Polisport Joy FF

The Polisport Joy FF is proof that you do not need to spend 140 euros to put your child safely and legally on the back of your bike. Polisport is a Portuguese manufacturer that has been making child seats for decades, and the Joy FF is their classic entry model: rear-rack mounting, three-point harness, footrests with safety straps and — crucially — certified to EN 14344 (the European safety standard for bicycle child seats). Suitable for children from 9 months to about 6 years with a maximum of 22 kg, matching the Thule, Bobike and Hamax. For anyone cycling to daycare only occasionally, or for a two-bike household that wants a spare seat for dad's bike, this is an honest, functional pick.

What you give up compared to the premium competition is comfort and adjustability. The harness is a standard three-point and yes, it fine-tunes less precisely than the Thule Yepp 2 Maxi five-point. The footrests adjust more simply. There is no reclining backrest like the Hamax Caress, so for a napping toddler this is not the best pick.

And the double-walled Bobike One Maxi design that blocks gusts is missing here too — the Joy FF is an open design. But in terms of core safety the seat does what it has to do, and at 3.2 kg it is also the lightest seat in this comparison, which is noticeable on an older city bike. In the Netherlands, where cycling with children is normal and helmets are not mandatory, the Joy FF is a fine option for parents who cycle occasionally, have a tight budget, or need a second seat. For daily, heavy cyclists it is a false economy — a Thule or Hamax pays off long-term.