OT: Push cart advice

[Andy Hughes]

All, looking for a quality push cart that is easy to use, has enough storage for odds and ends, makes walking the course nicer (and not a battle to drag the clubs up and down hills).
Is the Clicgear 4.0 the way to go, or are there better options?


Many thanks in advance.

[Jim Hoak]

I don't know much about carts, but the one I got because of the pandemic was a disaster for me.  I couldn't get the handle where I needed to have it and hurt my back from pushing it in a bent-over fashion.  My wife spent the extra money and got an electric one, and I'd do that if I were doing it again.

[David_Tepper]

https://walkertrolleys.com/

[MKrohn]

I play at a predominately walking club, Clicgear is the push cart of choice, I still use the 3.0, goes well.


Because of the sun in Australia, you will see a lot of people using the umbrella stand in summer, which could explain the popularity.


The 4 wheel carts seem to sit too low to the ground for my liking.

[Joe Bausch]

This past week my Sun Mountain Speed Cart GX arrived (was back-ordered for a couple of months) and I put it to use on Saturday.  I'll report back after using it a few more times, but so far so good.

[Mark Pearce]

I have a ClickGear 3.0 and it's really good.

[Matthew Rose]

Following.

[Rob Marshall]

I play at a predominately walking club, Clicgear is the push cart of choice, I still use the 3.0, goes well.


Because of the sun in Australia, you will see a lot of people using the umbrella stand in summer, which could explain the popularity.


The 4 wheel carts seem to sit too low to the ground for my liking.

Is the Clicgear push cart heavier than a Speed cart? It looks heavier to me.

[Bernie Bell]

There was a recent thread on this topic which I can't seem to find.  Clicgear is the way to go.  Better in adjustability, rollability, foldability, accessories than Sun Mountain.  I don't think any weight differences are material for most folks.

[A.G._Crockett]

Get a Clicgear.  It's the industry standard. 


Years ago, I had a Sun Mt speed cart, then more or less accidentally got a Clicgear for Christmas.  I used the Clicgear twice, and immediately sold the Sun Mt. on Craigslist; it wasn't even a close call.  I used that Clicgear (2.0, I believe) for 11 years, countless rounds and thousands of miles before I replaced it with a new 4.0 this year just before the toilet paper/push cart shortages.  I only did that because the wheel bearings were shot; I could have replaced the wheels for under $100, but the 4.0 had a better brake, more storage, etc, so I figured I'd get the new one; if it lasts like the old one, I'll likely not be walking anymore before I have to decide what to do next.


The Clicgear is a beautiful piece of engineering.  Folds up to a 2' cube, essentially never tips over, has great accessories available, and is just indestructible.  I keep it in the trunk of the car all the time; it folds up so small that I never need the space.If you go to an NCAA women's event, you'll see LOTS of the players using push carts; ALL of them are Clicgears.  (Men are push cart resistant, but the ones who do use Clicgear as well.) 


My ONLY reservation about Clicgear would be IF you anticipate ever putting a device called eWheels on your cart, which is a $500 way to convert to an battery/electric cart, eWheels recommends that you get a push cart that has a front wheels that is able to turn freely instead of being fixed; eWheels works with Clicgear, but the turning radius is obviously bigger.


Hope that helps.  I promise you that you'll never have buyer's remorse.

[Ian Mackenzie]

This past week my Sun Mountain Speed Cart GX arrived (was back-ordered for a couple of months) and I put it to use on Saturday.  I'll report back after using it a few more times, but so far so good.

I have one of these. No complaints. It folds up easily and is very easy to,push. Lots of places to store things.
Club ordered about 25 for members back in May. Maybe around $200...?

[Scott Senior]

Walker Trolley!!!

[Scott Rosa]

+1 on the Clicgear! Been pushing one for about 3+ years. Also found it very easy to fix with replacement parts available directly from the company if it were to get damaged (don't ask how I know...lol)

[Bernie Bell]

It only costs about $200 more than a Clicgear but can you really put a price on cool?


"Walker Trolleys’ flagship Cape model has been designated the official push cart of NLU’s “Push Cart Mafia,” an ever-growing group of walking golf enthusiasts who are making “push carts cool again.” Push Cart Mafia apparel featuring the Walker Trolley silhouette is available for purchase in the NLU Pro Shop."

https://www.morningread.com/industry-news/release/2020-08-31/walker-trolleys-announces-strategic-investment-by-no-laying-up-to-grow-brand-promote-walking-golf

[Erik J. Barzeski]

To echo everyone else… Walker Trolley or a ClicGear. I own one of the former and four of the latter. And a Sun Mountain or two.

[mike_beene]

Is there that much difference? I think we have sun mountain but I would lobby for another brand if worth it. I have an old sun mountain but few places seem to allow outside carts

[Ken Moum]

Is there that much difference? I think we have sun mountain but I would lobby for another brand if worth it. I have an old sun mountain but few places seem to allow outside carts

If anyone gives a .... Sun Mountain has a feature no one ever seems to mention. The bottom of the Speed Cart Bag, now called the Sync, has a bottom that's designed to fit over the "foot" of the cart so the bag won't twist. The top is also designed  to fit the cart's upper bracket.


Me, I use a Kangaroo. Flattens hills like nothing else.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Though I still prefer to carry, I've always had a trolley for when my back is niggling.


Last year I said goodbye to the Sun Mountain push cart for an electric trolley.  This is as muck of a step up as the three wheel push cart was over the two wheel pull.  For those who have this option I'd unhesitatingly recommend it (cant remember why I was ever resistant).


Re bags. The latest generation cart bags have the slot on the bottom that matches the base that many trolleys now have.  They also balance better. Worth investigating/investing.

[Sean_A]

Reasons to resist battery operated trolleys are in the name...battery. Ya gotta charge the thing. More faffing about loading/unloading. They cost a pretty penny as well. They do come in handy for quite hilly courses though so a purchase of one is likely dependant on where one plays.

Ciao

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Is there that much difference? I think we have sun mountain but I would lobby for another brand if worth it. I have an old sun mountain but few places seem to allow outside carts

ClicGear > Sun Mountain, yeah. Build quality and durability alone make this an easy choice IMO.

[Jason Thurman]

I like my Clicgear reasonably well, and I'll use it as long as it lasts. I don't plan on buying another one though. While the frame itself is built to last, most of the components are just plastic. I had a nut come loose from the brake hammer a few weeks ago while on a trip and it quickly rendered the cart borderline unusable. While it's nice that Clicgear sells replacement parts through their website, I learned that they don't keep all of them stocked, including the part you'll probably need. Ultimately, I was able to solve the problem for about 42 cents by pushing the cart two blocks through my little inner city neighborhood to the nearest hardware store and just finding a replacement nut.


So no big deal. But taking it apart, figuring out what had gone wrong, and then coming up with and executing on a plan to fix it still took a solid 90 minutes and I probably live closer to the store than you do. And I haven't even had it for 18 months yet. I'm not optimistic that it's going to last 20 years or anything like that. Plus, the accessories have been a major disappointment. I can't roll 50 yards without my cupholder dropping my water bottle (I own every size and shape Clicgear cupholder attachment available - they all suck). I just hold my own beer. You'll learn to love the feel of holding a hand-warmed beer can while you walk down the left side of 12 fairway and hope to find your tee shot.


The option to think about that's already been mentioned: A battery-powered cart. My club is full of them... literally. We've run out of space to store them for members, so a number of my friends transport theirs in the car, and they're not as cumbersome to deal with as you might expect. For the joy of having a caddie that doesn't talk at a per-round rate that's a fraction of what you're paying for the human service, they're well worth looking into. This will likely be my next purchase if/when the Clicgear is no longer viable.


The option to think about that hasn't been mentioned: The collapsible Riksha! I think it's the R-3000. I've used Rikshas a couple times since buying my Clicgear. They're MUCH easier to push, and good storage attachments are available. I've talked to people who think they're hard to "park" on a hillside since they don't have a true brake. My experience is that the Clicgear brake doesn't do a very reliable job on hillsides either, whereas you can always just lay the Riksha flat. Your bag stays off the ground, elevated and dry, and the cart doesn't go anywhere.

[Bernie Bell]

Jason, my experience with Clicgear has been different.  I also have multiple size cup holders and have never had a problem finding one that fits the beverage I'm drinking.  And they make an excellent cooler attachment that fits between the back wheels if your drinks are too warm.  My course is quite hilly (20+ "flights" on an iPhone, which I think only measures the elevation gain) and I've never had a problem with the brake, or any other component, in several years.  I've never used an electric one, although I've had my ankles run into twice, which wasn't altogether pleasant. 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Reasons to resist battery operated trolleys are in the name...battery. Ya gotta charge the thing.

Ciao

Explains why your phone calls keep dropping out..

[JJShanley]

I'm using my late father's Powakaddy (2010 era, perhaps) here in Scotland. My carry bag doesn't quite fit on it, but it takes the strain off my back at a time when physio isn't a readily available option.


I suppose the question is "would I replace it next spring if it packed in?" Probably not at this stage, but I would in due course.

[Garland Bayley]

There was a recent thread on this topic which I can't seem to find.  Clicgear is the way to go.  Better in adjustability, rollability, foldability, accessories than Sun Mountain.  I don't think any weight differences are material for most folks

This is just wrong! Sun Mountain beats Clicgear on all those factors, but perhaps accessories, which you perhaps can buy from Clicgear and bolt on to SM. And, lighter is noticeably easier.

Clicgear wins on reliability. I use Clicgear, because both of my Sun Mountains broke.