A lightweight bike trailer will make pulling a bike trailer significantly easier.
Bike trailers can weigh up to 40 lbs (or 18 kg), which can make it significantly harder to pull a bike trailer. Factoring in the weight of a child and cargo, the total weight being pulled ranges from 40 to 100+ lbs (or 18 to 45 kg).
One of the first things I noticed when I started riding with bike trailers was how heavy the trailer was! The weight of the trailer is an important consideration.
If you plan to do longer rides that entail hills and lots of stop-and-go riding, then a 20 lbs lightweight bike trailer is the way to go.
I explain exactly how hard it is to pull a bike trailer in this article, as well as give you some helpful tricks to make it easier.
What’s the best lightweight bike trailer?
A good lightweight bike trailer weighs under 25 lbs (11.3 kg) and costs less than $350. Bike trailers typically weigh from 20 lbs to 40 lbs. The best bike trailer for you depends on your budget and how you plan to use the bike trailer.
Here are the best 5 lightweight bike trailers that all weigh under 25 lbs. I’ve compiled this list with the price being an important factor for most people.
These trails are all exceptionally priced bike trailers.
With bike trailers, you generally get what you pay for. The more expensive the product, the better quality it will be. However, there are some bike trailers that break this rule by offering high-end features for a price point far below what you would expect.
If you need further help choosing a bike trailer, check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer.
| BIKE TRAILER | WEIGHT | PRICE | PROS | CONS |
Burley Bee | 20 lbs (9 kg) | Around $300 (check on Amazon) | – Affordable – Looks great – Lightweight | – No stroller conversion |
Thule Cadence | 22 lbs (10 kg) | Around $330 (check price here) | – Double seats – Large 20-inch wheels – Large interior space – Affordable for such a high-end brand | – No stroller conversion available – Frame and cover quality not as good as other Thule trailers – Cheap harness quality |
Thule Chariot Lite | 25 lbs (11.3 kg) | Around $1,000 for double (check on Amazon) | – Highest-quality materials – Suspension – Double front wheels – Lots of storage | – Cost – Complicated to assemble |
Schwinn Trailblazer | 24 lbs (10.8 kg) | Around $150 (check price here) | – Acceptable quality for a budget trailer – Double and single seats available – Stroller conversion available on double | – Lower quality materials (budget trailer) – No stroller conversion on the single-seater |
Burley Minnow | Weight: 21 lbs (9.5 kg) | Around $280 (check on Amazon) | – Affordable – Lightweight | – No stroller conversion |
1. Burley Bee
Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg)
Price: Around $300 (check on Amazon)
The Burley Bee is a well-designed, high-quality, lightweight, and budget-friendly bike trailer for frequent riders.
With the reputable Burley brand and high-quality materials, the Burley Bee is one of the best bang-for-buck trailers for anyone looking for a trailer that is just really good at being a trailer.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
- Looks great—Just a cool-looking trailer that might turn into a robot
- Lightweight—Weighs just 20 lbs, which is half the weight of some trailers
Cons
- No stroller conversion—stroller not available on this trailer
I wrote a full review of using the Burley Bee, which you can check out here.
2. Thule Cadence
Weight: 22 lbs (9 kg)
A lightweight minimalist trailer with the highest quality that Thule has to offer, the Thule Cadence is a steal of a deal at under $350.
If you want the high-quality materials and customer service of Thule without having to pay high-end prices, then the Thule Cadence is a solid option. It does not have the stroller conversion features that I would hope to see on a trailer int his price range, but it is a solid minimalist trailer with large wheels and large interior space.
Price: Around $330 (check price here)
Pros
- Double seats
- Large 20-inch wheels
- Large interior space
- Affordable for such a high-end brand
Cons
- No stroller conversion available
- Frame and cover quality not as good as other Thule trailers
- Cheap harness quality
3. Thule Chariot Lite
Weight: 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
Price: Around $1,000 for double (check on Amazon) and $900 for single (check on Amazon)
Best for active families who want the most out of their bike trailer, the Thule Chariot Lite is a top-of-the-line quality trailer that is worth every penny. Its large wheels and suspension feature make it a great option for gravel riding our mountain riding.
Although on the higher end of the price spectrum, the Chariot Lite is actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than its older brother, the Thule Chariot Cross. For that reason, the Chariot Lite makes the list of exceptional trailers and I would recommend it to someone looking for a trailer
Pros
- Highest-quality materials—Truly the best components on the market
- Suspension—Added comfort on rough terrain
- Double front wheels—Makes for an excellent stroller
- Lots of storage—It even comes with a pannier bag attached to the back
Cons
- Cost—It’s a top-of-the-line bike trailer and has suspension
- Complicated to assemble—It comes with a lot of attachments that are hard to understand at first
I wrote a full review of using the Thule Chariot Cross, which you can check out here.
4. Schwinn Trailblazer
Weight: 24 lbs (10.8 kg)
Price: Around $130 for single, (check on Amazon) or $200 for double (check on Amazon)
For budget-minded families that also want a bike trailer with great reviews, the Schwinn Trailblazer is hard to beat at under $150! There are two other noteworthy trailers that are in the same price range as the Trailblazer: the Instep and the Allen Deluxe.
The reason I would recommend the Schwinn Trailblazer over those two options is simply because of the quality. They just don’t have the same level of durability and safety features that the Trailblazer offers.
The Trailblazer also comes in a double-seat capacity and stroller conversion for around $200. You can check out that model on Amazon here.
Pros
- Acceptable quality for a budget trailer
- Double and single seats available
- Stroller conversion available on double
Cons
- Lower quality materials (budget trailer)
- No stroller conversion on the single-seater
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Trailblazer, which you can check out here.
5. Burley Minnow
Weight: 21 lbs (9.5 kg)
Price: Around $280 (check on Amazon)
A high-quality single-seat trailer at an affordable price, the Burley Minnow is recommended if you aren’t looking for a trailer that converts to a stroller.
Why get a single-seater?
You might be wondering why someone would want a single-seat trailer as opposed to a double-seater. Apart from the obvious reason that some families will only be carrying 1 child, the reason a single-seater is a good choice is simply because of weight. The weight of a bike trailer can make or break your riding experience.
For example, if you’re going on a longer ride or climbing lots of hills, then the Burley Minnow will really come in handy. Also, having a single child sit alone in a double-seater is not as comfortable due to the weight distribution.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
- Lightweight—Weighs just 22 lbs, which is half the weight of some trailers
Cons
- No stroller conversion—It’s a minimalist, lightweight trailer
Why even get a lightweight bike trailer?
When it comes to pulling bike trailers, the lighter the trailer the easier it will be on your legs.
The more weight you’re pulling behind you, the harder it will be on your legs. Pulling an additional 40+ pounds of weight (the bike trailer plus any precious cargo) is significantly more difficult than pulling just yourself.
Since average bike trailer weights can range from 20 to 40 lbs, the 20 extra pounds can make a big difference. Just imagine how it would feel riding if you suddenly put on 40 lbs of weight. Not easy!
But there’s good news! The good news is that pulling extra weight with a bike trailer is very different from adding extra body weight, because the center of gravity of the bike trailer is on the wheels of the trailer, and the weight on body weight is on your bike.
What makes a lightweight bike trailer light?
What do you sacrifice when you get a lightweight trailer?
There’s a reasons some bike trailers range in weight from 20 lbs on the lowest end to 40 lbs on the highest end.
Essentially, the reason lightweight trailers are light is that they are quite basic and minimalistic. For example, trailers that convert to strollers or have double-seat capacity are generally in the 30-40 lbs range, such as the Schwinn Joyrider.
The exception would be the Thule Chariot Lite mentioned above, which is surprisingly light for a trailer that has both stroller conversion and double seats. This is precisely why the Chariot Lite is considerably more pricey than other trailers on this list.
Most bike trailers that have stroller conversion and double seats weigh in 30+ lbs group, like the Schwinn Joyrider.
Even though the Joyrider is twice as heavy as some of the trailers on this list, it it is still my trailer of choice because of its comfort, large interior space, and stroller conversion at an affordable price range.
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Joyrider, which you can check out here.
Conclusion
Depending on your budget and how you plan to use the bike trailer, any of the lightweight bike trailers above will help to make the act of pulling a bike trailer easier.
Need help finding the right bike trailer?
If you need help finding the right bike trailer for you, my recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider, which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here. It’s heavier than other trailers, but your legs will thank you for it!
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer for more help with choosing a trailer. I also have compiled a list of the top bike trailers for every common situation, which you can check out here.
Ride on!
