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Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Thule Experience. This multi-day event involved a tour of the brand’s design and innovation center, factory, and test facility in Hillerstorp, Sweden (more on that in another article), as well as a visit to its headquarters in the port city of Malmö, Sweden. While in Malmö, the Thule Experience (THEX) brought together members of the press, buyers, and the brand’s employees for a truly one-of-a-kind event. Thule pulled out all the stops, starting with a fashion show-esque, runway-style product demonstration featuring many of the brand’s famous sports ambassadors. This was followed by mingling, drinks, snacks, and even a performance of “I Love It” by the Swedish pop duo, Icona Pop. It bordered on being over the top, but it was honestly pretty freaking awesome.
The following day, we reconvened at the venue to take a closer look at what Thule has in store for Spring 2026. All the latest products were on display, allowing us to take more photos and gain a little hands-on experience with the gear. I also had the opportunity to chat with designers, product managers, and testers to gain a bit more insight into the brand’s latest products. In addition to the Thule Vero bike rack that we recently saw at SEMA and reported on just the other day, here’s some of the cool new stuff that Thule will be offering next year.
Bike Racks
Thule has been one of the leading players in the bike rack market for decades, and it aims to maintain that position with its latest models. The brand has pretty much every style of rack covered, catering to the needs of virtually every rider. Whether you’re an apartment dweller with limited storage space, an e-bike rider, or a mountain bike shuttler, Thule’s lineup includes a rack designed to suit your needs.
Most of Thule’s bike rack lineup is new in the last year or two and already available. The Revert vertical hitch rack came out last year and comes in both 4 and 6-bike versions, has a 55-pound per bike weight limit, and has damper-assisted tilt both up and down. At the other end of the spectrum, the Thule Epos is designed to occupy as little storage space as possible while still accommodating any bike you own. It folds in half for storage, yet it can handle bikes weighing up to 75 pounds each, along with a unique 3-point attachment system that works with any bike. Of course, the Thule Verse came out earlier this year and is one of the most user-friendly tray-style racks on the market.
The big news for spring ‘26 is the all-new Thule Vero. This rack essentially combines the tray-style of the Verse with the attachment-style and higher, e-bike-friendly weight limit of the Epos. It can carry bikes up to 80 pounds each, is compatible with a loading ramp, and secures the bikes with three points of contact. It folds flat against the vehicle to reduce its profile when not in use, and it comes with transport wheels to move it around off your car.
Thule also had a new swing-away attachment on display, although they said it probably won’t be available for sale until the fall of next year. I was told that it has a 300-pound weight limit and it will be offered in both right and left swing options. It appeared to be very sturdy, with a large handle making it easy to operate.
Last but certainly not least, Thule made a bike rack for bikes. A bike bike rack? I’ve seen DIY versions similar to this for years, but this is an engineered, tested, and polished-looking rack that can obviously be mounted on the back of a cargo bike and possibly motorized bikes as well. It’s essentially an extra-long platform with two fork-mount bike racks attached to it. On the display bike, the front wheels are mounted up front, but it seems there’s potential to fit them between the bikes as well. Either way, pretty nifty for the right rider.
Panniers and Gear Bags
One of my favorite things at the Thule show was the new InLock Pannier System. With the InLock panniers, Thule set out to create a range of bags that are both stylish and functional, both on the bike and off. How are they any different than other panniers? Thule removed all of the hardware from the bags themselves, so they are comfortable to carry, with no hard parts against the body. Basically, a fabric sleeve on the bag slides over the InLock bracket on the rack, which then locks into place. The system was very quick and easy to use, and immediately had me wondering why panniers like this don’t already exist.
The other benefit of the InLock system is that all of the bags look like everyday bags — they have super clean lines, solid colorways, Scandinavian aesthetics, and quality weatherproof constructions. The range of bags appears to be well-developed and covers all the bases, from roll-tops and totes to backpacks and cavernous cargo compartments.
One of the other bags that really caught my eye was the new RoundTrip MTB Duffel. This new gear bag is intended to complement the existing RoundTrip Duffel, which is arguably a better fit for carrying road or gravel gear. I believe it’s roughly similar in volume at ~55 liters, but the MTB version changes the storage approach with an open main compartment with modular panels inside that allow you to customize the space. Several large exterior pockets are lined for wet gear, and one even folds out into a mat to stand on while changing. The best part: the semi-rigid, structured opening actually stays open, so it’s easy to access your gear.
For those who love organized gear, Thule is also making a new lineup they’re calling the Chasm Gear Haulers. These bags have semi-rigid bottoms and are made from durable materials, with various sizes of totes and gear cubes to choose from. The storage compartments are also modular, so you can dial them in for whatever gear you’re throwing in there.
Thule also makes a strong case for the best bike travel bag on the market with the RoundTrip MTB Bike travel case. This bag is already available, but it was on display at the show. It fits bikes with wheelbases up to 1,300 mm, has a well-designed layout and padding, and it folds down to almost nothing for storage. I think the most impressive feature is probably the bike tray, which converts into a work stand for assembly/disassembly or maintenance while you’re traveling.
Trailers and Kid Haulers
Showing off Thule’s new Reacha cargo trailer were two of the world’s best big wave surfers. Garrett McNamara and Justine Dupont (both starring in the 100-Foot Wave Docuseries) were on hand to demonstrate its capability. This new trailer can obviously carry a surfboard, but it can also carry a variety of other items and quickly and easily convert between pulling it by bike and pulling it by hand. With nice wide tires, it looks like an awesome option for getting your gear to and from the beach or other outdoor adventures.
Thule’s Chariot stroller/trailers continue to be some of the most popular on the market for good reason. Versatility is one of the primary factors, as they can quickly and easily convert between a bike trailer and a walking/jogging stroller. I don’t believe that Thule was showing any new Chariots at the show, but a Chariot accessory definitely caught my eye. This mini bike rack mounts to the top of the trailer, so you can bring along your kiddo’s balance bike wherever you go. I don’t have any kids, but my friends who do seem pretty darn excited about it. It looks pretty boss, if nothing else.
Thule’s Yepp kids’ seats have been dominating the bike seat market for years. The latest version, known as the Nexxt 2, isn’t new for spring 2026, but it appears to still be setting the standard for child comfort, safety, and integration with various bike setups. And if you’ve ever referred to your pet as a “fur baby”, you might be interested in this small pet carrier, which can fit smaller animals and be mounted on front or rear cargo racks.
Roof Top Tents
For the car campers among us, Thule is adding a brand new rooftop tent to its lineup and updating two of its existing models. The new Widesky has a hardshell design and a serious emphasis on user-friendliness. This all-new model elevates the ease of setup and breakdown to a whole new level. All you have to do is unbuckle two buckles, give it a nudge, and it opens on its own. It’s equally easy to close with a light pull on a strap. You don’t even need to tuck in any fabric.
Thule’s soft-shell rooftop tents also received updates. The Foothill 2 is the compact version that folds in half, occupying only half of the roof, leaving plenty of room for additional toys or cargo. The Approach 2 is the full-size option, placing a greater emphasis on space and comfort. Thule was also showing off a zip-on canopy and walls to extend the Approach 2’s covered space down to the ground. The accessory ecosystem and integration was pretty impressive.
Coming Soon
There was quite a bit more to see at the show than what I’ve listed here. Thule had its full lineup of strollers, luggage, daypacks, campervan canopies, cargo boxes, and more on display. One thing was abundantly clear: Thule makes just about everything to support your active lifestyle so you can “bring your life” — which also happens to be the brand’s latest slogan.
Nearly all of the products mentioned above are scheduled to be released next spring, and I believe we can expect to see them showing up on the Thule website and retailer shelves between late January and March. I’m hoping to get my hands on a few things for testing — I’m looking at you MTB Duffel, InLock Panniers, and Vero bike rack — so be sure to check back for some reviews over the next couple of months.
thule.com
