A wagon can serve many different purposes in your home. Children love to ride in wagons and pull their stuff around in wagons to make them feel like they are grown up. Shopping for a wagon isn’t a black and white process; in fact, there are quite a few different types and variations of wagons that you should consider when you are making your wagon purchase.
Types of Wagons
There are three main types of wagons for kids: plastic, metal, and foldable. There are different reasons that you might opt for the different choices. A plastic wagon is made out of a hard plastic that is hollow on the inside. While there is more likely to be discoloration of the plastic, these wagons are pretty durable. The thicker the plastic is on the wagon you choose, the longer the wagon is going to be able to withstand being bumped around.
A metal pull along wagon is a good choice if you aren’t going to be pulling a young child around on a regular basis. The sides of a metal wagon tend to be lower, and you are less likely to find an option that has seatbelts to ensure the safety of your child. Metal wagons tend to have a more authentic feel to them, although you are going to want to be cautious that the wagon isn’t going to rust. Some metal wagons employ a thin plastic sheet metal that is going to be dented easily, while others use a heavier steel that is going to be difficult to penetrate.
Foldable wagons are more often used as utility carts than they are used to pull a child around. While you can take these wagons anywhere since they fold up nice and small, they aren’t as pretty as some of the other options, and they aren’t always as comfortable for a child to ride in. Foldable wagons are typically composed of canvas or some other durable material.
Other Things to Consider
Once you have decided what type of wagon you want to purchase for your child, there are still a few small things you should consider. The first thing you are going to consider are the wheels on the wagon. Plastic wheels are the most common and they are an effective and cheap option. Hard rubber wheels tend to roll a little bit more nicely than plastic wheels, but they are subject to cracks that are difficult to fix. The final option for wheels is inflatable wheels. These are a good choice because they can handle different terrains; however, you are risking being low on air in one of the wheels and not being able to use your wagon if you aren’t somewhere you can fill it.
The weight of the wagon is also a consideration you should make. While you want a wagon that is light and easy to move, bigger wagons are going to be heavier so they can support the weight of two or three children. Finally, you should consider some of the extra features that a wagon can have. Some wagons come with removable panels; some have canopies, fold-out chairs, and seatbelts; and some have extra compartments. The worth of these extra features depends on what your individual needs are.
