I often think back to those massive buggies that women used to push their kids around. It must have made it difficult for parents to go anywhere! Now, there are strollers like the Thule Urban Glide 2.0 which have suspension systems and air-filled wheels which make it possible to plow through sand, snow, grass, gravel, and other tough terrain.
The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 got my pick for the best all-terrain stroller of 2019 (with the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 coming in a close second place; see all my picks here).
Bear in mind that no stroller is perfect. A stroller is something that you will probably end up using every single day for many years. So, there is going to be something about any stroller that doesn’t suit your needs. But, in terms of all-terrain strollers for things like hiking, the Urban Glide 2.0 is pretty damn close to perfect. Here’s the review.
Quick Review:
Compared to other all-terrain strollers, the Thule Urban Glide 2.0 has some standout features, like that it can be folded with one hand, is relatively lightweight for its type, has a hand-operated brake for controlling speed on hilly terrain, and can be used from infancy up to 4 or 5 years old. It’s a shame that they don’t offer more extras like cup holders or a snack tray. But, for off-road use, this is probably the best stroller you’ll find.
Thule Urban Glide 2.0 Features Overview:
- 12.5” front wheel
- 16” back wheels
- Air-filled tires
- 25.3lbs
- 75lbs capacity
- Hand and foot brake
- Handlebar height: 35.5” to 44”
- Door Pass Through: 27.2”
- Lockable front wheel
- Folded dimensions: 34.2”L x 27.2”W x 13.3”H
- Interior seat width: 13.5”
- Sitting height: 21”
- Shoulder width: 13.5”
- Buy at Amazon
Thule Urban Glide 2.0 Full Review
Functionality
The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 is an all-terrain stroller that is designed for going off-road, like hiking on bumpy paths or going on sandy beaches. Because the front wheel can be locked in place, you can also use it as a jogging stroller. Even better, as an off-road jogging stroller.
But, like with all off-road strollers, it means the Urban Glide 2.0 has some major downsides. It is big and bulky. It is very wide and might not fit through all doorways, not to mention tight aisles in stores.
If you are thinking about using this as an everyday stroller, you’ll probably get annoyed. You’ll probably want to get a smaller stroller for everyday life and save the Thule for when you go off-roading.
The Wheels and Suspension System
The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 has three wheels which make a triangle shape. The reason for this is because the triangle shape adds the most stability. The wheels don’t sit right under your child, which reduces the risk of toppling over and also helps make a smoother ride.
The front wheel is 12.5 inches in diameter and the back wheels are 16 inches. Yes, this is pretty huge. But you need this large size in order to get off-road. Strollers with smaller wheels simply don’t handle bumpy paths well (especially if you want your child to remain sleeping while you jog over them!).
The real-wheel suspension does a good job of absorbing shocks. It’s too bad that it doesn’t have all-wheel suspension like the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0.
Still, be realistic: No all-terrain stroller will handle snow very well. It’s also a lot of effort to push a stroller over sand, no matter how good that stroller is. On the plus side, you’ll get a good upper-body workout on bad terrain! 😀
The Tires
As expected with an all-terrain stroller, the Thule Urban Glide 2.0 uses air-filled tires. I’ll admit that I was skeptical about air-filled tires. What if they popped while on the trail? Would I have to constantly refill the tires (as if I’m going to remember to do that…)?
It turns out that air-filled tires aren’t as bad as you’d think. However, it is really important that you get good tubes for the tires.
Unfortunately, almost all all-terrain strollers – the Urban Glide 2.0 included – come with crappy tubes. I have no idea why you’d pay nearly $500 for a stroller and get crappy tubes. It seems like the companies could afford to include better tubes.
The bottom line is that you will probably have some issues if you don’t replace the tubes with better-quality ones. As soon as better tubes are in place though, you can go weeks without having to pump more air into the tires.
*Just in case you do get a flat, it’s smart to carry a repair kit with you. Just bring some of this Slime Tube Sealant. Here’s an article on how to change a jogging stroller tube.
Brakes
When you are pushing a 28lb stroller with a 30+lb child down a hill, you want good brakes! The brakes do a good job of locking the stroller in place, so no worries there.
One distinguishing feature of the Urban Glide 2.0 is that it has a hand brake. Just twist the brake and it will slow down the stroller. This is a great feature to have on hilly terrain. I’m not sure why more all-terrain strollers don’t have it.
Note that the foot brake is not flip-flop friendly. It’s easy enough to engage the brake. It can be difficult to release the brake though without proper footwear on. Of course, this is a jogging and hiking stroller though, so you shouldn’t be wearing flip flops anyway. 🙂
Folding Method
For me, one of the most important features of a stroller is how easy it folds. I don’t have a lot of space in my apartment and the stroller has to get folded up after each use. Likewise, if you are taking the stroller in/out of your car a lot, then you’ll want something that folds easily.
The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 really stands out in this area. Unlike most other jogging or hiking strollers, it can actually be folded with one hand. So, if you need to hold your baby in one hand while folding the stroller (trust me, this situation comes up frequently!), it is possible.
The only downside is that the stroller folds with the fabric outwards. So, you have to worry about getting the fabric where your kid sits dirty if you fold it in muddy or wet places.
I’d call this a design flaw, but is seems that other one-handed folding jogging strollers have the same issue (for example, the Baby Jogger Summit X3).
The strollers which fold with the fabric inward are much harder to fold (like the two-step process of folding the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0). Given the choice, I’d rather have a stroller which is easy to fold, even if it gets a bit dirty sometimes.
Adjustable Handlebar
An adjustable handlebar was another feature that is very important to me. I’m only 5’1”, and pushing strollers built for tall people puts a lot of strain on my wrist – especially on crappy terrain.
There are other situations where it’s very handy to have an adjustable handlebar. For example, if you need to pop a wheelie with your stroller (which is what I do when going down steps), it helps to put the stroller handlebar in fully upright position.
The Thule Urban Glide 2.0 handlebar adjusts from 35.5” to 44.” This should be adequate for tall and short people alike.
Weight and Size of the Stroller
At 25.3lbs, The Urban Glide 2.0 is actually more lightweight than other all-terrain strollers. However, it’s still a hefty stroller and you need to be aware of this before considering it as an everyday stroller.
Likewise, the stroller is very big when open. The back wheels are 27.2 inches wide (door pass through), which means the stroller won’t fit through narrow aisles. It’s especially difficult to make turns in tight places.
The standard door width usually ranges from 28 to 32 inches. So, you can get through most doorways with the Urban Glide 2.0. However, bear in mind that some places do have smaller doors. For example, if you encounter double doorways, you’ll have to open both doors to get the stroller through.
*The door pass through on the double version of the Urban Glide 2.0 is 31.5 inches.
Age Range
Here’s where I should probably remind you to check with your pediatrician before taking a baby jogging or off-roading. 😀
If you want to use the Thule Urban Glide 2.0 from birth, it is possible. You’ll have to fit it with your car seat though. You can buy an adapter bar which lets you fit various types of car seats.
The weight capacity of the Urban Glide 2.0 is 75lbs (which includes the weight of your child and anything you put in the basket). A typical 5 year old usually doesn’t weigh more than 50lbs, so you can get a lot of use out of the stroller.
Just note that the seat width is a bit narrow at just 13.5 inches. Some parents complain about this, but it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. The back seat is 21 inches, which is tall enough for older children. Even the canopy is designed in a way so older children won’t hit their heads on it.
Cons of the Thule Urban Glide 2.0
Like I said, no stroller is perfect – especially when you are looking for an all-terrain jogging stroller. These cons might not be a deal breaker, but they are things to consider before making your purchase.
Inadequate Storage and Extras
The storage basket below the stroller is huge and zips closed. But, the stroller is significantly lacking in organizational storage.
There is no cup holder, snack tray, water bottle holder, or other pockets included with the stroller. You can buy some of these as extras, but that means an extra expense. Seriously – a jogging stroller should at least have a water bottle holder!
Fabric Folds Outwards
As mentioned before, the Urban Glide 2.0 folds with the fabric facing outwards. This can make it hard to keep the seat area clean, especially if you take it out in muddy, wet conditions.
Limited Seat Positions
To adjust the seat position, you just move the strap to wear you want it. I prefer these types of strap-adjusting seats. It’s a lot easier to use than ones that make you click it in place.
The downside is that the stroller seat can only be adjusted a limited amount. There is no fully-reclining position (though it does get fairly close to a full recline).
There also isn’t a fully-upright position. Granted, most all-terrain strollers don’t have an upright position. It’s better for the baby to be reclined so the shock doesn’t all go to the head and spine. However, when using the stroller in everyday life, for snack breaks, or with older kids, it’s nice to have the option of fully-upright. The BOB stroller, for example, does allow this position.
Locking Mechanism Is Cheap and Breaks
A lot of people have complained about the locking mechanism on the Urban Glide 2.0. When you fold the stroller, it has a little plastic piece that is supposed to lock the stroller in folded position. It is cheap and easily breaks.
Once the lock breaks, it is hard to lift the stroller without it opening mid-lift. There currently is no replacement part available, so you have to replace the entire stroller if this breaks.
It’s annoying that such an expensive stroller would use a cheap piece of plastic.
Thule Urban Glide vs. Urban Glide 2.0
There is only a slight difference in price between the original Urban Glide and the Urban Glide 2.0. In my opinion, it’s worth paying the extra money for the newer version.
Why? Because the 2.0 has a hand brake – a feature which the original Urban Glide does not have. This hand brake is really useful when going on hilly or tough terrain.
The 2.0 also has more ventilation on the canopy, more color options, reflective strips, and an automatic fold lock.
The only benefit of the original Urban Glide is that it is slightly lighter (23lbs vs. 25.3lbs with the Urban Glide 2.0). Since the hand brake is so useful, I’d say it’s worth to lug around an extra couple pounds.
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