Balance Bikes

I thought there was talk about different balance bikes a while back but I've looked and looked and can't find the thread I was thinking of.  So, for those of you who have a balance bike what do you have?  Pros/Cons? etc.  We're getting YDD one for her 2nd b-day so one that adjusts down small enough.  I'm leaning towards a wooden one but am open to others.  Like most things every one I look at has some good and some poor reviews.  I know there are some REALLY nice ones out there but we're hoping to stay around $100 (or less) if at all possible without totally sacrificing quality and being disappointed.  

I got dd the Radio Flyer one for Christmas.  We love all our RF stuff which is why I went with that brand, and because the price was great!  We haven't had it outside a ton yet, but they love to ride it around the house.  My ds is doing great on it.  I think he will be able to go on his pedal bike by summer without training wheels.  He had been using training wheels last summer and just wasn't gaining any confidence on his bike at all.  (I tried to get him a balance bike a couple years ago, but he refused to try it and wanted pedals like his dad)  My dd is also doing great on it.  She lifts both feet off the ground for several seconds just around the house.  The one negative about the RF bike is that it isn't the best for tiny kids.  My dd is really tall for her age so I knew she would be fine with it, but my friend's ds who is a few months older can't really use it yet.  He is really small for his age though.  I think you would have to have your kiddo try it out to see if she is tall enough for it.  It was $50 or so at Walmart I think.

Thanks everyone.  The Smart Gears was one I was looking at.  I think I'll keep my eyes open over the next few weeks to see if it shows up on Woot, Zulily, or somewhere.  I'll have to look at the Radio Flyer one and see if they have it in store locally anywhere so I can size YDD up on it.  The Runner's Bikes look really nice too.  I SO wish I could actually see more of these IRL and see DD on a few different kinds!!

anricat wrote: We have a Skuut and have been very happy with it. We're REI members and we used our annual 20% off coupon to buy it there. DD is 3 and she can ride a bike with pedals now without assistance. She's a little hesitant to do it, but she definitely can do it. I may have posted some video awhile back. I'll have to see if I can find it. It's pretty incredible.