From Stroller to Wagon — beauty and the butch

We spent the Fourth of July at our favorite mini getaway destination- Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz holds a special place in my heart as this is where I went to college and where my husband and I spent a lot of time at the beginning of our relationship. In fact, we named our son Cruz after this quaint little beach town.

For this particular weekend trip, I really wanted to put our newly acquired wagon to the test. Now that Kai is 4 and Cruz is 3… I finally (admittedly, very begrudgingly) passed on the last stroller to a new family. I have been eyeballing a few stroller-wagons - but decided to purchase a utility wagon instead. I wanted something that would perform more like a wagon that could also cart my boys around if need be, versus the other way around. Although many stroller-wagons have great features such as harnesses, footwells, and snack trays, I ultimately wanted a wagon for its purpose which would be to haul gear - thus increasing longevity for its use in our family.

Review of the Mac Sports XL Folding Wagon
Pros:
- affordable price at $79.99
- purchased at Costco (Kirkland) which means amazing return and warranty if anything happens to your wagon
- size: this is toted at the XL version which is bigger than the standard wagon sold by MAC and other competitive companies that sell folding utility wagons
- color- modern grey polyester fabric that wipes clean with ease
- comes with a cargo net
- 2 exterior mesh cup holders & 1 exterior large mesh pocket
- wide wheels (made of plastic)
- extendable & lockable ergonomic handle
- folds “flat”
- manufacturer states that the wagon can haul up to 300lbs

Cons:
- no brakes
- no pockets inside the wagon
- a bit heavy - weighs 23lbs.
- little to no cushion on the bottom - so prolonged sitting isn’t too comfortable

Hacks/Upgrades:
- clip-on canopy - It worked fine but was a bit bulky for crowded places such as the boardwalk - definitely great for leisure strolling but not for theme parks or places with many people. I will try out another wagon canopy soon and provide an update.
- stroller organizer - Because of the two crossbars at either end of the wagon, you can clip on additional accessories. I was able to clip on my diaper backpack as well as a traditional stroller caddy for additional storage.

Additional TIPS for families with younger kids
- travel potty - we keep this in our car and it has saved us many times - potty emergencies on days at the park, road trips, as well as days out on the beach.
- sunshade/beach umbrella - while the kiddos are splashing away, a little bit of shade for parents is a must
- cooler - I was once part of team who cares- but having a source of cold drinks and chilled fruits has made our outings much more pleasant.
- buckets, cups, and scoops - I like to keep a small bag of toys in the trunk as they come in handy for impromptu park outings as well as the beach. Those sturdy take-out containers work great for play in the sand and little toys your kids have long forgotten about will become instantly treasured for imaginative play in a pinch! Bottom line, I like to tote a few toys that I wouldn’t mind if they get lost, or broken.

Final Thoughts

Road- My 4-year-old is really tall (~99%) and I’m so happy the XL size still allows him to sit relatively comfortably with his legs stretched out. As mentioned above, there really isn’t much padding on the bottom for their bums but hey, when your kiddo is tired, they won’t care as long as they get to sit somewhere! Because the wagon is already a little on the heavy side at 23lbs., any added weight will definitely be felt on the person towing it. Whenever I’m going downhill, I like to lock the handle and guide the wagon down- and when it feels really sketch, I ask the kids to hop out so that I can better control it.

Beach- The wagon worked surprisingly well on the beach! I was nervous that David and I would end up having to pick it up and carry it, but the wider wheels definitely displaced the sand enough for us to set up camp at a further spot. There are 4 small holes on each corner of the wagon bottom, so it helps to funnel out additional sand and debris. The fabric is also easy to wipe clean which is a plus!