Heading off to a music festival, camping or the beach? Then you should get a festival trolley to make life easier!
As a seasoned festival-goer, I can’t stress enough the importance of a good festival trolley! We all know the drill – parking spots that seem a world away from the campsite and the inevitable slog through fields that can sometimes be more mud than grass. That’s where a trusty festival wagon comes into play, turning a potential struggle into a smooth journey.
I’ve even been part of a festival trolley train before, tying several together to create a convoy of convenience. And let’s not forget those times when the fun gets a bit too much, and you need a lift back to your tent – a sturdy, foldable festival trolley can be a real lifesaver!
But it’s not just about the practicalities. If you’re bringing your kids along, these trolleys can transform into a magical hub for them – a place to eat, sleep, and chill out as they soak up the festival vibes. And with a bit of creativity, you can turn a simple festival cart into a vibrant, decorated chariot that your kids will love (check out some decoration ideas for kids’ festival trolleys here).
So, whether you’re a festival veteran or a first-timer, a festival trolley is more than just a convenience – it’s an essential part of your festival toolkit!
Ready to buy? Then check out my list of the seven best festival trolleys by category. (They also double as awesome beach trolleys, camping trolleys & garden trolleys).
Not sure which type of collapsable festival trolley you need? Then click here and dive straight to the Best Festival Trolleys buyers guide.
Best Festival Trolley By Category for 2024
I recommend these folding wagons as the best festival trolleys for a muddy festival based on the following criteria:
- design (foldable, wheels, multiple handles, and brakes),
- build quality (avoiding cheap materials),
- weight capacity (60+ kg up to 100kg),
- durability (with durable fabrics and metals),
- and value for money.
(see our buyers guide for more info on choosing the right foldable trolley)
There is no hard and fast rule regarding what type of festival trolley you should take; there certainly isn’t a SPECIFIC festival wagon type. People normally pick their festival carts based on budget and weight capacity. Some people will come with a tiny sack trolley (those two-wheeled, upright hand trolleys), whilst others drag a garden trolley through the mud and mayhem.
To give you the biggest choice of festival trolleys, I will recommend my top picks from all the different types of folding trolleys I have seen at festivals recently.
Best Folding Festival Trolley
I’ve learned from experience that size, portability, and capacity are key in festival trolleys. You’ll want a trolley that’s easy to fold and unfold without the risk of those pesky finger-pinching incidents. As a seasoned festival-goer, I’ve seen it all, and I’m here to share my insights with you:
If you’re looking for compactness and ease of transport, a small, upright trolley, also known as a Sack Truck, might be just the ticket. It’s lighter on the wallet and simpler to pack, but it might not accommodate all your camping gear, and it could be challenging to navigate through muddy terrains. If you’re working with a tight budget, I’ve found a practical workaround to carry your beverages in a cool bag rucksack, reserving the trolley for your tent and other gear.
However, if you’re ready to go all in, I’d recommend investing in a heavy-duty folding trolley. These robust workhorses can comfortably carry 100kg of beer, tents, and all your camping essentials. I’ve relied on these trolleys repeatedly, and they’ve never let me down.
Based on my experiences, here are my top picks for the best folding festival trolleys of 2024:
From my testing and personal experience, here are the pros and cons of these using types of festival wagons:
- Compact Sack Trolley
- Pros:
- Lightweight and manoeuvrable, making it easy to navigate through crowded festival grounds.
- Budget-friendly, it is an excellent choice for those who don’t want to spend much on a trolley.
- Compact and easy to store, perfect for those with limited storage space.
- Cons:
- The two-wheel design may not be as stable on uneven terrain.
- Its smaller size might limit the amount of gear you can carry.
- Pros:
- Deluxe Folding Festival Trolley
- Pros:
- High-weight capacity, ideal for those who bring a lot of gear to festivals.
- Robust and durable, it’s designed to last through many festivals.
- Large wheels are designed to handle rough terrain, including mud.
- Cons:
- It’s more expensive, which might not be ideal for those on a tight budget.
- Its larger size might make it more difficult to store and transport.
- Pros:
Remember, the best festival trolley for you will depend on your specific needs, including your budget, the amount of gear you need to carry, and the terrain of the festival site.
Best Beach Trolley With Sand Wheels
Based on my festival-going adventures, I’ve found that a fantastic choice for 2024 is a folding beach trolley. Now, you might be wondering – a beach trolley at a festival? But hear me out.
When you’re choosing a beach wagon to double as a festival trolley, there are a few things I’ve learned to look out for. First, you’ll want extra-wide wheels. These are game-changers, trust me – they can easily manoeuvre through sand and are just as effective in the festival fields.
Next, look for a lightweight aluminium frame. It makes the trolley easier to handle, especially when navigating crowds. An open cover is another must-have for easy sand removal – or mud if the festival’s weather is uncooperative.
Don’t forget to consider the cart’s capacity and additional features. Adjustable handles and built-in coolers can make a world of difference. I’ve found that transporting all your festival or beach essentials – think beach tents, picnic blankets, electric coolers, and more – becomes a breeze with one of these beach carts.
So, from my experience with your festival planning, a folding beach trolley could be just the ticket for your 2024 festival adventures!
From my testing and personal experience, here are the pros and cons of using a beach cart for festivals:
Beach Trolley
- Pros:
- Versatile: Can carry a variety of festival essentials.
- Adaptable: Wide wheels handle uneven festival grounds well.
- Spacious: Ample storage for all your festival gear.
- Cons:
- Size: Can be large and difficult to store.
- Weight: It can be heavy to pull when fully loaded.
- Cost: High-quality options may not fit all budgets.
Best Camping Wagon & Camping Trolley
Drawing from my years of festival and camping experiences, I’m excited to share my top picks for folding camping trolleys for 2024. These aren’t just trolleys – they’re designed to tackle the muddy terrains of festivals easily!
When choosing a camping trolley, I’ve found it’s crucial to consider one that can handle the weight of all your gear and fits comfortably within your storage space. Large, ‘off-road’ wheels are a must for rough terrain – they’ve saved me more times than I can count!
Don’t overlook additional features like cup holders and coolers. They seem small details but can significantly enhance your festival or camping experience.
Choose a trolley that is easy to fold and transport. I’ve learned that transporting all your camping equipment to your site with a reliable camping trolley becomes a breeze. And if you have little ones, they’ll have a blast rolling down hills in it – just one of the many fun memories I’ve made at festivals.
So, here’s to happy camping and festival-going with your trusty camping trolley!
From my testing and personal experience, here are the pros and cons of using a camping cart for festivals:
Camping Trolley
- Pros:
- Durability: Built for outdoor use, they can handle the rough and tumble of festival grounds.
- Capacity: They are designed to carry camping gear and can easily handle your festival essentials.
- Terrain Handling: Many have robust wheels suitable for uneven festival terrains.
- Cons:
- Size: They can be bulky, making them harder to store and transport.
- Weight: It might be heavy to pull when fully loaded, especially over long distances.
- Cost: High-quality models can be expensive, which might not suit all budgets.
Best Garden Trolley (yes, they work on beaches/festivals too)
I’m excited to share my top garden trolley picks for 2024! You might wonder, “Why garden trolleys on a picnic site?”. My mum uses her garden trolley, even for beach picnics with the dog.
Garden trolleys are strong. They have air-filled wheels and metal frames to carry heavy stuff. They’re great for festivals because they can handle rough ground and are easy to clean.
But you can use a garden trolley for more than just gardening. It’s a great cart for festivals, camping, and picnics too! I’ve used one at many festivals, and it’s always been helpful.
Buying one of these handy garden carts is a good idea.
From my personal testing and usage, I’ve pinpointed the following strengths and weaknesses of using garden trolleys for festival purposes:
Garden Trolley
- Pros:
- Robust: Built for heavy-duty use, they can withstand the rigours of festival grounds.
- High Capacity: Designed to carry heavy loads, they can handle all your festival gear.
- Terrain Handling: Large wheels make navigating uneven festival terrains easier.
- Cons:
- Size: They can be large, making them harder to store and transport.
- Weight: It might be heavy to pull when fully loaded, especially over long distances.
- Cost: High-quality models can be expensive, which might not suit all budgets.
Best Folding Trolley with Canopy
As a regular at many festivals, I’ve learned a few things about picking the right trolley, especially if you need one with a canopy for your little ones.
First, look for a trolley with high sides and a handle padded twice. This gives you better steering control and is handy when moving through crowds or over bumpy ground. Handles that you can adjust to different heights can also make the trolley easier to push or pull.
I’ve also found that spending more on a good-quality trolley can save you money in the long run. Cheaper trolleys might not last as long and could need replacing sooner.
Regarding the canopy, go for one made from strong material. It should give plenty of shade and protect from the sun. And if it’s waterproof, even better – you never know when it might rain!
Lastly, check how much weight the trolley can carry. You want to ensure it can handle your kids’ weight and all your gear. Getting around at festivals, parks, beaches, and other places can be a breeze with the right trolley. So, from one festival fan to another, happy trolley shopping!
Based on my hands-on evaluation and personal use, I’ve identified the following advantages and disadvantages of a festival trolley with a roof:
Festival Trolley with Canopy
- Pros:
- Protection: The canopy provides shade and protection from the elements of your festival gear.
- Versatility: Designed specifically for festivals, they can handle a variety of gear.
- Mobility: Often designed with large wheels for easy navigation through festival grounds.
- Cons:
- Size: The added canopy can make these trolleys larger and harder to store.
- Weight: The canopy adds extra weight, which might make the trolley heavier to pull when fully loaded.
- Cost: The added feature of a canopy can make these trolleys more expensive than other models.
Guide to buying the best festival trolley/folding trolley
Design of the Best Festival Trolley
The key components of any festival trolley, garden wagon, camping trolley, or beach trolley are that they must be easy to transport, strong for the hard grounds they will cover, and have a deep basket to fit stuff in.
You also want to consider if it has any added extras like many more high-quality trolleys. These include multiple handles, individual brakes, storage pockets and a canopy.
These trolleys are large when made up, so they must be fully foldable to transport easily. I make sure each one we recommend is simple to fold, and the materials mean it can be unfolded over and over without buckling.
The strength of these folding trolleys is partly down to choosing the right one for the job. If it’s a beach trolley, it needs big wheels for the sand. In contrast, a garden trolley should have a. strong metal basket and large rubber wheels for dealing with mud, and a tipper function always helps.
Festival carts need to fit the purpose – will you be ok with a small upright folding trolley, or is this for Glastonbury and needs a heavy-duty festival trolley? If you’re using it for the kids and everyday use, choose a folding trolley with a canopy, extra storage, brakes and the dual padded handle for ease! (The Sekey Jardin Trolley is a popular choice for music festivals)
So, in short, the best way to pick the right folding trolley is to be clear about the wagon’s use and choose the design you need.
Build quality of the Best Festival Trolley
Build quality can vary as dramatically as the price, and it’s not always the most expensive that offers the best quality.
When considering build quality, you want to look at the metal used in the construction and the fabric or materials used to create the basket/carrier. Ensure the wheels, bearings, and brakes are strong enough for the weight capacity manufacturers claim.
Build-wise, you want strong yet lightweight if it’s a portable festival trolley or beach trolley – so look for an aluminium frame that weighs around 10kg empty. You can also buy folding wagons made with steel and iron; however, they will be heavier to put in the boot. Check the reviews and weight of each and buy what fits your needs.
Build quality can vary as dramatically as the price, and it’s not always the most expensive that offers the best quality.
When considering build quality, you want to look at the metal used in the construction and the fabric or materials used to create the basket/carrier. Ensure the wheels, bearings, and brakes are strong enough for the weight capacity manufacturers claim.
Build-wise, you want strong yet lightweight if it’s a portable festival trolley or beach trolley – so look for an aluminium frame that weighs around 10kg empty. You can also buy folding wagons made with steel and iron; however, they will be heavier to put in the boot. Check the reviews and weight of each and buy what fits your needs.
If you’re buying a garden trolley, you can look at the solid steel framed ones with big pneumatic rubber tyres that weigh over 25kg unpacked.
These inner baskets get messy quickly and can stink if left uncleaned after a trip out, so you want to ensure the inner of the folding trolleys are made from washable and waterproof fabric. You also want it to come with an easily removable inner and be rip-resistant so the folding cart is hardwearing.
Many of these folding wagons, especially garden carts, claim to carry extraordinary weights of up to 600kg! However, when tested, the wheels fall off the wagons! So make sure the wheels are good quality and fit for the truck.
As I have said earlier, you want big, thick, rubber-covered wheels for a beach trolley. Garden trolleys and camping trucks where you are likely out in the mud should have bigger rubber wheels, like a wheelbarrow. Avoid buying any festival trolley or wagon with hard plastic wheels that look flimsy…buy cheap; buy twice is what I have found!
Finally, if you are buying a foldable trolley for kids with a canopy, make sure its sunproof/ waterproof, factor 50 material. No point in having a canopy if it offers no protection or real shade.
Weight capacity of the Best Festival Trolley
Buying a festival trolley that can hold 200kg for your beer run sounds like an awesome idea, but take it from me: what’s claimed versus reality can differ dramatically. Ending up a mile from your Glastonbury tent with a broken truck full of 200 beers isn’t fun!
My best advice is if it says it carries 200kg, knock that down by a quarter…why you ask? Well, look at it this way: the Glastonbury festival trolley we took was a garden trolley with a 200kg capacity. It was meant to take 200kgs of mud a short distance in a garden, not carry over 200 beers and a tent 2 miles from the car park and broke!! So, if you won’t use it according to the packet, reduce the weight capacity!
It is the same if you add in children as well…make sure to pick a trolley designed for carrying little people, like the Futex Beach & Festival Camping Trolley. The simplest way to work this out is all good quality kids’ folding trolleys have canopies.
The durability of the Best Festival Trolley
Durability comes right back to what I said from the start of this review and best-of-festival trolleys guide. You need to buy the right trolley or wagon for the use you have in mind.
As I found to my cost with my festival trolley at Glastonbury, you can’t buy a garden trolley and hope it will cover long distances full of beer. So look for the right trolley for the job or distances you want to cover. Ask yourself these questions when buying any festival trolley, foldable camping trolley or beach wagon:
- What weight do I need it to carry?
- What terrain is it being used for?
- What distance do I need it to cover in any given journey?
- What/who am I going to carry in it?
- Do I need dual handles, locking steering, a canopy, or other extra extras?
Then, buy the folding truck or festival wagon accordingly. You will have years of great use if you buy the right high-quality trolley for the job.
Cost of the Best Festival Trolley
You get what you pay for in these trucks; however, you must be clear about what or where you use the folding trolley to ensure you spend your money wisely. However, as a rough guide, the best festival trolley will cost you between £100-180.
We bought a high-quality, steel-based Garden truck and broke it on the first big use because it wasn’t designed to carry 200kg over 2 miles. Instead of buying one trolley that can carry a full load, we could have spent more wisely by purchasing two heavy-duty festival trolleys that carry a half load each.
So if you want to buy the best value for money, consider the use carefully and buy accordingly. And once you choose a few models, read the reviews to be sure you got value for money!
How do I decorate my Festival Trolley?
All you need to do to learn how to decorate your festival trolley is hit up Google. There are heaps of amazing ideas; look at this incredible design above that we found from pennywisemum.co.uk.
Decorating your kids’ festival trolley is mainly about creating a fun, safe space for your kids to hang out as you enjoy the festivals. We have tried to enjoy festivals without the truck (moany, whiney kids) and our tented party bus, as my daughter calls it (happy, excited kids). So, let’s look at some more decoration ideas for your festival wagon.
We all know festivals get wild, so how about making a safari jeep (source: Festivalkidz.com)? A few pieces of cardboard and several hours of hard graft can see you bring your kid’s dreams to life and rock the festival circuit in style.
The stars are the limit with your festival wagon decor; however, there are some essentials no self-respecting festival wagon will be without:
Seating: think comfy cushions or pillows, covers and side curtains (shade and privacy)….this Chariot of fun will be a play den, chill-out zone and bed during the long, fun-packed festival days. We used some giant Ikea cushions on the bottom (Theia says it’s her cloud bed!) and then an old sleeping bag to cover.
Side curtains were an old shower curtain cut up and hung…. It can be slid back and is rainproof!
Raincover: We all want a sunny festival, but we know the great British weather sucks, so a waterproof festival trolley is essential. We had a canopy on our model (we pimped the Vevor folding festival trolley). So we covered it in the same shower curtain we used for the side, overlapping it and cutting scalloped edges for cuteness!
Drink Holder/ Cool Box: We are all about hydration and healthy snacks at festivals, and having an onboard cool box for drinks and snacks is great. My daughter and her pals think they are each the bosses of food, so we get rows, but they also save the ‘mummmmmmm can I have’ every five moments as they can self-serve!
We love the Campingaz MiniMaxi Coolbox…super cute! We also use the very cool and detachable Kinderwagon Cooler Bag Set.
Extra bag: You want to keep things handy like loo roll, hand sanitiser, facemasks, ear defenders, etc., so an extra attachable bag is handy. We got a picnic backpack and fashioned attachments (so kids have plates, etc. too)
Talking about taking kids to the festivals – don’t forget to take ear defenders for them! We recommend the Snug Kids Ear Defenders. They are brilliant noise-cancelling headphones for children, toddlers and babies. They come in over 15 designs, so there is something for everyone, from toddlers to teenagers.
THE DECORATION IDEAS FOR YOUR FESTIVAL TROLLEY
Think flowers, think hippy fun, think fairies, sparkles, and lights is our annual brief. We don’t want leaky batteries on our festival trolley, so we use fairy solar lights like these every time.
Other great ideas for pimping your folding festival wagon include a bubble machine, kite on stick, bunting and windmills! (festivalkidz.com is brilliant for more ideas)
Frequently Asked Questions About Festival Trolleys
Where can I buy a Festival Trolley?
You can buy a festival trolley and foldable festival wagons from many places online and on the high street. I think Amazon offers the greatest choice, the best warranties and the fastest delivery. Go through this link to buy a Festival Trolley.
Where can I buy a heavy-duty Garden trolley?
You can buy a heavy-duty garden trolley and foldable gardeners cart through this link and save time!
Is pushing a trolley safer than pulling?
It is generally safer to push a trolley rather than pull it. When pushing, you use the weight of your body and maintain a more neutral posture, which puts less stress on your body. Pulling can often twist your body and require only one hand.
Always push a trolley forward and keep it as close to the items as possible. If the trolley has foot brakes, use them while loading. Avoid pushing the trolley with only one hand, and ensure you have a clear view of your surroundings for the safest and most efficient movement.
Additionally, please avoid using your legs to push the trolley and always face it while keeping your body neutral.
Where can I buy a beach trolley?
To buy a beach trolley or foldable beach wagon, go through this link and save time!
What type of festival trolley do I need?
Depending on the available space in your vehicle, a metal trolley with large rubber tyres can be an excellent choice. It’s perfect for moving your tent and booze stash across uneven festival fields.
If your car’s a bit tight on space, a foldable trolley could be your next best bet, although it might not handle as much weight, and its smaller wheels could struggle in heavy mud.
An upright trolley, while capable of carrying a surprising amount of weight, requires strength to keep it upright. A topple could lead to a disaster, so ensure you can handle it before choosing this option!
How much weight can a festival trolley handle?
While some metal trolleys claim to have a max load of 200 kg, this is typically in ideal conditions like moving paving stones across a flat garden, not bumping over fields for miles in mud.
To prevent any mishaps like a sudden breakdown when you’re mid-way back to your tent laden with beverages, it’s best to keep the load under half the maximum weight.
With a full metal garden trolley, this still means you could transport nearly 100 cans per trip. Folding festival trolleys usually have a maximum load capacity of around 45-75KG, so be mindful of this when piling on crate after crate of drinks.
What’s the best way to pack a Festival Trolley?
The best way to pack a festival trolley is like the car boot, so heavy stuff on the bottom and light stuff at the top. I pack our festival cart with a few crates of beer on the bottom, camping equipment in the middle, sleeping bags, pillows, and a gazebo on top. Secure it all with a few bungy cords, and you’re ready to go.
Have you used any of these folding festival trolleys? Then please leave your review in the comments box below. Is your favourite festival cart not on the list? Be sure to let me know in the comments below so I can review it.
We hope you found our reviews of the best festival trolleys helpful. Here are quick links to our other picnic essentials on the site. If you have all these, you are sure of the perfect time outdoors!
- Best Electric Cool Boxes
- Top Cool Bag Rucksacks
- Best Waterproof Picnic Blankets & Travel Rugs
- Luxury Picnic Baskets
- Easiest Folding Picnic Tables
- Top Selling Thermos Flask & Food Flask
- Best Beach Tents
- Top Picnic Chairs & Seating
Can you think of another essential picnic item I need to include? If so, drop me a line in the comments.
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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