The Swedish company Thule (you’ve probably seen the name on their roof luggage racks) has broken into the baby gear market and is now making some very popular jogging strollers (see also: best jogging strollers).
For those of you buying this stroller after making a New Year’s resolution to jog more, but end up not following through, it’s ok — it’s great for regular strolling too!
The Urban Glide 2 (not to be confused with the fixed-wheel jogging-only Glide 2 — see below) weighs 25.3 lbs and has an adjustable, ergonomic handle that works for short and tall parents alike.
At the same price point as the similar BOB Revolution Flex, the lightweight Urban Glide 2 is easy to run with and maneuvers well over both smooth and bumpier terrain. It also comes in a double version (Thule Urban Glide 2 Double Stroller) for $699.
Seat/Car Seat
The Urban Glide 2 has a super sweet sling-style seat (try saying that 5 times fast!) with a padded leg and foot rest. You can operate the recline on this stroller with one hand, and it lays flat enough for little nappers to snooze comfortably. There are ventilated windows at the top of the seat that can be covered up in chilly weather.
The seat has a padded 5-point harness with adjustable shoulder and crotch straps. Please note: the harness requires two hands to release, so it’s a bit trickier to take off than some others (but also harder for your kid to escape!).
Thule makes a “universal” car seat adapter (which fits many popular infant car seat models) as well as brand specific adapters for Chicco (KeyFit and KeyFit 30) and Maxi Cosi/Cybex/Nuna.
Canopy, braking, storage, accessories
The canopy is large (love it!) and has reflective edges (for nighttime/early morning running) and a vinyl peekaboo window with a magnetic closure for spying on your child.
It has a twisty hand brake to help control speed on hills and a large wire pedal foot brake in the middle of the rear axel. The foot brake is designed to be easy to flip up with the top of your foot, so it won’t destroy your pedicure when you engage it during sandal season.
As for cargo, the Urban Glide 2’s large basket can easily fit a full diaper bag. Best of all, it has a weather-proof zippered cover to keep your stuff clean and safe inside the basket. This storage situation really sets it apart from Bob et al.
As for additional accessories, the Urban Glide 2 comes with a safety wrist strap that you can move to either side of the handle; its wheels also have reflective rims in case you’re out for an evening jog. If you really want to pimp your ride, you can buy a mesh cover, a rain cover, and a snack tray. The parent organizer is really cool — it stays attached to the back of the seat, so it doesn’t flop around when you adjust the handlebar.
Wheels/Suspension
The locking mechanism on the stroller’s front wheel features dummy-proof pictures that make it simple to switch between the swivel and the fixed wheel setting. The suspension on the stroller is generous and provides for a super smoooooth ride.
Folding & Carrying
This stroller has an EASY one-handed, compact fold that makes it easy to transport and store. You’ll find the folding mechanism under the leg rest — slide and twist it to fold the stroller frame in half. Note: this stroller does not self-stand after folding… unless you happen to get the handlebar in *just* the right position.
Thule Glide 2 ~ $449
Thule also makes a fixed-wheel jogging stroller, the Glide 2. The Glide 2 weighs 23.8 pounds (so slightly less than the Urban Glide 2), has a fixed 16” front wheel and 18” back wheels… and otherwise shares most of the same features of the Thule Urban Glide 2 (75 lb. weight limit, twist hand brake, canopy with side-ventilation windows, reclining seat, suspension, padded 5-point harness, large cargo basket and mesh compartments).
Reminder: this stroller should be used only for jogging. I repeat: if you want a jogging stroller you can take anywhere other than out for a jog, opt for the Urban Glide 2 instead of the regular Glide 2. (Many runners say they prefer running with the Urban Glide 2 over the jogging-only version … something to keep in mind before purchasing!)
Summary
Americans seem to be loving the Thule Urban Glide 2 as much as they adore IKEA and its delicious Swedish meatballs — that is to say, a lot. The Thule Urban Glide 2 is a sleek, lightweight, maneuverable stroller that can accompany you on the run or around town (and unlike anything you buy at Ikea, there’s almost no assembly required). Because of the superior handlebar, storage area, light weight and easy fold, it’s giving BOB (and others like him) a run for his money!
Back to: Best Jogging Strollers
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We have the new 2021 version of the stroller and love it. We purchased the infant bassinet from Thule and have been using that with it; it’s been so nice to have that option instead of the car seat. Although it does use a different adapter than the car seat adapter (we have a Nuna) so we basically barely use the car seat in the stroller and opt for a snap and go for that instead. The fabric sling seat is entirely removable for the bassinet/carseat days and we’ll plan to put it back on once she is big/head strong enough to use it.