The 10 Best Beach Carts in 2024 [Lightweight, Foldable]

A family beach vacation is often the highlight of the year, but carrying too many beach bags around in the heat can dampen everyone’s spirits. This is where a beach cart can save the day, making toting your bags and beach chairs a breeze.

Beach wagons are much like travel luggage carts in that they can support a lot of weight and come with wheels for more convenient handling. Using a beach cart to lug your equipment is a simple step that can transform your vacation for the better, so let’s explore some options.

Things To Consider When Buying a Beach Cart

Choosing a beach cart can be intimidating, but it helps to keep in mind a few important factors when deciding on one. These include the cart’s size, wheelbase, carrying surface, and handle length, for starters.

You will need a sturdy and durable beach cart to support your trips to the beach for years to come. So, before we jump into our top picks, here are the most important aspects to look for in a quality beach cart.

Size and Portability

The size of your beach cart is important not only for after you arrive at the beach, but also during the travel prior. Especially if you are traveling by car, you can benefit from a compact and foldable beach cart.

Using a compact and foldable beach cart doesn’t mean that it won’t have enough carrying power once you reach the beach. On the contrary, many portable, compact beach carts come with a large capacity.

High-quality Wheels

The quality of a beach cart’s wheels can vary, so it’s important to check the sturdiness with which the wheels are attached to the base. You don’t want the hassle of replacing a wheel just because your cart hit a small rock on the way to the beach.

Bottom Line: If you want high usability from your beach wagon, make sure that it has high-quality wheels.

Weight-to-Capacity Ratio

Your best bet for a successful trip to the beach with a beach cart is to find a lightweight one. You can get a lightweight cart with great capacity, and this ratio is crucial for getting the most out of your cart.

Some carts weigh only about 20 pounds but can carry more than 150 pounds. That weight capacity should be more than enough for the beach, considering that most beach equipment is lightweight.

Versatility

If you find yourself in need of a beach cart, why not make the most of it and get a versatile option that can be used the rest of the year as well? If you opt for a cart in a neutral style – rather than a tropical one – you can use it for carrying groceries or fishing trips.

Buying a cart with various applications is a smart move, and if you don’t find yourself using it regularly, you can always fold and store it for your next beach vacation.

Hot Tip: Check out our guide to the best beach accessories for your next vacation!

The 10 Best Beach Carts

Now that we’ve addressed the essentials to look for in a quality beach cart, let’s dig into our top picks. Here are some of the most compact, versatile, high-capacity beach carts out there.

1. Lightweight and Foldable Plastic Beach Cart

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MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon

This plastic beach cart is a good choice if you only need to carry the essentials. It’s great for compact storage as it folds into a small size and includes a carrying case.

The wheels are sturdy, and the handle allows for a strong grip. This beach cart weighs only 22 pounds, but it’s capable of carrying an impressive 150 pounds. Not only will this handle all of your standard beach equipment, but it could even support the weight of heavy-duty items like a large cooler.

With swivel caster wheels and no assembly required, it’s a great choice for simplicity and ease of use.

What We Like

• Easily collapsible compact wagon

What We Don’t Like

• Plastic material can be damaged

2. Heavy-duty and Sturdy Frame

MacSports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding Utility Beach Wagon

In searching for the best of the best, you won’t be able to overlook this all-terrain folding cart with incredible capacity. It’s designed almost identical to the MacSports utility wagon we discussed above but with added heavy-duty reinforcements.

It has larger wheels for a better grip on sandy surfaces, and the front wheels are inclined toward each other, with a wider wheelbase in the back. This endows the wagon with greater maneuverability, while the foldability and cupholders add to the functionality.

It’s one of the best plastic beach carts available, and while it only weighs 24 pounds, it can carry more than 150 pounds. It also has an adjustable pull-up handle and a sturdy back frame to make it as durable as possible.

What We Like

• High-capacity cart with large wheels

What We Don’t Like

• Plastic construction isn’t as durable as metal

3. Reinforced Wheelbase Beach Cart

Rio Brands Beach Wonder Wheeler Deluxe Beach Cart

If you are looking for a high-capacity cart that comes in a fairly small package, the Wonder Wheeler is an excellent choice. It is reminiscent of a hotel room maintenance cart in its design, but don’t let its looks deceive you — it has a reinforced steel frame and all-terrain back wheels specifically designed for beach use.

The back wheels are enlarged and offer sturdy support on the ground, while the front wheels are used for steering. It has a large mesh storage basket and can carry up to 4 full-size beach chairs in addition to the rest of your equipment.

The alloy-steel frame makes for a solid, durable cart suitable for years of use.

What We Like

• Excellent use of space

What We Don’t Like

• The storage basket isn’t very large

4. Large-capacity Stainless Steel Wagon

Hikenture Folding Wagon Cart Portable Large Capacity Beach Wagon

Hikenture’s fully adjustable beach wagon is a great option if you want to avoid plastic carts. It has a completely stainless-steel frame and wheels that move in all directions, which results in maximum user convenience.

The flexible all-direction handle is also a neat addition, and the wagon can be folded into a small size for easy storage. It weighs 22 pounds and can carry up to 175 pounds. Besides the reinforced steel frame, it also has thick tear-resistant fabric and all-terrain wheels that rotate 360 degrees.

These features make Hikenture’s folding beach cart one of the best options if you want a combination of durable construction and high usability.

What We Like

• Stainless-steel frame

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t include separate compartments

5. High-capacity and Tear-resistant

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Moon Lence Collapsible Outdoor Utility Wagon Heavy Duty

The Moon Lence collapsible beach wagon is a great choice for family use, as it has a larger carrying capacity when compared to regular beach carts. The addition of tear-resistant oxford fabric and reinforced stitching in the storage compartment means you can carry sharp or bulky items without the risk of ripping the fabric.

The handle can be pulled out and locked into position with a small switch while pulling the cart. And one of the best things about this cart is the strong alloy-steel frame that was built to last.

With thick and wide all-terrain wheels, you will have no problem pulling this beach cart over rocky or sandy terrain. Overall, the Moon Lence foldable cart is the best option for families with its impressive 220 pounds of capacity.

What We Like

• Increased storage capacity

What We Don’t Like

• It might be a bit bulkier when folded than other carts

6. Super Lightweight All-terrain Beach Cart

Strolee Store Beach Compact Folding Cart

This lightweight storage cart weighs only 15 pounds, yet it has a total carrying capacity of up to 75 pounds. It has 4 oversized wheels to provide all-terrain mobility.

Steering is done with a large handle attached to the rust-free aluminum frame, which doesn’t require assembly. Some of the additional storage compartments on this cart include a cup holder, cooler platform, sandal holder, and umbrella holder.

This cart is specifically tailored to beach use, which is great when you need special compartments for all your beach items. It even comes with an additional removable storage bag that can be carried like a tote bag, so there’s no doubt that the Strolee beach folding cart is built for beach convenience.

What We Like

• Comes with a set of specific compartments

What We Don’t Like

• Only supports up to 75 pounds

7. Ultra-compact With Side Compartments

Navatiee Collapsible Folding Wagon

The perfect blend of a high-capacity wagon in a compact package is Navatiee’s folding beach cart. It comes with up to 220 pounds of weight capacity, yet it can be folded into a small package measuring 27 inches by 9 inches.

This is a great travel option when you are looking to save space and still require a large-capacity beach cart when you arrive at the beach. It has demountable wheels and durable iron construction.

The storage compartment is made from oxford fabric with anti-tear properties and the additional side compartments for beach equipment are a nice touch.

What We Like

• A great blend of compact size and high capacity

What We Don’t Like

• Wheels need to be properly adjusted when assembled

8. Tires That Make Light Work of the Beach

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My Beach Cart No Rust Aluminum Foldable Beach Cart

If you’re looking for a small beach cart that’s still capable of carrying your cooler and beach equipment, don’t overlook this one. My Beach Cart’s wagon has big balloon wheels that glide over even rocky surfaces.

It has a comfortable grip with a telescopic handle, a highly durable aluminum frame with anti-rust properties, and 2 adjustable buckle straps. The cargo deck is perfect for carrying beach chairs, a large cooler, or other bulky beach equipment.

On the other hand, smaller items such as water bottles and tote bags can be placed in the heavy-duty zippered mesh bag. The cart also has padded rails and an anti-skid base protector to keep your equipment from sliding off.

What We Like

• 12-inch wheels and a large cargo zone

What We Don’t Like

• The price point

9. Great for Fishing and General Beach Use

Sea Striker Deluxe Surf Pier and Beach Cart

This beach cart might seem a bit small, but it offers some serious carrying capacity, especially if you are a fishing enthusiast. It comes with holes made for fishing rods and a large-capacity carrying zone in the middle.

The frame is made from polyvinyl chloride and has 2 large wheels for better support. The durable construction and steel handle offers a powerful grip and great handling. The base frame can fit a few beach bags, a cooler, and other small items, making it the perfect option for a day of fishing.

What We Like

• Powerful construction with a large storage area

What We Don’t Like

• It can’t be folded

10. Folds Up Super Small

Generico Folding Collapsible Multipurpose Camp Wagon Cart

Weighing in at just 19 pounds, this collapsible versatile beach cart can carry up to a tremendous 220 pounds. It’s a great foldable option for traveling, and it’s lightweight enough to pull easily.

It comes with a wide wheelbase and 4 wheels that rotate 360 degrees for easier handling. The handle can be extended and maneuvered with a lock that secures it into position. It’s a polyester cart with more than enough capacity for all of your beach equipment.

What We Like

• Multipurpose beach cart

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t have any side pockets

Final Thoughts

This list will provide you with a variety of great choices to suit your needs, from compact beach carts to heavy-duty, large-capacity carts. With a foldable beach cart for traveling, you can look forward to your best beach vacation yet.