Countering the trend toward 4-wheeled carts, Bag Boy shows a new twist on the old three-wheeler, introducing its TriSwivel push cart with a pivoting front wheel. Bag Boy claims that the new front wheel “makes the cart feel like it has power steering,” and for once, we actually agree with the marketing literature. You don’t realize how often you need to pop up the front wheel of a traditional push cart as you traipse through a round until you don’t have to do it anymore. The TriSwivel is an absolute dream to push around the course, particularly on cart paths and fairways.

The TriSwivel is also easy to unfold, has some smart ergonomic design elements, and provides reasonable storage space. It’s a bit blocky when it’s folded up (about the size of a Clicgear 3.5+), can get a little squirrely when you push it off of a curb (you can mitigate this if you remember to lock the front wheel, as we describe below, but let’s face it, we’re lazy and can’t be bothered to flick that simple switch), and costs a whole lotta simoleons (now there’s a word that’s gone out of fashion – like moolah, loot and dough). But oh how sweet it is to cruise through the round without popping the front wheel up. The pivoting front wheel on the TriSwivel is like having four wheels on your suitcase – you don’t know you need it until you try it…and then you find you can’t live without it.

SCORE
94
GRADE
A
Size/Weight
84
Ease of Set-Up
92
On Course Impressions
95
Storage/Accessories
91
Style
85
Value
91

Pros:

Cons:

Retail price: $269.95
Availability: No longer available, replaced by the Bag Boy Triswivel II, which is essentially the same as the original version
Amazon.com: Check price now


84 / B

SIZE/WEIGHT

At 19 pounds (as tested), the Bag Boy TriSwivel is one of the heftier push carts tested (compare this to the lightest cart, the Tour Trek Tahoe, at 10.5 lbs., and the heaviest cart, the Sun Mountain Speed Cart V2, at 20 lbs.). The TriSwivel isn’t overly long or wide when it’s folded – it’s more akin to the ClicGear 3.5+ in being a bit of a block. Those with small trunks are going to have to get creative in fitting both the TriSwivel and a set of clubs, and anyone without an SUV or minivan (no, please don’t admit it if you actually have a minivan – we’d rather keep our illusions about our reader base) isn’t going to have much luck fitting TWO sets of clubs and two TriSwivels without taking up some of the back seat.


92 / A-

EASE OF SET-UP

The first thing to note about setting up the Bag Boy TriSwivel is that some assembly is required. The second thing is that whomever wrote the instruction manual is, shall we say, a big picture guy. By that we mean that there are some important things that the manual fails to mention. For example, the manual tells you that you need to insert each of the rear wheels into a little hole until they click and lock into place. What the manual fails to tell you is that when shipped, the axle of each rear wheel has a little rubber cover on it that you need to take OFF before you pop it into the hole. We kept staring at the wheel axle, and although we’re not engineering majors, even WE could see that it was far too large to fit into the receptacle (in the immortal words of Michael Scott from The Office – “that’s what she said”). Finally it occurred to us to try and yank the rubber part off (they’re on pretty tight, so we were definitely worried that they weren’t supposed to come off, and whether we were actually just breaking it), and doing so exposed the actual axle, now small enough to fit.

In addition, the instructions for installing the lower bag strap only mention installing the end of one strap – as it turns out, the overall strap is composed of two parts, and so you need to install one strap on each side. The orientation of the straps upon installation isn’t clarified in the instructions either. We found the best way to learn how to install the lower straps was to copy the way the upper straps (which come pre-installed) are situated.

The whole process took about 30 minutes to complete – which is disappointing, since if the instructions had just been well written, it would’ve taken no more than 5 minutes.

In any event, once we got the thing put together, the unfolding process for the TriSwivel was a piece of cake. All that is required are five easy steps – pull on the upper bracket to extend the cart, pivot the front wheel down into place, unlock the handle, pivot the handle to the desired spot, and re-lock the handle. Velcro straps at the top and bottom provide extra security in holding the golf bag in place (although we found that you don’t need to use them at all).


95 / A

ON COURSE IMPRESSIONS


91 / A-

STORAGE/ACCESSORIES

The storage and accessories available on the Bag Boy Quad include:


85 / B

STYLE

We still haven’t developed an appreciation for Bag Boy’s “Scion-esque” 3-spoke wheels, and the TriSwivel looks a bit more upright than other carts, so you’re probably not going to draw any appreciative looks for its styling. It’s available in four different colors – black, white, silver, and red.


91 / A-

VALUE

The Bag Boy TriSwivel’s retail price of $269.95 places it as the most expensive golf push cart we tested. But on the plus side, the pivoting front wheel is a revelation, and the TriSwivel shows improvement over previous Bag Boy entries in storage and other features. It may cost a bit more than the others, but your back, shoulders and arms will appreciate the extra expense.


5 Responses

    1. Best guess is that Bag Boy has decided to not include items such as the bag for storage that is attached to the frame. Our weights are as tested, which includes accessories that come with purchase.

  1. Not a bad cart, front wheel works ok. Not as easy to push as my old sun mountain though. Did a ton of research before I bought this. Everything is as published except ease to push. Wonder if it would be easier with foam wheels.

  2. Just put mine together. Apparently assembly instructions are for people who like to do puzzles. Parts list failed to include an umbrella holder that either clips onto the side or is clamped onto the frame with a holding screw. Design has changed slightly since last review. Cart and all pieces together come out to 20 lbs. Reference is made to an online assembly video but no such thing exists. Wheels are easily removable and I find you must remove the front wheel in order to fold up the cart completely. But when completely folded or unfolded, all claims are as good as gold.

  3. I’ve had the bagboy Tri Swivel for about a month now. For the most part I really like it and purchased it mostly for the compact fold up feature. The next feature I liked most was the positive wheel brakes that won’t allow the wheels to turn when engaged unlike other push carts with bicycle type brakes. Thirdly I liked the front wheel 360deg turning feature which works well. Those are the main reasons I liked it when I bought it. A couple things I don’t like so far are one of the brake pins that lock the rear wheels hangs up and doesn’t engage properly, leaving one wheel unlocked. I took it apart and tried to fix it myself but after a few days it has again failed to work properly. The way I look at things like this is they should be designed to work and the flaw that is causing the problem should easily have been engineered to not happen, but that’s not the case.
    Overall I like it and will see how it holds up for the season. Other than brakes failing to engage properly, which should be a simple fix , this is a nice cart.

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