‘I took my family to the beach to test out a trolley – it’s incredible for days out’

With parents looking for ways to make summer holiday days out more manageable, Mirror writer Sam Jones tested out a handy folding trolley to see if it lived up to the hype

It’s summer and school holiday season which means one thing, lots of days out. But for all such days are fabulous, and an incredible chance to make memories, most parents will relate to the military-style operation that comes with making sure you have everything you need, and lugging it all about.

I’ve seen these folding trolleys popping up at various locations when we’ve been on days out and thought they looked nifty. After trying one out, I have to say the hype is well and truly justified.

I was given the chance to try out a few products from outdoor and camping brand, Trail – the Folding Beach Trolley (£69.99), Falcon Padded Camping Chairs (£49.99) and a Waterproof Picnic Rug (£15.99).

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So we headed to the beach to put them through their paces.

‘Incredible for family days out’

My first go with the trolley came at my son’s first birthday party. We arrived at the venue to discover that there was no parking nearby, so I was faced with the daunting task of trekking back and forth to the car with all manner of party games, food and drinks in sweltering heat while dressed as a cowboy (it was a western-themed party!)

But the trolley did an incredible job of saving the day, and it meant I could lug all the gear in one trip. Perhaps the most impressive thing is how easily it folds up into a compact product that makes it really easy to carry and simply fold up in the car.

It then takes about a minute to unfold it all again and get it up and running, which is really handy given it would be awkward to transport without the folding feature.

Space in the car when you have a family is often at a premium, but the significant reduction in the size it takes up when folded down is excellent. Trail’s offering has a tidy usp in the form of the wheels that can easily conquer tricky terrain like sand or uneven paths.

I liked how they’re made of plastic, so there’s no messing about having to pump them up or deal with punctures. And to my delight, they’re great for use both on sand and normal terrain.

The trolley moved along with ease, even over more uneven, rocky parts of the beach. It didn’t matter if the sand was soft, hard, wet, or bumpy, the trolley just glided over it.

It made transporting the chairs and picnic blanket an absolute breeze, and drew some compliments along the lines of “I wish I had that” from fellow beach-goers. I can see why, it’s incredible for family days out and would also work well for festivals and camping.

My only gripe with it is I wish the sides were a bit higher. If they were, it would allow piling a few more bits and bobs a bit higher without the risk of them falling off while you navigate uneven terrain.

‘The chairs are comfy but have one flaw’

Of the three items I tested out I was least impressed with the Falcon padded chairs. They are nicely padded and very comfortable, but there seems to be a bit of a design flaw whereby the arms won’t hold in place very well.

It meant they kept slipping down to an awkward height, which is a shame because aside from that, they are far more comfortable than the standard ones you tend to see in supermarkets at this time of year. The fault can be solved by adding a couple of cable ties under the arms to stop them from slipping down, but I wouldn’t expect to have to do that on a product at this price point.

Despite this, they are extremely comfortable and much nicer to sit in than standard camping chairs. Their foldable design means it’s super quick to get them out and put them away, while the bag they slot into has a handy carry handle to make transporting them simple.

The picnic rug is similarly well designed in that it folds and rolls into a handy, compact carrying mode, meaning it takes up very little room and is easy to take out and about with you.

I particularly liked this at the beach as for all the scenery is beautiful, the rug did a good job of allowing a spot to sit without getting sand all over you. The rug is also waterproof, meaning it shouldn’t leave you with a soggy surface if the grass or sand is a bit wet.

What else is out there?

The market for folding trolleys has really taken off this summer and there are plenty of options out there. Amazon stocks a variety, including the TIMBER RIDGE Festival Trolley which is priced at £77.99 in a “limited time deal”. That trolley is capable of carrying up to 100kg and does handily include brakes on the wheels to stop it running off if you’re on an incline.

Reviewers have largely enjoyed that product, with one saying it’s “easy to assemble and pack away”, though another did note. Despite being sturdy, the trolley can be somewhat heavy when fully loaded. A lighter material could make it easier to manage.”

Elsewhere, for those with camping chairs on their shopping list, Go Outdoors has a number of offerings, including the Hi-Gear Vegas XL Chair, priced at £50 or £25 for members. They are also buy one, get one half-price, so there’s an opportunity for a further saving there.

It also stocks plenty of picnic blankets too, like the Eurohike picnic blanket, priced at £12 or £10 for members.