Review: Thule Chariot Cross 2 Bike Trailer and Stroller

I’m a big hiker and love the outdoors. Before my husband and I had our firstborn seven months ago, we regularly road-tripped to national parks—Yellowstone, Zion, you name it. Needless to say, I’m beyond excited to get out and about with the baby this summer.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

In my day-to-day, my baby and I take walks around the neighborhood in a stroller/car-seat combo (see our guide to The Best Strollers). There are a lot of perks to it, but it’s not exactly the smoothest ride. As we roll over pebbles and sidewalk cracks, the impact sends my babe’s chubby cheeks bouncing. That’s why I’ve been loving the Thule Chariot Cross 2.

Built to handle the outdoors, Thule’s sturdy and efficient Swedish design makes for a smooth ride, no matter what kind of ground you’re on. But it’s not just for walking. With the simple insertion of a hitch arm, the Chariot hooks up to your bike and becomes a smooth-wheelin’ buggy. I couldn’t believe how light and easy to navigate the Cross 2 was as a stroller and bike trailer. For active families like mine, the Cross 2 makes adventure more accessible and manageable.

Note: You can purchase the Cross 2 in a jogging bundle or with an add-on cross-country ski kit. Kansas City isn’t exactly renowned for its cross-country ski trails, and I prefer biking to jogging, so I tested the Cross 2 by walking and biking.

Strolling and Off-Roading

You can still buy the original Chariot Cross, but the Cross 2 incorporates user-friendly upgrades, including an updated cargo bag, improved folding hinge mechanism, new hitch attachment with one-handed operation, and an easier transition between bike and stroller.

It took me about 15 to 20 minutes to set up the Cross 2. Because Thule is a Swedish company, most of the instructions were given in the form of pictures, which can feel a little vague. It’s manageable, nonetheless.

Right away, as I strolled around my neighborhood, I was impressed with how easy the Cross 2 was to maneuver, despite being fairly large and bulky otherwise (just over 3 feet in height and width). It has an aerodynamic design that allows for plenty of legroom for the kiddo, and it’s outfitted with two 20-inch back wheels that are sturdy enough to navigate rough terrain. The two front wheels are smaller, about 8 inches in diameter, and with the tug of a lever can be flipped up when transitioning to bike mode. (I dive more into bike mode below.) As I went for a walk with the babe in my older neighborhood, cracked sidewalks and awkward bumps in the road were suddenly manageable with the Thule. I quickly found myself off-roading at parks and through fields.

The Cross 2 may be large, but it feels light. I had no problem popping the trailer on its two back wheels to overcome any awkward terrain. Pushing it is a breeze, even when making turns and walking uphill. In fact, I felt the stroller's weight more when I was walking on a decline. In this case, I was happy to have the brake and security strap. The brake is like most, a red pedal at the bottom of the stroller that you navigate with your foot. The security strap, connected to the handlebar with a loop that wraps around your wrist, adds extra assurance that your stroller can’t outrun you.

Baby’s First Ride

There are a few customizable elements to the Cross 2 trailer, like the height of the handlebar or the suspension. The seats inside are plush but sturdy, and can recline. They’re also removable for cleaning.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

The trailer’s front is a mesh material that zips open and closed. You can add a rain cover or sun shade. My baby has hated direct sunlight in his eyes since he was a newborn, so I appreciated the sun shade, although it can be a little awkward as it clips onto the front and blocks out a significant portion of the child’s view. Still, it’s adjustable and, at the very least, I knew my baby could see out the sides of the trailer.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

A benefit to Thule’s other model, the Chariot Sport, is that the side walls zip off. I was missing this element with the Cross. The Cross’ walls are see-through but covered with plastic, and although there are several ventilation vents to support airflow, I thought it would have been nice on certain days for my baby to get fresh air from all sides.

I appreciated the cargo bag on the back of the trailer. It’s sizable, although not quite big enough for a packed diaper bag. It’s large enough for a few water bottles (there’s no cup holder on the trailer), purses, and other odds and ends. It zips up and is decked out with a reflector for visibility.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

Travelin’ Baby

A hitch arm connects the trailer to your bike. When not in use, it can be conveniently fixed to the side of the trailer.

To attach the hitch arm, you’ll first insert the provided axle mount plate onto your bike’s back wheel, so you’ll need a wrench to remove your bike’s nut and bolt. Once on, you’ll attach the hitch arm to the axle mount, which clicks in place easily. (You’ll want to attach the hitch arm to the axle mount first, as opposed to attaching it to the trailer first. I found the latter to be too awkward.)

Photograph: Tyler Shane

With the hitch arm locked onto your bike, you’ll slide the opposite end into the trailer and you’ll know it’s locked when you hear a click. Sliding the hitch arm into the trailer takes some finagling. It’s a tight space, and it’s something to get used to. Once attached, the hitch arm is locked with a key at either end. For added assurance, there are also two chains built into the hitch arm that attaches to your bike and the trailer to keep them connected. The last step is to flip up the two front wheels, and you’re good to go.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

Biking with the trailer was just as easy as strolling with it. The trailer is light, not at all the weighty hindrance I was expecting. Occasionally, I looked behind and saw Baby happily peering out the side windows. It was a joy to watch him explore while I got a workout.

As for storing, the trailer isn’t the most compact piece of equipment, but breaking it down is simple and uses a design similar to many strollers. Just click both buttons on the side legs and they bend to a compact fold. This is easier for my husband, who has longer arms than I do. To break down the trailer, I have to bend down at the back of the trailer and reach around for both sides, whereas my husband can just hover over the top.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

Broken down to its most compact state, the Cross 2 is still large and kind of awkward. That being said, it did fit comfortably into my SUV’s trunk, which is 34 inches deep and 31 inches high. It was necessary for me to remove the wheels, which is as simple as pressing the buttons on the axle and popping them off.

Photograph: Tyler Shane

There’s no doubt Thule made this piece of equipment for the outdoors. You can use it indoors; it fits through doorways fine. But it’s just a bit too large for me to justify bringing it with me to the grocery store.

With the chaos of early parenthood, I wasn’t sure when my husband and I would be back out exploring and adventuring outside, but the Cross 2 has opened a world of possibilities. I can now envision our baby tagging along with us with ease. The price is a bit steep, but it's still a great investment for active families who want accessible adventure with their little ones.