Burley D’Lite X child trailer review

Annie and her family, who are new to the Cycle Sprog review panel, got in touch about their upcoming family cycling holiday to Scotland to see if Cycle Sprog had any of the models listed in our best kids' bike trailers buyers guide available for them to use.

We were excited when Burley agreed to send us their Burley D'Lite X child trailer for the family to review. How would it cope with bikepacking in Scotland?  How would it compare against other bike trailers and would it get the seal of approval from our testers?

Would this premium child trailer thrive in the Scottish spring weather, and would it keep 2-year-old J happy both on this trip and his other family cycling adventures?

Disclosure: Cycle Sprog were sent the Burley D'Lite X child trailer 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.

Burley D'Lite X child trailer review

About our reviewers

I’m Annie and I’ve been cycling since my university days. I am a (very) amateur triathlete and sportive rider, so have spent a lot of time on carbon fibre racing bikes. My husband and I have also enjoyed cycle touring in the North of England, Scotland and France. After buying a gravel bike to be my commuter/child transporter, I have found myself exploring some off-road trails too.

Becoming a mum has brought a new chapter to my cycling life. I have enjoyed bringing my little boy along with me on local rides, commutes and cycling holidays to the Scottish Isles. 

We received the trailer to review just before our son's second birthday and with a summer of cycling ahead of us.

The first thing I noticed about the trailer was how aesthetically pleasing it was!

It looked smart and modern and I loved the sage green colour - I hadn’t seen another trailer on the market like it.

I did notice that the flag was on the left-hand side of the trailer (probably due to the brand being American) but this was easily changed using a spanner and an Allen key.

The trailer looked roomy inside, the child’s seat looked comfortable and the net pockets on the inside looked great for drinks, snacks and toys.

I also loved the extra storage room in the back which can be used to carry groceries, extra gear and more snacks!

There wasn't much assembly of the trailer needed, and the instructions were simple to follow.

Hitching the Burley D'Lite X child trailer

The trailer was (even for someone who isn’t very mechanically minded!) simple to fit to my bike.

After referring to Cycle Sprog's guide to how to hitch a bike trailer I knew I also needed a replacement thru axle for my bike, which I also received from Burley.

There was lots of advice online and lots of useful videos on YouTube for when I got stuck! But the trailer hitch was simple to attach to the replacement thru axle and we were ready to go!

Folding, storing and transporting the Burley D'Lite X child trailer

I found that, with a bit of practice, the trailer folds up easily, although if the frame is cold it takes a bit more work. Again, with practice, it folds down easily too. Like with prams, it takes a bit of practice to get used to the knack and how to easily fold and unfold it.

The wheels come off easily, although it is important to check they are on properly to prevent losing a wheel mid ride!

I found it easy to get in and out of the car, and it folds relatively flat (roughly 38cm in height), which is great for storage and transportation. 

First ride with the Burley D'Lite X child trailer

Our first ride was a happy one! Our son initially had some reservations about being strapped in (he doesn’t like to be contained) but settled as soon as we got moving.

The one-click, 5-point harness system is quite straightforward to use. The straps can be adjusted quickly with the child in position.

It’s obvious that Burley has really considered the child’s comfort; there are three different angles the seat can be set to, plenty of room for elbows and shoulders, and the windows allow the child to have a panoramic view while on the road. 

The trailer attracted a lot of positive attention from drivers and pedestrians. There was lots of smiling and waving, and I found drivers gave me more passing space than normal - I was surprised to discover that I’d never felt safer on the road.

I did find pulling the trailer quite the workout! However, this trailer is competitive weight-wise with its counterparts on the market.

Burley D'Lite X child trailer in use

During our time with the trailer, we used it for commuting, running errands, days out and a cycling holiday on the Outer Hebrides.

The trailer is completely waterproof, which means our child stays warm and dry even when I am wet and cold!

There’s no doubt that cycling with the trailer can be hard work, especially in a headwind. We leave extra time for journeys, as our average speed does drop with the trailer. 

We find the trailer rides smoothly on bumpy and uneven terrain, which our child doesn’t seem to react negatively to. This is probably due to the comfortable seating and adjustable suspension, which can be altered depending on the load or the terrain. This is a premium feature we think was brilliant on the trailer, and would recommend to families planning regular off-road and pothole-y riding. 

As our child gets older, we will be able to adapt the straps to keep him safe and secure as he grows. The trailer has plenty of legroom so we aren’t concerned that he will outgrow it while he is still a passenger. The maximum weight advised for a child is 18kg, by which stage we really hope he will be self-sufficient on a bike!

Our child naps in the trailer and he will continue to sleep when we stop moving. I don’t think he looks particularly comfortable sleeping in the trailer, though. We felt there could be a little more neck support, as his head tends to flop over to one side. As a result, we found he didn’t sleep as long as he would in a pram or his car seat.

We have found that on bigger days out, he will have several shorter naps instead of one long one.

The retractable sun shade means that we can avoid the sun shining on his face, and the trailer’s design allows air into the front of the trailer through a mesh panel, and a back window allows air to flow through. These can be modified as required to keep him from being too hot or stuffy, which helps lengthen naps. 

Quality of the Burley D'Lite X child trailer

We’ve cycled between 300-400 miles with the trailer so far in all weather conditions. Despite this, the trailer has maintained its fresh look.

The floor mats are removable which means that the inside is easily cleaned. We have cleaned it using a damp cloth and have used Milton spray on the inside for toddler-related mess. The removable and washable seat cushions have also helped with this. 

We think the trailer will continue to hold up well over the years and from looking online at second hand options, they hold their value well.

The tyres feel durable, though we have had a few punctures, so we would recommend always taking spare inner tubes, a pump and a puncture repair kit on every ride. Walking to the closest bike shop pulling a bike, trailer and toddler is not a fun experience, so don’t get caught out like me!

Day-to-day riding with the Burley D'Lite X child trailer

Due to the fantastic viewing windows, J is usually kept entertained by looking out the window.

I can often hear him shout ‘tractor!’, ‘digger!’ or ‘baby cow!’ when we are cycling along.

For our longer rides, we also give him a selection of books and toys (mainly tractors) if he needs some other stimulus. We also ensure we have a good supply of snacks with us to keep him happy.

We are also mindful of nap times. While cycle touring with the trailer, we try and get a good chunk of our riding done when J is asleep.

We try not to keep him in too long and make sure he’s had a good run around in between stints in the trailer. 

J loves to climb into the trailer himself. The parking brake on the back allows this to happen safely and the trailer can be loaded/unloaded without it rolling away. The back of the trailer also has attachments for rear lights if you are riding in the dark or dusk. 

Burley D'Lite X child trailer in stroller mode

The trailer comes with one stroller wheel for ‘one wheel stroller mode’ which has a tool-free adjustment and doesn’t require travelling with extra parts. The arm that attaches the trailer to your bike shortens to make the trailer in stroller mode more compact and easier to steer.

We have used it on a few occasions but found it quite clunky and hard to manoeuvre. We perhaps thought that it would function better if the tow bar could be shortened even more than currently possible to make this easier. 

If you want to use the trailer in stroller mode often or want to run with it, I have spoken to other people who prefer using the ‘two wheel stroller mode’ and ‘jogging mode’, which requires buying (and carrying) other parts. You can even buy little skis for it! Burley's trailer accessory range and replacement parts are extensive. 

Thoughts from the Sprogs

I have found that people are interested in the trailer and will often ask about it and whether or not I’d recommend it.

While on the ferry to Barra, we came across people photographing our trailer as they loved the look of it! 

Our son loves the Burley Bee D’Lite X. He asks to get in it every day and jumps in and shouts ‘GO!’ before I’m ready for the off.

When we finish our journey for the day, he will continue to sit in the trailer and enjoys climbing in and out of it when it’s sitting in the garden. 

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• Best kids bike trailers
• How do I pull a child’s bike behind my bike?
• Cube Kids Trailer Double CMPT- rider review
• Best electric longtail cargo bikes to carry kids
• How to start cycling with a small child in a bike seat, cargo bike or trailer
• Trailers & towing
• How to hitch a bike trailer- a simple guide