Bike Trailer Vs. Bike Seat: Which Is Right For You?

Trying decide whether a bike seat or a bike trailer is best for your family?  You’re in the right place. 

At Rascal Rides, we’ve spent the last 12.5 years testing and reviewing LOTS of trailers and bike seats, and our team has biked thousands of miles with their rugrats.  In this article, we’ll share things you might want to consider when choosing between the two.

Also, once you’ve decided, make sure to check out our lists of the best bike trailers and the best bike seats.

Safety

Compared to child bike seats, trailers tend to be safer.  A good-quality trailer (like the Thule Chariot Cross) is essentially a roll-cage protecting your child in the event of a crash or a tip-over. 

With a bike seat, on the other hand, if the parent crashes, the child is crashing too, and there’s not a lot to protect them.  

Additionally, the weight of a trailer doesn’t affect the adult’s balance, where a bike seat does, making a trailer the better option for parents who don’t have great bike handling skills.

Weight

Trailers weigh more than a bike seat, and can weigh 30 pounds–or more!  This is without even adding the weight of your child. 

If you are riding long distances or climbing hills, the additional weight of a trailer can be substantial compared to a bike seat. That said, the weight is behind you rather than on your bike, so to the point above, it at least feels stable.

Number Of Children

The most obvious benefit of a trailer is the ability to haul multiple children.  Most kids’ bike trailers come in both one or two seat versions, so if you know you might have a second kiddo sometime soon, a trailer can make more sense than a bike seat.

With bike seats, you can potentially mount two on a single bike (especially with a long-tail cargo bike), but it’s definitely more challenging.

Ability To Carry Gear

Consider whether or not you need to carry a bunch of stuff on your outings.  Trailers can be helpful for carrying balance bikes, diaper bags, library books, you name it.  The Thule Chariot has an enormous rear trunk that our family always found really useful.

Although some bike seats have a small storage space, they are pretty limited in what you can carry.

Versatility

While most entry level or budget trailers are only a bike trailer, higher end trailers often convert to a jogger, stroller, or ski trailer.  Not everyone is looking for a multi-sport option, but for those that are, a trailer is an obvious choice.

Parent Child Interaction

Up until this point, the trailer has been taking most of the wins.  But this is where bike seats really start to shine. With a bike seat, particularly front-mounted bike seats, you have your child close by where you can talk to and easily interact with them.  

In a trailer, it is much harder to see and hear how your child is doing.  When we used a trailer, we would often have to pull over and stop to help our son or to hear what he was saying.  

Child Engagement

Similarly, child engagement is also higher in a bike seat–particularly a front mounted bike seat.  Kids can see where they are going, hold on the handlebar, and ring the bell. 

In a trailer, there isn’t as much for a kiddo to do. Kids in trailers tend to sleep a lot, in my experience. (Not always a bad thing).

Maneuverability

Trailers can be cumbersome.  Double trailers in particular can be tough to fit through tight spaces.  Finding a place to park a trailer, or walking your bike thru a crowd with a trailer, can be tough.  A bike seat is smaller and less obtrusive.  

Also, if you plan to ride singletrack trails with your kiddo, a bike seat will fit, whereas a trailer is too wide for most trails.

Storage and Transportation

If you don’t have a ton of storage space, a bike seat can make more sense than a trailer thanks to it’s smaller size.  Also, it’s easier to transport.  Generally, you can throw a bike on a car rack with a bike seat installed.  With a trailer, you’ve got to fold it down and hope it fits in the trunk.  

Bike Compatability

With both trailers and seats, bike compatibility can be an issue. On trailers, you can run into problems with the hitch on bikes that have a thru-axle on the rear wheel. You can always get an adaptor from Robert Axle Project, and some brands, like Burley, even sell their own.

With seats, the compatibility issues can be more challenging. While most seats will work on most bikes, those with step-thru frames and limited exposed seatposts can be an issue. Sometimes, you don’t know whether or not a seat will successfully mount until you try.

Expense

Finally, a bike seat is the cheaper option.  A top of the line bike seat might cost $250, while a top of the line trailer is at least double that.  

That said, consider the longevity. A bike seat doesn’t have much use after your child outgrows it. A trailer on the other hand can continue to be used for other purposes. The Burley D’Lite even has seats that are removable, so it can become a cargo trailer after your kids are too big. We’ve kept our D’Lite for years and use it for grocery hauling and even bikepacking with our dog!

Learn More About Biking With Young Kids

For even more options that aren’t trailers or bike seats, make sure to check out our article: 7 ways to haul kids by bike! 

• Ultimate Guide To Biking With Kids And Toddlers
• 7 Bicycle Safety Tips For Riding With Kids
• 10 Ways to Motivate Your Kids to Ride Bikes

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