Updated by Brett Dvoretz

The 10 Best Beach Carts

This wiki has been updated 35 times since it was first published in March of 2015. You've got the cooler, the chairs, a good book, towels and sunscreen. But how are you going to carry all that to the beach? With one of these specially designed carts, of course. They have been built with large wheels that won't bog down in the sand, and can serve double-duty around the home as all-purpose carriers. We've included models for fisherman, families, and everyone else. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Fish-N-Mate 310

If you are considering giving up your favorite pastime because you can't deal with the hassle of lugging all the gear, then you'll appreciate the Fish-N-Mate 310 (appx. $280). It can carry eight rods and reels, a tackle box, cooler, and just about everything else you need.

Doubles as an umbrella stand
Extra-wide tires
Handles soft sugar sand with ease

2. JGRC Table Cart

As its name implies, the JGRC Table Cart (about $70) is a handy item that serves multiple purposes. You can use it to carry all your stuff to the coast, and then lay it down to use as your dining area while you are relaxing and enjoying the day.

Four cupholders
Dedicated chair hanging rack
Also works well as a footrest

3. Mac Sports SPK-100

If you don't feel like you go to the seaside often enough to warrant buying something solely for that use, then the Mac Sports SPK-100 (around $160) might be right up your alley. It is a versatile option that is just as useful around the garden or at an outdoor concert as on the sand.

Folds up for compact storage
Convenient telescoping handle
Small flip-out table with cupholders

4. Wheeleez Folding

The Wheeleez Folding (around $326) is perfect for hauling any size of cooler onto the beach. Its extra-large pneumatic tires won't bog down, and the tubular steel frame is coated with an epoxy-based powder for reliable corrosion resistance.

Handles awkward loads well
Weighs only 18 pounds
Comes with cargo straps

5. Berkley Fishing BAFC48

The Berkley Fishing BAFC48 (about $167) is one of the few angler's models that is designed to fold down flat for storage and transport, making it a very convenient option. Despite its reasonable price, it is large enough to hold a 48-quart cooler and has a 200-pound weight capacity.

Six removable rod holders
Durable fabric liner
Flip-up cutting board

6. Rio Wonder Wheeler

The Rio Wonder Wheeler (about $74) is about as wallet-friendly as they come and a good choice for anyone on a tight budget. Its small, articulating front wheels make for easy curb popping, while the larger rear ones allow for smooth travel over sand.

Comfortable neoprene handle padding
Dedicated umbrella holder
Handy detachable tote bag

7. Mac Sports 2-in-1 Beach Day

While we can't speak to the overall durability of the Mac Sports 2-in-1 Beach Day (about $179) because of its relative newness on the market, we felt its smart design afforded it a place on this list. It's the only model we've found that doubles as a very comfortable lounge chair.

Four cubic feet of cargo space
Can support heavier users
Built-in pillow

8. Sea Striker Beach Runner

While it may be marketed to fishermen, the Sea Striker Beach Runner (around $100) is just as helpful to anyone planning on spending a day in the sun. It can accommodate up to a 54-quart cooler, or a bunch of other stuff, and it has seven bolted-on PVC rod holders.

Wheels are replaceable as needed
Won't roll away if left on a slope
Doesn't fold up for transport

9. Timber Ridge Collapsible

With four thick, never-go-flat wheels, the Timber Ridge Collapsible (appx. $187) feels very stable, no matter how much it is loaded up with. Its telescoping handle accommodates users of various heights, so the whole family can help pull it.

Arrives fully assembled
Sturdy steel frame
Bogs down in fine sand

10. Catalina Island Combo

The Catalina Island Combo (around $78) is a chair and cart in one handy and affordable little unit. It may not be the most comfortable seat, but taking an extra pad will help with that, and it does make for one less item to lug around to help simplify things.

Adjustable sun visor
Key and cell phone pocket
Material isn't very durable

What Exactly Are Beach Carts?

The third thing that separates a beach cart from an everyday cart is that the majority of beach carts can be taken apart.

There are three things that separate a beach cart from a luggage cart, a food cart, or any other cart, for that matter. The first is that a beach cart needs to be capable of traveling over sand. This means that the back wheels are very often very thick with large tread, using substances like reinforced rubber or polyurethane to avoid sinking down or plowing soil.

The second thing that separates a beach cart from an everyday cart is its size. A beach cart needs to be capable of carrying some big-ticket items, like metal chairs, boogie boards, coolers, umbrellas, and more. In order to facilitate these items, a beach cart needs to be designed with open bins, metal racks, and reliable straps, so that nothing falls off (or hangs loose).

The third thing that separates a beach cart from an everyday cart is that the majority of beach carts can be taken apart. Often, the racks detach, the handles fold in, and the storage bins can be removed. This is all a matter of necessity, of course. A cart needs to be collapsible if you plan on tossing it in the trunk and storing it in a closet or crawlspace when it isn't being used.

What Do I Need to Know About a Beach Cart Before I Buy?

The first order of business when considering a beach cart is knowing how much gear you'll need it to hold. Different carts offer different weight capacities), and they offer different storage options, as well.

The second order of business when considering a beach cart is the wheels.

Packing too much cargo can result in a cart plowing sand, or its wheels sinking low into the ground. In addition to the amount of gear, you'll want to consider what type of gear you'd like a beach cart to hold. Certain carts come fully equipped with metal straps and racks, while others aim to be intentionally scaled down for more portability.

The second order of business when considering a beach cart is the wheels. Are the wheels wide? Do they have deep tread? What are they made out of? Will the sand beat them up? Will it cause them to break? Are the wheels built for negotiating not only sand, but asphalt? These are all important factors.

The final order of business is whether a beach cart is collapsible. This is especially important if you have a small car as the average cart will spend a lot of time in a car trunk. Nearly all will spend a few months out of the year crammed into a basement or a garage. Are the wheels and straps detachable? How about the storage bin, or the tote bag? Can you fold the handle down? The bottom rack?

A Brief History of the Beach Cart in America

Theoretically speaking, the concept of a beach cart has been around for centuries. And yet, despite that, the first official U.S. patent for a foldable beach cart was awarded to a man named - get this - Donald Sands back in 1959.

The timing of Sands' invention was not coincidental. A west coast surfing craze was underway, and Sands was likely trying to capitalize on all that buzz. Beach carts remained a viable product throughout the next three decades, reaching their peak - in terms of updated patents - during the mid-to-late nineties.

The most recent breakthrough in the beach-cart industry occurred during 2007, when the first electric-powered beach carts were introduced. These new electric carts were - and are - operated via a battery-powered motor and a remote control. A tremendous innovation, sure, and yet it has failed to catch on as a result of its high price.

Last updated by Brett Dvoretz

A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.

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