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“It’s genuinely surprising how compact it becomes”: this folding trike is made for family travel

Find out how the Doona Liki Trike S5 performed when tested on holiday, school runs and everyday outings, including how easy it is to fold, steer and travel with.

Published: September 23, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Our Rating

4.3

A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.

GBP £269 RRP

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In a nutshell

A stylish, seriously compact toddler trike that’s brilliant for travel and smooth everyday outings, but less suited to uneven ground or toddlers who still need buggy naps.

What we tested

Overall Rating

4.3

A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.

Pros

Cons

The Doona Liki Trike S5 is a premium folding toddler trike designed for families who want something more engaging than a buggy for short trips, holidays and days out. It can be used in different stages as your child grows, with a parent handle for adult control, toddler handlebars for a sense of independence, and a compact fold that packs down into a carry bag for travel.

It sits in a different category to a lightweight travel buggy: less suitable for naps or rough ground, but potentially more fun for toddlers who want to feel involved on the move.

At £269, it sits at the higher end of the toddler trike market, particularly compared with more basic folding trikes. But it also offers a more travel-focused design than many rivals, with its small fold, carry bag and premium-feeling finish doing much of the work to justify that price. The key question is whether its portability, parent steering and smart design make it worth the investment for your family.

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About our parent tester Hannah tested the Doona Liki Trike S5 with her almost 2-year-old daughter Izzy during a 3-week holiday in Egypt, as well as on everyday school runs and park walks at home. This gave her the chance to test the trike for travel, portability, parent steering, comfort and everyday practicality.

Reviewer and baby in Doona Liki Trike S5

How easy is the Doona Liki Trike S5 to set up?

I found the Doona Liki Trike S5 easier to set up than I expected. I was slightly nervous about setting the trike up before the box arrived, as I'm not someone who enjoys spending ages figuring out baby or toddler gear.

Like most people, I went straight for a YouTube tutorial and after one watch, it became obvious there are really only a few steps to follow. It's practically ready to go straight out of the box.

Once you’ve done it once or twice, switching between the different stages is straightforward and doesn’t feel like a chore.

Handy tip: When attaching the parent handle make sure you open it first otherwise you won’t get the security clip in!

Unboxing Doona Liki Trike S5

How comfortable is the Doona Liki Trike S5 for a toddler?

There were no complaints from my daughter Izzy, other than the initial getting used to her feet being strapped into the pedals. She quickly realised this was necessary if she didn't want her feet dragging on the floor.

The seat is well padded and supportive, and the harness felt secure. However, if you have a larger child, you may find the shoulder straps harder to keep in position.

As it's a trike, it doesn’t have the same recline options as a buggy would have, so keep this in mind for sleepy toddlers, or those who maybe need a bit of quiet time.

Toddler in Doona Liki Trike S5

How easy is it to get your toddler in and out?

Very easy. You help your child get into the seat from above, and the harness is easy to adjust — just remember to put the side bars down before your toddler goes in, otherwise you won't get it over their head.

You could argue getting out was harder, but only because Izzy was having so much fun she didn’t want to come out!

Toddler in Doona Liki Trike S5 on holiday

How well does the parent steering work?

The parent steering works brilliantly on smooth surfaces and was one of my favourite features. It takes very little effort at all. I also found it easy enough for older siblings and grandparents to push on smooth surfaces.

Because of the handlebars, your toddler feels as if they're steering, which keeps them entertained, while the parent handle means you remain in control.

How does the Doona Liki Trike S5 handle different surfaces?

I think steering the trike on uneven ground is the trike's biggest limitation.

On smooth pavements, tarmac, and in shopping centres it handles like a dream. However, on rough, uneven paths and high kerbs it gets a lot more challenging and quickly became a point of frustration for me while we were in Egypt. I ended up having to lift the trike up and down kerbs because they were so high; I just couldn’t 'bump' it over them in the way I would with a buggy, as it started to feel unstable and at risk of tipping.

If most of your journeys involve smooth surfaces, you’ll love it. If you’re more of an off-roader, I’d recommend another mode of transport for your toddler if you don’t want to risk tipping.

Close-up of Doona Liki Trike S5 wheel

How useful are the different stages?

The different stages are genuinely useful and help the trike grow with your child.

What I particularly liked was that features can be removed gradually as your child becomes more confident. It helps bridge the gap between being pushed and becoming more independent.

At almost 2 years old, my child still benefited from the parent controls and safety features, but I can already see how we’ll adapt the trike as she grows. That flexibility helps you get more use from it over time, which goes some way towards justifying the price tag.

How easy is the Doona Liki Trike S5 to fold and unfold?

After a couple of tries, I was able to fold and unfold the trike in less than 2 minutes.

The folding mechanism is impressive, and it's genuinely surprising how compact it becomes. To be able to fit a really sturdy trike into such a small size is remarkable.

How practical is the Doona Liki Trike S5 for travel?

In terms of travel portability, it's excellent. It packs down easily and neatly into its carry case and can be worn on your back like a backpack.

Reviewer wearing Doona Liki Trike S5 as a backpack

It should fit into many luggage compartments, whether on a plane or train, although always check airline cabin baggage requirements before travelling.

It's also great for taking in the car if, like us, you're short on space and don't have room for a full-size buggy.

Reviewer and toddler in Doona Liki Trike S5 on train platform

Are the Doona Liki Trike S5 accessories useful?

The accessories aren't just there to look nice — they're genuinely useful.

The cup holder was probably my most-used accessory during our holiday. Having easy access to drinks in the heat was invaluable.

The storage bag was also surprisingly spacious. I could comfortably fit nappies, wipes, snacks and a few other essentials without feeling overloaded.

For short outings at home, it meant I could leave the changing bag behind altogether. It would also probably hold the rain cover, although I haven’t tested this so couldn’t say for sure.

How good is the canopy and weather protection?

The canopy works well for overhead sun protection and certainly provided some welcome shade during our time in Egypt. However, I do think the side coverage could be improved for families planning to use it on sunny holidays.

During particularly sunny parts of the day, I found the sun could still reach the sides of my toddler, depending on the direction we were walking. For UK use, this probably won't be a major issue, but if you're travelling somewhere very sunny, I'd recommend taking additional sun protection into account.

The canopy didn’t appear to be designed for wet weather protection, so for UK use I’d consider buying the separate rain cover (£40).

Close-up of canopy on Doona Liki Trike S5

What is the design and build quality like?

The build quality is excellent! Every component feels sturdy, durable and well-engineered. The handlebars, frame, harness and pedals all feel solid and premium. I don’t have any concerns about the folding mechanism deteriorating quickly, although this would need longer-term testing to absolutely confirm. I also think outgrowing the trike will be the reason we stop using rather than any breakage from use.

From a design perspective, it also looks fantastic. I've genuinely lost count of how many people stopped us to ask about it while we were away. It's one of the most stylish toddler travel products I've ever used.

Can the Doona Liki Trike S5 replace a buggy?

For me, the Liki Trike doesn’t fully replace a buggy, but sits somewhere between a lightweight pushchair and a traditional trike.

Compared to a pushchair, it's lighter, more compact and much more engaging for toddlers. Children feel involved rather than simply being pushed around.

However, it can't completely replace a buggy if your child still naps regularly, needs a full recline, requires more substantial sun and weather protection, or if you frequently tackle rough terrain.

I don’t have much experience with traditional trikes, however its folding ability really is a standout feature. Most travel trikes I have seen simply aren't this compact or easy to transport.

Doona Liki Trike S5 in carry bag in car and at home

Is the Doona Liki Trike S5 worth the money?

I’m not someone who usually splurges on toddler products, as children grow so quickly and don’t always handle things with care. But after several weeks of use, I can understand the price tag. You are paying for exceptional engineering, clever design, high-quality materials and excellent portability.

If, like me, you’re expecting it to replace a pushchair entirely, you may be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a stylish, practical travel trike that your toddler will genuinely enjoy using, the Doona Liki Trike S5 delivers.

For our family, particularly with short trips, days out and regular school runs, it’s been a fantastic addition. It isn’t perfect, but it’s one of those products that makes everyday life a little bit easier and a lot more fun — and who wouldn’t want that?

Where can I buy the Doona Liki Trike S5?

It is available from Doona, Very, Boots, Argos and Amazon

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What’s in the box?

2 pictures of Doona Liki Trike S5 folded

MadeForMums verdict:

After testing the Doona Liki Trike S5 for just over 2 months, I can hand on heart say it made outings more enjoyable by reducing toddler pushchair battles. My almost 2-year-old daughter loved feeling independent and 'in charge', while I appreciated being able to steer and guide her using the parent handle.

Its biggest strengths are its incredibly compact fold and portability, stylish design and how much fun Izzy had using it. It's made travelling light that little bit easier to achieve — and as a family of 5, that's pretty important.

That said, don’t make the same mistake I did initially and assume it can replace a pushchair in all situations. It excels on smooth pavements and travel-friendly routes, but it’s less suited to uneven terrain and high kerbs.

While it's a fantastic alternative to a buggy for active toddlers, it won't replace one entirely if your child still relies on naps or needs more substantial sun protection.

It's best suited to families looking for a stylish, high-quality trike that will grow with their child, give toddlers a sense of freedom and make life easier for parents who are often on the move.

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Authors

Hannah Hassan

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