Beach trips may require a lot of gear – pop-up tents, sports equipment, coolers – all of which has to fit into your vehicle. That’s where a folding beach wagon comes in handy.
A good beach wagon not only transports all your gear, but it will also fold up into a small and compact size – ideal for throwing into the trunk of your car, ready to load up when you get there.
How can you find the best folding beach wagon, with a large enough capacity to haul your stuff and maybe even your kids? How can you find one that will fold up small for easy storage? And what should you look for in a beach wagon?
The bottom line upfront: we like the VIVOSUN Folding Collapsible Wagon Utility Beach Cart. It’s effortless to steer and collapses into a small, compact size.
We also like:
- TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon – ideal for transporting large items
- MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Folding Wagon – this includes a table, which makes it great for picnics
Today we’ll be looking at:
- What a folding beach wagon is
- The main features to look out for
- Our top 6 picks, including their key features, pros, and cons
- Some frequently asked questions
- Our favorites, and why we’ve picked them
Table of Contents
- The Best Folding Beach Wagons Compared
- What is a Folding Beach Wagon?
- What to Look for in a Folding Beach Wagon
- Top 6 Best Folding Beach Wagons
- Gorilla Carts Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon – Good All-Rounder
- VIVOSUN Folding Collapsible Wagon Utility Beach Cart – Easiest to Steer
- TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon – Best for Organization
- WHITSUNDAY Collapsible Folding Wagon – Best Looking Wagon
- TMZ All Terrain Folding Wagon – Best for Heavy Items
- MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Folding Wagon – Best for Picnics
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Final Thoughts – Which is the Best Folding Beach Wagon?
Let’s start by seeing how they stack up against each other!
The Best Folding Beach Wagons Compared
What is a Folding Beach Wagon?
A beach wagon (also known as a beach cart) is a wagon that comes with a handle that allows you to pull gear along sand and gravel. They’re designed to help you carry heavy loads, preventing you from having to make multiple trips to the car and back again.
A folding beach wagon collapses down, making it super transportable and easy to store.
They’re usually pretty durable, made from heavy-duty material and a steel frame.
A folding wagon is excellent, as it allows you to take everything you need to stay safe on the beach while not taking up too much space.
What to Look for in a Folding Beach Wagon
Before we look at our top 6 folding beach wagons, here are a few features to consider:
Ease of Use
The good thing about a folding beach wagon is that it allows you to collapse it, making it easier to store when not in use. It also makes it much simpler to fit into your trunk or the back of your car.
Look for wagons that are easy to collapse as well as easy to put together – you’ll need to be able to collapse your wagon again after use, and a stiff mechanism that doesn’t work well can be very frustrating.
Size Folded
Looking at the size folded can help you figure out whether you can squeeze a beach wagon into your vehicle. This is essential, especially if you’re going on a camping trip and need to fit it in your car along with your tent, cooler, and other gear.
If you want to see this in action, you can watch this video on how to fold a beach wagon –
most beach wagons work in a similar way to this, so you can get an idea of what to expect.
Durability
Beach wagons tend to be made from polyester, which is solid and durable. Sometimes the polyester may be coated in waterproofing materials to prevent mold or mildew from forming if it gets wet.
Beach wagon frames tend to be made from stainless steel – this is strong, durable, and not too heavy to carry.
You can also check out the durability of the handle, which you may need to adjust a lot – the last thing you want is for the handle to snap off mid-beach-trip!
Handle
Some wagons come with telescoping handles, and they are useful as they allow you to adjust the height, which makes it more comfortable to move around.
Capacity
Capacity is another key factor – how much stuff do you need to carry? This is measured by weight. If you’re carrying fairly lightweight items, you won’t need the biggest capacity. However, if you’re carrying heavy beach gear or using it to transport your kids, you’ll want one with a higher capacity.
You might also want to look for a heavyweight wagon if you plan to use it in the garden – check out this guide on Ways to Haul Stuff if you want to see how a wagon could work for you in this situation.
Some wagons have a double-layer construction, with one layer on the bottom and another on top of it. This allows you to keep the contents organized, but you’ll have to take care not to overload the top layer, as this could cause it to tip over.
Wheels
Beach wagons are designed to be used on sand and gravel, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it getting stuck in the sand. Look for something that has tough, durable wheels that can cope with different types of terrain.
Extra Features
You may find extra features on beach wagons, like fold-out tables, storage pockets for valuables, and pockets for water bottles.
Top 6 Best Folding Beach Wagons
Let’s now look at 6 of our favorite folding beach wagons. We’ll look at their key features, pros, and cons.
Gorilla Carts Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon – Good All-Rounder
Key Features
- Color: Black
- Dimensions Unfolded: 41.34 x 42.52 x 22.44 inches (105 x 108 x 57 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 25 x 8 inches (63.5 x 20.32 centimeters)
- Materials: Canvas, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds (68 kilograms)
The Gorilla Carts Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon is a good wagon not only for the beach but for gardening and shopping too. It has a decent capacity of 150 pounds (86 kilograms), and the sides can be expanded, allowing you to fit large items inside.
The wheels work well on different surfaces, including hard sand, soft sand, and gravel. They rotate, which makes it easy to steer, plus it has an integrated brake system, allowing you to stop it from rolling away.
It’s fairly durable, with a strong frame. It has a comfortable handle, but it isn’t telescoping, which means it can’t be adjusted for your height.
It’s easy to put together and collapse down again, and it folds up into a very compact size.
Pros
- Very compact when folded
- Easy to put together and collapse down
- Sides expand to fit large items
- Easy to steer
Cons
- Handle can’t be adjusted for your height
VIVOSUN Folding Collapsible Wagon Utility Beach Cart – Easiest to Steer
Key Features
- Color: Blue
- Dimensions Unfolded: 36.22 x 21.65 x 14.96 inches (92 x 54.99 x 37.99 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 11.42 x 9.06 x 24.41 inches (29 x 23 x 62 centimeters)
- Materials: Oxford cloth and PVC, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 175 pounds (80 kilograms)
The VIVOSUN Folding Collapsible Wagon Utility Beach Cart has 360-degree swivel wheels, which makes it easy to steer. It has a slightly smaller capacity of 175 pounds (80 kilograms), so it may not be the best choice if you want to carry your kids and your beach gear (or if you want to use it to lug around heavy gardening equipment). However, it’s still got plenty of room for a beach cooler and other beach gear.
The front wheels swivel, which makes it very easy to steer wherever you want it to go. The wheels are durable and work well on both sand and gravel – it even works well on soft sand.
It’s durable, it can get a bit wet without becoming moldy thanks to the PVC-coated Oxford cloth, and it comes with an adjustable handle to make it even easier to pull.
It has two storage pockets for water bottles or valuables that you want to keep safe. The folding mechanism works well, and it’s quite compact when folded, making it easy to store.
Pros
- Folds down easily
- Super easy to move
- Durable
- Compact
Cons
- Slightly smaller capacity
TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon – Best for Organization
Key Features
- Color: Brown
- Dimensions Unfolded: 54.13 x 34.65 x 18.9 inches (137.49 x 88.01 x 48 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 7.09 x 14.96 x 35.43 inches (18 x 37.99 x 89.99 centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 225 pounds (102 kilograms)
The TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon has two layers, with one storage area on top of the other. This makes it a really good wagon if you want to keep your gear organized. The lower shelf can extend too, so you can store longer items like parasols.
The front wheels rotate, making it easy to move around, but you do have to be careful how you load it up – too much heavy stuff on the top layer can cause it to tip to one side.
It’s a tough wagon with a durable, curved handle for comfortable use. The polyester fabric holds up well on the beach.
It collapses down fairly easily, but it’s a little bulkier when folded down, thanks to the double-layer shape.
Pros
- Collapses easily
- Easy to maneuver
- Durable
- It’s a double decker
- Good for longer items
Cons
- A bit bulkier when folded
WHITSUNDAY Collapsible Folding Wagon – Best Looking Wagon
Key Features
- Color: Grey, Red, Floral Print
- Dimensions Unfolded: 35 x 19 x 24 inches (88.9 x 48.26 x 60.96 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 19 x 7.1 x 11.71 inches (48.26 x 18.03 x 29.74 centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 175 pounds (79.37 kilograms)
The WHITSUNDAY Collapsible Folding Wagon can be purchased in a bright floral print, perfect for beach trips. It can hold up to 175 pounds (79.37 kilograms) in weight.
The wheels rotate, and they’re pretty durable, able to easily move across sand and gravel, although when at full capacity, the small wheels may struggle with very soft sand. It has brakes on the front two wheels to keep it still when not in use. The handle is telescoping, so it can be adjusted to suit your height.
It is very easy to put together and collapse down again, and it has storage pockets and an extra basket near the handle to carry smaller items.
Pros
- Easy to put together
- Compact
- Includes extra storage basket
- Easy to maneuver
Cons
- May struggle when full with soft sand
TMZ All Terrain Folding Wagon – Best for Heavy Items
Key Features
- Color: Blue and Black
- Dimensions Unfolded: 25.59 x 41.33 x 31.49 inches (64.99 x 104.97 x 79.98 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 10.6 x 10.6 inches (26.92 x 26.92 centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms)
The TMZ All-Terrain Folding Wagon is a good all-rounder with a large capacity of 265 pounds (120 kilograms). It’s a good one if you want to transport particularly heavy gear and a great choice for gardeners.
It lacks swivel wheels – instead, the front wheels steer with the handle. This does give you a lot of control. However, the wheels are quite small, which works for most surfaces, but very deep, fluffy sand may cause you to get stuck.
It’s a durable wagon with a stainless steel frame and strong polyester fabric. The handle is adjustable, which makes it easy for you to move around. It also has a rear brake, so you won’t have to worry about it rolling away from you.
It comes with two small storage pockets. It’s really easy to collapse and put together, and it folds down into a compact size.
Pros
- Easy to collapse and put together
- Large weight capacity
- Durable
- Good control over direction using the handle
Cons
- Smaller wheels may struggle with very soft sand
MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Folding Wagon – Best for Picnics
Key Features
- Color: Red and White Striped
- Dimensions Unfolded: 9.64 x 21.4 x 31.48 inches (24.48 x 54.35 x 79.95 centimeters)
- Dimensions Folded: 10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester, stainless steel
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds (86 kilograms)
The MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Folding Wagon has a folding side table, which makes it a great choice if you want to have a picnic on the beach – you can keep your food and drinks away from the sand. It has a good capacity of 150 pounds (86 kilograms).
The wheels can cope with different terrain, but they are locked into place, so you won’t have as much control as you would with rotating wheels.
It’s a durable wagon. The polyester fabric is coated with a waterproofing material, which means it can withstand getting wet. It has a telescoping handle that can be adjusted to suit your height.
It’s really easy to put together and fold down, and it’s pretty compact when folded.
Pros
- Easy to collapse and put together
- Includes a side table and cup holders
- Durable
- Compact
Cons
- It doesn’t have rotating wheels
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about beach wagons:
Can I use my beach wagon to carry groceries?
Yes, you can. If you have a long walk ahead of you, taking a wagon can make things easier. They can be bulky, though, which is something to bear in mind.
Can I fit a cooler into my beach wagon?
Yes, but bear in mind that there is a maximum weight capacity for your wagon, and coolers can be pretty heavy in their own right even before they are filled. (For some recommendations, check out our guide to the Best Soft-Sided Cooler and our guide on What Small Cooler Keeps Ice the Longest for some ideas on small, lighter coolers that would work well.)
If you want to know the essentials you should bring, Eater Magazine has a guide on How to Pack the Best Beach Picnic with some good tips.
What Should I Bring in My Beach Wagon?
Having a beach wagon opens up a lot of options, as it makes it so much easier to transport gear. Some ideas include:
- Sports equipment
- A cooler with food and drinks or a water jug cooler
- Play equipment for kids – buckets and spades, inflatables, etc
- Beach towels and picnic blankets
- Smaller items like water shoes for kids and swimwear
- A pop-up tent
How Can I Stay Safe in the Sun?
According to The FDA’s guide on how to stay safe in the sun, you can do a few things to stay safe. Drinking plenty of water and making sure everyone has access to sunscreen are some basic measures.
You can also create an area of shade on the beach by taking along a canopy tent for the beach, which will generate large shaded spaces to lounge in.
Our Final Thoughts – Which is the Best Folding Beach Wagon?
If we had to pick one, we’d go for the VIVOSUN Folding Collapsible Wagon Utility Beach Cart. It’s so easy to steer, even on soft sand, and it has a decent capacity.
If you want something that can transport large items, go for the TIMBER RIDGE Folding Double Decker Wagon. The bottom shelf opens up for more storage, and the top shelf can hold smaller items.
Finally, if you want something to keep your drinks off the ground, you can try the MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Folding Wagon, which comes with a fold-out table and drinks holders.
Hopefully, this has helped you to find the best beach wagon for you – if so, feel free to share it with your friends and family. Plus, if you have any recommendations for beach gear, let us know in the comments below!
