Truth be told I have five strollers, a wagon and a tricycle for one kid. That’s a lot of things with wheels! In addition to all those wheels I also live in a three bedroom condo with limited storage. I may have gone over board a bit, but that’s because finding the perfect stroller for your lifestyle is a lot like being Goldilocks. The one size fits all stroller didn’t exist, until now. I recently discovered the Thule Chariot Lite and it’s been life changing.
On my quest for the perfect stroller I found one that is great for travel, one that is great for just strolling around town and a few misses along the way. The one investment that I struggled with was a jogging stroller. Living in Chicago and being close to the lakefront and river I want to maximize my outdoor time with my daughter. But spending money on a stroller that I could only use for a few short months was a stretch for me.
Thule Chariot Lite Review
How could I justify having a stroller for one specific task when my storage space was so limited? So I pushed it to the back burner and went without one for the first year. I missed being active though. I missed the morning runs along the lakefront and long walks up to the farmers market. Which is why we decided in the winter that researching jogging strollers and committing to getting one for this summer was something we had to do.
My research shocked me and really opened my eyes. I found the jogging stroller, that was also so much more. Hello Thule Chariot Lite, this beauty is the dream stroller. It has three main functions that are ideal for city living. I wish I looked into this much sooner than I did. Chances are I wouldn’t have five strollers now, maybe I’d only have two!
Thule is a Swedish brand that has been creating solutions to life’s adventures for 75 years.
With that longevity this brand clearly knows what they are doing. They develop smart, stylish products that are environmentally sound, high quality, safe and easy to use. They encourage you to “Bring Your Life” when going on adventures. And that is a slogan I can get behind!
In 2014, Thule created their first jogging stroller and they recently released the Chariot Lite. It is a lightweight trailer, jogger and stroller designed for everyday activities. Let me tell you this stroller can do it all! You can bike, jog, stroll and ski with it. I’ve done everything, but doubt I will ski with it, but it’s nice to know I have the option.
Now the Chariot Lite is a higher end stroller/trailer, coming in at $879. And yes, I know that is a lot of money for a stroller or trailer, but you really get what you pay for here. So what exactly are you paying for?
You are paying for top of the line everything, including the following:
- Quality – This trailer is a top of the line product, its sleek, gorgeous and lightweight. Whether you get a single or the double version you will be impressed with how well made it is.
- Safety – Protecting my child is my number one priority in any activity we do. From the 5-point harness which hold a kid(s) up to 100 pounds to the rear light for extra visibility, I know my child is safe inside the trailer.
- Design – This trailer was designed to be functional in any way you use it and how you switch it out. With a self storing feature you can switch from jogging to strolling in minutes. The compact fold is 34.2 x 25.6 x 15 in which makes it easy to store, even in a condo.
Thule Chariot Lite Gear Review
Clearly I am a HUGE fan of this stroller/trailer, but I want to share why it works for my lifestyle. Let me set the stage for you. I live in Chicago and walk everywhere! Living in Chicago means I have given up having a backyard right outside my door, but I have gained a gigantic playground, AKA the entire city. And we use it wherever we can.
On the weekends you can find me running on the lakefront or riverwalk in the early morning. Playing in the park on the way to the farmers market and an occasional picnic dinner. Not only do I need to bring my daughter with me, but I need to get all the gear there too. How do I do it? With the Thule Chariot Lite, I can truly bring my life now. Let me break down all the important details for you that are ideal for an active lifestyle.
Assembly
Out of the box the trailer has easy to follow instructions and takes less than 30 minutes to assemble. In real life it goes from being folded up to fully assembled in less than 5 minutes, whether you are using it as a stroller or a jogging stroller. The wheels pop on and off with one hand, it’s super easy! I give it an A for assembly.
Functionality
Sleek design, genius set up and take down. It is highly intuitive to use and switch from activity to activity. I love the vented screen that I can close when running to protect my daughter from anything entering the stroller. It also has adjustable ventilation which controls the air flow inside the stroller. It gives me comfort knowing that she is feeling cool on hot summer days.
Maneuverability
The other weekend we were out running and a fellow Thule lover stopped us and asked “how does it perform?” It’s funny because we never talked about that between Mike and I, but we both had the same answer…”it’s wonderful.” I’m not going to tell you it’s light as air, because lets get serious it’s not. You are pushing an extra 30+ pounds and you aren’t able to move your arms as much. However, it’s surprisingly easy to do and quickly change directions.
For me, on a flat surface it involves about 5% more effort than running itself. On an uphill surface it involves about 25% more effort. I tell myself it’s a bonus workout for my rear end! Going downhill involves just as much effort, but it’s more focused on control. I’ll give it an A- for maneuverability, only because you have to hold onto it the whole time 🙂
Versatility
You are getting three strollers in one with the Thule Chariot Lite. It’s designed as a stroller first, with four wheels. So you can use it for your basic needs around town. It has great control and can easily fold up when you need to go to a restaurant or transport it in your car.
The second way to use the stroller and the main way I use it, is as a jogging stroller. You will need to purchase the jogging wheel accessory and the set up to switch it out is pretty easy. You simply remove the regular stroller wheels (they self store on the stroller) and add in the jogging wheel. Within minutes you are ready to run.
The third way to use it is as a bike trailer. The trailer kit is included with the stroller so all you need to do it set it up on your bike. It also comes with a red flag, which I enjoy for safety reasons.
In Real Life
In a pre-Lizzie world Mike and I would get up super early on the weekend, go for a run and then head to breakfast. It was one of my most favorite summertime activities. When Lizzie arrived we stopped doing it. Partly because having a new baby was shocking and partly because we didn’t have all the proper equipment.
Now that the Thule Chariot Lite is in our lives we have a new weekend routine. Early morning runs are back on the to-do list. We pack up Lizzie, her favorite stuffed animals and a few toys and off we go on a lakefront run. We usually get in a good 3-4 miles, with several breaks (mainly for me), along the way and stop to take in the city. Lizzie loves to see one of us running in front of her and usually is yelling “mama” and “dada” the whole time. Once the run is done Lizzie gets to get out and play with her bubbles and ball. It’s the best family time!
Is The Thule Chariot Lite Worth It
The Chariot Lite is an investment for your lifestyle. It’s not a quick, on a whim purchase, this is a well thought out planned purchase. I researched jogging strollers for months to find the best one.
And the Chariot Lite is not for everyone. I would recommend it for the super active family that loves hiking and being outside. I would also highly recommend it for families in cities too. Given the multi-uses, functionality and easy storage options it’s a great additional for a city family. Living in the city is a choice and we take advantage of everything it has to offer us, with the main draw being the lakefront and walking everywhere.
We always planned on getting a jogging stroller, but with the Chariot Lite we got so much more. From the versatility to the design, this trailer is designed to bring your life and bring your kids. And this couldn’t have come at a better time in our lives. It feels that 2020 is the year everything has been canceled, however family time hasn’t been cancelled this year.
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