Thule Chariot Lite Stroller Review
This past March we purchased a Thule Chariot Lite Multisport Trailer & Stroller for our daughter. She's still a bit too small to use it as a bike trailer (my intended use case for it), but we've gotten a surprising amount of use out of it as a stroller for the past few months!
In this review I'll share my opinions of it and my thoughts around where it fits in to our stroller line up¹.
tl;dr
I find it too bulky to be a primary stroller and as a jogging stroller I think you can do better for cheaper.
Features
- Single ($899) or dual rider ($999) configurations available
- Leaf spring suspension
- 20-inch air-filled rear tires
- 8-inch front stroller wheels
- Optional accessories including skis, a 16-inch air-filled front jogging wheel, etc.
Stroller Modes
Regular Mode
The Thule Chariot Lite comes ready with two included swiveling 8-inch front wheels that allow it to be used as a regular push stroller. These front wheels are pretty nice and have a rubbery, tire-like surface that makes them suitable for rough sidewalks and light gravel.
It has a zippered mesh front panel that provides plenty of ventilation and a decent amount of shade (but I'd still recommend applying SPF sunscreen).
On the rear you'll find some reflectors, a single foot brake, and a large, cavernous pocket.
It works well as a stroller for our ten month old, but since there is no recline to the seat it is not suitable for younger babies. Thule does sell an "infant sling", but I have no first-hand experience with it.
The Chariot Lite folds, but since it is primarily a bike trailer it is still pretty darn bulky – in fact it takes up nearly the whole cargo area of our 4-door Jeep Wrangler.
So is it a decent enough stroller? Definitely. But due to its size and lack of a recline I would not recommend this as a primary stroller.
Wagon Mode
Where the Chariot Lite really shines is when it is used in what I call "wagon mode." Thule sells a "Jogging Wheel Kit" which is essentially a fixed 16-inch air-filled wheel that can be attached to the front of the trailer. Although I don't recommend it for jogging (more on that later), I do think it is really nice for turning the trailer into more of a wagon.
It's quite pricey at $130, but if you can find one used (I managed to snag it for $49 from Amazon Warehouse) then it can be pretty useful if you don't own another wagon.
We like to use the stroller in this mode when we know we'll be going pushing it through grass or on light trails. We've taken it to local festivals in fields and found that our daughter enjoys it quite a bit!
We've taken it out on gravel fire roads and light unpaved trails where our normal strollers can't go. It's leaf spring suspension provides a smooth enough ride that regularly rocks our daughter to sleep. Trails and gravel are where the Chariot Lite excels and I find I use it the most.
Jogging Mode
I'm not much of a jogger so I won't go into too much depth here, but unless you're jogging in a completely straight line I doubt you'll find the "jogging wheel" to be adequate. It doesn't swivel and you end up having to lift up the front part of the stroller to turn. It also doesn't include any features you'd find on premium jogging strollers such as hand / disc brakes.
Other Considerations
Note that the wheels are like bicycle wheels with air-filled tires. You'll need a bicycle pump to top them off occasionally and may even need to fix a flat every now and then. I like to toss this mini bike pump into the back pocket just to have it on hand. I've been fortunate to never have a flat so far, but in case I ever do I'm happy that the wheels are standard sizes so most 20-inch tire tubes should fit.
Summary
So to wrap it all up, I wouldn't recommend the Thule Chariot Lite as your primary stroller. But if you're in the market for a bike trailer and want to be able to use it as a rugged off-road stroller or wagon, then the Chariot Lite is definitely worth considering. 🙂👍
¹ Currently we've got: Summer Infant 3D Lite, Bugaboo Butterfly, Chicco KeyFit Caddy, Nuna Tavo.