In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Thule Spring is a 3-wheel everyday stroller in our full-size stroller review. It is lightweight and folds ultra-small, making it a good choice for those with limited space or lifting abilities. We love the deep reclining seat with extra padding compared to the average stroller. We think the folding process is easy and can be done quickly. The Spring has a reasonable price and can be paired with infant car seats by purchasing adapters. However, the Spring is not as high-quality as most Thule strollers, and the smaller wheels and flexing frame made it hard to push and turn on and off-road. The pushing problems make this stroller less of a favorite than it used to be, and it could be greatly improved with larger wheels and stiffer joints.
REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Lighter weight
Comfy seat
REASONS TO AVOID
Flexy frame
Small wheels
Rougher ride
New Version Available
Thule has launched Spring 2. We now link to this version. While some updates have been made and we hope to test it in the future, some general feelings about the Spring 1 might still be applicable in the 2.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Spring is easier to use than the average stroller. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Spring offers slightly above-average ease of use for the group.
The Spring fold is quick and easy. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Fold and Unfold
The Spring fold is initiated under the seat. A stiff flap lifts, allowing you to slide and lift the handle. There is a lever on each side for left or right-handed people. This stroller is easy to fold and unfold and can be operated using only one hand.
While the bin on the Spring was large enough for our large diaper bag, the limit of 11 lbs could be a deal-breaker if you hope to buy groceries. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Storage
The Spring storage bin is only medium-sized, but it fits our large diaper bag and provides easy access unless the recline is low, which limits access. However, it has an 11-lb limit, which is worth considering if you want to fetch groceries. A mesh pocket on the back of the seat can hold an extra 3 lbs, but it's not a large space.
The Spring has a multi-step process to fully buckle with nesting components. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Harness
The Spring has a well-padded harness and includes padded waist straps. The harness is a nested option that requires each component to be inserted into the buckle separately, and four parts must be connected. Four will be frustrating with a crabby, tired kid who isn't ready to leave the park yet. The button is firm but not too stiff, and you need to remember to put the waist straps in the buckle before the shoulder straps. It seems unnecessarily convoluted.
The rocker brake pedal on the Spring means you don't need to lift the lever with the top of your foot. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Brakes
The Spring has a single-action brake pedal near the right wheel on the rear axle. It is easy to press and release. The pedal is bright red and easy to spot, with a rocker-style that is press-to-set and press-to-release, making it foot-friendly.
The close placement of the brake pedal near the wheel means larger-footed people might rub the wheel when setting the brakes. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Car Seat Compatibility
The Spring has adapters available for some infant car seats from Nuna, Clek, Evenflo, Maxi-Cosi, UPPAbaby, and Cybex.
Assembly of the Spring is snapping the components of wheels and canopy onto the main frame. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Setup
The Spring was easy to put together and took us 5-10 minutes, including packaging and reviewing the instructions. Overall, it was intuitive and straightforward.
The spinning front wheel on the Spring wasn't always in the right position when pushing. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Maneuverability
The Spring did not perform well in our maneuverability tests, with a surprisingly lower result.
An adjustable handlebar makes pushing easier for taller parents, but the center-placed adjustment button makes the Spring harder to push with only one hand. Credit: Matt Lighthart
This three-wheeled stroller has smaller-diameter wheels, which affect its maneuverability. One-handed steering was challenging because of the adjustment button at the center of the bar. The frame had a lot of flex, resulting in a fairly slow response time. It felt a little more like a travel stroller when pushing, especially when moving over thresholds and cords.
The smaller wheels and flexing frame on the Spring made it harder to push and turn on any surface. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The smaller wheels on the Spring make it harder to push off-road and in the thicker grass. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Moving off-road, the Spring becomes more of a challenge, especially over grass, which you are likely to encounter at play parks.
The Spring struggled with the transitions from surface to surface and could have performed better if the front wheel had been bigger. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The flex in the frame made it harder to push, resulting in sloppy steering. However, moving up and over larger obstacles isn't terrible, given the lighter weight and the ease of popping the front wheel up to clear them.
The Spring folds flat compared to some but is not the smallest in the group. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Transporting and Storing
The Spring is relatively lightweight and compact when folded, earning one of the highest scores in our tests. The Spring weighs 23.13 lbs, and the folding lever also acts as a carry handle. It is one of the lightest options in the group, and it isn't awkward to lift and put in the car.
At 7,650 cubic inches when folded, it is one of the smallest options in the group, making it a compelling choice for those with limited space or who frequent public transportation.
The Spring wheels are foam-filled rubber with a grippy feel. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Quality
The quality of the Spring is below average compared to the competition. The fabric is ripstop throughout and feels durable and easy to clean. The canopy is taut and looks finished and sleek on the stroller. The zippers work smoothly, and there is ample thoughtful padding on the shoulder and hip strap covers.
The softer foam cover on the Spring is a thoughtful comfort addition to the handlebar. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The wheels are foam-filled rubber, which is better than plastic. The smaller size compromises its functionality, and while the sticky rubber coating improves traction on harder surfaces, it isn't anything to write home about.
The frame looks well-put-together and clean. However, it has a lot of side-to-side flex, which affects functionality and increases frustration when pushing. Overall, the fit and finish are nice, but the frame flex is a disappointment and seems to have worsened over time.
The deep recline is cozy for passengers and has a covered ventilation panel for more air-flow on hot days. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Kid's Comfort
The Spring offers almost average results for kid comfort features. The sling-style seat has more padding than most. It has a recline with an infinite number of positions, none of which are low enough to induce sleep. The adjustment mechanism is a toggle with two straps; we needed only one hand to release it, but two to raise it: one to hold the toggle and one to pull the straps. This method is pretty dated, and many competitors offer something better that you can operate with one hand.
The plastic toggle recline adjustment on the Spring is easy but feels sort of dated. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The recline on the Spring is deep and cozy for napping. Credit: Matt Lighthart
When reclined, the top portion features a well-ventilated space that can be covered when temperatures dip or the wind is high. The leg rest is made of heavy ripstop material that feels durable, but it isn't adjustable, so longer legs could dangle over the sides.
The seat recline adjustment is a one-hand operation to lower with a central toggle and two side straps, but it requires two hands to lift. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Spring canopy is super large. It has a 50+ UPF rating and will protect against most sun until very late or very early in the day, when the sun is low in the sky. The canopy also has a zippered mesh panel that makes it even larger, but it will impact sun and weather protection, so it is a trade-off. It is the only way to peek at little ones.
Continuous Sleeping Comfort
Many children find strolls so peaceful that they fall asleep and stay asleep, but sudden jolts can disrupt that. We tested the Spring on average terrain to see how it would fare. We found it struggled compared to the competition, with nine potential wake-up events. The Thule suspension runs stiff, and with the smaller wheels and the lack of rear shocks, this stroller reverberates like a tuning fork over asphalt, bumps, and cracks.
The Thule Spring has a lot going for it and if your space is limited, it might be compelling, but overall it struggled in our tests for maneuverability and quality. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Thule Spring?
We don't hate the Spring, but we probably wouldn't recommend it for most. It is a good-looking, nimble stroller with good storage. However, the smaller wheels and flexing frame made pushing a chore. We think parents will be attracted to the price and looks of this stroller, and it has some compelling features, but overall, there are higher-performing options that are nicer to push and turn, and offer a smoother ride for little ones.
What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?
For a standard full-size stroller, we prefer the Joie Ginger dlx. While it has a similar overall score, it is significantly easier to push, is higher quality than the Thule, and offers more for passenger comfort. While the ease of use might take a ding here, we think most users will enjoy the Joie over the Thule. If your budget can double, the Guava Roam is a nice three-wheel stroller that is also a jogger. The Guava is a compelling choice that is easier to push than the Spring and includes a comfy seat, small fold, and impressive run-ability.
Manufacturer Video
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Thule Spring versus top competing products:
Wendy Schmitz Senior Review Editor Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and... read more
Juliet Spurrier, MD Mom-in-Chief Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science... read more
