Choosing between the Burley D’Lite X and the Thule Coaster XT comes down to three real questions: How much do you value the stroller conversion? How often will you run versus ride? And do you need the trailer to double as a jogging setup? Both trailers sit in the $500-600 range, carry one child up to roughly 40 lb, and fold flat for garage storage. But they handle those shared specs in meaningfully different ways.

Before anything else: check cpsc.gov/Recalls for both models before purchase. Trailer recalls have happened in the past due to coupler failures. Neither model reviewed here carries a current open recall at the time of writing, but that status can change.

The AAP’s bicycle safety guidance is firm: no trailer riding before 12 months, and a properly fitted helmet every single time.

Quick Answer: Which Trailer Should You Buy?

If stroller functionality matters to you and you want everything in one box, buy the Thule Coaster XT. The stroller kit is included, it weighs 2 lb less than the Burley, and the interior sun visor is better. If you plan to add jogging later, prioritize resale value, or need Burley’s extensive accessory ecosystem (ski kit, cargo kit, child seat inserts), the Burley D’Lite X is the stronger long-term platform.

For families where this will be the only trailer they ever own, the Thule Coaster XT wins on out-of-box value. For families who are building a multi-use utility system over several years, the Burley D’Lite X earns its premium.

Check the current Amazon price for the Burley D’Lite X and the Thule Coaster XT before deciding. Prices shift seasonally.

Safety Standards: Both Pass, with Caveats

Both Burley and Thule design their trailers to meet US CPSC guidelines and relevant ASTM standards for wheeled goods. The trailers include a 5-point harness, a protective roll cage built into the aluminum frame, and a safety tether that clips to the bike frame as a redundant attachment if the coupler fails.

The Burley D’Lite X uses a universal coupler that attaches to the rear axle and has been used on Burley trailers for over a decade without a widespread coupler recall. The Thule Coaster XT uses Thule’s EasyClick coupler, which snaps onto a bracket that bolts to your rear axle; you leave the bracket on the bike so attaching and detaching the trailer takes about 4 seconds.

Neither trailer is designed to be a jogging stroller. If you want a jogging setup, Thule’s Chariot series and Burley’s Encore X are the appropriate tools. Running with a non-jogging trailer poses real safety risks due to the different attachment and wheel geometry.

The mandatory helmet point is worth repeating: the CPSC’s guidance on bike trailer safety and the AAP both require a helmet on every child in a trailer because a crash or tip places the child’s head close to the ground. No trailer construction makes a helmet optional.

Cons:

  • Neither trailer includes a helmet; budget $25-50 extra for a CPSC-certified toddler helmet such as those from Giro or Bell.
  • The roll cage on both trailers protects in a tip-over but neither is crash-tested to FMVSS 213 standards that apply to car seats. Bike trailers and car seats occupy different safety regulatory categories.

Weight and Folding: Thule Has the Edge

The Thule Coaster XT weighs 26.5 lb assembled and folds to a flat-pack form that fits in an SUV cargo area or leans against a garage wall. Unfolding takes roughly 30 seconds once you learn the clip sequence.

The Burley D’Lite X weighs 28.5 lb. Two extra pounds does not sound meaningful until you are lifting the trailer over a curb or loading it into a car alone while your toddler sits on the sidewalk. Both trailers remove their wheels quickly for tighter storage.

The Burley’s fold is slightly more involved because the frame collapses in a different sequence than the Thule. Neither requires tools. Parents who store the trailer daily (rather than leaving it assembled in the garage) tend to prefer the Thule fold for speed.

Cons:

  • At 26.5-28.5 lb, neither trailer qualifies as easy to hoist into a car alone. If you drive a compact hatchback and use the trailer multiple times a day, the weight is a real friction point compared to lighter competitors like the Croozer Kid Plus (25.4 lb).
  • The Burley’s wheel clips require more finger pressure to release than the Thule’s, which can be frustrating in cold weather.

Cabin and Comfort: Burley’s Interior Quality Leads

The Burley D’Lite X cabin is 22 inches wide and 27 inches tall at the peak. A single child up to approximately 40 lb (roughly 4-5 years old, depending on build) fits comfortably with a helmet on, which is the relevant measurement. The padded seat and adjustable recline are class-leading: the seat reclines to let a tired toddler nap, and the two-position recline is firm enough that the child does not slump forward.

The Thule Coaster XT is 20 inches wide and slightly shorter inside. For most children under 3, the fit is comfortable. Taller 4- and 5-year-olds in helmets start to feel cramped compared to the Burley. The Thule’s sunshade panel is better engineered though, blocking more lateral sun than the Burley’s version.

Both trailers have mesh ventilation panels and a clear weather shield that rolls down to cover the opening in rain. The Burley’s weather shield seals more completely at the sides; the Thule’s leaves small gaps at the lower corners that allow mist in during hard rain.

Storage pockets behind the seat are deeper on the Burley, fitting a full hydration bladder or a small diaper bag. The Thule’s rear storage holds snacks and a rain jacket but not much more.

Cons:

  • The Burley’s recline improvement is a genuine upgrade from the previous D’Lite generation, but the harness still requires two adults to adjust the shoulder strap height. You cannot do it solo without un-buckling and re-routing.
  • The Thule Coaster XT’s interior width of 20 inches is noticeably tighter if your child wears a bulky winter coat. Plan for a shoulder-width fit, not a comfort-fit, in cold months.

Stroller Conversion: Thule Wins on Value, Burley Wins on Add-Ons

The Thule Coaster XT ships with the stroller conversion kit included. You attach the front wheel bracket (tool-free, 2 minutes), and the trailer becomes a functional push stroller with a swivel front wheel. The push handle is fixed-height, which works well for adults 5’4” to 6’0” but can cause awkward posture for taller parents during long walks.

The Burley D’Lite X does not include a stroller kit. You pay roughly $70-90 for the Burley Stroller Kit accessory. That price difference partially closes the gap between the two trailers at checkout. The Burley stroller mode is slightly more stable over rough pavement because the front wheel locks forward as well as swiveling, giving you better control on gravel paths.

Burley’s broader accessory line is a genuine long-term advantage. You can add a ski/snowboard kit, a cargo insert for grocery runs without a child aboard, a pet attachment, or a reclining child seat with harness. Thule’s Coaster XT accessory line is shorter; Thule’s full accessory ecosystem lives on the Chariot platform, not the Coaster.

Check current Amazon pricing on the Thule Coaster XT and factor in whether the included stroller kit changes your total-cost comparison against the Burley D’Lite X.

Bottom Line: One Trailer for Most Families

Most families buying their first bike trailer should buy the Thule Coaster XT. You get 26.5 lb weight, a faster fold, a better sunshade, and the stroller kit in the box without paying extra. The interior is slightly smaller than the Burley but fits comfortably through age 3-4 for most children.

Buy the Burley D’Lite X if your child is already 3 or older and you anticipate using the trailer for 2-3 more years (the larger cabin pays off over time), if you want to build out the accessory ecosystem, or if jogging is a future goal and you plan to upgrade within the Burley platform to the Encore X.

Both trailers clear the CPSC recall check at this writing and both use reputable 5-point harness systems. For either choice, the non-negotiable items are: wait until your child is 12 months old per AAP guidance, fit a CPSC-compliant helmet before every ride, and attach the safety tether to your bike frame before rolling.

For more context on testing our trailers, visit our methodology page. If you are earlier in the decision process, our trailers buying guide covers five options across a wider price range.