviews for both products, so it was a really tough choice for me to make. Since we fully expect our toddler to use this product for a few years, we wanted a high-quality product.
Radio Flyer brand
One of the biggest reasons I chose the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike over the Joovy trike is simply the brand. Radio Flyer has been around since 1917 and their red classic trike is iconic.
They have a very rich brand history and I fully expect their products to be top notch.
Price point
If you’re anything like me, you want to get value for your buck. Depending on where you purchase the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike, you can expect to pay around $70 versus $130 for the Joovy 4 in 1 trike.
Now that’s not bad for a toy that will last several years.
3-point safety harness
Accompanied with the removable wrap around tray, the 3-point safety harness secures my daughter into place. I don’t have to worry at all that she may fall out or get hurt.
As she grows, the safety harness is easily adjustable.
Recently, I thought she might be old enough to go without the safety harness as she’s almost 22 months old. I was totally wrong!
She didn’t get hurt or fall out but she kept trying to stand up while I was pushing her and didn’t listen when I asked her to sit down. Go figure.
So, we are still using the safety harness. I also haven’t taken off the wraparound tray because it serves as another safety feature.
Durability
We’ve had the Radio Flyer 4 in1 trike for approximately 5 months, which is a shorter period of time, and it looks great. We use it often and there is very little wear and tear on it.
We primarily use it on sidewalks around our neighborhood and I can see it lasting a very long time.
Purchase on Amazon (click image)
Other Radio Flyer tricycle options at Amazon.
What I didn’t like
There are a few things that drive me a little nuts but I’ve learned to live with them. Like I stated previously, a product with many moving parts is more likely to have issues.
In reading reviews prior to purchasing the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike, I had a heads up on a few potential issues.
Usually, when I buy something, I rarely have the issue that the bad reviews talk about. I was honestly surprised that I had some of the same issues with the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike that were mentioned in negative reviews.
Parent steering push handle with foam grip
The parent steering push handle is adjustable for parents of different height. I’m 5’2” and my husband is almost 6 foot, so we definitely need to adjust the push handle between us.
Our biggest problem is the adjustable handle doesn’t lock in place and slowly slides down, even when the tightening lever is screwed on tight. I did read about other parents having this issue in reviews, so I’m not sure what’s going on there.
It’s pretty uncomfortable to push the trike at the lowest level, especially for my 6 foot husband.
So, we are constantly adjusting the push handle height, which is kind of annoying because it’s also difficult to unscrew the lever once it’s tightly screwed.
On the upside, the foam grip is nice and comfortable.
Adjustable UV blocking canopy
I read many complaints about the UV blocking canopy.
First, it doesn’t really block out much sunlight because it is so small. Unless the sun is directly overhead, it’s not going to provide UV blocking protection for your kid. So, if you purchase this product, you’ll probably want your child to wear a sun hat too.
Second, the wiring inside the canopy is very flimsy, so the canopy’s shape doesn’t look that great, even after I tried shaping it to look better.
Removable footrest
We bought the Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike at a point where my toddler wasn’t going to keep her legs in the footrest.
Initially, she would put her feet anywhere but the footrest, like on the top of it or dragging them on the ground. The position of the footrest wasn’t a natural position for her to be in.
We took it off to see if that worked better but her legs were too short to reach the pedals.
After a while, she figured it out and is starting to use the footrest but it was a slight learning curve. I still think she prefers to drag her feet.
In my research, I found this Radio Flyer footrest at Amazon (click image). This could be a nice alternative if you absolutely do not like the Stroll ‘N Trike footrest.
Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike review – final thoughts
Overall, I would say this is a good 4 in 1 trike for the price. Some of the parts have flaws but eventually, my daughter will no longer need the footrest or adjustable handle.
The most important aspect is that she seems to enjoy it over being in her stroller. She also loves to steer, so that is a plus.
Hope you enjoyed this Radio Flyer 4 in 1 trike review. Comment and let me know how this trike works for you!
The parent steering gear
Broke. Very hard to find parts
My husband and I feel the EXACT same way about the footrest. I have to say we’ve both gotten angry over that stupid thing. It is awful and they really needed to rethink that.
I totally agree about the foot rest. It just is not a natural comfortable position. I thought we installed it incorrectly at first. I hate spending $33 on the footrest accessory but may need to in order for her to use this trike.
Say goodbye to the traditional bicycle – say hello to affordable recumbent adult tricycles and innovative kids tricycles