Drive along any motorway in the UK and it won’t be long before you spot a car with a roof box carrying the Thule branding – it’s a name that’s associated with quality and strength, but there is so much more to the Scandinavian company, as we recently discovered.
Yes, it is renowned for developing quite expensive, but exceptionally robust roof boxes, but there is a host of other products that boast the same world class safety and quality standards and they range from baby strollers, to dog crates and high-end luggage.
We decided to explore some of the lesser-known Thule products and find out what rigorous testing these day-to-day items are put through.
Child seats and strollers
Child Seats is an area that’s quite new to Thule and last year, it’s Alfi Isofix base along with the Maple infant seat achieved winning scores in independent European safety testing.
The testing process is rigorous and simulates crash after crash with particular attention paid to the strength of the child seat and protection of any occupant.
A spokesman for Thule explained: “The state-of-the-art Thule crash test centre played a critical role in the development of the Thule Maple and Thule Alfi. The products underwent rigorous testing to meet the highest standards, ensuring they would perform under the most challenging conditions. The team of designers and engineering experts has shown that safety and comfort can be combined in a product that delivers outstanding results in real-world scenarios.“
And gaining such impressive results in such a stringent independent testing process has been welcomed by Beatrice Råvik Janzon, Director of Product Management Active with Kids at Thule, who said: "This win reflects our commitment to maximising child safety and providing comfort for both parents and children. All the efforts our dedicated, engaged team has put into these products are proving that we protect kids in the best possible way."
And what makes this achievement more remarkable is the fact that it was Thule’s debut in the child safety market.
For added convenience, the infant car seat quickly and easily docks onto a base within a car and can be used in combination with a range of Thule strollers too.
Thule car seats are available now at selected retailers and at Thule.com, with a recommended price of £249 for Thule Maple, and £249 for the Thule Alfi Isofix base.
Dog Crates
Thule has also branched out into crates to carry dogs and cats safely within a vehicle. And these too have been tested to the highest possible standard,
It’s called Thule Allax and costs from £489.99 with 10 sizes ranging from XS to XXL.
Emma Kostolny, Global Product Manager, Active with Dogs category at Thule explained: “As safety is always our top priority, the Thule Allax dog crate has undergone rigorous testing to ensure we do everything we can for the protection of pets and passengers in a collision.
“The Thule Allax is crash tested in three ways, in a front collision, rear collision, and in a simulated roll-over scenario. A significant effort has been made to ensure there are no sharp edges during or after these scenarios, to protect the dog. Additionally, the crate is designed to avoid exerting excessive force on the seatback, safeguarding the passengers.”
We tested the crate which takes about an hour to assemble and may need two people to lift it into the car, where it is secured with safety straps. My seven-year-old cockapoo had never been inside a car crate before, but took to it without any issues. Initially I could hear him moving around a little, but after about five minutes, he settled down for a snooze.
Luggage and bags
Aion Travel backpack (28 litres) £159.99. This beautifully-styled rucksack is ideal for day-to-day use, but can easily double up as an overnight or weekend bag. There are numerous compartments with areas for a laptop, cables, wet clothes and valuables.
But possibly, the most impressive feature after walking a couple of miles wearing a fully-laden bag was how comfortable it proved to be. And you can tell by its high-end quality with materials that are 100 per cent recycled, it has years of use ahead too. It’s also water resistant which is a ‘must’ in our ever-changing climate.
While the capacity is advertised as 28 litres, it can be expanded further to 32 litres for added packing space. It’s easy to clean and has lots of zipped pockets for phone chargers, keys, pens and glasses etc. Additionally, padded storage protects a 16-inch laptop alongside a smaller tablet.
Aion Tote Bag (Nutria shade) £129.99. Tote bags are all the rage these days and are the go-to item for shopping and day-to-day living. That’s because they seem to have the magic powers to expand in every direction. This lovely looking bag is made from 100 per cent recycled materials and features a rugged, durable waxed canvas fabric that looks better the more it ages. It is also water-resistant so will help protect contents in the event of a downpour. Inside, there is a slim compartment that will fit a 16-inch laptop, a large wet or dirty storage area that keeps damp clothes separated from other items, a bottle holder, and an exterior sleeve that means it can easily slide on top of a cabin case. Additionally, there are plenty of pockets (many zipped) to keep valuables safe and organized.
Subterra 2 13-inch MacBook Sleeve £44.99.
The price of laptops these days is higher than ever, so it’s important to keep them protected against accidental damage and spillages whenever possible. Thule has developed a tough, yet stylish sleeve that is available in a range of sizes with plenty of padding to protect devices. There is an additional pocket to keep cables safe too.
Thule compression cube set £39.99.
If you travel a lot and struggle to keep everything organised inside your case, then these will be a miracle fix. The pack consists one small and one large compression packing cube. Simple roll up half a dozen T shirts and pop them in the larger cube. Zip it closed and then fasten the second zip which eliminates any excess air. This will help keep clothes looking smart, but most importantly, free up additional room inside your case.
The cubes are made of semi-transparent materials so it’s easy to see what’s packed inside without opening them. According to Thule, the smaller cube is ideal for socks and underwear, while the larger one is suitable for jeans, leggings and shirts.
There are many areas we have not had time to cover here, including camping and Recreational Vehicle accessories, bike trailers, racks and paniers, along with all manner of roof boxes and racks for skis and snowboards. But all the information about the products can be found by visiting the Thule website at Thule.
