Best Beach Wagon for Soft Sand (2023)

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best beach wagon for soft sand is, I’d recommend the BEAU JARDIN Folding Push Wagon.

Walking hand in hand in the sand is simultaneously one of the most romantic things and one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. Let’s face it. The movies make it look so easy. A casual stroll at dusk as the waves lap the shore.

In reality, your feet sink into the sand, and it takes more muscles to get out than you’re used to using. Now imagine you’re trying to pull a wagon along the beach with all of your beach-going supplies. Forget about it!

The best beach wagon for soft sand could get you there a whole lot easier than you think, but you have to find the right one. These wagons are some of the best options for taking to the beach. They roll easily, hold all of your stuff, and are a cinch to clean.

Here are the beach wagons for soft sand I will be reviewing:

• BEAU JARDIN Folding Push Wagon
• Wheelez Heavy Duty Soft Sand Beach Cart
• Radio Flyer 3-in-1 Tailgater Wagon
• Timber Ridge Collapsible Beach Wagon/Car
• Gorilla Carts Heavy Duty Steel Utility Cart
• Mac Sports Folding All Terrain Utility Wagon Beach Cart
• Sekey Folding Wagon
• Mac Sports Heavy Duty Steel Double Decker Collapsible Wagon
  

Top Features of the Best Beach Wagons

Your reasons for getting a beach wagon may be unique, but there are several features that it should have if it’s going to hold up on your best beach trips. If you’re looking for a wagon to take to the beach, make sure it has everything you need.

Portability and navigation

Beach carts are built to be portable. But that doesn’t mean they’re all easy to move through the sand. Or that it’s easy to use when you’re not at the beach. You need one that folds up and fits easily in your vehicle, so when you’re packing up, it doesn’t take up too much room.

The wheels should have enough tread to roll over all kinds of sand. They should be large and sturdy. Wheels with telescoping handles and 360-degree rotation are a bonus. They can navigate all kinds of terrain, making your beach wagon multi functional.

Wider wheels will also get more traction and can offer better handling over soft sand than small, narrow wheels. They can be filled with air or be made of solid plastic or rubber.

Durability and weight

If you’re hauling a lot of beach gear, especially heavy stuff like umbrellas and coolers, you want something that is solid and durable, but that you are strong enough to pull or carry. Aluminum is a great, lightweight option that will hold up under a lot of weight but be easy for you to transport.

Plastic frames are also lightweight, but not as strong. They offer a good solution if you’re not going to be packing anything heavier than towels.

Capacity

Think about all the things you normally take to the beach and get a wagon big enough to fit all of it. You may even consider getting a wagon that’s too big. You’ll have plenty of room for extra last minute stuff.

Many beach wagons can hold up to 100 pounds, but some are durable enough to carry 300 or more. You may want a large storage space in the middle with a lot of extra pockets for smaller items like phones and car keys.

Cleaning and storage

Obviously, if your wagon is close to sand and water, you’ll need to clean it before you put it all away. A fast-drying fabric that’s breathable is easy to wipe down or clean more thoroughly with soap and water. You can use a damp cloth or hose it off, and it will be clean and dry in no time.

When storing your beach wagon, you’ll want it to be clean, but you’ll also want to consider how it collapses. A large wagon takes up a lot of room, but if you get a design that folds down small, you can put it in a corner of the garage, a closet, or under the bed until next time.

Plus, if it’s a compact model, you can fold it up and put it in the trunk or even the backseat until you get to the beach. Many wagons are a lot like strollers. They fold up tight for easy transport and storage.

Maintenance and extras

If you want your wagon to last, you may want to consider one that has removable fabric. It’s a bonus if it’s machine washable. You can clean it up and keep it looking and operating perfectly. Spray any metal components with grease to keep them moving and reduce rust.

Look for manufacturers that offer roofs, brakes, baby seat belts, cup holders, storage bags, and more. If you’re looking for a little something extra to make it work for you, there are a lot of options.

Price

If you’re on a budget, price is always important. There are a variety of good quality beach wagons at a moderate price point, but if you want something heavy duty or all terrain, you’ll pay a little bit of a premium.

However, if you make frequent weekend trips to the beach and you know you’ll get some great use out of it, it’s well worth the cost.

My Beach Wagon for Soft Sand Reviews

We’ve done a deep dive on all of the beach wagons on the market, and reviewed the best ones for soft sand below.

BEAU JARDIN Folding Push Wagon

The features included in this wagon make it the best overall choice for beach goers, especially at the price. It’s not much more expensive than some of the affordable options, but it offers a lot more versatility.

First off all, the removable canopy is a must for outdoor activities, especially the sunny beach where you may want your kids to have a break from the shade. It gives them a place to cool off and can keep your drinks out of the sun.

It comes in a variety of colors, which may not matter too much to you, but still gives you an opportunity to pick the one you like the best. It has a large capacity basket, but the manufacturer doesn’t give a weight rating, so be careful how heavy you pack it.

The fabric is 600D polyester and will resist tears with ease. It’s easy to wipe or hose down when it gets dirty. It also has huge, wide wheels with very deep tread to make it even easier to pull over rough or soft terrain.

The 360-degree front wheels make it easy to steer and maneuver while the adjustable handle makes it convenient for any size person to pull. You can also adjust the spacing of your wagon wheels to accommodate the terrain, offering more balance depending on the outing.

You can set it up or take it down easily in seconds without tools. There’s a carrying bag for convenience storage and protection, meaning you can put it in any closet or the trunk of any car.

It has a pull handle and a push bar, so you can choose which transport method is easiest for you.

Wheelez Heavy Duty Soft Sand Beach Cart

This heavy duty cart can tackle even the most awkward loads. Push or pull up to 220 pounds over almost all terrain. You may even find that your young child can help out by pulling it, too.

It’s versatile enough for use with hunting or fishing gear, but it only has one big compartment and lacks some of those little extra pockets you may find you need for smaller items.

It packs away into itself so you’re left with the handle and the wheels inside the cart’s bucket. It doesn’t collapse easily with one hand and you have to disassemble it to collapse it. However, the handle and the kickstand fold down and all you have to do is take the wheels off.

While this may not be the most convenient solution if you use it regularly, it’s a great option for periodic use or for those who don’t mind quickly removing the wheels and tossing them in the bucket. Plus, you can remove the wheels without the use of tools.

This is also a great option for those who need highly durable construction. The tub is made of high density polyethylene and the marine-grade anodized aluminum frame with stainless steel hardware is sturdy enough to hold more than 200 pounds of gear.

Many are hesitant to pay such a high price for a wagon, but if you need something durable, this is definitely the right option. It’s well worth the cost because it will last for a long time.

Radio Flyer 3-in-1 Tailgater Wagon

For those who are feeling a bit nostalgic and want a throwback to the old Radio Flyer wagons of their childhood days, this is a fun and versatile option. It’s three wagons in one, so you can easily adjust it to your needs.

It’s a relatively affordable option with lots of configurations. You can haul it to the beach using the large compartment with small pockets for everything you need. Using zippers on the side, convert it to bench seating on the beach so you can stay out of the sand.

If you’re using it for carrying little ones, use the two-seater option and strap them in for safety. It also has a cooler caddy on the back that you can fold down and secure with straps to ensure everything stays put. If you aren’t bringing a cooler, fold it up to keep it out of the way.

Cup holders make it easy to sip the drinks you want while other small outside pockets hold all of your little items.

It easily folds down to a small size for storage, and the entire thing is collapsible so it doesn’t take up much room at all.

This wagon can hold up to 150 pounds, so it’s best meant for small kids or a combination of lighter cargo, but you can still fit plenty in it for a day at the beach.

Timber Ridge Collapsible Beach Wagon/Cart

The capacity of this wagon depends on how you’re using it, but it’s very sturdy. It can hold up to 150 pounds on hard surfaces and 110 pounds on sand. While the capacity isn’t as large as other beach wagons, this one has large, heavy duty wheels with deep tread so you can roll easily across the soft beach.

The wheels are also extra wide to offer more traction and less sinking in the sand. It’s stable enough for all of your gear and equipment. It could also be a great option for hunting, camping, or fishing.

It folds tightly into itself for storage and the setup and easy and instant. You could even do it with one hand. Just push the bottom down and the entire basket pops up and out. While folding the wagon for storage could cause wrinkles in the material, placing items in the basket should straighten it out.

When storing, it comes with a buckle to secure it shut and a small bag to protect it. While the strap for the buckle seems to be a tad short, you can secure it with a little tugging.

The mesh fabric on the bottom makes it perfect for the beach because it won’t fill up with sand.

This option is super easy to drive because the front wheels rotate and can be steered by the handle, which is telescoping for very easy control on all terrain.

Gorilla Carts Heavy Duty Steel Utility Cart

If you’re outdoorsy, and I mean seriously outdoorsy, you may want to consider a wagon that’s so heavy duty you can use it anytime, all the time, for everything you could ever want to do. The beach, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, and all other outdoor activities are no problem for this one.

While you may not regularly need to pull 1400 pounds worth of gear, you could do it everyday with this one and not break a sweat. It has oversized tires and an oversized bed, but rolls easily across any terrain, making it easy for you to get to your favorite spot with no trouble.

You can load up all your kids and your cargo and spend the day in the sun and surf without worrying about overloading it. Keep in mind it doesn’t have seat belts, so I’m not recommending you use it for anything you don’t want to fall out.

However, it has great balance and maneuverability, so the risk of tipping is very low. It’s easy to assemble, has great ground clearance, and is rigid enough to hold anything and stay firmly on the ground.

The sides are removable so you can use a flat cargo bed for larger loads. The heavy duty padded handle can be pulled by hand or towed by a vehicle for extreme jobs. You can tote towels, coolers, umbrellas, and so much more all the way across the beach with no issues.

Mac Sports Folding All Terrain Utility Wagon Beach Cart

This is a super convenient cart for the beach, gardening, the park, or an outdoor event. The table with two cup holders included makes all the difference. If you need something you can use outdoors, whether you’re at the beach or somewhere else, this is a great option.

The extra large wheels make it easy to roll over all terrain, which means it’s great for sand, gravel, or a lawn. The table is collapsible when you don’t want to use it. Just pop it up when you need a place to eat or put your beverages.

The frame is sturdy enough to hold 150 pounds, so the capacity is a bit smaller than other wagons, but it offers versatility. It’s also compact enough to store away easily.

Fold the wagon down and secure it with the included straps for storage in your trunk or in a closet. The great thing about this one is that when it’s collapsed, it has a carrying handle so you can lift it easily.

The frame is made of steel, so it’s a bit heavier than other wagons, which may make it more difficult for some. However, the wheels should still make it relatively easy to glide over most terrain.

The wheelbase is quite narrow, making this wagon prone to tipping. However, many users simply load heavier items toward the back, and have less trouble with balance.

Sekey Folding Wagon

This wagon is a beast, and is definitely the best option for heavy packers. If you need to take a  lot of stuff with you, this is your ideal companion. It can hold up to 400 pounds of supplies, so you’ll never have to worry about whether it can handle your heaviest items.

The steel mesh crate is great for cleaning because it won’t hold sand. It can be wiped or hosed down and dried easily and quickly. It’s also corrosion resistant and offers a lot more durability than canvas or fabric wagons.

The sides of the crate fold down for storage and you can completely remove them if you’d rather have a flatbed rolling cart. It offers versatility on your trip so you’re not confined to the size of the basket.

The tires are some of the biggest you’ll find on a beach wagon, at ten inches. They’re ideal for outdoor expeditions, especially the sand on the beach. The large, D-shaped padded handle makes it easy to pull without getting blisters, even if it’s loaded to capacity.

The steel frame makes it a bit heavier than other options, so it may be difficult to lift or pull for some, but it’s much sturdier and will last much longer than other options. It’s also quite a bit more affordable than some of your other, “fancier” wagons.

It does require some assembly, and takedown isn’t as quick or as easy as a collapsible cart, but it gives you the durability you need for heavy duty beach trips.

Mac Sports Heavy Duty Steel Double Decker Collapsible Wagon

This is a pretty cool little solution for those who need a bit of extra room for storage. The double decker design means you can stack your things on the bottom shelf or in the wagon. However, it still only holds 150 pounds, so you can’t necessarily stack more, you can just stack it more efficiently.

The lower shelf is longer than the inside of the wagon, so you can store items that don’t fit like tents, chairs, umbrellas, and more.

An adjustable handle makes it easy to pull over uneven ground or for adjusting to fit people of different heights.

Although the tires are plastic, the tread is made of heavy duty rubber while the frame is powder coated steel. The tires are a bit narrow, making it harder than some to roll across sand, but as long as it’s not packed too full, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.

The fabric is 600D poly, which means it is water-repellent, easy to clean, and dries quickly. You can set it up easily with no tools and it collapses just as easily for storage. There are a few different color options from which you can choose.

Thanks to the lower shelf, the upper compartment rides slightly higher than other beach wagons, so it’s a great option for those who don’t want to bed as far to get things in and out.

When completely folded, it does not stand on its own and can be a bit heavy to carry, but it fits nicely in a trunk or a closet, so you can pack it away until later if needed.

The Verdict

You’ll find almost everything you need in the BEAU JARDIN folding push wagon. Not only is it collapsible for easy storage, but you can push or pull it with ease, it has a canopy to keep your things out of the sun, and small pockets so your little items won’t get lost.

It’s easy to clean and lightweight enough for almost anyone. It comes at a reasonable price and is one of the most versatile solutions you’ll find. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, but this one offers the best solution for most beach goers.