Thule Urban Glide 2 Review

Thule (Too-La) was founded by Erik Thulin in Sweden. The company started in 1942 making gear for fishermen. As the years went on they began making products for outdoor lovers and their families. The goal of the products was to improve adventures by making it easier to transport outdoor gear. Thule continues to increase their product lineup with over 70 years of experience and knowledge to draw from including strollers, roof racks, luggage boxes and racks, bike racks, and trailers.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Urban Glide 2 is easy to use with a performance that outshines much of the competition.

While it lacks certain features like a parent tray or cup holder, parents can purchase these features as accessories if they feel strongly that they are non-negotiable.

Fold and Unfold

The Urban Glide 2 only requires one hand to fold, though two will make it more comfortable. It has a slide and twist unlock under the seat (above left) to initiate the fold. It has an automatic lock (above right) and a new compact fold that pulls the rear wheels in.

Brakes

The Urban Glide 2 has easy to use single action brakes with an easy to use extra-wide pedal (above left). This stroller also has a deacceleration handbrake (above right) that twists forward to slow the stroller.

Storage

The Urban Glide 2 has a large storage bin with a waterproof zippered cover (above left) that prevents items from falling out. The basket has rear and side access and holds our large diaper bag with a max weight capacity of 10 lbs. This stroller also has a mesh pocket on the seat back large enough for a good size water bottle and cell phone. Passengers have two easy to access mesh pockets for sippy cups and snacks.

Sunshade

The Urban Glide 2 has a nice canopy with pop-out visor, a zipper panel for more coverage and ventilation. It has a vinyl peek-a-boo window with magnetic closure on the cover that is easy to see through. The entire shade rotates forward for protection from head-on sun or wind.

Harness

The Urban Glide 2 has a cool 5-point harness that virtually pops open on its own when you press the button. The harness goes on easily and has straps that fit the shoulder and waist with a single pull. It has adjustable shoulder and crotch straps making it easier to fit the harness with wiggly little ones in the seat.

Seat

The Urban Glide 2 has a sling style seat with a non-adjustable padded leg rest that slopes down to a narrow footrest. There is a one-handed plastic toggle to adjust the recline angle of the seat back which lays flat enough for napping comfort. Once reclined, the seat has additional covered ventilation at the top for added airflow.

Car Seat Compatibility

The Urban Glide 2 works with a variety of infant car seat brands with the use of optional adapters. The Thule Urban Glide Car Seat Adapter for Chicco is designed to work with the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat. The Thule Car Seat Adapter for Maxi Cosi works with some options from Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex including the Cybex Aton 2. This combination is a great choice as the Aton 2 has impressive crash test results and the click-in attachment is preferable over the strap on attachment method of their universal adapter. The Thule Infant Car Seat Adapter works with several popular seats including the UPPAbaby Mesa and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 (both award winners), and others by Graco, Britax, Bob, and Safety 1st. This somewhat universal adapter requires a secondary strap step that we worry parents will skip or forget.

Ease of Setup

This stroller is simple to assemble with only the rear wheels to add to the already assembled stroller. It took just over 5 minutes for us to build the Urban Glide 2 using the multi-language manual. The directions take a few pages to start and the illustrations are clear and easy to follow.

Maneuverability

With air-filled rubber tires and a swiveling front wheel, this trike design offers impressive maneuverability.

The Urban Glide 2 has a locking swivel front wheel that works well in tight spaces or locks for running or more control over bumpy roads. The wheels are larger and work well over almost any terrain managing tight spaces with ease before seamlessly transferring to the gravel and grass of the great outdoors. No matter what your day brings, this Thule will move smoothly over it like a dream.

Weight and Folded Size

The Urban Glide 2 is one of the heftier options with a weight of 24.4 lbs. It is also bulky in comparison to true full-size strollers measuring 15,388 cubic inches.

While its weight is about average, the overall folded size is about 3,000 cubic inches larger than the average making it harder to fit it into smaller cars and spaces. It is, however, on the lighter side compared to its jogging brethren.

Quality

The Urban Glide is a quality choice with a sleek look and inspired design.

The Thule has a sturdy aluminum frame, tight well-strung durable fabric with strong connection points. The fit and finish are easy on the eye with high attention to detail and no manufacturer defects we could see. It sports few exposed connection points and a seamless connection of fabric to the frame.

Manufacturer Video

Accessories

Thule has several accessories to use with the Urban Glide 2 that could make daily use easier.

• Thule Snack Tray — This tray is good for snacks and a possible drink and is accessible to buckled passengers. The tray rotates for easy passenger access to the stroller seat and is easy to attach and remove. You will need to remove the tray for folding and storage.

• Thule Car Seat Adapters —
  
  A car seat adapter is mandatory if you plan to stroll with your infant which can extend the life of your stroller. Thule offers two car seat adapters that work with a variety of car seat brands.

• Thule Mesh Cover —
  
  This mesh cover is made specifically for the Thule and is a good addition for hot weather, sun, wind and bug control without inhibiting airflow. If you live in a bug happy climate, you'll want to add this accessory to your must-have list.

• Thule Rain Cover —
  
  The rain cover is fully clear draping over the stroller to deflect rain, snow, and wind without impeding their view of the world going by. If you plan to run or stroll regularly, rain or shine, this is a must-have product.

Other Versions

Thule makes one other single seat stroller. This stroller shares much in common with the Urban Glide 2 but it really is better suited for the jogging it was designed for.

• Thule Glide 2 — In many ways, the Glide 2 is similar to the Urban Glide 2 but without the superior maneuverability of the swiveling front wheel. This makes the Glide 2 less desirable as a primary stroller because it needs more space to make turns and struggles to negotiate crowded spaces. While the fixed wheel is suitable and often preferable for runners, it can't compete with the Urban Glide 2 for maneuverability.