The Best Travel Cart for Family Vacations? I Tested Two Folding Carts to Find Out
Traveling with three kids means that even when you're trying to pack light, you somehow end up with a million things to carry.
It's just my husband and me—and our three kids—but somehow that means luggage, backpacks, duffel bags, baby gear, snacks, and everything else we need to get everyone from the airport to the hotel.
So when we were getting ready for a family vacation, I decided to test two different folding carts to see which one would actually make traveling easier.
I tested the Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart, 6 Wheels Collapsible Luggage Cart with 2 Elastic Ropes against the Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly with 2 Wheels, Foldable Luggage Cart.
I loaded them up with our bags, tested how they folded and thought through how each one would work not just in the airport, but also when we're walking through cities, getting from train stations to hotels, and moving around on vacation.
And here's the funny part:
I ended up keeping both.
But I'm using them for completely different purposes.
Watch My Full Travel Cart Comparison
Want to see the carts in action?
I filmed the entire comparison, including how much luggage I could fit on each one and how they actually roll.
The Two Folding Carts I Tested
Before we get into the pros and cons, here are the two carts I compared.
Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart, 6 Wheels Collapsible Luggage Cart with 2 Elastic Ropes
This is the larger six-wheel cart.
It has a larger platform, two elastic/bungee ropes, multiple wheels, and the ability to be used as both a push and pull cart.
This is ultimately the one I'm choosing to take on our family vacation.
Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly with 2 Wheels, Foldable Luggage Cart
This is the smaller, two-wheel folding cart.
It's lightweight and incredibly compact, which makes it easy to store and carry.
I'm keeping this one in my trunk for everyday use.
Why I Wanted a Travel Cart
When you're traveling as a family of five, one of the biggest challenges isn't necessarily getting your luggage packed.
It's getting all of that luggage from one place to another.
You might have:
Multiple suitcases
Duffel bags
Backpacks
Kids' bags
Baby gear
Snacks
Travel essentials
And when you're moving through an airport, having something that allows you to pile everything together can be a lifesaver.
Instead of each person carrying something—or me trying to somehow manage five different bags—a cart gives me one place to put everything.
And since we were planning to travel through cities and use trains, I wanted something that could do more than simply roll through an airport.
Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck: The Compact Option
The first cart I tested was the Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly with 2 Wheels, Foldable Luggage Cart.
The first thing I noticed was just how small and lightweight it is.
When it's folded up, it's incredibly compact.
I could realistically put this inside my backpack.
I could even see it fitting into the laptop compartment without taking up much space.
That makes this cart really appealing if you're trying to pack as minimally as possible.
The Bungee Cords Are Attached
One feature I really liked about the Vsaikeo is that the bungee cords are attached to the cart.
You don't have to worry about keeping track of a separate set of cords.
They snap into place and help hold your bag securely on the cart.
When you're traveling, I really appreciate anything that means one less thing to remember.
The Downside: It's Small
The biggest issue I had with this cart is its size.
We were planning to take three different bags, and I wasn't convinced that I could comfortably fit everything on it.
I could fit one larger bag on the bottom, but stacking two additional duffel bags on top felt like it was going to be pushing the limits.
So while the Vsaikeo is incredibly compact, that compact size also means less hauling capacity.
That's something I'd definitely consider if you're traveling with a lot of luggage.
The Vsaikeo Is Pull-Only
Another thing I noticed is that the Vsaikeo is designed to pull.
It doesn't give you the same ability to push and maneuver that the larger six-wheel cart does.
That may not matter if you're just pulling it through an airport.
But when you're carrying a heavier load, I personally like having options.
Pulling a heavy cart behind you means you're carrying some of that load with your body, whereas having the ability to push it can make maneuvering a little easier.
Folding Hand Truck 500lbs: The Larger Travel Option
The second cart I tested was the Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart, 6 Wheels Collapsible Luggage Cart with 2 Elastic Ropes.
This cart is noticeably larger.
And when I first opened it up, I immediately noticed how much more room I had to work with.
There are sections that extend out, giving you a much larger platform for your luggage.
And when I loaded up our bags, all three fit.
That made a huge difference for our trip.
Instead of worrying about whether I could stack everything securely, I had plenty of room.
The Six-Wheel Cart Can Push AND Pull
This was probably my favorite feature of the larger cart.
You can use it as a traditional pull cart, but you can also adjust it so that you can push it.
You can also maneuver it in different directions, which makes it much more versatile.
And because we weren't just going from the airport to a rental car, that mattered to me.
We were planning on walking through cities, going from train stations to hotels, walking to parks, and
generally moving around quite a bit.
For that kind of travel, I wanted something that was easier to maneuver.
Which Cart Is Better for the Airport?
Interestingly, I don't think there's a huge difference between the two if you're simply going from:
Airport → Car
The Vsaikeo is lighter, and the six-wheel cart is easier to maneuver.
But if you're just walking through an airport and then loading everything into a car, either could work.
The difference becomes much more noticeable when you start using the cart outside of the airport.
The Six-Wheel Cart Makes More Sense for City Travel
For our trip, we weren't planning to just rent a car and drive everywhere.
We were going to be walking around cities and using transportation to get from one place to another.
That's why I ended up choosing the larger six-wheel cart for travel.
I wanted the flexibility to:
Push it.
Pull it.
Turn it.
Load it up.
And that flexibility is really useful when you're navigating sidewalks, train stations and hotels.
What About Bringing It on the Plane?
This was another thing I thought about while testing the larger cart.
Because it folds down, I can collapse it and then place a duffel bag on top of it.
My plan is to put the folded cart with the duffel bag in the overhead compartment.
That way, I'm not taking up a huge amount of additional space.
Of course, overhead-bin space and airline policies can vary, so I always recommend checking your airline's rules before assuming a particular item can go in the cabin.
But from a packing standpoint, the fact that the cart folds down makes it much easier to work into our travel setup.
The Six-Wheel Design
One of the things I really like about the Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart is the six-wheel design.
For me, that's another reason I feel more comfortable using it as our travel cart.
When you're traveling, things happen.
Wheels can get caught on curbs, sidewalks aren't always smooth, and you're putting a lot of weight on the cart.
Having six wheels gives you more points of contact supporting the cart.
It's one of those features that may not matter as much at home but starts to feel more valuable when you're traveling.
So Which Cart Am I Keeping?
Here's where I surprised myself.
Both.
I initially thought I was going to choose one.
But after testing them, I realized they solve two completely different problems.
The Six-Wheel Cart = Travel
I'm taking the Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart, 6 Wheels Collapsible Luggage Cart with 2 Elastic Ropes with us on our family vacation.
For us, it makes the most sense because we're going to be walking around cities and moving between different forms of transportation.
I want to be able to push or pull it, maneuver it easily, and fit all of our bags on it.
The Vsaikeo = Everyday Use
The Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly with 2 Wheels is going in my trunk.
And honestly, I think I'm going to use it all the time.
I can see myself using it for:
Taking a cooler to a soccer game
Carrying Costco purchases
Moving things for a party I'm hosting
Hauling things into a house
Setting things up for an event
Carrying supplies from the car
Because it's so small and lightweight, I think it's going to be one of those things that ends up being useful in ways I haven't even thought of yet.
My Favorite Use for the Vsaikeo
I keep thinking about the cooler.
Being able to put a cooler on the cart and roll it into a soccer game instead of carrying it sounds like a mom win to me.
Same thing with Costco.
If you've ever had a giant Costco haul and needed to get everything from your car into the house, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
A lightweight folding cart that permanently lives in my trunk could be incredibly useful.
Travel Cart vs. Everyday Cart
Here's how I'm thinking about the two:
Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck | Folding Hand Truck 500lbs / 6-Wheel Cart | |
Wheels | 2 | 6 |
Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
Folded size | Very compact | Compact |
Bungee cords | Attached | Elastic ropes |
Capacity | Smaller | Larger |
Push | No | Yes |
Pull | Yes | Yes |
Maneuverability | More limited | More versatile |
Best use | Everyday errands | Travel |
My plan | Keep in trunk | Take on vacation |
What I'd Consider Before Buying a Folding Cart
If you're looking for a folding cart for travel, I'd think about a few things before buying.
1. How much are you carrying?
If you're traveling with multiple bags, make sure the cart has enough surface area and weight capacity for your luggage.
2. Are you only pulling it?
If you're going to be walking long distances, I personally like having the option to push and pull.
3. How compact does it need to be?
If you're trying to fit it into a backpack or small compartment, the Vsaikeo is a great option to consider.
4. Are you using it at home too?
If so, think beyond travel.
A cart can be useful for sports, Costco trips, parties, coolers, beach days and moving things around your house.
5. How are the wheels designed?
If you're traveling over different surfaces, maneuverability and wheel configuration can make a big difference.
My Final Take
I went into this comparison thinking I was going to choose one cart.
Instead, I realized that both have a place in my life.
The Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly is lightweight, incredibly compact, and easy to keep in the trunk.
The Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart with 6 Wheels is the one I'm taking on our family vacation because I want the extra space and the ability to push, pull and maneuver it while we're traveling.
And when you're traveling with three kids, anything that lets you put more things into one rolling load instead of carrying everything yourself gets a big thumbs-up from me.
So for us:
Small + lightweight = everyday cart
Large + versatile = travel cart
Sometimes the answer isn't choosing one.
Sometimes you just need both. 😂
Watch the Full Comparison
If you want to see exactly how these two carts compare in size, how they fold, and how much luggage I can actually fit on them, check out my full video:
And if you're traveling with kids soon, I hope this helps make getting all of that luggage from point A to point B just a little easier!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best travel cart for a family vacation?
For our family of five, I prefer the larger Folding Hand Truck 500lbs, Portable Heavy Duty Dolly Cart with 6 Wheels for travel because it gives me more room for luggage and can be pushed or pulled.
Is the Vsaikeo folding cart good for travel?
The Vsaikeo Small Folding Hand Truck Dolly is a great option if portability and compact storage are your biggest priorities. It's lightweight enough to potentially fit inside a backpack when folded.
Which folding cart is better for everyday use?
For everyday use, I prefer the Vsaikeo because it's so lightweight and compact. I plan to keep it in my trunk for soccer games, Costco trips, coolers, parties and other errands.
Is a six-wheel cart better than a two-wheel cart?
Not necessarily—it depends on how you plan to use it. I prefer the six-wheel cart for travel because I like the additional maneuverability and the ability to push or pull it.
Can I take a folding luggage cart on an airplane?
A compact folding cart may be able to fit in an overhead compartment depending on its folded dimensions and the airline's policies. Always check your airline's current carry-on and baggage rules before traveling.
Do you really need a luggage cart when traveling with kids?
You don't necessarily need one, but for a family traveling with multiple bags, I find a folding cart incredibly helpful. It lets you combine several bags into one load, which can make airports, train stations and city travel much easier.
Lots of love,
Emmo loves it
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