November 28, 2013, admin, Play, Reviews, , 0
Little Miss A recently received a Smart Trike Zoo – Zebra, which she has been having great fun getting out and about on whilst the weather has been (just about!) warm enough to use. Being a big outdoor fan, I knew the trike would appeal to her adventurous side!
The Smart Trike comes unassembled and, when I first took out all of the parts I thought it would take me ages to put together! The instructions were very easy to follow and I only got stuck on one part and had to get Big Mr A to help. The only part we found difficult was the plastic cover around the handlebars where the two parts meet. It was quite tricky to get the plastic cover apart and then back together again in place. The rest of the trike was very easy to put together though and, once done, felt very sturdy.
What I really like about this trike compared to cheaper versions (which we had for Little Mr A), are all the additional features. As well as a great design, the trike comes with a padded support to make it a much comfier ride.
The steering handle is height adjustable (which is great when you have a shortie like me!) and it is very easy to steer. I found with Little Mr A’s trike that it never went where you wanted it to, however, I have had no problem with this one at all, it is much easier and more responsive.
There are two foot rests which are placed at a great height so as to be comfy when riding. They are very easy to flip out from the bottom of the trike and can be placed back when needed very easily too.
Another great feature of the trike is the cup holder. Little Miss A has various different sized cups and water bottles and they have all fitted in perfectly. I think this is a great feature, particularly during the summer months as it means your child has a drink there whenever they need it.
The trike also comes with a little play phone which has it’s own holder within easy reach. I think this is a lovely little extra as it gives little ones something to play with but, as it is attached to the trike, they can’t throw it on the floor as soon as they get fed up!
Another feature that I really like is the little bag on the steering handle. When just nipping out to the shops or picking Little Mr A up from school I don’t want to have to take an extra bag with me so, by having this bag, I can put my purse, phone and keys into it and don’t have to mess about carrying extra things.
The only two things I’m not really keen on (and this goes for all trikes) is the sun canopy and the little storage compartment at the back of the trike. Although the sun canopy on this trike is better than our previous one, it still blows up when the wind blows and you do get a little fed up of constantly having to push it back down. The storage at the back is not very big and if you put anything in it, more often than not it will fall out at the slightest little bump. This is why the little bag is great!
The trike is for ages 10 months and over, up to a weight of 17kg and can be adapted with your child as they grow. When they get to 15 months, and more confident, you can remove the protective bars from the side of the seat and, once they are able to pedal on their own, you can remove the steering handle and flip up the foot rests so that they can use it as a proper trike.
Having had a cheaper alternative for Little Mr A, I certainly think this trike is worth the extra money as it is much better quality, easier to use, more sturdy and looks like a much more comfortable ride for Little Miss A.
She has been having great fun exploring the village in her trike and I know that she will continue to love it for a long time to come.
