Easy and quick setup with a frame that’s built to last
Easy and quick setup with a frame that’s built to last
Frankly, I was hesitant to purchase the City version in XL due to 2 main concerns that I couldn’t really get an answer for in stores:
- Limited maneuverability – I thought that having the handle on the fixed wheel side would limit the pull function and make it difficult to steer pulling in more rugged, hilly and rougher terrains.
- I questioned the solidity of a one point steering handle when used with more weight and believed it would feel rather loose.
I’ll cover these and more below!
Unboxing:
My take vs my husbands:
Me –
Unpacking and assembling together was intuitive, A+ for making it easy for users to put together in under 10 minutes and specially putting on and taking off tires. As for the weight, I did find this a tad heavy for me personally but this is the XL and if I had to choose between a flimsier smaller structure and this one, I’d choose this one. Not sure if there’s any room for improvement on the weight component material wise or construction wise but something to consider for future iterations.
Very picky husband (who is a manufacturing engineer) –
Was impressed by the ease of assembly (without sacrificing sturdiness) and assembly/disassembly of tires. Would’ve liked to see cleaner welding on the edges. Finds weight appropriate for the quality of materials and construction and was impressed with how firm and stable the frame is.
Initial reactions:
Rides and strolls smoothly – I can see this in a wide range of use cases like casual walking, shopping but also outside on flatter, easy trails and paths.
Maneuverability – We tested for the pulling concern on a hilly park and were pleasantly surprised. I actually found that it was easier to turn say, a 360 turn almost in place vs having the swivel tires on the handle side. Our nephew is still too little to leave sitting while we tested up and down the small hills but it occurred to use that better shock absorption could help kids feel more comfortable.
Steering construction quality: Tested for the strength of the one point steering handle carrying a weight of about 150 lbs and this wagon handled it very well! I’m still skeptical of how this will hold up further down the road with extended use and in more rugged terrain but for general park and flat surfaces, this felt firm and durable.
Who is this not for:
You most definitely need to have the extra trunk space (and consider anything else you’re taking with you such as backpacks and gear) if you’re taking this on a hike or camping trip because it will take up space. If you don’t have the extra space, I would opt for the smaller version. This does fit folded and with the tires on in a Tesla Model Y trunk but leaves very little space in the main trunk.
Considering the weight and placing this is the trunk of the car, it’s certainly on the heavy side. Something else to consider specially if you’re going to be putting this away after a long day at the beach or hiking. I already scratched the car with it and will buy a bumper protector.
Conclusion:
Aside from scratching up my car because I have a hard time pulling it up to load in the trunk, I’m happy to say we will not be returning this since it passed our tests for quality and steering. We can see this in our family for years to come and have already bought the nap system and will continue to add on accessories.
What ifs and what I’d like to possibly see in future models:
- Shock absorption – I’d love to see a future model that might have better shock absorption whether that’s thru some wheel apparatus or different tire materials like foam fill or air.
- 4 wheel swivel optionality – I’m wondering if a third version can have all 4 wheels swivel so the user can choose and control if the front or the back tires should be fixed based on the use and terrain.
- 2 point steering handle -Can we test having a handle that stems from 2 points instead of one in the middle? Would this improve the possible loosening and wiggle of the handle down the road after years of use?
