While Thule (pronounced Toola) may be relatively new to the buggy market, it's not by any means a young company.
Established in Sweden in the 1940s, Thule has been in the UK market for 30 years, and creates products for 'active people' ranging from car roof racks to sports bags that sell in 136 countries worldwide.
The Thule Urban Glide compares well to other premium joggers. At 10.5 kg it's lighter than 14.4kg Phil & Teds Vibe Jogger (14.4kg) and the 13.5kg Mountain Buggy All Terrain Stroller.
And with a price tag of £425 it’s also cheaper than both (Phil & Teds comes in at £549 and Mountain Buggy at £499).
The Urban Glide also has a huge maximum capacity of 34kg, which will seat children until they are ready to go to school and no longer need a buggy.
Although very new to the market, the Urban Glide has already won the iF Product Design Award this year, adding to the already packed Thule award cabinet.
The Urban Glide is sold on being an all-round sports stroller, how does it handle as a jogger?
Great! It's so light, and it really does feel like it glides along when pushing.
It's very easy to steer, and the rear wheel suspension handles sudden changes in surfaces (like pavement to grass) with ease.
Mounting kerbs is actually a pleasure; the buggy is so light it requires no effort to pop the front wheel up and the wheels are so big that they immediately connect with the surface for a pretty seamless journey.
And it doesn't even notice drop-kerbs, whereas some buggies I've used seem to find these an insurmountable object.
There are also a few neat features that show how much care and attention went into designing the Urban Glide. There is a little 'tracking' cog, which allows you to even out your front wheel if it makes the buggy drift in one direction.
It’s great for when you're out jogging but also when you're going for a stroll (pushing a buggy one handed is hard on the forearm muscles when you're walking one way and the buggy wants to go another!)
Can it adapt to an inner city environment?
Yes, the Urban Glide is easy to steer, handles quick changes in direction easily, and is light - all important features for life navigating busy city streets, shops and public transport.
But it’s worth noting the buggy's quite long, with a jutting out front wheel, so that needs to be borne in mind for bus and train journeys.
What do you think of the wheels?
They're pretty big, especially if you're used to an every day buggy.
They look great though, and, as they're air-filled, really do make for a comfy ride. The front wheel can be locked for jogging mode.
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What is the brake like?
Unlike many other jogger buggies the Thule Urban Glide doesn’t have a hand brake, it has a footbrake at the base of the frame.
But it's sturdy and easy to reach, with no need to grope around with your foot to find it.
How does it fold?
It can be easily folded with one hand; with a twist and pull of a little device just under the front of the seat the buggy collapses.
Is it compact when folded?
It's not the most compact of buggies when folded, but the back wheels come off really easily (they go back on just as quickly too) with the pop of a button. This makes it much smaller.
Is it easy to store?
Yes, with the wheels taken off, the buggy can be laid down or leant against a surface easily.
Does it fit in the boot of your car?
With the wheels taken off is the best option, although the pram is quite long.
How comfortable does it feel?
It looks and feels very comfy for my sons, with plenty of padding and a well-designed seat. The big, air-filled wheels mean you avoid the noisy trundle of some normal buggies.
And the seat reclines smoothly to almost flat with the pull of a toggle.
For me, the handle has various heights and can be adjusted by pushing buttons on both sides, which is very easy to do. This can be done on the move, if needed.
The hood, however, is a bit clunky. It comes down in a few jolts, which isn't great if you're trying to sneakily lower it while your little passenger is nodding off.
Tell us about the storage on the buggy.
There are a number of mesh pockets for you (and your little one) to store things in. Let's be honest, we only ever use them to store whatever our little ones are obsessing about at the precise moment in time (mine have quite a collection of pine cones and small stones from our driveway at the moment).
The basket under the seat is great. It's big and zips up, so nothing flies out when you're having a run.
Is it travel system compatible?
Yes, it's compatible with a number of car seats with popular brand names such as Britax, Chicco and Maxi-Cosi.
But generally it’s not recommended to run or jog with infants. It’s probably best to wait until your little one is older than 6 months.
Is the product value for money?
It's certainly not at the cheap end of the market but it looks great and is built well. It's also light and easy to steer. All of these things, I think, make the buggy worth investing in.
Saying that, there are no extras. £425 is not a price to be taken lightly, and I would expect at least to have the rain cover included (surely it should be a given for buggies sold in this country!).
If you were to buy all the added extras, you could expect to pay around an additional £353.
What do you think of its design?
It looks great. Sleek and minimalist, in true Scandi-style. You can tell a lot of care and attention has gone into making this buggy. Even the box it came in looked smart!
And rather than just bunging into the box a couple of those little surprise sachets of silica that keep products dry in storage, they actually come attached to the pram (I like this as I'm always paranoid one will drop out of a box and be found by a small hand).
What's in the box?
- Thule Urban Glide buggy
- Instructions (This is where Thule's lack of buggy experience shows through. While the instructions have most of the necessary information it doesn't cover everything, for instance the list of compatible car seats - list above in the specs. However, I expect Thule will get better at writing instructions as it develops its buggy range.)
- A mesh cover (protects from sun, wind and insects) £35
- Rain cover £35
- Snack tray £35
- Console (an extra pocket that fits onto the handle, with a cup holder and earphone port) £45
- Car seat adaptor £70
- Bunting bag (an insulated fleece liner) £73
- Baby supporter (padded head and sides for babies 6-18 months) £60
As the first (and one of only two buggies) from Thule the Urban Glide ticks all the practical boxes for parents and their little ones. It compares well to other premium joggers and is ideal for active mums and dads who don't want parenting to stop them from daytime exercise, but also don't want the faff of buying another pram for going shopping.
There could be more refinement with the hood,and improvements to the instruction manual. And it certainly could do with some additional extras, like rain cover, but overall the Thule Urban Glide is a great jogging buggy.
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