Browse all our gear like spacious tents, durable backpacks, warm sleeping bags, outdoor cooking supplies, and more. At 30 pounds, the L.L.Bean Collapsible Wagon was the largest and heaviest of the folding wagons we tested. But even though it had nice wheels and construction, this wagon was a headache to fold and ozark trail canopy unfold. It took two people—and several minutes—to put the L.L.Bean wagon away after use. We had to wrestle the cover onto the bulky rectangle and tug it down to get it on. 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.
For the first round of testing in 2019, I used each wagon on trips to my son’s elementary school, traveling about half a mile each way over sidewalks and city streets during the course of two months. I also took them to the beach, rolling them down the beach path and testing them on the sand. Additionally, I tested each wagon (filled with soccer equipment) on grass and bumpy, broken concrete surfaces, paying attention to how the suspension and wheels performed under different conditions. In spring 2021, I tested four additional beach-friendly wagons during several trips from my home in Santa Monica to the beach (10 blocks away) and back. I hauled both of my sons along with beach gear like boogie boards, coolers, chairs, and endless amounts of sand toys.
(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. For storage freaks who like to keep it neat and clean, we recommend looking into the Ozark Trail’s folding wagon. Crafted from durable steel and Polyester, it is perfect for hauling all of your essentials around the park, beach, or a campsite.
Your experience will begin at the Top of the Rock Welcome Center. Electric carts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly recommend reserving your activity online in advance to access the best availability and pricing. 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.
I live in coastal California, where wagons are often the default way to move kids, beach gear, and even school equipment around the neighborhood. This versatile, light, easy-to-use wagon totes everything across different types of terrain and folds up to a compact, easy-to-carry size. It can handle up to 225 pounds of weight, which is an impressive number considering the price of the wagon.
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. We think the Mac Sports wagon is fine for occasional beach use, especially if your gear is more bulky than heavy and you don’t have to travel too far to your spot. But if you’re looking for a folding wagon to primarily use at the beach, we recommend paying more for the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart.
We have a few issues with this wagon—the telescoping handle can feel flimsy, and it costs around $50 more than the standard Mac Sports wagon. This Ozark Trail Folding Camp Multipurpose Outdoor Wagon is perfect for hauling all your essentials around the campsite. Built with a durable steel frame and double layer polyester fabric, it can handle up to 225 pounds. You can easily guide your load with an ergonomic handle that telescopes to where you need it. And when the job’s done, the whole wagon folds down to a compact size and into a travel sleeve that can also be used as a supportive insert for the wagon bed when in use. Whether you’re taking the family on an extended camping trip in the mountains or just taking a day trip to a local hiking trail, Ozark Trail has everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors.
And it comes with the same durable build of the standard Mac Sports wagon, but with twice the internal volume. Experience the unforgettable 2.5-mile journey on an electric cart as you explore the Top of the Rock Lost Canyon and Nature Trail. This dramatic golf cart tour follows a beautiful trail created to highlight stunning rock formations, waterfalls, and views of Table Rock Lake.
We were able to fix the problem, but a year of use has also led to scratches on the wheels and the plastic looking pretty shorn. One staffer who also owns the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart has also noticed scratches on the wheels. But the Seina offers just half the internal space, and its 4-inch wheels were more prone to tipping when packed with the same beach gear. 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. I’m also the mom of two small guys whose stuff I have been hauling around in wagons since I began working on this guide three years ago (they’ve occasionally hopped in for a ride, too).