Austrian brand woom is fast growing in popularity for a reason, and in this woom OFF AIR 5 review we'll be looking in detail at what makes their top-of-the-range mountain bike so good.

We have reviewed and LOVED many woom bikes, so when our 8-year-old tester wanted to ride off-road, tackling mountain bike trails and pump tracks, we were excited to hear his verdict of this high-end children's mountain bike.

With top-of-the-range components and an air-sprung suspension fork, this 24-inch wheel mountain bike is ideal for children aged 7-11, who are looking to develop their off-road skills on a lightweight, high quality bike.

Disclosure:  Cycle Sprog were sent the woom OFF AIR 5 to review. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links, so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

 woom OFF AIR 5 review

About our reviewer

Our test rider was 8.5 years old and 140cm at the time of review. He has previously ridden the Orbea MX20 XC and Frog MTB 62, enjoying a mixture of off-road, mountain biking and pump track riding. 

For some, this may be a new name in the kid's bike world, others may be already up to speed with this high-end Austrian brand. Either way their prominence has been growing in the UK for a while now and they are happily establishing themselves at the sharp end of the kid's bike world. woom (yep no capital) is a brand with its sights firmly set on making the best kids' bikes out there. 

They describe their mission as "...to create products of such exceptional quality that they provide children and their parents with unforgettable experiences", which clearly implies that they are going to be pretty fancy bikes with a high price tag, but they do want their bike to "bring joy into the lives of as many children as possible rather than to a single owner".

Is woom the new Islabike? We definitely think so - woom are just as well made, and designed with performance and longevity in mind. 

Started by two dads, woom now sells internationally and has established itself as one of the top kid's bike brands in the world. 

They make bikes for a range of age groups, finding their way onto many of our lists of recommendations, from the best balance bikes all the way up to the best 26" kids' bikes. Read our comprehensive guide to woom kids' bikes for more.

Whilst the 'Original' series of woom bikes aim to be all-rounders, the 'Off' label is added to indicate off-road intentions, while 'Air' refers to having an air-sprung suspension fork. 

The number relates to the size of the bike, which in the original series goes from 1 (balance bike) to 6 (26-inch wheels). The Off range goes from size 4 to size 6. Very simply, a higher number equals a bigger bike. 

Our test bike is a 24-inch mountain bike with a suspension fork. It comes in at £999.00, which needs at least a moment to consider, but as with many high-end kids' bikes, the resale price will remain high, which is good, but only if you have a grand to spare in the first place.

There is a lot to digest with the spec of the Off Air. First up is the frame's lightweight, high-quality 6061 T6 aluminium. This is coupled with an aluminium air-sprung suspension fork from RST. Now, where many kids' bikes have a 'suspension fork' strapped to the front, they tend to do little more than add weight. This however is truly a child-specific fork, which can be tuned to rider weight and has all the features of a 'proper' adult fork such as a bolt-thru axle, damping adjustment and a lockout switch.

Riding the woom OFF AIR 5

Bike angles determine the feel and function of how it rides and for woom, they have kept things pretty neutral and created an all-round performer. While some kids' brands are borrowing head angles from enduro bikes, the Off Air 5 keeps things conservative and gives the bike a manoeuvrable and agile feel. Easy to turn on the spot, though not the same confidence if you point things steeply downhill! 

If your rider is looking for downhill performance, there are brands making mini mountain bikes that offer more out-and-out performance over rough or steep terrain. 

The Off Air 5 is light, very light, and it is always a joy to watch a child easily pick up and manoeuvre a bike. The low standover height meant even at the lower end of the height range my tester got on with the bike happily, and has very literally grown into it over the winter months. 

Overall verdict

Many bikes claim to be the best, but this one really could be. It feels like every detail has been considered in producing this extremely versatile, fun and confidence-inspiring bike. It's a lot of money, but a bike of this calibre was always going to be.

Alternatives to the woom OFF AIR 5

There isn't a huge range of choice of mountain bikes with suspension in the 24-inch wheel size. But if this is the size of your child, we can't recommend enough getting the right size bike rather than a larger bike they'll grow into. A bike that is too big won't inspire confidence on off-road terrain, and is more likely to scare them.

Our best 24" wheel kids' mountain bikes buyers guide is a great place to find more suggestions.

The Orbea 24 and the Cannondale 24" kids ranges are good, with more budget-friendly options. A Frog MTB 62 is an option if you are looking for air suspension and high quality components at a slightly cheaper price.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• Bikes for teenagers and small adults
• woom kids bikes- a comprehensive guide.
• Buying a kids mountain bike; things you need to know
• The best family bike rides in the Lake District, Cumbria
• The best 24" kids Mountain Bikes
• Bike helmets for teenagers
• Cheaper alternatives to Islabikes
• 12 things you need to know before buying a kids bike