Folding wagons can be useful tools for families, beachgoers, or really anybody who needs to tote a lot of gear from one place to another. The chair is simple to use and functional, without all the bells and whistles of some of the more luxurious models out there. The frame is robust and both the arms and frame are sturdy enough to push yourself up from. We also found that, even when fully open, the wagon bed doesn’t lie flat. The bare-bones Uline Utility Wagon was not as highly rated as the Mac Sports wagons. We ultimately settled on a testing pool of six models that were recommended by experts and well reviewed, and that included the features testers told us they wanted.
The chair is longer and bulkier as a result of this, but if the main use of this chair is for the garden, outdoor picnics or spending time camping, then it’s the perfect choice. To start, we assessed the initial assembly of each wagon, noting any particular frustrations, as well as any extra tools that were required. (Because none of the wagons were especially difficult to put together, we did not make this a major criterion.) We also looked at how easy each wagon was to fold and pick up, and to store in a small space. Personally, I’m a science writer with more than a decade of experience interviewing experts in countless fields, including parenting, environmental science, and child development.
With the guy lines and stakes, the steel frame can handle wind gusts of 35 mph. Two mesh walls let the breeze in, while two entryways make it easy to get in and out. The easy pinch-free push button system can be quickly lowered if the wind picks up.
It was extremely hard to squeeze inward and still jutted outward if not squeezed into its cover—an impossible ordeal when wrangling two kids in a parking lot. The sand-removal feature, which seemed promising, worked only partially, and many reviewers noted that the wagon’s handle was short. I would find it challenging to carry this chair long distances with a backpack and all my other kit. It is much longer than other chairs and although it’s not particularly heavy, it’s slightly bulky and not as portable as the OEX Ultra Lite Camping Chair for example.
On April 8, a full solar eclipse will make its way across the eastern half of the United States and is expected to follow a path that starts in Maine and ends in Texas. The southwest eclipse path passes through several states and may reach nearly 100% coverage in certain areas. In order to give the Ozark Trail Camping chair a thorough testing, we took it out to the base of the Lammermuir hills on a breezy, overcast afternoon to see how it would fare.
One of the wheels came loose when one of our testers was carrying about 100 pounds of gear, which is well under the stated weight capacity. The Mac Sports wagon’s skinny rubber wheels, compared with larger-wheeled models we tested, sunk into the sand a bit during testing. This wasn’t too problematic when the wagon was carrying an average load (beach chairs, towels, drinks, and snacks). But with a kid or two added to the mix, this wagon’s wheels started to drag deeper.
To find out which features people value most in wagons, I surveyed half a dozen individuals who regularly pull or push loads of stuff—from groceries to gardening supplies to toddlers. I also visited a handful of outdoor-gear stores to see what models they recommend. Compared to similar camping chairs on the market, the Ozark Trail Camping Chair stands out for it’s exceptional value for money. While a canopy tent will offer protection from rain and wind, canopy fabric is typically not made from waterproof material.
The tent is water resistant and offers 50+ UPF protection with 64 square feet of shade. The combination of their light weight and a fold-down frame makes folding wagons especially handy for everyday use, including getting in and out of a car or on and off public transportation. We’ve seen people using these wagons around the neighborhood ozark trail chair and at the beach, as well as for gardening, outdoor concerts and movies, and sporting events. I even ran into a PTA parent who was using a wagon to schlep a used printer to school. I spent six hours researching folding wagons (sometimes called utility wagons), first identifying popular models and looking at the technology involved.
Materials that are water resistant and offer UV protection are used for the cover. This tent fits over a picnic or patio table, and there is plenty of room for just chairs too, with 73 square feet of shade area. For an added cost, side walls with pockets can be purchased as an accessory pack. It scored high marks for having an attractive price point, as well as having fabric that could be easily removed for washing (which the other wagons did not have).