Woom vs Guardian Bikes - Which is the Better Bicycle for Kids?

As a parent, it can be difficult to decide which bicycle is best for your child. Different bikes come with different features and prices that can make the decision even more challenging. When it comes to choosing between two of the most popular kids’ bikes on the market – Woom and Guardian Bikes – there are several factors to consider.

I recently had the opportunity to test out both of these bikes and I will be sharing my thoughts on each one, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. This should give you a better idea of which bike is the best fit for your child’s needs.

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You can find our full review of the 20″ Guardian Bike here and the 26″ Woom6 Bike we are comparing here. below.

Comparing Woom and Guardian Bicycles

When it comes to comparing the Guardian bike with the Woom bike I had to take into consideration a couple of things. The Guardian Bike I tested was 20″ while the Woom was 26″.

The only two differences between Guardian’s 20″ and 26″ bikes are weight and the addition of one more speed on the gear shifter. The 20″ is 22.9 pounds with 6 speeds versus 26.8 pounds and 7 speeds for the 26″.

Bike Aesthetics

The Woom bike is clearly more traditional or even has a neutral aesthetician with no semblance of the whimsical or colorful. Available frame colors of blue, gray, red, and green are bold with white accents and lettering.

The Guardian bike, on the other hand, has a more youthful look with neon accents that appeal to children. Guardian also offers only three frame color choices of black/pink, black/blue, green, and gray/white/green.

The verdict: The Guardian has a more vibrant, fun look for children while the Woom is more subtle and mature-looking.

Functionality

The function, safety, and user-friendliness have both stylistic and engineering differences. As far as function, the handlebars, gear shifter, and kickstands take vastly different approaches.

Handlebars

Guardian handlebars look more like the classical plastic cover most children’s bikes sport. Nothing too fancy here.

The Woom, however, has an ergonomic handle that can be adjusted up/down for better reach and fit. This functionality makes the handling of this bike feel more natural on the grip and how the upper body experiences the bike.

Gear Shifter

The gear shifters work similarly with the more modern twist control. Here I would point out that the function of the Guardian shifter far outshines the Woom. It just turns and clicks as it shifts so much more smoothly.

The Woom feels like it might break a plastic gear at times because of how much tension is required to shift it.

The other major difference between the two bicycles is the Guardian is a 7-speed and the Woom is a 8-speed.

Kickstand

Then there are the kickstands. The Guardian places its kickstand just behind the pedal so that the pedal can position itself to make the kickstand harder to access but gives it the stability of leaning itself closer to the bike’s center of gravity.

The Woom places the kickstand much further back for ease of access but makes the front a little

more unstable as a result.

The verdict: I feel the Guardian is still the better bike in terms of function, well-functioning gear shifter, and stability, but the more ergonomic handlebar adjustments and ergonomics of the handle on the Woom are definitely laudable.

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Safety

Helmets

Safety is a very important consideration when it comes to letting your children hop on a bike and ride down a trail or road. To this end, I want to focus on the helmet and the brakes.

The helmet that we received with the Guardian is one the child has no problem wanting to wear. A fun, cartoony character that adds to the whimsical look of the bike, making it fun to wear the most important safety equipment on the bike.

Woom understands its’ rider is not the kind that wants to wear some cartoony character on their head and goes jet black with white lettering. This means there is no aversion to wearing it. But it still takes reminding. I cannot gripe about that, however, as the trouble is the general moodiness of youths, not the helmet. If anything, the manufacturer’s design choices aid this in making it pleasant looking without adding any possible embarrassment or specific aesthetician hindrances.

I cannot speak to the effectiveness of either helmet as neither child has taken a spill on the bike requiring the helmet’s protection, thank goodness. But that also speaks to the balance and stability of both bikes.

Brakes

The brakes on these bikes are very comparable as they both utilize the handlebar brake and do not utilize pedal brakes. One thing worth mentioning here in this regard is the trouble of teaching a child how to use this style when he or she is used to pedal brakes.

When we upgraded to these bicycles, this brake style was new for both of my children. It took several attempts for the to learn to brake this way as their natural inclination to stop is to backpedal rather than grab levers on their handlebar.

However, one feature of the Guardian braking system I really like makes this transition easier. The SureStop Brake System on the Guardian actually activates both brakes at once with a single squeeze, meaning that less coordination and skill is required to learn the new system. Plus this prevents children from accidentally engaging only one brake and overbalancing causing them to be thrown over the handlebars.

The brakes on the Woom bike are independently operated by the front and rear brakes. Both of these operate smoothly and reliably, however, it requires a bit more coordination to learn how to activate both brakes at the same time.

The verdict: The Guardian wins here with the SureStop brake system, which makes it easier and safer to learn how to brake.

Frame

Both bicycles have a lower entry and lower seat position than other bikes, making them easier to mount and dismount. The frame design on both also has a low center of gravity, which makes them more stable to ride.

Both bikes have durable aluminum frames that can take on the street or trail terrains they will most likely encounter. The Guardian frames are slightly heavier than the Woom, however, the weight is not enough to make a significant difference in ride quality.

The verdict: It’s a tie here as both frames are built for durability and stability with low center of gravity design. The Woom is the lightest bike I’ve ever owned. It’s a breeze to move or put on a bike rack. My child that rides it also noted this as a positive feature.

Ease of Adjustment

Children change radically all of the time and so it seems adjustments are constantly taking place. Making necessary adjustments is a breeze with both bikes so what I am about to mention is getting down to the nitty-gritty.

The Guardian bike’s clamps are a little tighter and also more secure. So while the adjustable parts are more secure, the adjusting takes a little more elbow grease to loosen and tighten back down.

With the Woom, however, my son can do it easily enough. And while it is easier and doesn’t seem as tightly secure, we have not had anything slip out of place during normal use of the bicycle. The front wheel is also easily removable from the Woom frame, which makes it easier to transport.

The verdict: The Woom bike wins here as the adjustments are easier for a child to make and the front wheel is more easily removable.

Price

The Guardian 20″ is the least expensive of the two, costing $399. The 26″ Guardian is $549. Little Family Adventure can save money when buying through our affiliate links here and get these for as low as $319 and $399 respectively.

The Woom6 26″ bike comes in at $699.

Both bikes also have additional accessories that can be added on depending on your child’s needs, style and riding ability.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, I would have no qualms recommending either bike. Both bikes are well-built. The Guardian may be the more budget-friendly option, but you don’t sacrifice quality. The Woom is a bit pricier, but it’s lighter and offers better ergonomics with its adjustable handlebar.

Each of these bikes has its own unique advantages that will make them perfect for different types of riders. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when selecting the best bike for your child.

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Woom vs Guardian Bikes – Which is the Better Bicycle for Kids?

Comparing Woom and Guardian Bicycles

Bike Aesthetics