How To Choose The Best Beach Cart Stroller For Outdoor Fun
The best beach cart can be a game changer for anyone looking to have a perfect holiday by the beach. A beach cart keeps all your items in one place and can comfortably serve a family of four or more. Here is what you need to know before buying one.
More...
Last update on 2022-09-03 at 02:50 PST - Details
*Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Tips for Buying a Beach Cart
The type of beach cart you purchase will depend on your needs and how much you are willing to spend. In addition, beach carts differ in sizes and type of material used to make them. Therefore, you need to rely on more than the pricing to determine the type of beach cart that you will take home with you.
Advantages of Beach Carts
Gone are the days when you had to delegate who carries what when planning a trip to the beach. With a beach cart, you can plan your beach vacation better and determine what you take with you. A good beach cart can move through heaps of sand and mud effortlessly without being stuck.
The best beach carts can handle any load from a snack basket to a cooler box filled with drinks. Besides the main compartment at the middle, some beach carts add side pockets where your keys and other small items can go.
Tips For Packing A Beach Cart
When packing a beach cart, it is advisable to start with the heavy items first. Things like a cooler box, foldable outdoor chairs, or large toys will go at the bottom. This creates a base heavy enough to prevent the cart from toppling over when traveling through sand.
After packing the heavy stuff, the less weighty items like towels, swimming costumes, and even foodstuff will go in the middle. Lastly, small items like serviettes, tiny toys, phones, sunscreen, or board games can go on top. Ensure that items packed last should be those that cater to immediate needs and need to be within easy reach.
Wheels
The wheels of your beach cart have to be wide and strong. Wide and thick wheels form a large surface area to volume ratio that can be ideal in withstanding the bumpiness of sand. Beach cart wheels are usually reinforced with thick treads made of either polyutherane or rubber. This helps prevent the wheels from plowing through the sand as you ferry your essentials to that favorite beach spot.
Size
Go for a good beach cart that accommodates all your beach essentials and still leaves room for more. The number of people you will be catering to at the beach can also help determine the size of your cart. A family of three can make do with a cheap basic cart to carry all their belongings. On the other hand, if you are entertaining a large crowd by the beach, you require the large heavy duty carts.
Compact And Portable
Is the beach cart itself easy to carry around? Is it easy to fold and store without taking up much trunk space? A good beach cart fits snuggly at the back of your truck and still unfolds to fit everything that you plan to carry. Most cheap beach carts are easy to fold and carry around.
Multiple Compartments
Besides the large space at the center, does your beach card also include side compartments? This can come in handy for storing those items you need to have easy and quick access to including your car keys, insect repellant, or a mini first aid kit.
Some side compartments also come with locks for safe keeping of your jewelry, phones, or any other valuables.
Ease of Cleaning
A good beach cart cleans off easily after a long day of fun by the beach. Remember you will be dealing with wet sand all day and some of it can get on your beach cart. If you have small kids running around, expect smears of mud, ketchup, or gravy all over the cart. You need a beach cart that can be easily cleaned with a hose and wet cloth. The material used to make the cart can be the deal breaker on this one.
Durability
A beach cart should serve you for years before the next upgrade. Get a beach cart made from a tough material and has a strong frame construction. Many of the modern beach carts have aluminum frames to make them durable. Although such carts may be on the high end in terms of pricing, they often last for years without experiencing significant wear and tear.
Space
How much space do you require on your beach cart?
This depends on whether you are going to the beach alone or with friends and family. A good beach cart adds extra storage spaces on the side. Most beach carts have mesh like pockets or side straps to throw in extra items.
Price
Your budget can influence the type of beach cart you get and the features it comes with. Good beach carts cost anything from $50 to $200. A $50 to $100 beach cart is large enough to carry small items such as toys, shells, rocks, phones, snacks and so on. This type of beach cart is ideal for an individual, a couple, or a small family of four.
The heavy duty beach carts cost around $200 and have more features. These carts are capable of hauling weight as heavy as 200 lbs. Their construction is sturdy and tweaked to make it easy to wheel the cart through mounds of sand or mud. As you factor in pricing in your purchase decisions, always remember that pricing may not necessarily affect the quality of a beach cart.
Best Beach Cart Models On The Market
Last update on 2022-09-03 at 02:50 PST - Details
#1 - Mac Sports Collapsible Outdoor Beach Cart
This beach cart comes with enough space to fit all your outdoor essentials. Besides the fact that it is easy to fold, I also love the fact that it includes its own carrying case. The beach cart is available in a wide range of colors including red, green, black, or pink.
Mac Sports folding outdoor cart is designed with a tough durable fabric that is quite easy to clean from my point of view. A tough frame also adds to its turgidity and the design makes this a versatile cart to use at not only the beach but also any other outdoor event. The wheels are wide, thick, and reinforced with rubber treads to facilitate smooth movements through sand.
I take this particular cart to all my beach holidays or camping vacation; it is totally worth it. The only thing I would say is a miss about this beach wagon is the lack of extra compartments. It is an ideal stroller for the lone camper or beach lover, definitely not for family parties.
What I Liked
What I Didn’t Like
This is another quality beach cart in my collection. It looked quite compact at first sight and I almost doubted it would fit a cooler box. Fortunately, it does fit a cooler though I had to downsize to a 48qt cooler. It can be an ideal beach cart if you frequent the beach a lot on your own.
Besides a spacious main compartment, this wonder Wheeler also features mesh pouches on the side where my phone or car keys goes. Near the handle are two cup holders and another tiny compartment between the holders where I keep my plastic cutlery.
Commercially, this Rio Brands beach cart wheeler should fit up to 100 pounds of luggage. The hind wheels are 10inch wide and reinforced with rubber tread for easy wheeling through sand dunes. One last feature I would mention is the umbrella holder on the side. It saves one the trouble of having to squeeze an umbrella in between your other items.
What I Liked
What I Didn’t Like
This is what I would recommend to any beach lover with a family to cater for. The main storage area is quite roomy; 36.2 by 21.4 by 24.6 inches to be precise. Mac sports beach cart is also readily assembled. All I have to do is to unfold the cart then throw in all my outdoor essentials.
What I love most about this beach cart is that both wheels are large and laced with rubber treads. It makes for a perfect cart to wheel on a public beach with plenty of human traffic. I have also used my Mac Sports beach cart for camping and picnics; I never have to leave any item at home because of lack of space.
I have wheeled up to 150 pounds and 200 pounds when I am really pushing my luck. Surprisingly, the cart held up magnificently on both occasions. There is a mesh pocket right at the handle where I like to keep my smartphone, and house keys. In addition, the mesh pouch being close to the handle means all your sensitive items like jewelry or sunscreen will be within reach.
The only thing that lacks on the Mac Sports beach cart is additional compartments or holders on the side. I have had to pack my umbrella on top of the cart or fasten it on the side with clips. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this to a family of four that loves the outdoors.
What I Liked
What I Didn’t Like
Tommy Bahama all terrain beach cart comfortably serves a family of four. What I love about it are the many storage compartments that can ensure you carry everything you require in one trip. Tommy Bahama beach cart also folds flat and does not take too much in terms of storage space.
The main storage compartment is wide enough to fit a 48qt cooler. In addition, there are plenty of side pockets with zippers for immediate hand luggage like sunscreen or your phone. In addition, the cart features built-in straps for holding your umbrellas and chairs in place. At the opposite end of the handle is a steel bar that I like to hang more items especially when I am going out with family.
Tommy Bahama all terrain beach cart comes with large and thick hind wheels. These will get you through any sandy part of the beach. At first, I was worried about the front wheels being so tiny. Nevertheless, they hold up pretty well with help from the rear wheels. I have hauled up to 100 pounds of luggage with this all terrain beach stroller. I tend to believe it can take more given its strong steel frame; just make sure it does not get very heavy to wheel around.
What I Liked
What I Didn’t Like
This beach cart is a little different in design. It only comes with two hind wheels to push the cart wherever you want. However, do not let the basic engineering fool you, this beach cart can haul all the heavy beach luggage you have, cooler box included.
One of the unique features of this beach cart is the inbuilt table. Once you offload all your beach essentials, you only have to turn over the cart and it becomes a convenient tablet. The table has enough space for two to four saucer-size plates. Add four cup holders to each end and you have a table to comfortably cater for a family.
You can choose to use the inbuilt mesh-like main compartment to keep all your belongings or strap everything securely especially if there is a large cooler box that will not fit in the main compartment. There is an umbrella and chair holder on the side for a convenient picnic setup at the beach or in the woods. The two available wheels are large and rubberized for easy movement through sand or rocky terrains.
What I Liked
What I Didn’t Like
So What Is My Choice?
top pick
Tommy Bahama beach cart
95
OVERALL
93
Quality
90
Value
95
Brand
Tommy Bahama beach cart
95
OVERALL
93
Quality
90
Value
95
Brand
Why I Recommend It
Conclusion
When it comes to the best beach cart, I always recommend going with something that fits all your items for one convenient trip. You also have to think about the construction and material of the beach cart if you want something that lasts longer. There are plenty of best beach cart models in the market, but I believe the above five are the best I have seen so far.
Now to narrow it down, I can safely say that the competition here is between the Tommy Bahama all terrain and the Rio brand table cart. The Tommy Bahama beach cart has a solid construction and moves easily through sand. The Rio Brand wonder cart adds the convenience of an inbuilt table especially if you plan to feed while at the beach or picnicking.
