Thule Spring 2 Review: Best First-Time Parent Stroller?

Thule is a quality brand known for its outdoor gear and its all-terrain strollers. Their latest release, the Thule Spring 2, falls into one of my favorite stroller categories: the midsize, which is a more compact everyday stroller. It has some all-terrain capabilities, a really impressive canopy, bassinet compatibility, multiple options for use from birth, and all for a reasonable price point. In this Thule Spring 2 review, I’m sharing everything you need to know about this stroller and whether it’s right for your family.

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Thule Spring 2 Quick Summary

• Retails for $499, and it can be tested in-person at some Target locations.
• Midsize three-wheel stroller with a compact fold and some all-terrain capability, but not for use as a jogging stroller.
• Newborn compatible three ways: Thule bassinet, Thule infant insert, or infant car seat with adapters (Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex).
• The bassinet is also compatible with the Thule Urban Glide double stroller, which is great for long-term planning.
• Impressive canopy with a zipper extension, peekaboo window, and mesh for airflow.
• Adjustable handlebar, safety wrist strap, no-rethread harness, and a brand-new calf support.
• Large basket that holds up to 22 pounds and is easy to access.
• Flip-flop-friendly brake and no crossbar, so taller parents won’t kick the wheels.
• One-button fold that stands on its own. Weighs approximately 23 pounds.
• Seat holds up to 55 pounds. Suitable from birth to 3 or 4 years old, depending on your child’s height/ weight.
• Seat isn’t reversible (forward-facing only), but the bassinet gives you about 6 months of parent-facing if you choose to buy it

How Much Does the Thule Spring 2 Cost?

The Thule Spring 2 retails for $499 and comes with the stroller alone. However, if you purchase it from Target, it comes with a parent cupholder.

Something that is really unique about this stroller is the bassinet compatibility. The Thule bassinet is sold separately, but if you use this stroller for your first baby and later get the Thule Urban Glide double stroller, you can use that same bassinet on the double. I love that kind of long-term planning, and a bassinet is one of my favorite newborn accessories.

If you don’t want to store or pay extra for a bassinet, the stroller is also newborn compatible with the Thule infant insert. I have used it with my friend’s baby, and it is a great, more compact option to use the stroller from birth. The stroller is also car seat compatible with Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex using adapters (not included).

Thule Spring 2 Features: A Top-to-Bottom Look

If you’re familiar with The Stroller Mom reviews, I go in-depth, top to bottom, on every stroller, covering the details that parents and children care about most.

Is the Thule Spring 2 Handlebar Adjustable?

The Thule Spring 2 has an adjustable handlebar that can go to a pretty impressive height, which is great for taller parents. The materials feel high quality, and I love this blue colorway. It looks BEAUTIFUL.

The stroller also comes with a safety wrist strap, which Thule includes on its strollers. I love this feature and honestly wish more brands would do this. It is so helpful when you’re going down hills because you don’t have to worry about the stroller getting away from you.

There is plenty of room to add a parent organizer to the handlebar. 

How Good Is the Thule Spring 2 Canopy?

The canopy on the Thule Spring 2 is impressive. The materials are really nice, and there is a zipper extension that gives you additional coverage. When fully extended, you get a great peekaboo window and a lot of mesh coverage for added airflow, which is something Thule does really well as an outdoor brand.

Now, here is my one thing about the canopy. When it isn’t fully extended, you don’t have a peekaboo window. If you’re using the bassinet, that won’t be an issue because the canopy comes off. But especially in the younger stages, I would probably just keep the canopy fully extended most of the time. When you need sun coverage, you can pull it back halfway or cover it fully. The peekaboo does stay open on its own, though I found you have to pull a little harder to get it to go back.

Seat, Harness, and Comfort

Target’s website lists this stroller for birth to 3 years old. I tested it with my three-and-a-half-year-old, who is very tall (probably as tall as your average four-year-old), and also my five-year-old. The seat holds up to 55 pounds, so neither of them was close to the weight limit. The biggest issue with my five-year-old was that she was too tall for the canopy, and my three-and-a-half-year-old was right at the top of the canopy, but it still was not touching her head. That should give you a good reference point for taller children.

My baby was very comfortable in this stroller. The seat isn’t the most upright in the world, but I would not call it super reclined either. None of my kids were really bothered by the seating position. I always wish things were a little more upright, but I think especially if you’re using this stroller from birth, it will work really well.

The harness is no-rethread, which makes it easy to adjust as your child grows or if you switch between multiple kids. The padding is nice, and the seat materials are water-resistant.

Now, here is my one complaint with Thule’s city strollers: the buckle is multi-step. It isn’t the worst one I have ever seen, but it is still a multi-step process. You start attaching the top strap to the waist strap, click it into the crotch buckle, and then repeat on the other side. What’s annoying is that sometimes the buckle will slip out when you’re trying to buckle your kid, and you have to restart. It is very sturdy, and your child isn’t going to be able to undo it, but it isn’t the easiest buckle in the world.

Calf Support and Footrest

The calf support is brand new with the Thule Spring 2, and I am so glad they added it. It is super easy to pop up and provides nice support for younger babies.

There is also a lower footrest below for older children. I found that both my five-year-old and my three-and-a-half-year-old were comfortable using it. It isn’t the largest, but it is definitely better than nothing, and neither of them had any complaints about it.

How Far Does the Thule Spring 2 Recline?

To recline the seat, you pull a button on the side, and it goes to a pretty deep, near-flat position. This is where you would add the infant insert for use from birth. I used it with my friend’s baby, and she was so comfortable with the infant insert in the reclined position.

There is a mesh panel on the back of the seat that you can unzip and roll up for added airflow. It magnetizes to the top of the canopy, but you have to tuck it into some little elastic straps to keep it open. To bring the seat back up, you pull the strap in the back, and I always try to get it as tight as possible for a more upright position.

Basket and Brake

The storage on this stroller is really impressive. The basket holds up to 22 pounds and is spacious and easy to access. Something I love about this stroller that isn’t common on three-wheel strollers is how open and accessible the basket is. You also get a mesh pocket for your phone and a cup holder, and there is plenty of room to add a parent organizer.

The brake is flip-flop friendly and easy to use, located on the side. There is no crossbar on this stroller, which means for taller parents, you won’t have any issues kicking the stroller while walking. Some people like having a crossbar because it can help with stability on rough gravel roads, but this stroller is really designed to be more of a city stroller with occasional all-terrain capability.

Infant and Car Seat Compatibility

The Thule Spring 2 gives you three options for use from birth, which I think is great for families with different needs and budgets:

• Thule Bassinet: Sold separately. To use it, you just take the canopy off the stroller, and the bassinet attaches right on. A bassinet is so nice as a new mom, and I love that this one also works with the Thule Urban Glide Double Stroller. So if you end up having another baby, you don’t need to buy a second bassinet.
• Thule Infant Insert: A more compact and budget-friendly option for use from birth. I used it with my friend’s baby, and she was very comfortable in the seat with the insert.
• Infant Car Seat Adapters: Compatible with Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex car seats using additional adapters.

The bassinet option is especially worth highlighting because it gives you about 6 months of your baby facing toward you, which is something you don’t get with the stroller seat, since it is forward-facing only. If having that parent-facing time is important to you, the bassinet is a wonderful way to get it.

Folding, Unfolding, and Ease of Use

The fold on the Thule Spring 2 is simple and compact. You lift up the seat, push one button to the side, and then pull the stroller in half. It stands on its own when folded, which is always a plus.

Because there is no crossbar, the wheels come very close together when folded, making the package really compact. I always lift it by the handlebar, and it is easy to get in and out of a trunk.

The stroller is around 23 pounds. It is a nice weight for a midsize stroller, and it is a lot easier to handle than a full-size all-terrain stroller.

To open it, there is a latch on the side you pull open, and you’re ready to go.

How Does the Thule Spring 2 Handle?

This is a midsize city stroller with some all-terrain capabilities, but it isn’t a jogging stroller. The benefit of the three-wheel design is that it maneuvers tight spaces really well. My husband and I have both been so impressed with how nicely this stroller handles for its size.

If you have a lot of potholes or rougher sidewalks, this stroller is going to do well while still giving you a compact footprint and fold. However, if you live in the rural countryside and you’re regularly on very rough terrain, you may want something with a more all-terrain capability. This stroller really is best as your city and suburban everyday stroller with occasional all-terrain use.

Thule Spring 2 Specifications

Who Is the Thule Spring 2 Best For?

There is no perfect stroller. Every stroller has trade-offs, and it is about finding what works best for your family’s unique situation.

The Thule Spring 2 is a great option for families who need a more compact stroller for trunk space and navigating tight city spaces, but also want some all-terrain capability. The basket is impressive, the canopy is one of the better ones I have seen in this category, and the options for use from birth are really flexible. You have the bassinet, the infant insert, and car seat adapters, so there is something for every family and budget.

The adjustable handlebar, the easy one-button fold, and the compact folded size make this stroller feel very practical for everyday life. And the long-term planning with the bassinet carrying over to the Thule double stroller is a really smart feature for families thinking ahead.

If you need a reversible seat, this isn’t the stroller for you. If you need a true jogging stroller, you will want to look at something else. And if you have a very tall child, just keep in mind that the canopy is going to be too short for them as they get older and taller.

If you have any questions about the Thule Spring 2, please follow and DM me on Instagram. I hope this post helped you decide if this is the right stroller for your family!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Thule Spring 2