Author
Kat Englishman
Courtesy RTIC
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Hear us out: collapsible wagons are the unsung heroes of any good car camping trip, a day at the beach, a sun-soaked afternoon in the park, or a family sporting event. Why? Because they make for a smooth start when hauling your heaviest gear from the car to your destination and back. No, these folding wagons aren’t dorky and you haven’t gone soft—collapsible wagons are a convenient and versatile mode of transportation that shaves time off your setup and eliminates unnecessary stress while transporting a bulky and heavy load. That means more fun and less stress—when you think about it, it’s actually quite savvy.
These totable travelers also act as storage-on-wheels that's ready to roll straight out of the garage and have the right functionality for getting things done around the home. A far cry from yesterday’s rusty Radio Flyer, these modern day utility wagons come packed with features, so look out for one with a durable yet lightweight construction that’s simple to set up, fold down, and made to move over uneven terrain—beach wagons and outdoor utility wagons are especially helpful in this category. Extras like easy-to-clean materials and additional modes of storage don’t hurt either.
Ready to begin your next adventure with fewer trips back and forth to the car? Here are the best folding utility wagons for hauling gear.
Field Mag's Top Picks
- Best Overall: L.L.Bean Collapsible Wagon
- Best for Heavy Loads: RTIC Ultra-Tough Wagon
- Best Colors: Tupelo Load-Up Wagon
- Most Packable: Poler Adventure Wagon
- Best Features: Whitsunday Folding Wagon
- Best for Organizing Gear: Mac Sports Double Decker Wagon
- Best Budget Folding Wagon: Seina SUW-200 Utility Cart
- Best for the Beach: Sierra Designs Deluxe Beach Wagon
- Best for Parents: Veer Cruiser Stroller Wagon
- Best Non-Folding Wagon: Yakima EXO WarriorWheels GearWarrior Cart Kit
The 10 Best Folding Wagons for Camping, Beach Days, Gardening, and More
Best Overall: L.L.Bean Collapsible Wagon
With an adjustable handle, mesh cup holders, spacious and detachable pockets, L.L.Bean’s roomy utility cart has burly all-terrain wheels that swivel to effortlessly roll over rough, natural surfaces and a foldable powder-coated steel frame for easy transportation. The perfect garden wagon, beach utility cart, and camping assistant, happily haul your gear through sand, dirt, or anywhere you please.
Price: $199 SHOP NOW
Best for Heavy Loads: RTIC Ultra-Tough Wagon
Cooler brand RTIC’s got some tricks up their sleeves, beyond keeping some cold boys frigid. Super tough rubber wheels paired with a powder coated steel frame enable a stated 250-pound cargo weight limit, making it possible to haul the brand’s coolers up to the 65-quart size. A single large side pocket adds space for essentials like sunscreen and koozies. Almost hard to believe this collapsible folding wagon can fit neatly in a closet or basement corner when it’s not needed.
Price: $150 SHOP NOW
Best Colors: Tupelo Load-Up Wagon
We appreciate Tupelo’s diversion from the standard black or fire engine red to a more modern palette that includes pale yellow, seafoam green, sky blue, and strawberry. Almost as much as we do this wagon's impressive weight capacity of over 175 pounds. Combined with its lightweight, packable construction, and three-year warranty, this heavy duty collapsible utility wagon is worth the high price tag.
Price: $249 $199
Most Packable: Poler Adventure Wagon
Casual outdoor lifestyle brand injects a bit more fun into their collapsible wagon with a little help from their signature Furry Camo. Aesthetics aside, the ability to pack to a fairly minimal narrow size (30” x 8” x 9”) with the inclusion of a neat, matching cover earns it a spot on our list. Long live #campvibes.
Price: $130 SHOP NOW
Best Features: Whitsunday Folding Wagon
There’s a lot to love about this feature-rich collapsible wagon: the telescopic spring-loaded handle designed to stay off the ground, an extra-long, foldable tailgate to maximize storage space and accessibility (it makes an excellent spot for a cooler), and two oversized front wheels placed close together to avoid getting caught or dragged through deep sand. If you always have your hands full, Whitsunday’s outdoor wagon is a durable yet lightweight solution.
Price: $139 SHOP NOW
Best for Organizing Gear: Mac Sports Double Decker Wagon
Ideal for the multi-sport adventurer, the luxury car camper, and of course, the creative outdoors family, Mac Sports' heavy duty wagon has a clever two-tiered design perfect for those who tote around tons of stuff. Load up the top basket made with a durable water repellent fabric (or use the included wagon straps to double the capacity) and use the bottom shelf to stow longer items like tents or beach umbrellas for hands-free transportation. If this large capacity foldable wagon isn’t the right size, check out their Classic Mac Wagon for a lighter, low profile option instead.
Price: $170 $150
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Best Budget Folding Wagon: Seina SUW-200 Utility Cart
When the location doesn’t call for a burly wagon with oversized front wheels but you’re still hauling a load and need to keep at least one hand free, keep things simple and small with Seina’s modest collapsible wagon. With a sturdy polyester fabric basket, telescoping handle, and tight turning radius, this minimalist wagon is easy to maneuver and with a weight capacity of 100+ pounds, take it with you for laidback day trips to the local park or adventures around town. It could be more durable, but the price is hard to argue with.
Price: $75+ SHOP NOW
Best for the Beach: Sierra Designs Deluxe Beach Wagon
With big wheels that are lightweight and chunky enough to handle sand and drain holes inside this wagon's fabric compartment, this thing is made for the beach. The steel frame can carry loads up to 180 pounds—enough for beach chairs, a full cooler, and more—and a telescoping handle makes it easy to pull. Plus, there are cup holders front and back, plus a small table, which makes it easy to turn this thing into a mini beach base camp once you find a spot for your umbrella or beach tent.
Price: $150 $98
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Best for Parents: Veer Cruiser Stroller Wagon
Parents, here it is: the ultimate all terrain wagon for hauling it all, kids included. To make the Cruiser Stroller, Veer combined stroller and wagon, and it's got the utility of both. Inside, there's two ventilated seats for kids aged five years old and under with harnesses to keep them in, plus a removable tray with cup holders (don't worry, there are two more on the handle for Mom and Dad), plus pockets for small items. The Cruiser seats two, or you can load up one side of it with gear for your adventure, and you can trust it'll all be safe thanks to an airplane-grade aluminum frame, big, knobby tires, suspension, and a telescoping handle that includes a brake. It all collapses remarkably flat, too. Our one knock on this wagon is its high price, but we do like that it offers lots of extra accessories.
Price: $699 SHOP NOW
Best Non-Folding: Yakima EXO WarriorWheels GearWarrior Cart Kit
Capping off our list is a decidedly non-folding option from rack experts Yakima. While not a complete product within itself, this kit transforms the brand’s EXO GearWarrior hitch rack into a super-tough cargo wagon without the need for any tools. A sizeable grab handle and all-terrain rubber tires provide ease of use over nearly any type of surface.
Price: $149 SHOP NOW
Published 10-07-2022
Updated 08-24-2023
