Mini Micro Scooter Vs Radio Flyer Scooter - Which is Best?
Mini Micro Deluxe Scooter
The mini micro deluxe scooter is hard to beat in terms of quality but of course it can be beaten on price as it is expensive.
Lightweight = Easy to maneuver & control for young kids
The mini micro is an excellent scooter. It is lightweight so easy to carry (4.2lbs) and easy for young children to maneuver and control but it is extremely strong too. Young children learn to scoot by picking up a scooter to change direction and the mini micro is so light young children can do this. They can also lift it up and down a step too.
A lightweight scooter is also easy for parents to carry long distances when their child has had enough of scooting.
Wheels Give A Smooth Ride
The wheels are made of high quality polyurethane which is a great material as it is hardwearing but also absorbs the bumps and cracks from the path giving the smoothest and quietest ride. There are two 120mm wheels at the front and one 80mm at the back which gives the rider lots of stability and safety but allows the child to pick up speed on the scooter as they get more confident.
Deck
The deck is low to the ground so is easy for young kids to get on and off. It's made of reinforced flexible fibreglass which is super strong but lightweight. The fibreglass deck also helps to absorb the bumps and cracks on the path, ensuring a smooth ride.
Steering
It has a lean and steer mechanism so the child leans right to go right and left to go left. This is meant to be easy for young children to pick up and get used to.
Handlebar
The handlebar can be adjusted from 17" up to 25" from the deck which is 44 to 64 cm. Therefore it can be adjusted to suit the height of your child. It can be adjusted to any height between the minimum and maximum limits. The handlebar isn't foldable. However you can take the t-bar out of the base for easy storage and transportation.
Age Recommendation
It's recommended for kids aged between 2 and 5 years.
You can also get a version of this scooter with an obar and a seat for younger children suitable for 1 and 2 year olds.
Radio Flyer - My First Scooter
The radio flyer first scooter is designed for the younger user from aged 2 plus. In comparison to the mini micro scooter it's a lot cheaper.
Extra wide base
This scooter is mainly designed with safety in mind. It has an extra wide base to help balance, two wheels at the front and one at the back. The extra wide base is great for balance but it also means that the turning radius on the scooter is rather large which can make the scooter difficult to maneuver for some children.
Handlebar, deck and steering
The handlebar measures about 21 inches / 61cm from the deck to the handlebars and approximately 68.5cm from the floor to the top. The deck isn't as low to the ground as the mini micro. The steering is controlled by the handlebars rather than a lean and steer mechanism.
Wheels and Weight
It has plastic wheels which aren't as smooth and hardwearing as poyurethane but it may not need to be for young children. It weighs 4.85 lbs which is lightweight but not as lightweight as the mini micro. Lightweight scooters are easier for parents to carry when they need to and for kids to pick up and maneuver and control.
Summary
This scooter is a good budget option for young children. There are lots of children aged 2 years who are doing very well with this scooter. It may be a good choice if you are worried about safety or for a young child but if you want a scooter that can pick up a bit of speed as your child gets older and you have the money I would opt for the mini micro. I would also envision that if you did get this for a young child (aged 2) it won't be long before you will want to purchase them another scooter designed for aged 3 plus.
Radio Flyer Lean and Glide Scooter
The Radio Flyer lean n glide is similar to the mini micro in many ways. It has high quality urethane wheels, a lean and steer mechanism (so you lean to go right and left rather than turn the handlebar). It is also cheaper although it doesn't have all the features that the mini micro boasts.
Handlebar
The features include a height adjustable handlebar so the scooter will grow with your child with three adjustable heights at 22", 26" and 30". Unfortunately the handlebar isn't foldable and there is no option to remove the t-bar from it's base like on the mini micro.
Wheels
The wheels light up when they roll around which is a neat feature, kids will love. The wheels are made of urethane which gives a smoother, quicker ride than plastic wheels on the radio flyer my first scooter above.
Weight
The radio flyer pro glider weighs more than the mini micro at 5lbs. It's aimed at kids from 3 to 5 and another point in its favour is that it costs considerably less than the mini micro. The increased weight means that it's harder for parents to carry. As kids get older they will be able to manage a heavier scooter.
Age Recommendation
The age recommendation is 3 plus years.
Comparison Table
Scooters | Mini Micro Deluxe | Radio Flyer My First Scooter | Radio Flyer Lean and Glide Scooter |
---|---|---|---|
Handlebar | Adjustable 17" up to 25" (44 to 64 cm) | Fixed 27" (68.5cm) | 3 height settings 22", 26" and 30" (56, 66 and 76cm) |
Steering | Lean to Steer | Controlled via handlebars | Lean to steer |
Wheels | PU Wheels | Plastic | PU wheels |
Weight | 1.8kg 3.9lbs | 4.85lbs 2.2kg | 5lbs 2.3kg |
Age Recommendation | 2 to 5 Years | 2 years plus | 2 years plus |