Choosing a toddler trike is not always as simple as finding the one with the best-looking features. You need to think about how your child will use it, how often you'll need to carry it, whether you'll travel with it and how easy it is to steer and store.
Two popular options parents often compare are the smarTrike Wonder and the Doona Liki S1. Both are designed to give toddlers the freedom and fun of riding while still giving parents control when needed. Both are suitable for young children, both fold for easier storage and both can be used as children gradually develop more independence. But they are quite different in design.
The Wonder is an ultra-lightweight, highly manoeuvrable stroller trike designed for families who want something easy to take everywhere. The Doona Liki S1 is a larger, more substantial trike with a sturdy feel and a progressive design that allows children to gradually move towards independent riding. So which one is right for you?
We’ve compared the two across the features that matter most when choosing a trike, looking at the genuine advantages and disadvantages of each.
Both have clear advantages. The right choice will depend on whether you prioritise lightweight portability and manoeuvrability or a larger, more substantial feel and progressive riding experience.
Which trike is lighter: the Wonder or Doona Liki S1?
The smarTrike Wonder weighs 5.6kg, while the Doona Liki S1 weighs 6.7kg. That makes the Wonder 1.1kg lighter.
This is a meaningful difference when you're carrying a trike through an airport, lifting it into the car or carrying it home after your toddler decides they would rather walk. The Wonder is designed to be an ultra-lightweight trike that is easy for parents to pick up and carry. The Liki S1 is heavier, but that is partly because it has a larger, more substantial frame. Some parents prefer this. A heavier trike can feel more substantial and sturdy, particularly for parents who prioritise a solid-feeling product.
The trade-off is simple: the Wonder is easier to lift and carry and the Liki S1 is heavier and more substantial in feel.
Winner for portability: smarTrike Wonder
Winner for a more substantial feel: Doona Liki S1
Which trike is more compact?
Both trikes are designed to fold down for easier storage and transport, but they have different proportions.
The Wonder folds to 52 × 41 × 23.5cm
The Doona Liki S1 folds to 32 × 59.5 × 23.3cm (without the parent handle)
The Liki S1 is longer when folded, while the Wonder has a more compact overall shape. The best option will depend on your storage space, however both products will easily fit into most storage spaces, car boots, overhead compartments on trains or public transport or the cabin compartments on a plane.
Winner for compact everyday storage: Both
Image featuring Wonder Trike.
Which trike is easiest to fold?
This is one of the clearest differences between the two. The smarTrike Wonder folds in 3 stages and takes around 3 seconds. It is designed to move seamlessly from riding mode to carrying mode without needing to remove multiple components or work through a long sequence of steps you can simply fold the frame as it is. The Doona Liki S1 uses a 6-stage folding process which takes around 10 seconds to complete. The process involves removing the parent control bar, collapsing the canopy, folding the armrest, lowering the handlebars, folding the main frame and finally tucking the canopy into place. The Liki S1's folding system is not a flaw. It is simply more involved.
For some families, this will not matter. If you mainly fold your trike at home or only use it for short outings to the local park for instance, the extra steps may not be a major concern. But if you frequently fold your trike while travelling, moving through airports or dealing with a toddler who has suddenly decided they want to walk, the Wonder's 3-step fold is a significant advantage.
Winner for speed and simplicity: smarTrike Wonder
Which trike is easier to steer?
The smarTrike Wonder has patented 360° steering, with one-handed parent control and reverse motion. This makes it particularly easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. You can navigate shop aisles, busy pavements, cafés and narrow spaces without needing to make a wide turn or lift the front of the trike. The Wonder also includes a patented shock-absorbing front wheel for a smooth ride on any surface which is another huge advantage over other trikes on the market. This trike is designed similarly to a compact stroller making manouvability a core focus to make travelling easy and seamless for parents.
The Doona Liki S1 also offers parent control and is designed to give parents control during the earlier stages of riding. Its larger frame can give it a more substantial feel when pushing, which some parents may prefer. However, when it comes to changing direction and manoeuvring in tight spaces, the Wonder's 360° steering gives it a clear advantage as the more substancial frame makes it more difficult to make tight turns or bump up curves.
Winner for manoeuvrability: smarTrike Wonder
Is the Doona Liki S1 safer than the smarTrike Wonder?
This is a question many parents understandably ask. The Doona Liki S1 is a larger, more substantial-looking trike. Some parents may associate this with feeling sturdier or more secure, particularly if they prefer a product with a larger frame. That larger design can have advantages. It may feel more substantial when pushing and can give parents a sense of stability. However, bigger does not automatically mean safer.
The smarTrike Wonder is designed to stroller safety standards and includes a 5-point safety harness, removable safety bar, one-touch rear brake and shock-absorbing front wheel. Its lighter design does not mean it is flimsy. The Wonder has been specifically designed to combine the convenience of a lightweight compact trike with the safety features parents expect from a stroller.
So the difference is really about design priorities. The Liki S1 offers a larger, more substantial feel. The Wonder offers a lightweight design with stroller-style safety features and highly responsive manoeuvrability.
Our view: Parents should choose based on the safety features and design that best suit their family, rather than assuming that a heavier or larger trike is automatically safer.
Image featuring Wonder Trike.
Which trike is better for travel?
Both the Wonder and Liki S1 are designed with travel in mind and are carry-on approved. However, the Wonder has several advantages for families who travel regularly. It weighs 5.6kg and folds in around 3 seconds. This makes it easier to carry through an airport and faster to put away when moving through security or boarding a plane.
The Liki S1 is also compact and travel-friendly, but its heavier frame and more involved 6-stage folding process make it less convenient for frequent transitions. If you travel occasionally and prefer a larger, more substantial trike, the Liki S1 may work perfectly well. If you travel regularly and want something you can fold and carry quickly, the Wonder has the advantage.
Winner for travel convenience: smarTrike Wonder
Which trike is better for independent riding?
Both the smarTrike Wonder and Doona Liki S1 are designed to grow with your child and gradually give them more control over their ride. The main difference is the way they approach that journey.
The smarTrike Wonder has four stages: stroller mode, learning mode, trike mode and fold. It begins as a compact stroller trike, with the parent in control, before moving into learning mode where the pedals are introduced. As your child develops their confidence and ability, they can progress to trike mode, where they take full control and ride independently.
The Doona Liki S1 takes a slightly more gradual approach, with additional stages between being fully parent-controlled and riding completely independently. It progresses from parent mode to push mode, then to tricycle mode, before reaching bike mode, where the child can ride independently. This gives children more steps through which to develop their confidence and riding skills. Another advantage is the parent handle is adjustable making it easy for parents of different heights to use.
In many ways, the difference reflects the overall design philosophy of the two products. The Liki S1 is more like a traditional trike that gradually transforms as your child learns to ride, offering more stages along the way. The Wonder is more like a compact stroller-trike hybrid, prioritising a smooth transition from parent-controlled travel to learning to pedal and, ultimately, independent riding.
For parents who want the most gradual progression and like the idea of a traditional trike that changes through several stages as their child develops, the Doona Liki S1 has the advantage. The Wonder offers a simpler, more streamlined journey, while giving parents particularly easy control during the earlier stages thanks to its patented 360° steering, one-handed control and reverse mode.
Our verdict: Doona Liki S1 wins for its more progressive approach to independent riding, while the smarTrike Wonder is the better choice for parents who prioritise compact stroller convenience and effortless manoeuvrability during the earlier stages.
Image featuring Wonder Trike.
Which trike should you choose?
There is no single trike that is perfect for every family.
Choose the Doona Liki S1 if:
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You prefer a larger, more substantial-feeling trike.
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You like the idea of progressive riding stages.
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You want a higher maximum supported weight of 20kg.
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You prefer a trike that gradually moves towards independent riding.
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You do not mind a heavier frame or a more involved folding process.
Choose the smarTrike Wonder if:
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You want an ultra-lightweight trike at 5.6kg.
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You want a 3-stage fold that takes around 3 seconds.
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You want patented 360° steering.
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You want one-handed parent control and reverse mode.
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You travel frequently.
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You want a compact stroller trike that is easy to carry.
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You want a breathable mesh seat and stroller-style safety features.
What about the Doona Liki S5 and smarTrike Wonder Max?
This comparison is specifically between the smarTrike Wonder and Doona Liki S1. Doona also offers the Liki S5, a newer, more deluxe version of the Liki with additional features and accessories. In the same way, the smarTrike Wonder Max is the premium version of the Wonder, offering additional comfort features including a reclining seat.
Our honest verdict: smarTrike Wonder vs Doona Liki S1
The Doona Liki S1 is a good choice for parents who want a larger, more substantial-feeling trike with a progressive approach to independent riding. That design has genuine advantages. Some parents prefer a sturdier, heavier frame. Some like the feeling of a larger product beneath their child. And the staged approach to independent riding is appealing for families who want to gradually move from parent control to child-led riding.
However, the smarTrike Wonder wins in more of the areas that affect everyday convenience. It is:
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Lighter.
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Faster and easier to fold.
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Easier to carry.
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Easier to manoeuvre.
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Better suited to quick transitions.
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Designed with 360° steering and reverse mode.
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Carry-on approved.
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Compact without compromising on stroller-style safety features.
So while the Doona Liki S1 is a strong option for parents who prioritise a larger, more substantial feel and progressive riding stages, the smarTrike Wonder is our overall choice for families who want the most practical compact trike for everyday life and travel. And if you want the same lightweight, manoeuvrable concept with additional comfort and a reclining seat, the smarTrike Wonder Max is the premium option to consider. The best trike is ultimately the one that fits your family's lifestyle. But for parents who want something light, compact, easy to fold and exceptionally easy to steer, the Wonder has the edge.
