Toy Wagons: Reviews

Choosing a toy wagon for kids

"Every kid needs a red wagon," writes one parent on Target.com; the traditional children's favorite offers hours of fun for kids and their families. Youngsters love the experience of riding in an open-air wagon, and parents appreciate the ease and convenience a wagon affords them when toting their kids (and their assorted gear), whether it's a simple walk around the neighborhood or a trip to the park.

While the basic red wagon is a classic symbol that continues to endure, today's wagons offer a lot more variety. Parents can now choose designs with feature sets that read like an automobile's option list. Removable canopies, comfortable seats, seat belts and cup holders mean that some wagons are as proportionally decked out as the minivans that haul them from place to place.

Radio Flyer has been designing and selling wagons since the early 20^th century, and the company's Classic Red Wagon (*Est. $100) remains a perennial favorite. All but one of the reviewers posting at Walmart.com say they've recommend the Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon to a friend. The steel wagon features an extra-long folding handle to make towing and storage easy, while a ball joint at the handle's base reduces the risk of pinched fingers.

Another safety feature owners appreciate is the controlled turning radius engineered into the front axle, which reduces the likelihood of tipping. Owners posting reviews to Target.com say the red wagon is "just as sturdy as I remember from my own childhood" and "easy to put together." A recurring theme in reviews is one of nostalgia: Parents and grandparents purchase the Classic Red Wagon for their children and grandchildren because they have fond memories of the product. Most say they're pleased with the overall quality and solidity of the modern version.

Some of the most interesting feedback on the Classic Red Wagon is posted by Amazon.com users, who collectively rate it 4.7 out of 5 stars overall. Several owners sing the Radio Flyer wagon's praises -- as a tool for adults rather than a toy. More than one user says it makes an excellent and practical garden cart, and another owner bought one in which to haul groceries home, saying, "This is almost as much fun as a Corvette, and so much cooler than an LOL cart. (No, not laugh out loud -- little old lady.)" The Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon weighs 33 pounds, can carry 150 pounds and is suitable for children 18 months and older. Some assembly is required.

Taking a 180-degree turn from the simplicity of the classic Radio Flyer wagon, a variety of plastic wagons offer similar utility while adding modern amenities. A standout basic plastic wagon is the Step2 Wagon for Two Plus (*Est. $70) that offers dual facing seats with seat belts and is available in green or blue. The Step2 also has a hinged, latching door, two drink holders, dedicated under-seat storage and a 75-pound weight capacity. A long handle makes mom or dad's life easier when pulling kids or gear. The wagon itself weighs about 25 pounds, but it's both larger and bulkier than the metal Radio Flyer wagon, which leads to a few complaints that the Step2 is hard to transport and store.

An overwhelming number of owners posting reviews at Step2's website like the wagon, with an aggregated 4-star rating (out of 5) from more than 160 reviews. Some customers who post negative feedback say the wagon is too heavy, making it "hard to get in the car" and "hard to transport." At Amazon.com, the Wagon for Two Plus gets a higher average overall score (4.5 stars out of 5) from about 60 reviewers. Owners say it's easy to pull, kids like the hinged door, and it's easy to assemble and clean out (drain holes are built in). Some reviewers say the door latch can be tough for some children to operate, and we found a few complaints that the wagon's plastic wheels are very noisy on hard surfaces. The Step2 Wagon for Two Plus is designed for children 18 months and older.

Owners can further modify the Step2 Wagon for Two Plus by purchasing the Tag-Along Trailer Plus (*Est. $35) , which hitches to the wagon and provides additional storage for backpacks, diaper bags and more. Reviews for the trailer are also favorable (4.6 out of 5 stars at Amazon.com), with most users saying it's a "must have" for the added convenience and storage it provides. Some parents, however, say it's not easy to install and/or remove from the main wagon. The manufacturer explicitly states that the trailer accessory is not for carrying children.