Thule Urban Glide 3 Review after 1200 Miles: For Fast Road Running Families
By Chief Editor Matt Klein
Thule Urban Glide 3Price: $649.95 at Thule
Weight: 11.9 kg, 26.2 lbs
Max Child Weight / Max Weight Capacity: 22.2 kg, 49 lbs / 34 kg, 75 lbs
ABOUT THE URBAN GLIDE 3 STROLLER
The Thule Urban Glide 3 is a high-performance running and daily stroller for parents wanting to do a variety of running paces and daily activities on stable surfaces. The lighter weight design (49 lbs) and air-filled tires make it great for various road and track efforts. The smooth, efficient ride make it one of the best options for workouts and racing, although it can also handle easy running and walking paces well. The wider rear makes for quick, stable and safe handling/turning. The ergonomic handles make holding on far more comfortable and natural compared to other strollers. The safe, large child space comes with great security, decent head support, an adjustable footrest and a protective water-resistance canopy. A large amount of storage underneath makes it easy to store backup kids stuff, nutrition and even extra shoes for various adventures. Although limited to man made surfaces like roads and track, the Thule Urban Glide 3 is the ultimate faster and race ready stroller for those who want both a performance-oriented and daily stroller.
PERFORMANCE
The Thule Urban Glide 3 is a performance road running and daily stroller. The ride is incredibly smooth, light and fast on man-made terrain. It has been my stroller of choice for road and track workouts and races as it is the lightest of the main running strollers on the market at 26.2 lbs / 11.9 kg. The air-filled tires (one 12" in the front and two 16" in the back) provide gliding suspension that easily maneuvers through straightaways and quick turns. The front wheel turns easily and has never caught even during descents. There is a mechanism in the front that can lock the wheel but I have never used it given how steady the stroller stays going forward. The rear wheels sit on a surprisingly wide base and the light nature of this stroller makes turning easy and stable. Even during 90-degree turns or avoiding obstacles I have not had any tipping issues. This also makes acceleration and pace changes easy, so running in cities, on paved trails/road and track surfaces efficient.
I have found the Urban Glide 3 works for a variety of paces from easier running to workouts to races. I set a stroller 5k PR running 16:57 in this stroller with a 5:13 final mile and have run a 4:57 mile with it as well. Of the three strollers I have either used or tried (I have almost 2000 miles on the Guava Roam and recently tried but did not buy the Bob All Terrain Pro), this is the best race and faster running stroller out there. However, given the air-filled tires, I have found that it is only good for road use. On trail it has been too bumpy for Isabella while running. Additionally, I popped one of the back tires at 1100 miles going over gravel after I hit a sharp rock and the tread on all the tires has worn down a great deal. Fortunately, I bought extra tubes and spent extra money on replacement tires, so I replaced it fairly quickly. Regardless, I would still keep this stroller for smooth surfaces while others like the Guava Roam and Bob strollers may be better off-road options.
The Urban Glide 3 is also a great option for daily use. Its lightweight ride and extra storage space make it a good all-day option. The rear panel has a large pocket that easily stores kids' stuff or nutrition with fairly easy access during runs and walks. The cargo basket at the bottom is fairly large and stable, making it a great spot to take extra shoes, gear, or the waterproof cover (I purchased this separately) that has been helpful during the rain in Oregon. The actual child space is well-cushioned, comfortable and adjustable. The canopy overhead is water resistant and provides plenty of wind and mild rain protection. The seat features a solid amount of cushioning, an adjustable footrest and an adjustable back that can be easily modified to go back when Isabella is sleeping.
From a travel perspective, it is okay. It does fold but not as efficiently as other strollers. The wider base that is wonderful for stability does take up more space. I usually have to remove the rear tires to get it to fit in the back of our family car (Acura MDX). There is a travel case that I purchased and have used during a few flights. It is easy to get the stroller in and out of the case as there is a ton of extra room. However, the extra room and strap make it a bit awkward to carry and there is no additional protection in the carrier. It is easier to have the stroller out and put it in the carrier right before checking in on the plane. Outside of some mild travel issues, it is a solid stroller that easily blends daily use with performance.
SAFETY & READINESS
On the road, the Urban Glide 3 is an extremely safe stroller. The 5-point harness is easy to clip on and adjust. Isabella has never slipped or come loose even when accidentally going over bumps or running fast. The harness also supports her well and keeps her head mostly upright even when she falls asleep. The seat is also adjustable and can be laid almost flat for rest or kept upright when your child is awake. The suspension is great on smooth surfaces and Isabella has been comfortable even when I have pushed the stroller to 5 minute pace efforts. The wider base at the rear portion is also quite stable. I have never had any tipping issues even going on and off sidewalks/curbs and turning quickly.
The Urban Glide 3 features a strong brake that is controlled from the main handlebar. Although I have not had to use this frequently as I always have at least one hand on the handlebar, it works extremely well for stopping or slowing down. Going downhill has been a great place to use this as the smooth ride of this stroller makes it easy to pick the pace up quickly. Instead of having to pull so hard, lightly using the brake has been great for controlling paces.
The handlebars on the Urban Glide 3 are the best of any stroller I have tried. While there is a vertical centerpiece, the horizontal side components are fantastic for maintaining a neutral grip. I have had some mild wrist and hand strains from overuse (easy to treat) from other strollers but the ability to maintain a horizontal wrist has not only made it easier on my hands but also more natural and easy on my shoulders. Stroller running can be challenging on the upper body (which most runners are not used to) and being able to keep a more natural arm position is extremely helpful.
Thoughts as a DPT: Tips on Stroller Running Form (After 3000 miles)
By Matthew Klein
Despite how challenging stroller running can be, I have seriously enjoyed this experience and prefer running with Isabella rather than without. That said, there are some things I have learned to be aware of from a form perspective. Running with and without a stroller are not the same thing. Running with a stroller has a higher energetic cost, it changes biomechanics and the more time you do it, the less familiar "normal" running may be (Sandbakk et al., 2020). The biggest changes have come from my trunk and hips, which the literature suggests running with a stroller makes the largest impact (O'Sullivan et al., 2016). These include facilitating a greater forward trunk lean, a decreased stride length, an increased cadence and decreased trunk rotation.
The decreased trunk rotation has been something I've been working on since I started with the stroller. Using one hand and switching off between sides at even intervals has been a key part of trying to maintain some kind of balance between my sides. At this point, I switch between sides every 20-30 seconds whether I'm doing an easy run, workout or race. This has also been a good time to remember to check my form. With this arm switch, I have been trying to drive the elbow of my non holding hand back farther. The hip and opposite elbow/shoulder work synergistically to a degree to promote hip extension, so the cue I have been trying to give myself is to drive the elbow of my non-holding arm back farther. This has helped me not lose as much hip extension and adjust for the decreased stride length.
An increased cadence is not bad for someone like myself that has such a low cadence (150-160 steps per minute). So my major cues have been to stay close to the stroller, continue to switch arms at regular intervals while driving my elbow back a little more (especially when running faster), keeping my chest up and my hips forward. This is all to avoid leaning too heavily on the stroller, not lean too far forward and develop abnormal mechanics that may not be optimal. These are normal compensations that may occur with stroller running that those embarking into this area of running may want to be aware of. Stroller running has been a fantastic way to continue to train while spending time with my daughter and has helped me maintain my fitness and challenge myself especially on hills. Like any endeavor there may be positives and challenges, so the above cues may be helpful to stay healthy and avoid compensations.
Sandbakk, Ø., Perl, R., Holmberg, H. C., & Steiner, T. (2020). Energetic Cost and Kinematics of Pushing a Stroller on Flat and Uphill Terrain. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 574.
Warrener, A., Tamai, R., & Lieberman, D. E. (2021). The effect of trunk flexion angle on lower limb mechanics during running. Human Movement Science, 78, 102817.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS?
After extensive testing of the Thule Urban Glide 3, I can confidently say it is one of if not the best running stroller for running fast and racing on road or track. Those that want a stroller that can easily handle anything from easy running to workouts and races, I highly recommend this stroller. The Urban Glide 3 has the best handlebars of any stroller I have tried so those who want to be able to maintain a neutral wrist/arm position will do especially well. It is the most stable given the wider base and the adjustable foot rest, great harness and excellent child security make it especially safe. The canopy is already water resistant so those with only light weather demands will do fine while others may want to purchase the rain cover. The challenges with this stroller are that it does not do well on trail or any even moderately technical surfaces, the wheel durability is average and the portability/foldability is not as good as other high-performance strollers. Those used to bike tires (and replacing/repairing them) will do just fine with this stroller. Overall, I would recommend the Urban Glide 3 to those who want to run on road/track, have an interest in faster runs/races and want great security and safety for their child.
GRADING
Matt
Performance: A- (The fastest of the performance strollers. Excellent for workouts, races and daily mileage, although limited to road and track surfaces due to less aggressive air-filled tires)
Safety: A (Excellent stability, turning and security. Child is safe, stroller does not tip even with fast turns)
DPT/Design: B+/A- (Best handlebars of any running stroller I have tried. Neutral position for wrists. Not as portable or durable as other strollers though)
Personal: A- (The fastest stroller I have run in and my top choice for racing and workouts. I just wish it had more surface versatility)
Overall: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORPrice: 649.95 at Thule
Thule Urban Glide 3 Running Stroller
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FURTHER READING
Take a look at this running stroller alternative and see the differences between the two strollers.
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