Sand and Deliver: We Raced Across Dunes to Find the Best Beach Wagon

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The family beach day. Nothing but blue sky, crystal waters, and beaming smiles. Unless you’re the packhorse responsible for maneuvering a mountain of gear from the parking lot to the perfect spot on the sand. What you need is a high-quality beach wagon.

Also known as a festival or shopping wagon (or trolley), these collapsible, all-terrain carry-alls live in the trunk and make it possible to transport everything you need for a day at the shore or a weekend camping, in just one trip. They’re also increasingly popular with those of us who love dragging our kids around farmers markets while loading up with organic produce.

To discover which beach wagon is best, WIRED took four popular options to the beach for some serious shoreline testing. Camber Sands is just two hours from London, but it has a vast sandy beach and miles of dunes to play in. With models ranging from an Amazon favorite from Timber Ridge costing just $80, to Veer, a luxurious hi-tech option for $700, we wanted to know which wagon would complete our real-world race course featuring deep dunes, wet sand, wetsuits, awnings, coolers, chairs, buckets, dry bags, spades, and soccer balls.

Each beach wagon got loaded up with the same selection of WIRED’s outdoor gear.

As well as our beach wagon time trial—a 300-foot dash through dry, soft, firm, and wet sand—we tested how compact each design was when folded, how easy they were to assemble, pack, and unload. We also tested each design off the beach across a range of surfaces from paving to gravel, so wherever you’re heading, you’ll know what to expect.

It’s by no means an exhaustive test—there are hundreds of almost identical designs on Amazon—but what it does do is focus on the features worth investing in, from build quality and collapsibility, to durability and, crucially, how well it copes with sand.

And if you’re interested in upgrading your outdoor gear, check out WIRED's many other outdoor guides, including the Best Coolers, Best Flat-Top Grills, and if the weather betrays you, the Best Rain Jackets.

Best Beach Wagon for Deep Sand: Veer All-Terrain Cruiser

The Veer All-Terrain Cruiser is designed for parents of small kids who want to explore. Priced at $699, it’s more akin to a high-tech stroller than a typical beach wagon. It offers numerous add-ons like toddler seats, bassinet for infants, awnings, coolers, insect and rain shields, making it a desirable option.

This wagon features tough all-terrain wheels, but for the beach test, we added a pair of $299 Beach Wheels. These wheels excel in deep dry sand, providing traction and ease of movement.

The Veer proved to be the fastest beach cart, despite its weight, and was impressively maneuverable through dunes. The durable fold-flat design, although taking up significant space, balances well and is reassuring if you’re hauling kids.

Most Transportable Beach Cart: Gregory Alpaca Gear Wagon 140

The Gregory Alpaca Gear Wagon, priced at $299, boasts a concertina-style folding design with 8-inch all-terrain wheels. Although challenging in deep dry sand, it performs well on other surfaces like gravel and grass.

With a decent load capacity, durable recycled materials, and a great carrying case, it's ideal for those with trunk space limitations.

A Budget Behemoth: Timber Ridge Folding Wagon

The Timber Ridge Folding Wagon, available for $80, is a popular, affordable option with hard plastic wheels. It manages well on firm sand but struggles in deeper areas.

Light and nimble, it's user-friendly and offers good load capacity at a low cost, albeit with some rattling over uneven terrain.

Best for the Gram: Business & Pleasure Beach Cart

The Business & Pleasure Beach Cart adds a touch of style with soft, parasol striped fabric, commanding a $399 price tag. It impresses with extra-large wheels for sand navigation but has lower weight capacity.

Despite being pricey, it offers ample room and is easy to pack, while its aesthetics cater to those seeking a fashionable beach experience.