20 Awesome Cycling Gifts for Kids

Kids love bicycle bells. They add bling to their bikes and fun to their rides. More important, a bell can be used to warn other bike-path users, like runners and dog-walkers, or to get the attention of mom or dad. But a bell has to do more than sound good in order for a kid to get excited about it. It also has to look cool. Nutcase bells come in all sorts of fun patterns that kids love: Sup Dog, Fun Flor All, Stars Are Born (shown here), and more. A versatile mounting strap accommodates all traditional handlebar sizes.

When you’re a kid, the “stuff” you take along with you on an adventure is precious: stuff you need, stuff you might need, stuff you don’t need but you carry anyway, and the best stuff—the stuff you find along the way. This bag from Banjo Brothers attaches to the bar via two buckled straps and is only eight inches long, so it’s ideal for small bikes. A two-way zipper makes access a breeze, and the reflective strip across the top adds a little extra visibility. At 120 cubic inches, it’ll fit a snack, a drink, a phone, even a small cable lock.

From a company better known for its cool and well-constructed bike bags—from saddle to trunk to handlebar—comes this cycling-specific face mask made of recycled fabrics and a breathable microfilter sandwiched between two antibacterial layers. The mask is available in three sizes (small, medium, large) and three colors (neon yellow, black, and brushstroke shown here). Our 13-year-old tester fits best in the medium, and our 9-year-old could comfortably wear a small. For every two-pack you purchase (one mask has reflective stripes, one doesn’t), Po Campo donates a week’s worth of medical grade masks to NYC working cyclists through its partnership with Biking Public Project.

Kids wander. Kids wobble. Kids fall. So a kids’ helmet should be easy to see, super stable on the head, and, like most parents, overprotective. The POCito Crane comes in can’t-miss fluorescent pink and orange, with a dent-resistant, shiny outer shell. Its dual-density EPS liner has an outer layer that takes high-energy hits and an inner one that protects against low-energy impacts. A size-adjustment system and in-mold construction guarantee a snug, safe fit. (This lid comes in sizes extra small-small and medium-large.)

Any ol’ bottle cage is easy to overlook and never use. But this Sparrow Cage, cut from a single sheet of alloy, is nearly impossible to ignore—hopefully meaning your kid remembers to stuff a water bottle into it before heading out. After all, kids are drawn to cool stuff in fun shapes and shiny colors. Sure, all that metal makes it heavier than, say, a titanium King Cage. But, hey, when is the last time you came across a kid who was more concerned about shaving weight than showing off? Not feeling the Sparrow? The PDW cage also comes in the Lucky Cat and Owl.

Give your kid a cool backpack full of water, with a nifty hose to suck water through, and he’s more likely to stay hydrated. The Mini M.U.L.E. holds 50 ounces (about the equivalent of eight pouches of Capri Sun) and other goodies like a tool, snacks, a rain jacket, and a phone. A breathable mesh back panel prevents overheating, reflective accents increase visibility, and there’s a safety whistle built into the sternum strap.

These slip-on, full-fingered gloves are filled with features. A suede palm offers a secure grip on the bar, and 2mm-thick padding helps protect little hands should they hit pavement or rocks. The back is breathable and stretchy for better mobility, and reinforced fingertips prevent splits in the seams. Terrycloth on the thumb and forefinger are good for sopping up runny noses and dripping sweat, and for this generation of digital natives, the gloves are touchscreen-compatible.

Your kid will inevitably fight you when it comes to dressing properly for cold weather. The most common complaint: “It’s too bulky.” This applies to coats, hats, gloves, and sweaters; it does not apply to the Buff. This lightweight fabric sleeve can be tucked into a pack or pocket and used only when the winds pick up, the mercury drops, or the sun shines bright (it offers UPF 50 protection)—then tucked away again when not in use. It’s a balaclava, a hat, a headband, and a neck gaiter all in one, and it comes in 12 patterns and colors.

This unisex, mesh spandex liner with molded foam chamois can be worn under cycling-specific outer shorts (like the Zoic Ether Jr. below) or, in a pinch, under your kid’s favorite play shorts or pants. Wide elastic bands on the leg openings keep the shorts from squeezing and/or riding up, and a tag-less waistline prevents that irritating itch that kids love to complain about. The Komfy Liner also earns its name in part to the moisture-wicking fabric that helps keep your child dry and comfortable.

Got a little daredevil in your family who wants to emulate the freeriders and downhillers who infiltrate YouTube—then upload it to social media so they can hoard Likes? Or maybe your creative kid is a videographer in the making. Before you go all in and drop $400 on the GoPro HERO9, start ’em off with the HERO7 Silver. For less than $200 you get a tough and waterproof touchscreen camera, with 32GB SD card, that produces 4K video, including slo-mo and timelapse. It even lets you shoot vertically, if your subject is more conducive to portrait mode. Video auto transfers to your kid’s phone for fast and simple sharing on Insta—or bragging rights on the school bus.

The Ether’s lightweight, stretchy outer shell—no liner included (pair these with the Zoic Kids Komfy, above)—is flexible and abrasion-resistant, meaning your mini-shredder won’t shred them after just one ride. A partial elastic waistband with side adjusters ensures a good fit, so there’s room for the available sizes (small through extra large) to grow along with your kid. Six pockets, including four that zip, mean snack-bar money, the house key, and that expensive smartphone that you reluctantly bought won’t end up scattered around the bike park. A gusseted crotch improves range of motion and won’t get caught up on the saddle.

If your kid wants the Zoic Ether Jr. Bike Shorts on this list, chances are she also wants this hoodie. Part of Fox’s Legacy collection, this soft fleece pullover sports the company’s iconic logo and has a kanga-style pocket. It comes in four colors and in sizes youth small through XL. (Be sure to size up if you want this to last a few seasons; it’s 80 percent cotton.)

Even kids need reminders to get up and move throughout the day—ideally for an hour of total daily activity. The Ace 2 records steps and active time, doles out virtual badges for completing challenges, and is water-resistant down to 50 meters. Likewise, a good night’s sleep is just as important—the Ace 2 tracks sleep patterns and has a silent alarm to gently buzz your kid awake. It’s compatible with more than 200 Android, iOS, and Windows 10 devices, lasts up to five days on one charge, and has customizable parental controls. And kids can choose their own avatar and cover photo, making them even more likely to put their Ace 2 to good use.

“It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” If you’re old enough to remember that phrase, you’re old enough to know that your kid shouldn’t be riding at night (unless they’re accompanied by you and on a trail or path away from traffic). But your kid will likely beg for extra playtime that extends into dusk, so a little extra visibility can’t hurt. This rechargeable spoke light isn’t meant to illuminate their path, but it does promise to add some fun to the ride. The integrated battery, at full charge, lasts six hours on high. Set the light to red, green, blue, or white, or on Disc-O mode, which cycles through all four colors.

Walz is well-known in cycling-cap circles. So much so that it created a kids’ line “due to overwhelming demand.” There are four kids’ caps currently available: Lexi the Ladybug, Daphne Technical, and the Speed-Oh! Technical (shown here) cost $30 and are made from cotton and technical fabrics. The Buckaroo is the only wool cap of the bunch and costs $35. With the peak down, the bold and fun Speed-Oh! cap displays the Walz W, peak up and it proclaims “Speedy.” All caps are sewn in California and available in one size that fits kids from about 3 to 9 years old (with a max head measurement of 19.5 inches).

It’s hard enough to send your teenaged kid out into the world on a bicycle to meet up with friends. Thankfully most kids these days carry a phone that you can (hint, hint) download a tracker app onto. But riding with a phone shoved into a pocket on skinny jeans is a good excuse for them to leave it at home. Make it easier for them to strap it right onto the handlebar. This bike phone mount from Vibrelli accommodates almost all smartphones and comes with three colors of silicone bands to secure the device. Plus, your call for them to get their butt home for dinner can’t go unnoticed.

Nutcase has been making helmets fun to wear since the year 2000—for kids, babies, even adults. With so many cool and whimsical graphics to choose from, as well as solid colors, you’ll have no problem finding a helmet that fits your kid’s personality—this one is clearly for all the daredevils out there. Luckily it comes with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), which, in certain crashes, can reduce harmful forces to the brain. Helmets like this one from the company’s Little Nutty line are ideal for kids at least one year old. Younger than that, they’ll need a Baby Nutty.

Every kid loves a surprise—and a fun pair of socks even more. This three-pack of mystery Ornot socks may include showroom inventory, backstock, something from the company’s artist series, or seconds (but don’t worry, a second might just be a sock with the wrong color thread or an out-of-place stitch). You’ll be giving Mother Earth a gift, too: The socks are made in the U.S. from recycled water bottles. Sizes aren’t kid-specific, but the smallest adult sizes are 7 and under (men) and 8 and under (women).

If you don’t hustle, it’s easy to miss out on supercool Lego sets, which are often retired or sold out before you even have a chance to add them to your cart. The Bike Shop & Café was retired in 2014, but there are still plenty of new-in-the-box (and used) sets out there—if you know where to look. The Bike Shop & Café is from Lego’s 3-in-1 Creator line, which means there are three ways to build one set. It includes two separate buildings that can also be built as an auto repair shop and flower shop. It comes with three mini figures, a bird, a car, and a red bicycle that hangs in the shop window. There are limited sets available at Amazon, and prices vary, so don’t drag your feet too long.

We gave the plastic Biria Plaza Basket an Editors’ Choice award for its classic, clean design. But that basket attaches via a quick release, meaning there’s an initial installation required for the mount. This Biria basket simply hooks over your kid’s handlebar and lifts off just as easily, making it more kid-friendly than a QR type. It’s made from sturdy wire mesh and comes in just about every color kids love. Its 8-pound carrying capacity can handle a backpack full of books, and the basket is sized (10.5 x 7 x 6.5 inches) to fit on small bikes.