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2 wheel, 4 wheel or 6 wheel shopping trolley: which should you buy?
Two wheels tilt and pull, four wheels push upright, six wheels climb kerbs and steps. The trade-offs, with the trolleys we sell in each type.
Two wheels tilt and pull behind you and are the lightest and cheapest. Four wheels stand up and push in front of you, so the weight is off your wrist. Six wheels, in two clusters of three, roll over kerbs and steps instead of stopping at them. Which one you should buy depends on three things: how much you carry, what is between the shop and your door, and whether you lift the trolley onto a bus.
Two wheel shopping trolleys
The classic. A frame with two wheels at the bottom and a handle at the top; you tilt it back and it rolls behind you. Strengths: light (2 kg to 5 kg), folds flat, the bag often lifts off the frame, and the cheapest to buy. Weaknesses: every stop and every kerb loads your wrist, and a full 60 litre bag is 15 kg hanging off one arm.
Good two wheel trolleys have wheels of 20 cm or more. Our 74L trolley has two heavy duty wheels on an aluminium frame with a height adjustable handle; the 50L has 21 cm wheels and a foam grip. The basic 60 litre trolleys on carbon steel frames are the value choice. See all two wheel trolleys.
Choose two wheels if you walk and take the bus, you have a flight of stairs where the trolley has to be carried, or you want the smallest folded size.
Four wheel shopping trolleys
A frame on four wheels that stands upright and is pushed. The front wheels usually swivel so it steers round a shop aisle; the rear wheels are larger for kerbs. Strengths: the frame carries the weight, not you, so it suits a bad back, arthritis or a very heavy shop; it does not tip; and it can double as a hand cart for boxes or laundry. Weaknesses: heavier and bulkier folded, no brakes, and it will roll on a slope if you let go.
Our 50L cooler trolley is a 40 litre shop plus a 10 litre insulated bag, with two large rear wheels, two swivelling front wheels and a handle that adjusts from 64 cm to 94 cm. See four wheel trolleys.
Choose four wheels if you push a big shop on pavements, you should not pull weight with your hands, or you want to push rather than drag.
Six wheel shopping trolleys
Each side has a cluster of three wheels around a hub. On flat ground two of the three touch the pavement. At a kerb or a step the cluster rotates and the top wheel rolls onto the edge, so the trolley climbs with you. Strengths: steps and kerbs stop being a lift; stable on cobbles and market ground. Weaknesses: heavier and the clusters add width; on flat ground they roll no better than a good two wheel trolley.
We sell a 74 litre stair climber with two tri-wheel clusters and a 64 litre iron framed market cart with six detachable wheels and a lock. See six wheel trolleys.
Choose six wheels if there are steps between the shop and your front door, or you shop at a market with kerbs and cobbles.
Side by side
| Two wheels | Four wheels | Six wheels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it moves | Tilted and pulled | Pushed upright | Pulled, climbs steps |
| Weight on you | Some, on the wrist | Almost none | Some |
| Empty weight | Lightest | Heavier | Heavier |
| Kerbs and steps | Lift at each one | Lift at steps, roll kerbs with big wheels | Rolls over both |
| On the bus | Easiest | Bulkiest | Manageable |
| Price | Lowest | Highest | Middle |
Questions people ask
Are four wheel shopping trolleys better than two wheel?
For pushing heavy loads and for anyone with a bad back or sore hands, yes. For lifting onto a bus, folding small and price, two wheels win.
What is a six wheel shopping trolley for?
Steps and kerbs. The two clusters of three wheels roll over the edge of a step so you do not have to lift the trolley.
Do four wheel shopping trolleys have brakes?
Ours do not, and most do not. On a slope keep hold of the handle; a four wheel trolley is not a walking aid.
Which is best for cobbles?
Six wheels, then a two wheel trolley with 20 cm wheels. Small wheels jam between cobbles.
Can a four wheel trolley go on a bus?
Yes, folded or standing in the buggy space when it is free. It is heavier to lift than a two wheel trolley.