Our little city stroller is great for popping into town but just isn’t cutting it along the uneven country lanes that comprise our school run so I have been looking forward to giving the ‘Urban Glide’ from Thule (www.Thule.com) a thorough test drive. Their website describes it as ‘an all-round sports stroller with a sleek and lightweight design making it perfect for urban mobility or jogging on your favourite path’ which sounds promising and as Thule is well known for its premium outdoor products we couldn’t wait to get started.
First Impressions
There’s virtually no assembly required once you have it out of the box which is always a relief and we were ready to go in a few minutes. There’s a manual as you’d expect but it was actually pretty intuitive and we didn’t really need to refer to it. It seems solid and robust with chunky tyres that look like they can handle a bit of off-roading.
Looks
While it doesn’t come in a variety of girly prints like so many modern strollers, I really like the Urban Glide’s functional good looks. The now ubiquitous 3 wheel style and elongated sun-shade give it a streamlined appearance. It is also available in a blue or grey colourway.
Size
With folded dimensions of 35 cm x 53 cm x 87.5 cm the Urban Glide is quite big so you might need to give some thought to where you will store it as probably won’t be something you can just prop up in an average hallway. I struggled to fit it in my boot (a VW Golf) in one piece but the back wheels pop off easily so that wasn’t a real problem in the end. Unfolded though, its size is just perfect for getting out and about comfortably, plenty of seat space, storage and leg room and the size of the wheel base makes it stable over uneven ground so it’s great for trips to the park or even woodland paths, bark or gravel. The swivelling front wheel means you still get a reasonable turning circle despite the size (the wheel can also be locked for stability when jogging).
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Overall the build quality is excellent. Everything moves/locks/fits exactly as it should and works smoothly. We’ve put a fair few miles on the Urban Glide over the summer on all sorts of surfaces and it’s held up perfectly. I get the impression this stroller will last as long as we need it.Folding
The Urban Glide has a one handed folding mechanism which makes it quick and easy to collapse although I do find it trickier to unfold unless I have both hands free.Ride & Comfort
This is where the Urban Glide is a big winner. The combination of proper tyres, wide wheelbase and suspension make for a really smooth ride. The seat can also be reclined flat easily with one hand when it’s time for a quick snooze. The five point harness gives extra security, particularly for smaller children. The soft grip ergonomic handle can be set to multiple levels which is particularly handy when you’re as short as me (5’1’’) or as tall as my husband (6’3’’). The big storage basket along with the little mesh pockets inside the sides of the seat are really useful. All these little things combine to make it feel like a little bit of luxury.
To go with the Urban Glide you can also get:
- Rain cover
- Mesh cover
- Snack tray
- Console with cup holder
- Car seat adapter
- Bassinet
Price
The Urban Glide retails for around £425 which, while not cheap, compares favourably with many other ‘quality’ brands. I think it’s a reasonable price considering how well made and easy to use it is.
Summary
Pros: Build quality, smooth ride, storage, adjustable handle, lockable front wheel.
Cons: Bulky when folded, limited colour options.
In Summary: A great quality, comfortable stroller with plenty of storage, if a little large when folded.
