Allen Sports Steel Review

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.

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 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.

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.

Best Applications

This is a great 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 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.

Value

At just $200, the Allen is one of the less expensive products we tested and offers a great value for families looking for their first taste of travel by trailer. However, the Schwinn Echo outperformed the Allen in a few key areas and it retails for less, so those set on a budget buy will likely find more value in the Echo. And 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.

Conclusion