Black & Decker Collapsible Storage Cart (Folding Utility Wagon)

Why I reached for this wagon

I didn’t buy this to be precious about it. I needed a hauler I could throw in the trunk, load past the point of common sense, and drag across everything from parking-lot asphalt to lumpy turf without babying it. Over the past few months I’ve used the Black+Decker collapsible wagon for weekend markets, backyard projects, and a short move across town. It’s done the mundane (groceries) and the abusive (stacked tote bins, bags of soil, a medium cooler, and a toolbox—often all at once). In short: it’s become the thing I don’t think about, and that’s exactly what I want from a utility cart.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, there’s no assembly puzzle. The wagon unfolds in one motion and locks into shape with a reassuringly solid feel. The frame is stout and the polyester canvas stretches smoothly without sag or creaking. It’s not featherweight—at 22.1 lb, lifting it into a trunk is a two‑hand job—but the tradeoff shows up in stiffness and stability once it’s rolling.

Folded, it compresses to about 7 inches thick. That’s thin enough to slide behind a garage shelf or along a hatch wall, and its footprint is manageable in smaller cars. The assembled size is roughly 31 x 21 x 22 inches, which feels right for a “standard” utility wagon: big enough for a full load of gear, not so big it hogs sidewalk space.

Build quality and materials

The frame feels properly overbuilt for the class. Welds are clean, the coating resists scuffs, and the joints don’t rattle. The canvas is mid‑weight polyester—durable without being tarpaulin-stiff—and the stitching at stress points is reinforced. The floor panel distributes weight well enough that heavy items don’t poke into your heels through the fabric. After repeated loads and some wet-weather use, the fabric hasn’t stretched out or abraded in the corners, which is where cheap wagons show their age first.

Two integrated cup holders and a small Velcro pocket live on the back panel. They’re handy for a water bottle, keys, and a phone—not a full organizer system, but the essentials have a home.

Capacity and stability

The wagon is rated for 176 pounds. I’ve pushed it near that with stacked storage totes and three bags of potting mix, and it didn’t complain. The sides stay upright, the floor doesn’t bow, and the frame doesn’t twist even when a load shifts. The short walls keep the center of gravity low, and that’s a big reason it feels planted.

As with any wagon, you’ll get the best behavior if you place the heaviest items over the axle and keep tall, tippy things toward the middle. Do that and the wagon tracks straight and doesn’t try to ladder‑climb curb cuts. It also passes my tilt test: on a sloped driveway, with about 120 pounds inside, it didn’t feel eager to tip when turning across the slope.

Handle and maneuvering

The telescoping handle extends and locks securely, and it’s long enough for both pulling behind you and pushing ahead of you. I prefer pulling on uneven terrain and pushing in crowded areas—having that choice matters. There’s a bit of play in the telescoping sections (normal for this type of handle), but once extended and locked it feels confident, not flimsy.

Turning radius is tight without the inside wheel binding. The front wheels swivel 360 degrees and can be locked. The locks are genuinely useful for long, straight hauls from the car to the field: click them straight, and you won’t fight wander. Unlock them for threading through crowds or navigating a garden path. I wish the lock tabs were a touch larger for quicker engagement with gloves on, but that’s a small nit.

Wheels and terrain performance

The wheels are the standout. They’re wide enough to avoid digging into grass and gravel, and they roll quietly on pavement. On short, firm sand—think packed areas near a boardwalk—they’re manageable; in deep, dry beach sand, you’ll still get a workout, but the wagon doesn’t submarine immediately like narrower‑wheeled carts do. Over roots and brick pavers, the frame doesn’t chatter, and there’s no sense that the axles are overstressed.

There’s no dedicated parking brake; the front wheel locks help keep the wagon pointed, but they won’t hold it on a steep grade. On hills, I simply orient the wagon sideways or chock a wheel with a small block—worth noting if you often load or unload on sloped driveways.

Folding and storage

Folding is a quick pull on the center strap and a push down on the corners. The fabric pleats cleanly, and there’s no wrestling match to get it flat. At 7 inches thick when folded, it stores nicely against a garage wall or behind a bench seat. It doesn’t include a carry bag—and I don’t miss one—but a wrap strap would make it even tidier for transport. As it is, the handle nests and doesn’t flop, so it’s easy enough to carry with one hand when folded.

Organization and usability details

• Cup holders: Deep enough for full-size bottles; they keep drinks upright even over bumps.
• Velcro pocket: Great for keys, a multitool, and a phone. I’d like one more pocket for straps or bungees.
• Interior space: The bed swallows a 50‑quart cooler plus two folding camp chairs with room left for odds and ends. It’s a good balance of depth and footprint for general use.
• Clean‑up: Mud and dust hose off, and the canvas dries without water spots. The finish hasn’t rusted after a few rainy-day hauls, helped by draining water before folding.

Real-world use cases

• Grocery runs: Four full bags plus two cases of seltzer fit comfortably, and I can wheel straight from the car to the kitchen without multiple trips.
• Yard work: Two 40‑pound bags of soil and hand tools don’t faze it. The low sides make loading and unloading easy compared to tall carts.
• Events and markets: Tent, weights, bin of merch, and a cooler in one go. Lock the front wheels and it tracks straight across bumpy fields.
• Moving day: Stacks of plastic totes and small appliances ride stable, and pushing rather than pulling lets you navigate narrow hallways without banging corners.

Durability after abuse

I’ve knocked it into curbs, rolled it through puddles, and loaded it hot out of a car on summer days. The fabric hasn’t faded noticeably, and the frame coating is holding up. Wheel bearings remain smooth. The handle’s latch still bites securely. Maintenance has been minimal: a quick rinse after dirty jobs and a dab of dry lube on the handle slides once.

What could be better

• Weight: At just over 22 pounds, it’s not the lightest. The sturdiness is worth it to me, but if you’re frequently lifting it into a tall SUV solo, you’ll notice the heft.
• Parking brake: I’d love a true brake on one axle for loading on slopes.
• Wheel lock ergonomics: The lock tabs work fine, but larger, glove-friendly tabs would make them faster to use.
• More pockets: A second small pocket or a side mesh sleeve would tidy up straps and small tools.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re the sort of quality-of-life tweaks that would move it from very good to excellent.

The bottom line

The Black+Decker wagon gets the fundamentals right: a frame that doesn’t flex, fabric that doesn’t sag, wheels that roll over real terrain, and a fold that’s genuinely compact at about 7 inches thick. The rated 176‑pound capacity is believable in use, and the 360‑degree front casters with locks give you both agility and straight‑line stability. It’s not ultralight, and it lacks a dedicated brake, but those are the only meaningful compromises I’ve run into.

Recommendation: I recommend this wagon to anyone who needs a dependable hauler for mixed‑surface use—families heading to parks and events, gardeners, apartment dwellers moving loads from car to elevator, and vendors hauling gear. The combination of sturdy build, practical capacity, and a compact, easy fold makes it a workhorse you can count on, and that reliability is exactly what you want from a utility wagon.