On utility carts

On utility carts

01 Aug 2005

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

I live less than a half-mile from a supermarket, and prefer to do my errands by foot. Any thoughts on where I could buy a top-of-the-line utility cart? I'm willing to pay a premium for something lightweight, smooth-rolling, stable, foldable, and durable (or if not durable, then easy to recycle when it breaks!). Something stylish would be a bonus: it might just convince my neighbors to follow suit.

Liz
Alexandria, Va.

Ask Umbra continues below

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Dearest Liz,

Generally I don't like to shop for people, because it's so easy to go wrong with brand or site favoritism, but this seems like a safe enough bet. It's also a terribly worthwhile cause: extricating you and your neighbors from your cars is part of my master plan.

Don't leave home without it.

In New York City, everyone seems to have little carts, because there is no other way, except delivery, to get a decent amount of groceries home. If we all pretended we lived in New York, the world would be a better place, car-wise. You'll find the classic New York-style shopping cart to be a sturdy, practical friend.

For alternatives, I found completely foldable, impressive, hand-truckish items at Ergoboy.com and the oddly named (but don't be too alarmed) Massage Unit. For both of these, you would need to rig your own boxes -- maybe a couple of milk crates, or something slicker.

Let me also give you a few practical ideas that don't require extra rigging. My friends with toddlers use their strollers to hold groceries, and here is a stroller without the toddler part. (Of course, ditching the kids is good for plenty of other reasons too.) The Radio Flyer red wagon is a classic, as is the durable, Amish-built, wooden-slat wagon.

A ridiculous idea -- yet amusing to consider -- is to buy a motorized golf-bag cart, buy a vintage golf bag, and use that. Or check out Mother Earth News' instructions for adding bicycle wheels to a grocery cart; this tutorial dates from the 1980s, but it looks just as good today.

That's a review of practical and kooky carts, but there is one more. I've decided that the best cart for you in terms of cool, unusual, and functional is a postal "caddy cart" or "satchel cart." You might have them in Alexandria. They are little metal horses with blue saddlebags on them that mail carriers push about. The trouble is, I don't know where you can buy one. Stay tuned. I'm sure a gruntled postal carrier will write in and let us know how to find this sure-to-be-hip shopping must-have.

Hopefully,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (4 comments)

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RECYCLED PLASTIC WAGON!

We'll see your radio flyer wagon and raise you some recycled plastic! We love our green recycled plastic radio flyer wagon. We got it at http://www.greenhome.com/products/kids/toys/105863 .

-Patty "Treat the Earth well. It was not given to us by our parents; it was loaned to us by our children." -Traditional

by pattybates at 2:52 PM on 01 Aug 2005

Another recycled cart

Go to Smith and Hawken website and check out the garden tool caddy, http://www.smithandhawken.com/jhtml/site/catalog/Product.jhtml?PRODID=15208&CATID=4613&index =18

Then look for a non-motorized golf cart (bought mine for $5 at a garage sale), a 5-gallon bucket (mine had held paint), and dress it up with a canvas cover if you like. I'm sure your imagination will help you maximize the amount you can carry. As a matter of fact, I don't use mine for groceries, usually, but as a garden cart full of tools.

by agnus2 at 3:20 PM on 01 Aug 2005

Versatile and ergonomic

Check out these "chariots". Although originally built as child carriers, they now make 'em to be used for moving stuff too (they can hold up to 100 pounds).

They are collapsible, lighweight, ergonomic, can transform from push-me to pull-you, jogger style, strolling style, attach to a bike as a trailer or sidecar and even to ski-mode for winter days!

Check out this page: http://www.chariotcarriers.com/html_english/cx1_conversion_kits.htm which shows one of their styles with various conversion kits.

by Maxine at 8:51 PM on 01 Aug 2005

Another great Umbra!

Another great Umbra article! I have visions of an electric assisted little red wagon.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 8:50 AM on 03 Aug 2005

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