I tested out the new Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel buggy and it's a game-changer

How we tested the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel

• Four months of using the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel multiple times a week

• Used while on woodland walks, and in the local town and parks

• Used on days out

• Used while jogging

• Tested with a two-year-old

I tested the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel buggy for four months with my two-year-old. It was used on days out, on woodland walks, in the local parks and for shopping trips in town.

The variety of scenarios I tested Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel in allowed me to fully assess its overall performance as an all-terrain pram, a city stroller and a running buggy. I tested it on various surfaces including grass, gravel, tarmac and muddy paths, and jogged with it once a week. 

Once testing was complete, I scored the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel on the following criteria: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, ease of folding and unfolding, comfort, and adjustability and storage. This then translated to a total score of 88 out of 100, which equates to an overall five-star rating.

Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel: what’s in the box?

• Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel single stroller frame

• Thule Urban Glide 3 wheels x4

• Thule Urban Glide 3 storage basket

• Instruction manual

I tested the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel as a single pushchair, but it can also be bought as a three-wheel buggy. For newborns, it can be used with the Thule Urban Glide Bassinet and a compatible car seat.

I wasn’t provided with a Thule Urban Glide rain cover to test, so I can’t comment on its performance. The rain cover is available to buy separately for a pricey £50. Personally, I would have liked to see a rain cover included as standard. 

Additional accessories you can buy include: the Thule Urban Glide Car Seat Adapters, Thule Urban Glide Bumper Bar, Thule Urban Glide Cup Holder (which I tested and liked - fit both an insulated water bottle and coffee mug well) and the Thule Stroller Footmuff.

How easy is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel to assemble?

Very! The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel came almost fully preassembled. All I had to do was to click the two rear wheels and two front wheels onto the frame. The instruction manual contains clear illustrations on how to set the buggy up, but I found it so intuitive that I didn’t need to consult them at all. 

While I didn’t have to pump any of the four tyres up before or during use, the instruction manual states that the tyres should be between 30 to 35 Psi (or 2.0 to 2.4 Bar). 

All in all, this was one of the easiest buggies I’ve ever assembled, with assembly time taking less than 30 seconds. 

Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel: how does it look?

The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is one of the sleekest all-terrain prams I’ve seen. The four-wheel iteration looks more like a classic travel system than the three-wheeler, which was designed to look like a little more sporty. Thule says that the new design is in response to parents wanting a more urban, city-friendly stroller.

Like the three-wheel Urban Glide 3, the four-wheel version has a lightweight aluminium frame, steel and nylon parts, and a high-quality polyester cover. All four wheels as well as the sun canopy and storage basket feature reflective strips that ensure you stay visible in low light. The powder-coated frame feels both durable and stable, with no flexing at all during testing, and the overall design has a clean and modern finish.

The Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is only available in black, which is a restrictive, but you’ll find additional colours (soft beige and nutria green) available to buy outside of the UK. I tested the buggy with a light pink seat liner provided by Thule, but this doesn't come as standard with the buggy.

Is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel safe and sturdy?

Yes! Thule is known for its safe, high-quality adventure gear and the Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is no exception. One of the standout features of this buggy is its surprisingly lightweight frame, but this in no way compromises stability. 

The frame feels both sturdy and robust, balanced even further by the two large rear wheels with 16-inch air-filled tyres, and I felt reassured that my toddler was safe in the seat at all times. I was even able to hang a changing bag off the handlebar without the buggy toppling, both with my child in and out of the seat.

Running buggies tend to have a handbrake as well as a footbrake for optimum safety, especially when running or walking up and down hills. The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel benefits from a twist handbrake built into the handlebar - far superior to the bicycle-style handbrake seen on cheaper all-terrain buggies like the Out n About Nipper Sport V4. 

Both the handbrake and footbrake are easy to engage and work very well, both on flat ground and hilly terrain. The handbrake can be twisted with one hand, while the footbrake, which is positioned on the right-hand side of the back wheel bar, is applied with a single click. 

The footbrake one of the simplest I’ve tested and can be used just as easily with flip-flops as it can with running shoes. I experienced a slight delay each time I disengaged the footbrake (it seems to take a second to fully release), but this wasn’t enough to cause concern. 

The Urban Glide 3 boasts a five-point harness that’s quick and easy to use, with two prong points that click into place, and the padded straps can be tightened and loosened without hassle. 

How comfortable is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel?

Very. The deep seat is both roomy and well padded, with ample room for use till around age four (or 22kg). The four-wheel Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel benefits from a new built-in leg rest, which was very handy whenever my toddler napped on the move. The seat can be reclined seamlessly to a variety of angles (all the way from almost upright to lie flat) using a toggle at the back of the seat - while you can recline using one hand, you’ll need two to lift the seat back to its upright position.

I especially liked the extra-large, UV-protected sun canopy that has a zip-open extension panel that covered my toddler entirely - something you don’t see on many buggies. Its mesh ventilation panels at the top and back ensured optimum airflow, and the peek-a-boo window with cover allowed me to keep an eye on my toddler from above while she napped. While the cover stays in position when pushed back, a magnet would have been a handy addition.

The Urban Glide 3's suspension is second to none, which made for an extremely comfortable ride for my two-year-old, even while travelling over rough terrain. The in-built footrest adds extra comfort, with plenty of room left for my daughter to grow. 

From a parent perspective, the handlebar can be adjusted to three different positions using a button on either side - this requires two hands but is simple to accomplish. This made the Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel comfortable for both myself and my husband to push, with heights ranging from 5”6’ to 6”4. The handlebar is curved, which makes the buggy easy to steer, and the material doesn’t absorb sweat, even when jogging. 

One thing that’s missing from the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is a bumper bar. My toddler generally likes holding onto a bumper bar when in a buggy so it was a shame this wasn’t included.

What’s the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel like to use with a newborn?

While I didn’t personally test the four-wheel Thule Urban Glide 3 out with a newborn, I would have no hesitation recommending this buggy to parents who are looking for a pushchair that’s suitable for use from birth. 

The seat is forward-facing only so, while it can be used with a newborn, the carrycot (which needs to be bought separately) may be the preferable option. The Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is a travel system so can also be used with compatible car seat brands including Thule, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, Nuna and BeSafe. You’ll need to purchase Thule car seat adapters for this. 

What’s the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel like to use day to day?

Designed to be more of a city stroller than the three-wheel version, the four-wheel Thule Urban Glide 3 is an excellent travel companion, whether you’re tackling bumpy woodland walks or navigating a crowded city centre. 

I was surprised at just how easy this buggy is to manoeuvre. The lightweight frame meant that I could push the buggy one-handed, and the 360-degree swivel front wheels, which can be locked for jogging with a click of a button, made for a tight turning circle. This allowed me to tackle the busy high street and small shop interiors more easily. 

That said, I still prefer my small Babyzen Yoyo3 for use in particularly busy areas, especially as the frame of the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is wide. I wasn’t easily able to access all narrow areas I needed to and the buggy also didn’t fit through my double patio door at home when only one side was open. I had to open both doors to get the buggy out of the house.

Where the Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel really excels is in its movement over different terrain, whether it’s an uneven pavement or a gravel path. The tyres have a thick tread, which allows the Urban Glide to handle rough surfaces effortlessly, and I didn’t experience any flat tyres during testing or need to top them up with air at all. The high-quality suspension also minimises any impact felt by your small passenger. 

I tried this buggy out on a variety of surfaces, including the canal path near my house, on grass in the local park and on woodland walks. This made getting out and about to a variety of places with my little one much easier. 

I wasn’t able to take the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel on public transport, but the width of the buggy would potentially pose a problem on a crowded bus or train. It would likely need to be folded.

What is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel like the jog with? 

The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is one of the best running buggies I’ve tried and far superior to the likes of the Out n About Nipper Sport V4 in terms of manoeuvrability, especially when turning corners. 

The twist brake is much easier to operate than the bicycle-style handbrake of the Nipper Sport, and the two swivel front wheels were both simple to lock for jogging. The buggy also has a wrist strap for extra peace of mind while the buggy is travelling at higher speeds. 

I ran at least once a week with the buggy, over the uneven canal path near my house as well as on pavements and gravel. My toddler found each outing to be both fun and comfortable - the high-performing rear suspension keeping the ride as smooth as possible for her. The seat is also a good height for her to look out and enjoy taking in her surroundings.

What's the storage basket like?

The storage basket is one of my favourite things about the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel. It holds an impressive 10kg (vs the original Thule Urban Glide 3's 7kg), which can handle a changing bag, some toys and a small bag of shopping. It also has a handy cover that uses Velcro and zips to keep personal belongings tucked away and dry in wet weather - a feature not seen on many buggies.

There is also a smaller zipped pocket at the back of the main storage basket for smaller items like your phone and keys, as well as a mesh storage pouch at the back of the seat. If you just wanted to use the storage pouch, you unclip and unzip the storage basket to remove it entirely.

Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel: how easy is it to fold and unfold?

I was pleasantly surprised at just how simple the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is to fold and unfold. You can fold the buggy with the rear wheels still attached, but I found that the Urban Glide fit in the boot of my Volvo V40 better without. The buggy has a large footprint when folded, so won’t be suited to cars with particularly small boots.

To fold the Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel, you lift the bottom of the seat line up to reveal the twist lever, push the lever to the left and then twist it away from you. The buggy then collapses seamlessly in the middle. I had to take the cup holder off for folding - I initially didn’t and it flew off unexpectedly, but thankfully didn’t break.

While I found I could leave a couple of essentials in the storage basket, the emptier it is, the flatter the pushchair collapses. Once folded, the locking catch automatically engages so that the frame stays securely in place. You simply release the locking catch and then pull on the handlebar to unfold the buggy out again. 

At 13kg, the Urban Glide isn’t particularly lightweight to lift, especially as I’m used to the Out n About Nipper Sport V4 (which weighs just over 3kg less), however that’s perhaps to be expected from such a robust buggy, and isn’t dissimilar to other all-terrain prams on the market. It also doesn’t stand upright when folded, which can make it tricky to store. I have a garage, so enjoy the benefit of leaving the Urban Glide unfolded at all times when not in use. 

Is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel easy to clean?

Fairly. The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel unfortunately doesn’t benefit from machine-washable fabrics (you have to hand wash and leave them to air dry instead), but I generally only needed to spot clean the seat, sun canopy and storage basket cover gently with mild soap and warm water if they were dirty with mud or food. All three can be removed completely for handwashing. 

Thule advises a regular inspection of your buggy for signs of damage or wear and tear, however I experienced no wear or tear whatsoever throughout the four months of testing. You should also check the tyres regularly and top them up with air when needed. The wheels can be lubricated slightly with silicone lubricant should that be required. 

Is the Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel good value for money?

The Thule Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel is certainly on the pricier end of the spectrum compared to most all-terrain prams, but it’s exceptional design and performance on a variety of terrain, as well as its useful features, including extendable, full-coverage sun canopy and storage basket cover, set it apart from the rest. 

I love that I can just as easily use the Urban Glide 3 4-Wheel on a busy high street as I can on a woodland walk, and the fact that I can also stay active with my child in tow by using it as a running buggy quite honestly makes it worth its weight in gold. 

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Acting Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a two-year-old, she is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable products for families.

With over eight years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier. 

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of product review videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.