REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Great ventilation
Low profile
REASONS TO AVOID
Small wheels
Not weather resistant
Poor hitch mechanism
Allen Sports Steel Review
For parents seeking an inexpensive and low-profile trailer for short trips around town, the Allen Sports Steel is a great place to start
Enjoying a slightly bumpy ride in the Allen bike trailer.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
RELATED: Best Bike Trailers of 2024
Our Verdict
The Allen Sports Steel is a basic bike trailer that impressed us with its efficiency and overall value but fell short in protection and passenger comfort. The trailer is small, lightweight, and low-profile, making it easy to tow and to tuck away at the end of the day. However, its bare-bones roll cage and unpadded seating area make it less safe and less comfortable than premium models. Overall, we would recommend the Allen Sports Steel for families who are looking to get out occasionally for short trips on paved roads. Beyond that, it doesn't pull its weight.
Editor's Note: This trailer has been updated since our review was published. Get the details below. We also revised this review with additional recommendations of what other bike trailers we like.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Allen Sports Steel | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Bike Trailer |  Best Bang for the Buck | |||
| Price | $130 List $139.99 at Amazon | $899.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $349.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $300 List $241.79 at Amazon | $190 List $149.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The Allen Sports Steel is a solid, affordable option for parents seeking an entry-level bike trailer for occasional in-town use | This model scored at or near the top of the pack in every metric we tested, providing unrivaled protection for passengers and outstanding versatility | The Bee is light and easy to use and delivers the durability and design quality Burley is known for at a bargain price | If you're willing to spend more for value, there are better options | The Take 2 is an inexpensive option for parents who want to roll with their kids but don't want to break the bank |
| Rating Categories | Allen Sports Steel | Burley D'Lite X | Burley Bee | Schwinn Echo | InStep Take 2 |
| Protection (30%) | |||||
| Passenger Experience (20%) | |||||
| Biker Experience (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Allen Sports Steel | Burley D'Lite X | Burley Bee | Schwinn Echo | InStep Take 2 |
| Converts to Stroller | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Number of Children | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Harness System | 3-point with lap belt | 5-point | 5-point | 5-point | 5-point |
| Weight | 26 lbs | 29.3 lbs | 20 lbs | 25 lbs | 24.5 lbs |
| Size Open LxWxH (inches) | 22" x 21" x 21" | 33.3" x 31.3" x 38.3" | 32.25" x 30" x 36" | 51.8" x 32.5" x 31.9"' | 31.5" x 32" x 31" |
| Size Folded- wheels removed LxWxH (inches) | 31" x 25" x 6.5" | 37" x 31.3" x 14.3" | 35.5" x 29.25" x 28.6" | 31.5" x 26" x 8" | 31.5" x 26" x 7" |
| Wheel Size (inches) | 16" | 20" | 20" | 20" | 16" |
| Access into trailer | Front and back | Front and back | Front and back | Front and back | Front and back |
| Cover Protection | 2-in-1 mesh and rain shield | 2-in-1 mesh and rain shield, adjustabe sun shade | 2-in-1 mesh and rain shield | 2-in-1 mesh and rain shield | 2-in-1 mesh and rain shield |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Comparison photos of the two versions; the Steel we tested is on the left, with the updated offering on the right.
Updated Since Testing
Allen Sports released an updated version of the Steel since our test period. The latest model has a larger clear window and now features padding on the seat belts. Our affiliate links point to the latest model, although we haven't tested it out yet.
Allen Sports released an updated version of the Steel since our test period. The latest model has a larger clear window and now features padding on the seat belts. Our affiliate links point to the latest model, although we haven't tested it out yet.
Performance Comparison
The Allen is a basic bike trailer that will get you and your family on the road easily and affordably, if not very comfortably.
This trailer's light weight and low profile makes it one of the easiest to tow on paved roads.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Protection
Like all of the trailers we tested, the Allen meets ASTM safety standards. Beyond that, it doesn't go as far as most of the other trailers we tested regarding safety features. Its roll cage is minimal, with no top or back framing, and the harness is three-point with a lap belt, rather five-point.
The Allen's interior. The three-point harness straps and lap belt are unpadded and feature carabiner-style clips, rather than the five-point buckle in most of the other trailers we tested.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
The Allen is extremely well-ventilated, making it an excellent choice for rides on warm days. There is no suspension in this trailer, so we wouldn't recommend using it to haul your kiddos over rough trails.
Passenger Experience
The Allen model offers a relatively no-frills passenger experience, but for short rides around town, it gets the job done. Our passenger testers appreciated that the front of this trailer unclips completely, allowing them to climb in all by themselves. The harness is unpadded and uses carabiner-style clips, rather than the more secure five-point harness and buckle found in most of the other trailers we tested.
Our passenger testers appreciated being able to step easily in and out of this model.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
For a more luxe passenger experience, we'd recommend checking out our Editors' Choice, the Burley D'Lite X.
Biker Experience
With its relatively light weight and small profile, the Allen Sports Steel was easy to tow and performed better than we expected in this category. We noticed only a little bit of lurching while riding, likely due to the spring in the tow arm, but didn't observe any other feedback. This model's main disadvantage in this category comes from its small wheels — at just 16" in diameter, these wheels were on par with the InStep Take 2 but were smaller than all the others we tested. The difference wasn't significant on smooth surfaces, but we had to expend more energy to tow this trailer off-road. The Schwinn Echo is in the same low-budget category as the Allen, but it has sturdy 20" tires. Other trailers that provided a better experience for the biker include the Burley D'Lite X and the Burley Bee.
Ease of Use
The Allen is straightforward to assemble, with frame tubes that snap together, held in place with D-clips. This process was tricky to get the hang of at first, resulting in some pinched fingers, but setup got easier with practice. The trailer attaches to the bike with a steel adapter that's clamped to the frame by the rear quick release skewer, as do all the trailers we tested. The hitch uses a male-female system so that the end of the trailer's tow arm slots over the protruding hitch. Of all the hitch types we tested, this was the least user-friendly.
Inserting the hitch into the tow arm required lining the trailer up perfectly with the bike, which often took several tries. We had to lean the bike over to get the angle of the hitch to match the tow arm, which is tricky to do with one hand and isn't conducive to keeping your hands clean if you're on your way to work. Most of the other trailers, including the Thule Chariot models, the Burley D'Lite models, and the Burley Bee, had hitches that were easier to line up and attach. As with all of the trailers we tested, the Allen's hitch may not work with every bike; for more on this, see our Buying Advice Guide.
Versatility
The Allen is a bike trailer only — no stroller options or other sport conversions are available with this model. The cargo space in this trailer was smaller than most of the others we tested, with a 22" by 7.5" cargo area footprint. The Allen's seats don't have the option to lie flat, like the ones in the Burley D'Lite models and the Hamax Outback, but they are positioned far back enough in the trailer that a medium-sized dog could curl up comfortably in the main compartment.
The Allen could handle hauling a full load of groceries, but only with no passengers.
Credit: Joanna Trieger
Should You Buy the Allen Sports Steel?
The Allen Sports Steel is a pared-down introductory bike trailer that will get you and your kids on the road without destroying your wallet. This is an affordable option for families who want to give bike trailers a try but aren't ready to invest in all the bells and whistles yet. It's light and small, so it's easy to set up and tow, but it's pretty basic on the inside, so not very cush for passengers. It is best suited to shorter trips on paved roads around town. This is a solid trailer for hauling kiddos or cargo, but probably not both at once. Exceptional ventilation and big windows make the Allen a good option for fair-weather climates.
What Other Bike Trailers Should You Consider?
If your plans include off-road travel, longer trips, or rides in inclement weather, then a slightly higher-end model like the Burley Bee is worth the investment. If you think you'll be using your bike trailer often, you might take a look at one of the premium models in our review, like the Burley D'Lite X, which is our favorite overall model. The Schwinn Echo has bigger wheels and a nicer harness setup than the Allen Sports Steel, but for a similar price we'd recommend the Burley Bee mentioned above, which is a superior product all around.
—
Joanna Trieger
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